Happy Chinese New Year – 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè)! This February 17th marks the beginning of The Year of the Fire Horse and here are some places you can celebrate with a flavour of China right here in Galway…
Enjoy a Bubbly Start to the New Year
Celebrate the Chinese New Year this Tuesday with something a little lighter (and a lot more bubbly) at Nana’s Tea. Their menu is packed with yummy flavours, from milky iced teas to zingy fruit drinks, each beverage is bursting with flavour, colour and their signature bubbles! Match your bubbly beverage with one of Nana’s famous bubble egg waffles and you’re sure to leave this pretty shop with a bounce in your step. It’s the perfect sweet way to kick off the Year of the Fire Horse.
Chill out at home with Comforting Classics from Rose Garden
A firm favourite with locals, Rose Garden Westside has been serving up reliable, comforting Chinese takeaway for years. Known for its extensive menu, you’ll find all the classics you know and love, from sweet & sour dishes, rich curries and black bean stir-fries, to chow mein, fried rice and noodle dishes galore. Portions are generous, flavours are familiar, and it’s the kind of place you can always count on for an easy midweek dinner or a weekend treat. With both collection and delivery available, Rose Garden remains a long-standing and much-loved part of Galway’s food scene.
Order some Chinese Street Food
If it’s an authentic Chinese feast you’re after, get your friends and family together and order a massive takeaway from Xi'an Street Food. Named after the historic city of Xi’an in central China, the restaurant’s array of noodles, dumplings and burgers are the tastiest way to be introduced to the region’s unique food culture and history. Menu highlights here include rougiamo (burger), their most popular dish - the spicebag, and the biang biang noodles. We recommend ordering a few dishes to share with your friends/housemates/family so you can try a bit of everything from Xi’an Street Food!
Celebrate the New Year with a Delicious Sit-down Meal
This Tuesday bring your family out for an evening of incredible dining at Ré Nao. Situated by Galway’s historic Spanish Arch, Ré Nao is an award-winning authentic Xi’an Chinese restaurant that offers delicious Chinese and Malaysian cuisine. All the dishes here are made with a genuine love for the cuisine and its tradition, and you can taste the quality in every bite. There’s something here for everyone, including a full vegan menu prepared in a separate kitchen area. To elevate your celebration even further, Ré Nao’s beautifully styled bar serves expertly crafted cocktails made in-house with fresh ingredients. Open for both lunch and dinner, reserve your table in advance at www.renaorestaurant.ie.
Dinner for Two at Koi
Koi is Oranmore’s newest Asian dining destination, bringing a fresh, modern approach to sushi, fusion flavours and relaxed social dining. With clean, contemporary design and a menu bursting with colour and creativity, Koi offers an experience where warm energy and standout dishes go hand in hand. Expect beautifully crafted sushi alongside bold fusion plates inspired by flavours from across Asia, all made with quality ingredients and a playful edge. Designed for sharing and discovering new favourites, Koi is quickly becoming Oranmore’s go-to for vibrant Asian cuisine, whether you’re popping in for a casual lunch or settling down for a cosy evening meal.
Toast The New Year with Xin Gin
Designed to be at the heart of gatherings, toasting in the year with Xin Gin is a beautiful way to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse. Produced at Ahascragh Distillery, whose founders, Michelle and Gareth McAllister, have Irish blood and Asian hearts, Xin Gin blends the best of both worlds. After years living in Asia, they set out to merge European and Eastern botanicals into one balanced, expressive spirit. Xin means “heart” or “feelings” in Mandarin, and this philosophy runs through every detail, from the Celtic-inspired bottle design to the cross-shaped label symbolising cultural connection. Perfect for cocktails or gifting, it’s a meaningful way to raise a glass this New Year. Tap here to find out more and order a bottle for yourself.
above: photo courtesy of Ahascragh Distillery
Set your Intentions for The Year of the Fire Horse
Still feeling stuck in 2025? New year, same habits? That might be because energetically, the new year hasn’t quite begun yet. The Chinese Lunar New Year starts on February 17th, ushering in the dynamic Year of the Fire Horse. To mark this shift, Súil Eile Space is hosting a guided session on February 22nd, exploring the energy of the year ahead. The session will help you clarify your personal focus for 2026, release limiting beliefs, and learn how to cultivate inner peace in what promises to be a fast-moving, transformative year. More information on this event here.
Watch the Irish Premiere of Center Stage on the Big Screen
To celebrate the ‘Lunar New Year 2026: Year of the Horse’ Eye Cinema Galway are delighted to present the Irish premiere of Center Stage (Director’s Cut) in a beautiful digital 4K restoration, starring Maggie Cheung, winner of Best Actress at the 1992 Berlin International Film Festival. Ruan Lingyu (1910-1935), Chinese silent cinema’s icon, died tragically at age 24. During her nine-year career, Ruan made twenty-nine films with Lianhua Studios, becoming known as the ‘Garbo of the East’. As she rose to stardom, scandals surrounding her private life brought infamy and tragedy. Stanley Kwan’s thrilling biopic uses a story-within-a-story structure, interviewing actors–including Maggie Cheung’s sensitive portrayal of Ruan–about their roles during filming, and beautifully integrating footage from Ruan’s original films to reconstruct her life. Tickets are available here.
Feature photo by Shreyaan Vashishtha, via Pexels
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