10 San Francisco Spots to Ring in the Lunar New Year

From celebrated dives to stylish speakeasies

By Vox Creative Updated Jan 20, 2023, 12:02pm EST

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By Vox Creative Updated Jan 20, 2023, 12:02pm EST

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Lunar New Year, which begins on January 22, is the most important holiday in China, Vietnam (where it’s known as Tết), Korea (where it’s known as Seollal), and across the Asian diaspora. It’s a time to feast with family and friends and to usher in good luck with traditional dishes such as dumplings, whole fish, longevity noodles, and pomelos.

This winter, cheers to the Year of the Rabbit — or the Tết Year of the Cat — with Rémy Martin XO at one of the spots below. It’s a luxurious and festive spirit that’s a beloved fixture at any Lunar New Year festivity and pairs with all the foods that will grace your table.

Empress by Boon

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Housed on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Empress by Boon is a transformed, historic banquet hall with panoramic views built for a celebration. There, an antique wooden pergola perches over the luxurious lounge. Meanwhile, at the dramatic, U-shaped white marble bar, you can order a la carte from celebrated Chef Ho Chee Boon’s tasting menu that features modern takes on Cantonese classics. The crispy chicken in a sesame sauce pairs perfectly with Rémy Martin XO’s rich and spicy aroma.

838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 757-0728

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Mister Jiu's

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At Mister Jiu’s, Lionhead goldfish undulate to the indietronica music that fills the room, and gold lotus-blossom-shaped chandeliers frame a sweeping view of the neighborhood. Brandon Jew — named best chef in California in 2022 — presides over the inventive Chinese American menu. The lion’s head meatballs, in a dark golden broth, are a traditional Lunar Year dish; their roundness signifies family unity and calls for Rémy Martin XO neat. Don’t miss the mod Moongate Lounge upstairs, with a rotating cocktail list inspired by the Chinese agricultural calendar.

28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 857-9688

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R&G Lounge

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Since 1985, this energetic Chinatown stalwart has hosted celebrations of every kind. Bring a big group so you can try more dishes from the expansive menu of Cantonese classics, though the crunchy salt-and-pepper crab and the steak cubes in a smoky, umami-rich XO sauce made from dried shrimp and scallops are mandatory. They both go well with the spicy, nutty notes of Rémy Martin XO.

631 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 982-7877

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China Live

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In this dim sum palace turned Chinese dining mecca on the edge of San Francisco’s Chinatown, China Live offers multiple dining and drinking options for however you want to ring in the New Year. From the casual ground floor tables of China Live Dine, you can order Peking duck sesame pockets, Sichuan blistered green beans, and other specialties while shopping for teas, sauces, woks, and other kitchen essentials. Or, at the posh Eight Tables by George Chen, you can celebrate with the tasting menu of Lapsang Smoked Squab or Iberico Pork Char Sui. And if drinks are more your style, there’s also the glamorous Cold Drinks Bar that serves up an Imperial Old Fashioned and Milk Punch made with Rémy Martin XO and bar bites like duck fat popcorn.

644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

(415) 788-8188

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Li Po Cocktail Lounge

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In this storied dive bar in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, Li Po’s drink options are scrawled on dry-erase boards and pink paper signs. Since 1937, revelers have gathered along the wraparound bar beneath gigantic red lanterns and the eye of a golden Buddha statue. Celebrate the New Year by going hoarse singing along to pop music and knocking back the bar’s trademark punch, the Chinese Mai Tai, followed by a Rémy Martin XO neat.

916 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 982-0072

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Harborview Restaurant & Bar

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With its tasteful dining room and dramatic windows overlooking San Francisco’s Ferry Building, Harborview offers an elegant spin on Cantonese cuisine. There, savor specialties such as the black truffle and Kurobata pork soup dumplings, shrimp har gow dumplings, glazed baked black cod, and other seafood pulled from the enormous tank in the entryway and toast the year ahead.

4 Embarcadero Center, Street Level, San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 399-1200

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Foreign Cinema

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Foreign Cinema is one of San Francisco’s most romantic restaurants, where fairy lights twinkle and movies project in the courtyard. Inside, the décor is industrial chic. Order Rémy Martin XO for the table: the cognac’s floral, spicy notes pair well with the chocolate desserts such as the pot de crème, cake with molasses buttercream, and fudge cookies with walnuts.

2534 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 648-7600

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House of Prime Rib

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With its roaring fireplaces and dark wood paneling, the House of Prime Rib feels like an English manor. Since 1949, this restaurant in San Francisco’s Polk Gulch has served sliced prime rib from its stainless-steel carts — here, New Year will be a theatrical evening that starts with servers spinning the signature salad tableside on a bowl of ice while drizzling on the sweet, creamy dressing. The hearty meal — which includes crisp Yorkshire pudding, your choice of baked potato or mashed, creamed spinach or corn, and fresh-baked sourdough bread — calls for Rémy Martin XO in a classic cognac cocktail, such as a Sidecar or French Connection.

1906 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109

(415) 885-4605

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The Beehive

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With a fun 1960s retro vibe, the Beehive, a bar and lounge in San Francisco’s Mission District, is an ideal pre- and post-dinner spot for the New Year. Savory standouts on its snacks menu include beef tallow fries and pigs in a puff pastry blanket. Settle into a comfortable banquette and indulge in a cocktail made with inventive ingredients like caramelized banana or a classic in a classic kind of place: Rémy Martin XO neat.

842 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 306-8209

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Chezchez

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With Chezchez, the team behind the acclaimed Trick Dog cocktail bar has conjured lazy late afternoons in Europe that give way to early evenings. On this lively stretch of San Francisco’s Mission District, nosh on the bar’s short but well-curated menu of appetizers, including crispy potato puffs, pork carnitas hot pockets, and tinned fish, and say gong hei faat choy with Rémy Martin XO neat or one of the menu’s bright, aperitivo-inspired cocktails.