Shop 2/277-285 Barkly St, Footscray, Phone: 9687 5202

Each of my visits to Olivessence at its previous incarnation in Victoria St, Seddon, had coincided with the recent purchase of olive oil elsewhere.

For my first to its new digs in the Barkly Theatre apartment building, olive oil is short at home and definitely on the agenda.

First, though, another of life’s essentials – coffee.

And very good it is, too.

Olivessence’s range of olive oil may not seem that grand – but the accent is very much on homegrown quality rather than quantity, with a tasting table set up beside the VOO racks.

The store also stocks a fairly handy range of goodies such as condiments, pastas and so on.

The big change from Victoria St is the addition of a coffee machine, something the in-built apartment-dwelling customers no doubt appreciate to the hilt. In a broader sense, and like Pound Cafe up the road a bit, Olivessence should benefit from a dearth of coffee options in the immediate surrounding neighbourhood.

Food-wise, Olivessence runs to breakfast of the toast and muffins variety.

Lunch comes via a modest list of platters that range from $6 to $20 for two that include a revolving range of olive oils, oilves, cheeses, Turkish bread, dukkah and so on.

The sweets highlight is the presence of  Cavallaro canoli.

And out I go, Glenora Grove VOO firmly clutched under arm and happy in the knowledge of another friendly drop-in coffee spot.

Visit the Olivessence website here.