THERE is something of an urban revival happening in Northbridge and savvy, young creative types are leading the way.
A stroll along William Street will unearth a plethora of edgy boutiques showcasing the wares of local designers and artists.
But it isn’t just the fashion and art scenes that are benefiting from this new breed of futurist-thinking entrepreneurs.
Changes are also taking shape on the food front, with the recent opening of milk and honey – a cafe on James Street – reflective of the transitioning face of the frequently maligned inner-city entertainment precinct.
Owner Diana Quan identified Northbridge’s potential as a lifestyle hub well before opting to make it home to her dream venture.
“Northbridge has a really bad reputation that it doesn’t deserve,” she said.
“It’s such an amazing part of our city and there is a lot of promise, especially with all that’s going on in terms of the Northbridge Link and Perth Arena.”
A pharmacist by profession, milk and honey marks Diana’s first foray into hospitality, but she is by no means a stranger to the industry.
Her parents opened the Trackside Bakery at Perth train station many years ago, before selling it to start up Francis Street’s Coffee Beans Express, before offloading that some five years ago.
“My parents were bakers for 20 years and I’ve grown up with my family owning food businesses almost all my life,” she said.
“And, of course, being from a Chinese-Vietnamese family, you would always force your kids to work.”
After becoming uninspired by pharmacy – “it’s almost like it sucked the creativity out of me” – she teamed up with her mother Linh Tran two years ago.
The result is a stylish space with Italian-imported tables and chairs, extensive use of marble, pressed tin inserts on the walls and a banquette seating area towards the back of the cafe.
In a quirky touch, the menus sitting on the counter are something of a throwback to 80s-style report cards, and were actually Diana’s old pharmacy study cards.
Patrons will find Five Senses Coffee along with cakes, breakfast offerings, salads – including an all-day breakfast salad – and gourmet rolls.
Heading up the kitchen is young chef and sometime barista Santi Panjaroen, who has been busily adding daily specials (bangers and mash with a gourmet twist was a recent chilly winter’s day addition).
“I get bored easily, and I would like to keep it interesting for all the customers and keep that spirit alive,” Diana said.
“Ever since I started this project, I just feel so alive and so creative.”