Sydney looks set to give Melbourne a run for its money when it comes to laneway dining. Thanks in part to the addition of Steam Mill Lane (given the title of Sydney’s largest little laneway) which opens in Darling Square this week.

The inner-city den will host food, drink and retail in ample supply, with plenty of new faces expected to join the Sydney space within the next 18 months. When it comes to the edible, Steam Mill Lane has been designed for all hours (and all ages). There’s coffee for the early bird and late noodles for the night owl among its many stalls. Melbourne’s 8-bit offers arcade-inspired burgers and milkshakes, which will sit alongside a new venue for Belles Hot Chicken, Surry Hills’ The Sandwich Shop, bubble tea palace Gong Cha, and original vendor Toby’s Estate.

May will see a slew of new eateries join the existing casual crowd. This is set to include BangBang, which specialises in ramen and karaoke, and pork gyros vendor Gyradiko Haymarket. Burgeoning food chain Fishbowl, beloved bánh mì vendor Marrickville Pork Roll and Darlinghurst’s Edition Coffee Roasters are also rumoured to be joining ranks later on.

If the food isn’t enough to entice you to the precinct, perhaps the abundance of art will. The laneway is home to a permanent catenary light installation designed by artist Peta Kruger from Adelaide’s JamFactory. Kruger created eight artwork pieces that have been placed along the laneway, each inspired by nightlife cityscapes, which serve as vendor signs during the day and turn neon once evening arrives.