Photography by ©Esteban La Tessa
30 January 2025
The Year of the Wood Snake slithers in with a whisper of wisdom and a side of indulgence, promising slow but steady progress which, let’s be honest, is a blessed relief after recent years that felt more like an out-of-control rollercoaster operated by a sleep-deprived intern.
For those seeking an elegant, culturally rich way to celebrate, Capella Sydney is offering an unapologetically decadent Lunar New Year program, fusing ancient tradition with five-star luxury.
The festivities kick off on 28 January and run through 16 February, featuring everything from lion dancers and tai chi masters to personalised calligraphy and a Champagne-drenched afternoon tea because if you can’t welcome the new year with bubbles and an extravagant pastry, what even is the point?
Snakes get a bad rap, what with their biblical baggage and their general slithery-ness, but in Chinese astrology, the Year of the Snake is all about prosperity, wisdom, and reinvention.
It favours the patient, the strategic and those who know when to strike – or, more practically speaking, those who understand the value of waiting for the waiter to come back with the dessert menu.
This year, we’re welcoming the Wood Snake, which adds a touch of creativity and warmth to all that calculating cleverness. If you were born in a Snake year, congratulations – you’re now in the same club as Taylor Swift, John F Kennedy, J K Rowling and Robert Downey Jr. No pressure.
An explosion of colour, sound and frankly outstanding acrobatics, this ceremony awakens the lion dancers in a ritual that involves dotting their eyes for good luck. Expect a spectacle of drums, movement and uncontainable festive energy.
Also in attendance: Raymond Leung, a tea and calligraphy master, and Tai Chi Grandmaster Gary Khor (as seen teaching Chris Hemsworth how to move like an enlightened warrior).
Price: $125 per person (Champagne upgrade for $25, because obviously.)
What’s on the menu? Think delicate pastries, intricate savouries and a mandarin lamington that’s about to become your new obsession.
The Tea: A selection curated from Zensation Tea House, featuring white rabbit jasmine tea and other sublimely soothing blends.
Immerse yourself in the art of tea-making, where every sip is a lesson in mindfulness.
Watch Raymond Leung create personalised calligraphy blessings, which you can frame and display as proof that you are deeply cultured and possibly a little mystical.
A guided tour of contemporary Chinese artist Cao Fei’s mesmerising work, led by art expert Fiona McIntosh. Expect vivid, thought-provoking pieces and many opportunities to nod knowingly.
Join historian Mark Bowyer for a walking tour through Sydney’s first Chinatown, located in The Rocks. Discover stories of the first Chinese merchants and settlers, and learn how history, commerce, and dumplings intertwined in the making of the city.
What’s included: Luxury accommodation (so lush you may never leave).
Daily breakfast for two at Brasserie 1930 (croissants, coffee, and no regrets).
Exclusive Capella Lunar New Year welcome amenity (choose between a bespoke tea blend or caviar, because at Capella, you are either deeply relaxed or extravagantly indulged)
Starting at: $1,190 per night.
The hotel’s children’s program has been transformed into a festive wonderland, featuring storytelling, hands-on activities, and tiny future Snakes plotting world domination.
If you’re looking for a glamorous, immersive way to usher in the Year of the Wood Snake, Capella Sydney has nailed it. There’s culture, indulgence, and a chance to pretend you understand the finer points of tea preparation, all wrapped up in the kind of setting where even your casual selfies look editorial.
So go forth, sip, feast, and let the Year of the Snake work its slow, strategic magic.