Perched on the corner of an understated Collingwood side street is House of Bricks, an impressive studio-meets-gallery adorned in eye-catching street art. On one side of the grand entrance, women in old swimming costumes float on licks of blue paint. On the other, a caricatured dragonfly with a moustache hovers permanently on the wall. It’s the perfect amount of quirk for this airy art space, which started serving coffee just over a week ago.

The beans are Espresso Syndicate and the cakes, muffins and biscuits are homemade. When we visited, a dreamy plum and polenta cake caught our eye almost as much as the pieces hung on the walls. There are also plans to introduce toasties and soups in the near future.

Seating is an eclectic collection of cushioned milk crates, old sofas, beanbags and chests. The vibe is somewhere between relaxed and inspiring—Sunday afternoon tunes ride the airwaves from nearby PBS Radio while artistic displays make our stick figures look very dull indeed.

The studios, which have been leased out since October last year, are a second home to some of Melbourne’s most talented up-and-coming creatives, from painters and designers to filmmakers and writers. The exhibitions in the adjoining gallery change regularly and anyone is welcome to submit a proposal to display their work. There are also screenings and launches that happen regularly, all of which are announced on the House of Bricks Facebook page.

Thanks to the recent addition of the tiny House of Bricks café, you can now drink coffee while drinking in the artwork. Oh, and did we mention they serve cake?

Where: 40 Budd Street, Collingwood
When: Tue-Fri 7am-4pm | weekends 9am-4pm
Details: facebook.com