Review Pica Bar & Cafe - Perth

Food was a bit small in sizing vs the price but flavours were good. The salt and pepper squid was a little rubbery and disappointing. The cocktail tailored for me by a female staff member was awesome! She really listened to what I wanted and created something delicious. The sour beer on tap was very average. It was packed but good, calm vibes.

Really cozy and enjoyable establishment, right in the heart of the cultural precinct. Great range of beers, and some of the friendliest, knowledgeable, chatty hospos you'd ever want to meet. Great to sit out in the sun on a mild autumn afternoon and while away a few hours with a mate and a few local brews.

Stopped in for a quick beer and snack with the kids after a trip to the museum. Nice atmosphere, good beer on tap, chips and decent chicken pieces instead of nuggets for the kids (well done!). Service was friendly and prompt.

Great Urban bar near the WA Museum & State Library. Great service, range of drinks, interesting moody decor & seating options. Didn't try any food.

Nice spot for a Friday lunch break . Shady seating out back of bar. Culture Club lunch after gallery visit. Delicious mushroom burger and warm roasted cauliflower on menu , quick friendly service

This place was absolutely fantastic food was fantastic customer service 10/10 drinks were great ( It was only water but it was good) Great music was nice. Perfect place to go for lunch. I recommend this place to go if your hungry right next to a great museum. Fantastic!

As of Thursday 16th September 2021 at 2:22pm I had the watermelon juice, orange juice and apple juice it is just so refreshing and delightful and I enjoyed it every drop of this mixture of juice worth it for just $5.00. The atmosphere here is just great and staff are just magnificent, marvellous, spectacular and wonderful. It is very clean, thanks very much appreciated for your service and time. As of Thursday 16th September 2021 at 2:45pm Just has the Steak Sandwich was just delightful, delicious, cooked to perfection, mouthful with so many ingredients and I am full. Worth every money of $18.00, highly recommended if you haven't eaten for more than 7 hours. Kind regards, Steve Chong.

This is the only picture I have of the mushroom burger because it was that good. A lovely lady with dark short curly hair served me with excellent service and even an aoli with no fuss or paying extra nonsense.😂

Making the news in recent weeks for all the wrong reasons – potential closure due to some bureaucratic bungling by various State government bodies – the PICA bar opposite the State Library in the Cultural precinct is a popular place to hang out if the crowds inside and out under the trees at the back are any indication.

Had a chicken parmigiana for a Friday lunch, chicken was "okay" but the salad served with the meal had rotten bits in it. Colleagues had steak sandwiches which they said were good, but as the reviewer, my opinon counts more :p

The  PICA Bar &  Cafe at  51 James St Northbridge , in the Cultural Centre opposite the Central Library,<br/>is a hidden gem . It is part of the PICA   Art Gallery  complex, with an in door & lovely outdoor area ,with wooden tables and  benches  under a beautiful old Moreton bay fig tree, which provides much needed shade & coolness during the hot Perth Summer.<br/>The Menu is extensive but not at all expensive . Their "big breakfast" at $19 is the best value in Town .Their steak sandwich $18 is the best that I have ever eaten.. They have an excellent  Bar  with local & overseas wines & beers & the best "Espresso Martini" that I have had the pleasure of drinking. Their coffee is marvellous & very well made . They are open for Breakfast ,Lunch & Dinner and attract a young and vibrant crowd especially on Fridays . if you are looking for a terrific place in the City, to relax with wonderful food,  great atmosphere , and very reasonable prices ,then look no further than this fabulous Bar & Cafe .

Pretty chill atmosphere in a convenient location. The food is like fancy pub grub meets cafe and there's a great range of drinks from beers and cocktails to tea and coffee.

Fantastic espresso martinis and friendly staff make PICA bar a great option for a drink with friends. It's great people watching out the front or secluded out the back with big tables and an alternative vibe. Great nibbles too!

We come to PICA regularly. It's a great central pub with a nice inclusive feel. Decent cocktail menu, friendly staff and a modern but casual vibe. The food is typical pub grub, but there's some yummy healthy options for those so inclined. They have beer/wine combo deals with a burger ($20) or steak sandwich ($25). It's consistently good tucker.

I needed a burger for lunch on a rainy Saturday and came here. Found the place was busy and the two guys were struggling to keep up. It took a while before someone took my order as they were serving food and coffee to everyone who had already ordered. Ordered at the counter the steak sandwich which was a scotch fillet, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, butterscotch onion and garlic aioli on toasted Turkish bread with glass of wine; a reasonable $25 total. I sat down at the table, which unfortunately still had old dishes as did the table next to it. It also needed a clean. But once my food and wine arrived, which didn’t take too long, the waiter cleaned around my plate. Love the sandwich and the butterscotch onions made the dish extra special. Love the venue, and the food and wine was good. Staff despite being run off their feet were helpful.

A great little bar and place to meet when visiting the Cultural Centre. Get the bartenders to recommend something for you - they know their stuff.

I love this place, it has a cool chilled vibe to it without being pretentious. <br/><br/>I was so happy to find that they did mulled wine which was perfect. It was like a Mince Pie in liquid form - yum!

Somewhere to get a drink if you're in the arts precinct but otherwise I avoid it simply because there's nothing special about it - staff, decor, menu ... <br/>At night walking to and from this part of Northbridge doesn't feel safe, and the die-hard smokers outside the bar are a turn-off.

Best steak sandwich I've had in a while at a very reasonable price. Chicken schnitzel was fab and only $15. Top ambience - not too noisy and just right with the music volume - I could still talk and hear. Give this place a go!!!

Nice to sit outside with the laneway atmosphere around you. Great cocktails although they're limited but you can always ask the staff to make you something different and theyre pretty onto it

Excellent food and drink range in a beautifully restored old bar. Love sitting out the back in the beer garden or going for breakfast and a coffee with friends in the morning. Coffee is great too. Keep returning here and for good reason. When I came for breakfast the other morning we got a share plate with some beautiful cheeses and cold meats, the baked eggs were tasty and the brisket was phenomenal, highly recommend. You can tell they put pride into what they do here.

Had my husband's 50th at Pica. Was fabulous. Chef Laura is amazing, she made us delicious finger foods including a special request for crispy pork belly. What a super chef she is, it was fantastic. The bar staff kept us updated on the bar tab and we all enjoyed a wonderful evening. Nothing was too much trouble. I would highly recommend Pica Bar and thanks again Chef Laura, you can cook for us any day.

Zo biiiist. Omg this place is the best groovy tunes exuberant staff the best coffee ans to top it all off its in the heart of freo's cultural centre!!! check out the galleries and git sone callories (jj they got gf and v and vg options). also loved that they have eftpos!

Favourite place in Perth. Relaxed, great staff, friendly service, great location and venue, great prices. Food and drinks are good (not the best in Perth but a good range solidly prepared) and basically a great spot for a casual catch up. I'm here all the time.

Disappointed. Sadly this place has gone down hill over the past 18 months! Yes, the venue is fantastic but it all stops there. Had a lunch here today before going on to the Art Gallery and was very disappointed. I had the pulled the pulled lamb ,eggplant and caramelised tomato ciabbatta roll , the lamb was barely warm and very dry, the ciabbatta was quite stale and the caramalised tomato relish was way too sweet and overpowered everything. The service was very lack lustre, we had to ask for water and ask for the table to be cleared well after we had finished to enjoy our 2nd glass of wine. I looked over at the table across from me and noticed a lady had left most of the roll of her dish as well so I don't think I was just being picky. I couldn't be bothered complaining as just wont go back again as there are too many other great places to go to in the vicinity so wont waste my money here again on the food that is for sure.

Haiku review. Fave brunch spot in Perth <br/>The food never disappoints <br/>Is very central

Nice place to meet. I really enjoy this little place for a drink with my friends, especially when it is hot outside. I am from Italy so you know we like a drink in the sun!

Bar review. I've been here twice now and both times its been a great atmosphere. The staff were much friendlier the second time I went & very helpful. I've only ever had beer here but they appear to have a decent cocktail range, and I'll definitely look at trying them too. A very nice quiet hidden place & would recommend it

Dog friendly bar!. I went here a couple of weeks ago with my little puppy, a few friends and their sausage dog. This is now one of my favourite places in Perth - the staff were lovely and were fine with us sitting in the alfresco area with our little dogs. I really wish more venues offered the possibility of combining my three favourite things: friends, my dog, and a nice wine

One of Northbridge's hidden gems. I only tried this place recently after having walked past it a hundred times, and was really impressed. Their cocktails are to die for, their regular drinks range is good, their staff are lovely, and it's a rare place in Northbridge where you can go for a quiet drink.<br/><br/>Never tried their food menu because it's pretty limited, but it's the first place I'd go in Northbridge for drinks.

Nice little place, pretty spot, drinks could be a bit cheaper.

Booked in for after work dinner and drinks .. Our booking has been lost, but they went out of their way to accommodate us .. And we got free drinks<br/>They have fire gully Chardonnay :-) happy days .. <br/>I kinda of agree it could do with a little something extra on the decor - it could be a funky little place

Excellent CBD pub with best value steak sandwich and ANY pint for $20. Highly recommend the Local Feral Hop Hog IPA if on tap if not try the Sierra Nevada. Bith go brilliantly well with the butterscotch onions o the steak sanga... PS this should have wone the AHA best steak sandwich comp based on having tried the other four finalists it is well ahead on value for money with or without the pint.

Highly recommend. I had the chicken burger and it was delectable. Great service from all the staff.

A wonderful atmosphere and particularly nice outside watching the passing peoples. More care taken with food would match the setting.. Eggs hollandaise destroyed by the time I finished fighting with the thick crusty bread underneath and too much hollandaise swamped everything. Service friendly and coffee good.

Disappointing. I've been here a few times and wouldn't recommed it. The EFTPOS machine was not working and staff appear unwelcoming - felt almost that I was troubling them asking for a pint?! It is also hot inside - no a/c as far as I can make out. A shame as I would like to recommed to all my students in the local area. I hope things improve.

Great Location. Great cafe/bar. They have an awesome list of cocktails and jugs on their blackboard. The food was fresh, delicious and well-priced.<br/><br/>Service was efficient and friendly. It's always a good sign when wait-staff talk to you about the food and ask you for feedback.<br/><br/>I like the location too. Not quite Northbridge, not quite CBD. Close to the State Library, Museum and Art Gallery. Sitting outside makes for some great people watching.

New Local. Came here for breakfast this morning after first trying Little Willy's but after seeing it was full we moved on. <br/>Came across Pica Bar and liked the vibe immediately. Upon entering we were very warmly welcomed by the barista, told to find a seat and the waitress would come over. He brought us over water immediately and took our coffee orders. <br/>The coffee came quite quickly, although small these were very nice and I asked for a second when our meals arrived. <br/>I ordered ciabatta toast with poached eggs, avocado, mushrooms and tomato. However the waitress didn't write down our orders and went by memory. I knew this would be a mistake straight away and when my order arrived I saw that instead of mushrooms I had spinach. Luckily I also love spinach so just ate that instead. I was given three eggs which was quite a nice surprise and about half an avocado - delicious. <br/>My boyfriend ordered fried eggs, potato rosti, spinach, mushrooms, tomato and sausages on ciabatta toast which he loved and filled him up. The serving sizes were very generous. <br/>My coffee came after my food had finished and was again really nice. <br/>Upon leaving I spotted the amazing fresh muffins they baked - these had just come out of the oven and were still warm. I loved the look of them so much that I had to buy two different flavours - banana, nutmeg and ginger and strawberry. The barista gave me the discounted price of $3 each instead of $4.50 which was fantastic. <br/>Will definitely go again and try the amazing sounding mueslis!

Not like it used to be. Im not sure what happened here but the food isnt as good as it used to be. I would rather dine at caffisimo around the corner.

Hidden strength. I dined here a few days ago and was thoroughly impressed, I ate risotto and my friend had a steak sandwich which I was later informed had butterscotch onion jam!(yummy) the place was a bustling beehive of activity yet all staff were bright cheery and very attentive. On my way to the bathroom I snuck into the kitchen to thank the chef, sam,who while fairly under the pump greeted me with a smile and plenty of conversation. I learned that while suffering a devastating blow of the head chef walking out things were moving along nicely with a new menu about to sprout for spring. I recommend this this little wonder to any one wanting somewhere cool to go and hang out , a big special thanks to Brendan and Sam for making me feel like family, nice work!

Filthy venue. My friend and I stumbled across Pica bar while out in the city. Since it was father’s day we thought it could be busy but we looked inside and found a spare table. We asked the waiter if we could get a seat and he rudely said yes and pointed to the table. We ordered our coffees and thought since we were there that we would also grab a bite to eat. After calling the waiter over to take our order he finally came over and took our order (which, i might add seemed like an almighty effort for him [as he was so busy talking to another staff member]). We waited a ridiculous amount of time for our drinks and we were extremely disappointed with what we were given. My cappuccino was luke warm, with little froth and was weak and my friends latte was equally as unremarkable. We ended up waiting another 10-15 minutes for our food which gave us a chance to look around the venue. It is filthy. This made us question how ‘safe’ our food would be (thank god the kitchen is out of sight or else we probably would have just walked out). Finally our meals arrived and by then we were totally over this venue. We ate a few bites but our hunger had disappeard so we decided to just cut our loses and leave. All up the staff here were not at all interested in our business as they spent most of their time behind the bar gossiping. We will never return here or recommend this place to anyone. I can’t see how PICA bar has got the ratings it has. Am I missing something??

Best risotto of my life. Amazing eggs Benedict too. This is quickly becoming my favourite eating place in the heart of Perth.

Foord Lunch. Went to this bar a couple of weeks ago, with my eldest son, and i can honestly say "wow" the food was so perfect i enjoyed everything about it.<br/>the beer & coffee were great as well, and the service was especially quick.<br/>thanks for a nice meal

Pica Bar & Cafe. Good wheelchair access via the lift inside Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).<br/><br/>Friendly, helpful staff.<br/><br/>Tasty and quick take-away coffee. Tasty pomegranate juice.<br/><br/>Good range of interesting, unusual magazines to read over a coffee.

Long mac taste a lot like water and milk. Cappucino is just the same. Not the best cafe for coffee

Average. Great space and atmosphere so I am hoping they will find their groove sooner rather than later because this place does have potential.<br/><br/>Ordered chorizo which was overcooked. Arancini, prawns, dips/turkish bread were all good-ish but not great.

Pica needs to turn their heaters on, get some cushy furnishings, and cater to the season. I want to walk in and be warm for my red wine after work. Instead I was freezing as the windows were open when it was 7 degrees outside I love this bar and really want it to work. But a little interior design would go a looooonnng way.

Brilliant! Could not be faulted! Service was outstanding: ourselves and two young children were warmly welcomed and immediately accommodated without any sense of inconvenience or 'uncool-ness' that we tend to receive from cafe/bars. The gentleman who served us was knowledgeable and helpful in regards to drink choices and was happy for us to order the childrens plate minus the syrup. The food was truly delicious: generously served and very high quality. One chicken Caesar entailing a combination of fresh, crisp, clean lettuce, a tasty, light, perfect amount of dressing and many large roasted pieces of chicken and pancetta set the bar for future Caesars! Open sourdough salmon and caper sandwich was amazing: massive serve of excellent tassie smoked salmon, chewy dense sourdough and fresh salad with capers was almost a struggle to finish. Excellent work Pica Bar! We are already eagerly planning out next visit. You and your staff should be very proud of the standard you are reaching. Congratulations! See you soon!

I like!. I will definitely be back to sample some more of the breakfast menu! great menu and prices too! Love the character building and space.

The Bircher is amazing here !! I'll be back.

...we really enjoyed it and I would recommend PICA Bar and Cafe. My only concern was that I felt the menu was very basic. It lacked imagination and considering that PICA is an art venue I really thought they would translate this through to their food. Stock standard items such as steak sandwich let the place down.

PICA Bar is perfect for whatever you’re feeling and with a good cup of coffee and a delicious hearty breakfast, how could you go wrong?

Pica Bar and Cafe has friendly service, great food and a relaxed arty vibe that fits the Perth Cultural Centre setting perfectly. The salmon and eggs on toast were brilliant and answered the question ... 'why does breakfast taste better at lunchtime?' If the weather is good it's a perfect spot to sit outside and watch the world go by

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 homema