The next wave of dining destinations have opened their doors in Darling Square’s dynamic food, drink and lifestyle precinct.
Connecting Darling Harbour with Chinatown, Haymarket and Ultimo is Darling Square, the new precinct set to get a whole lot busier in the wake of recent developments. First we were gifted Steam Mill Lane back in early 2018, and now an impressive 29 retailers are opening their doors as part of the government’s mission to revitalise Darling Harbour.
It’s hard to miss The Exchange, more commonly known as the striking ‘birds nest’ building centering Darling Square. On-street level, you’ll now find an industrial-style marketplace which is called Maker’s Dozen. Like the name suggests, here you’ll find a bustling range of unique food and drink providores. And this month, there’s four exciting new venues set to join the precinct.
First up we have Kuon Omakasae, an intimate Japanese sushi and sashimi restaurant. Since opening in July, this new venue (headed up by Hideaki Fukada and Jun Miyauchi) has already attracted over 500 bookings. With just 11 seats, the restaurant offerings a lavish $180 set menu, offering a carefully curated 20-course feast that evolves with the seasons.
Next up, we have Toastiesmith – the perfect lunchtime spot for delicious comfort food. Open daily, this tasty spot offer 12 toasties to choose from, including classic combos and more adventurous flavours such as grilled fish and pork katsu.
Plus you’ll also find Jackpot Hotpot coming to the precinct in late August, bringing a slice of Chinese eats to the heart of Sydney. Here you’ll find fresh, healthy and authentic dishes to keep you warm this winter. And finally, we have the next outpost of iconic Sydney favourite, Pancakes at The Rocks. Here you’ll find a bunch of savour classic such as their famous beef and pork ribs along with a wide variety of crepes and pancakes to satisfy sweet tooths.
These new spots join an already thriving dining precinct at Darling Square. Here you’ll find Hopper Kadé serving up hawker-style food inspired by the streets of Colombo. Newcomer Pasta Wafu is challenging the traditional pasta game with miso bolognese, while Boque by Tapavino can be found dishing up ham baguettes for breakfast followed by tapas, charcuterie and vino in the latter half of the day.
Lovers of Andy Bowdy’s iconic cakes and pastries in Enmore are set to swoon over Saga Lyte. Dubbed the ‘little sister’ to the original café, you’ll find a mix of old favourites and new pastry flavours. Following the Insta-worthy theme, there’s also Bubble Nini’s natural bubble teas.
Step outside Maker’s Dozen and onto Little Hay Street to spot a neon artwork by Brendan Van Hek, suspended from above.
On this ‘electric treat street’ you can discover 12 new retailers, including a new concept by Devon, DOPA Donburi and Milk Bar. For ‘sweet and boozy’ Filipino eats, head to Rey Jr. Donut lords Shortstop also line the strip, while Messina can be found serving up scoops of their signature gelato.
It’s not all food and drinks in Darling Square either, with La Cosmetique, Hair Corner and FIVE Beauty also opening their doors. For those looking for some additional retail therapy, head to 15 Sheets for the latest clothing trends, along with Le Specs for an exclusive range in glasses.
There’s also several new retailers to open in the surrounding laneways in Darling Square. Discover quality coffee at Haven Speciality Coffee and new school Vietnamese at Hello Auntie.
For the full list of newly opened retailers, click here.