Dione Lucas, an English chef and first female graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, once said, “The preparation of good food is merely another expression of art, one of the joys of civilized living.” The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) in Northbridge must agree – why else would they have invited the Pica Bar and Café to set up shop in the hallowed halls of the gallery?

The café sits in the Northeastern corner of the heritage building, and right in the thick of the Perth Cultural Centre. Inside, there are cushy leather sofas, small tables and lots of open space for post-work mingling. On the walls hang artwork from the gallery that rotates every six weeks. Outside, multi-coloured metal chairs and tables cluster under umbrellas on the alfresco terrace overlooking James Street Mall.

Head Chef Brock Bethune has been practicing his art for years, having previously cooked at The Rocks Restaurant and Café in Victoria and George’s Meze in Subiaco. The all-day breakfast menu includes homemade treats like toasted muesli, pancakes, and for those who crave savoury in the early hours, there’s potato rosti, poached eggs and the Morning Breakfast with the works. We’re keenest on the tapas, which, despite being an overworked and overly expenive concept in Perth, are innovative and refreshingly affordable, costing between $9-18. Most salivation-inducing are the spiced swordfish cakes, seared scallops, grilled eggplant Parmigiana and skewered Torre lamb.

Art has never tasted so good.

Where: 51 James Street, Northbridge
Hours: Tue-Fri 7am-late, Sat-Sun 11am-late
Details: pica.org.au