Pan Pacific Perth Has Launched A New Spanish-Themed Pop Up Restaurant, Picaresque

Words by Alexandra Casey.

No longer does it take 18 hours to travel from Perth to Spain, the country famous for fabulous food, vibrant culture and breathtaking scenery thanks to Pan Pacific Perth, which has just launched their new restaurant pop-up, Pícaresque.

Showcasing dishes from eight destinations across Spain, Pícaresque takes inspiration from traditional Spanish tabernas, and it’s the first of a series of planned pop ups launching in the hotel’s new Broadway theatre-style venue, The Stage.

Crafted by Executive Sous Chef Xerxes Bodhanwala, the menu challenges tradition and convention, taking inspiration from the mischievous nature and rogue adventures of a picaro, each dish – a unique creation starring locally sourced produce and authentic Spanish ingredients that deliver the unexpected.

The restaurant offers four or six-course options paired with Spanish wines, with prices ranging from $79 to $149 per person and signature dishes include the house-marinated Alto misto olives from Jaén, the Catalonian Croquetas de Ibérico finished with seared bluefin tuna belly and the sweet and salty Tosta de Sardina, originating from the island of Majorca.

The Galician Pulpo a Feira dish features melt-in-your-mouth Fremantle Octopus sous vide style, while the paella (also known as Arroz a Banda) from Dénia Town comes with Pardoo Station wagyu beef sourced from the Pilbara region.

Then there’s the Spanish 12-month aged Ibérico Jamón with toasted bread and crushed tomatoes and a 16-month aged Manchego cheese served with Inés Rosales and natural honeycomb, while for dessert there is the decadent Torrijas de Leche from the city of San Sebastián.

Make sure to leave room for this one because it’s similar to a caramelised Spanish French toast, served with homemade Leche Merengada ice cream – delicious!

Vegan or have vegan friends? Never fear – they have an excellent vegan alternative as well.

Fashioned by Pan Pacific’s talented mixologists, the cocktail list features twists on Spanish classics like the Piña Picante margarita – our personal favourite, or the punchy Marianito made with Campari, Red Vermouth and Tanqueray Gin.

If cocktails aren’t your forte, not to worry – the carefully curated wine list is infused with WA and Spanish labels, not to mention the Spanish Estrella beer or cava, rosa and blanco sangria.

Sevilla Rumba and Flamenco will set the scene for four months while Picaresque takes the stage, with Flamenco dancers having guests up on their feet on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Pícaresque at The Stage is open every Thursday and Friday from 5:30pm and from 6pm until late on Saturdays. For more information or to book, visit The Stage Website.

All images via The Stage Perth.