Review Olive Lane - Balwyn North

A nice indoor outdoor setting cafe. Good service and menu selection. Modern open kitchen with friendly staff. Good size meals with a wide selection of deserts. It is popular so choose your times so not to disappoint. Another venue to return to on my list.

Just found this gem by accident ! Had the best meals and coffee...... highly recommend the wild mushroom scrambled eggs and the avo smash...great service too !! Will definitely visit again 😋

Every time I travel to this area, I will stap here for brunch. Great coffee. Great food. Great service. Always....

Been coming here since it opened but unfortunately it appears to have recently gone downhill. The sweets and desserts in particular are too expensive for what you get. While they are quite tasty, $2.50 for a tiny melomakarona like this is too much. Also had issues with service recently. I am allergic to nuts and came in one day to ask if a particular type of cake had nuts in it. I was told no it didn't. I ended up purchasing something else that day - came back a few days later and asked the same question to be sure, and I was told that it definitely in fact DID have nuts! This is a potentially life-threatening error on behalf of Olive Lane and I'd strongly suggest that management make sure that items are clearly labelled and staff know about allergens in all of the food.

I had the pork suvlaki today. Given I’ve never even heard of a pork suvlaki I was pleasantly surprised. It was really yum!

I have been there over 5 times and can’t think of any better cafe in the area. Great food, coffee and patisseries and the staff are just lovely especially the lady at the cashier whom I believe to be one of the owners. This is the first time I leave a review for a cafe/restaurant but I thought the owners of this business definitely deserve a tap on the shoulder. Thanks for your good work and I hope you could keep your great service on the same level once you got more famous than what you are 🙏🙏🙏

Messed up order, left rear door open to the cold wind, in too much of a hurry to close up. Not much fun. Food good. Coffee ok.

Our new favourite. Great breakfast and lunch menu as well as greek sweets on offer.

Best Coffee in Balwyn!!! The service is fantastic. The staff are really nice. The ham cheese tomato croissant was really nice. That’s just breakfast.... The chicken Souvlaki and chips is also really really nice aswell. Really traditional!Will definitely be back.

Very disappointing service today. Half hour wait for coffee, order mixed up numerous times. And this was after waiting 15 mins for anyone to come near us & clear the previous customers dishes from our table.

Lovely morning brunch today! The service here was lovely and the cabinet displaying beautiful Greek pastries and desserts was very tempting! The granola and fresh fruit was delicious, but needed more yogurt to granola ratio for me, probably would get it with the almond milk next time instead!<br/><br/>Pictured is the Granola (maple berry and coconut granola, with Greek yoghurt) & Skim Latte

Waited an hour and a half for food to come out. Although staff were apologetic- service like that is simply not good enough whatever the reason or excuse.

Stopped through here and decided to grab a coffee from here instead of the usual place I grab one when I’m in this area and was pleasantly surprised when I found they used my favourite brand of coffee veneziano <br/>Coffee was very very nice<br/>The small bit of spanakopita was also quite nice<br/>Will come back and try breakfast here for sure

I think olive lane is a great breakfast and lunch place for Balwyn. The service is very good, people are friendly, and the menu is extensive, with a good range of Modern Greek style dishes.

Walking into Olive Lane, I felt like all my Christmases had come at once. This gorgeous cafe and bakery is a sweet lover's idea of heaven. With a mix of traditional Greek flavours and French pastry techniques, Olive Lane has a loyal following with local residents returning time and time again.<br/><br/>The cafe itself is lovely, with a large space and high ceilings. Beautiful light fixtures, lovely furniture and greenery make it a welcoming space. To the rear is a narrow light filled corridor that is perfect when the weather is good and there is more seating further to the rear. It was almost a full house when we visited and we were soon to see why. The staff were lovely and welcoming, and more than patient with our decision making over the sweets cabinet.<br/><br/>The display is overflowing with Greek and French pastries. Divine looking baklava, donuts, croissants and danishes are so tempting and that's without looking at the cake cabinet. Rows and rows of perfectly beautiful French inspired treats are amazing to look at. Trust me, choosing a favourite here is like choosing your favourite child... impossible. We finally made a decision and sat down to enjoy fabulous coffee and fresh juice.<br/><br/>We ordered the French toast, and while we waited we enjoyed some beautiful cakes and a serve of kataifi. The cakes were so beautiful to look at, but equally good to eat. Filled with flavoured mousses, the flavours of pistachio cake and ferrero rocher mousse were heavenly; and the little red cake had a delicious shortbread base, and delicious creamy filling. The kataifi was absolutely heavenly, laden with lashings of honey syrup; the shredded pastry filled with nuts was simply sensational.<br/><br/>When the French toast arrived, we were blown away with how epic it looked. A beautifully presented dish, with a huge piece of brioche topped with chocolate mousse, icecream, pistachios and loads of fresh fruit including bruleed banana and fresh pasdion fruit. This is easily one of the best French toasts I've ever had, as it wasn't overly sweet and it had so many contrasting textures and flavours that just balanced each other perfectly. Once we saw the size of this dish, we knew that our little cakes were going to have to become takeaways, as I never would have been able to eat that much in one sitting. The staff were extremely accommodating and fully understood our predicament. That French toast is a huge and satisfying dish.<br/><br/>I absolutely loved my time at Olive Lane, and really wish it was in my local neighbourhood. The residents of Balwyn sre so lucky to have this fabulous cafe and patisserie on their doorstep. Amazing food, a fantastic ambience and absolutely beautiful staff make it a real treat to visit this cafe, and the fact that the place was packed is evidence that the locals know this to be true.<br/><br/>Thank you for hosting us.<br/>

Very friendly staff, walk in with a big smile, take good care of us, deco is nice, warm light on the wall and lot of nature light coming through the cafe, the food is standard nice, but bit of old fashion, nothing very very special, but generally everything is great :)<br/>

A little piece of Greece in North Balwyn. Great cafe with a large outdoor area. Delicious food and good menu range. Coffee is perfect along with the patisserie selection.. oh my! favourite dish is the strapatsada!

Great coffee and food. Quick good quality service, would recommend this place, also has great cakes which you can order for events. Will be going back!

Had the pleasure of dining at Olive Lane with some friends. Firstly, the staff are very welcoming, as when we arrived we were greeted with smiles. Although this probably sounds very mundane, being greeted with smiles in the morning really does lift up one’s day. <br/><br/>One of the highlights of this meal was the coffee. I’m a firm believer that almond lattes are awfully hard to perfect, and therefore is the perfect indication of a cafe’s coffee. Well the one at olive lane was divine. I finished it before my meal actually came, it was that good! It was very foamy, smooth and did not taste burnt at all, which I commonly found with almond lattes. I was so tempted to get a second one.<br/><br/>For the meal, I ordered an açai bowl. The presentation is just divine with the colourful fruits, berry tones of the açai and the cherry on top, a beautiful flower. Surprisingly it was not overly sweet. The açai part was very creamy and fresh, not too sour. Sometimes açai bowls can not be properly blended but this one was very nice. One downside was that it is not very filling as there is no banana blended within the bowl, but that could be because I have a big appetite. Overall, a pleasant experience!

You know the vibe you get when you enter a cafe and you feel, "Yes, I can see myself coming here every morning for my coffee and every weekend just to hangout and brunch... and yes this could be my go to, my favorite place to be " .... well that's the feel I got when I went to @olivelanemelb .<br/>🍒🍒🍒<br/>Located in Balwyn North and opened only in August last year, this cafe is clearly started to be noticed for all the right reasons. 🍰🍰🍰<br/>They do artisan pastries and cakes which are totally next level mindblowing and why wouldn't they be, their patisserie chefs have come straight from Greece.<br/>🍛🍛🍛<br/>The owner Andrew and Diti, are one of the friendliest cafe hosts who took the time to greet each customer as they came in. They are genuine hosts and natural conversationalists and they truly enjoyed hosting each customer and knowing what up with them. 🍉🍉🍉<br/>They have carefully curated their menu to include all brunch classics .. what's different is this menu is topped with their ace hospitality. ☕☕☕<br/>For a Cafe to achieve such reputation only in 8 months of its inception is totally outstanding and really beyond compare. 🎡🎡🎡<br/>And hey, dont be surprised if you do find me there every weekend ,, cos I am serious.. I am totally crushing on @olivelanemelb at the moment. It really is gonna be my weekend hangout from now. 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️<br/><br/>#mojolevel 5/5

Yes it me again harping on about dog friendly cafes haha but I can’t help it and it’s always nice to find one so close to home! Olive lane in Balwyn a Greek themed cafe serving up not only traditional breakfast dishes but also Greek dishes such as chicken kebabs, calamari and greek cakes and sweet. But the biggest attribute would be the open courtyard at the back! Perfect for big, small and friendly four legged friends!

Walking in we did not realise how spacious this venue was ! Upstairs is also their own bakery where the pastries are all baked in-house, we sampled the baklava and let me tell you , this was to die for! <br/>For lunch we ordered the calamari, the pesto pasta and meatballs. The meatballs were flavoursome and dipping them in the Tzatziki was a really good combination! I wish this dish came with bread but I was told this was the traditional way of eating it<br/>The calamari was really well done , lightly salted battered and fried , it was tender and a crowd pleaser <br/>Our favourite dish however had to be hands down the pesto pasta, this was packed with flavour and the lemon really lifted this pasta up! So yummy! <br/><br/>Thanks so much for having us in

We discovered this lovely Cafe after being asked to change tables during lunch hour from a larger table to a smaller one,from the delicatessen a few doors down.We were happy to comply until we realised we would have to sit at  different tables!!  It was a good thing we walked out and into this really wonderful Cafe'. The staff were the friendliest people,the food was delicious and many varied dishes were available. The Cafe' had great atmosphere and is light and roomy. We will return to this lovely place the next time we are down in Melbourne. I have recommended this place to everyone!! Regards,Anne.

Not welcoming staff.We entered for breakfast and the staff did not even asked us whether we want to take a seat or not.Very cold food.Not enjoyed it at all.

Olive Lane is a Hellenic inspired eatery tucked away in Balwyn North. Visiting for brunch this was my first time trying a Greek style breakfast and I was highly impressed.<br/><br/>We shared the Strapatsada Greek style eggs, protein queen egg white omelette, a traditional Kataifi dessert and a more modern mousse dessert. To drink we ordered a regular cappuccino and a Greek style Freddo cappuccino.<br/><br/>The Strapatsada may appear relatively simple, being mainly scrambled eggs with tomato and feta but it is packed full of flavour. Beautifully presented on riganada toast, the dish was both tasty and comforting. In my opinion it is one of best breakfasts dishes I’ve had in a long time. <br/><br/>If you love bacon than the protein queen is for you. An egg white omelette filled with kale, spinach, bacon and halloumi plus additional bacon on top. This is also great for those wanting a big feed as it is very filling.<br/><br/>The desserts at Olive Lane are also made in-house so make sure you save room for dessert when visiting. I especially loved the traditional kataifi, the combination of stringy pastry, almond, walnuts and cinnamon is delicious. <br/><br/>If you’ve never tried Greek style coffee before than you should give it a go at Olive Lane. Given it was warm the day I visited I opted for a Freddo cappuccino, an iced coffee topped with frothed milk. It was cool, creamy and refreshing and a great option if you’re worried that the Freddo espresso might be too strong for you.<br/><br/>Overall I had an amazing experience at Olive Lane and rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5. Thanks very much for having me.

When I think Greece 🇬🇷 breakfast is not the first thing that comes to mind, which is just one reason why Olive Lane was such a revelation! Serving up an amazing Greek fusion menu in a gorgeous venue, it’s definitely one to check out!<br/><br/>We had the Eggs Florentine on Croissant ($21) with poached eggs, kale, smoked salmon and house made spiced hollandaise, and the Strapatsada Greek Style Eggs ($19) with marjoram saltsa, tomato and feta cheese on grilled riganada toast.<br/><br/>The Greek eggs were seriously one of the tastiest dishes I’ve had, deceptively simple and jam packed with flavour! Also love that they do Greek coffees, I had the freddo cappuccino which was so creamy and divine!<br/><br/>They also have a very extensive pastry and cake selection, all made in house. We had the Kataifi which had the most beautiful stringy pastry and was a sole joy stuffed full of walnuts and almonds, and the gorgeous White Chocolate Mousse cake which was so stunning and delicious!<br/><br/>Definitely a new local favourite, highly recommend visiting for fresh, high quality cakes and dishes with a Mediterranean twist.

Nothing makes this Greek more happy than a delicious breakfast with a Greek inspired menu! We had the Greek style eggs, which tasted amazing! The salmon and eggs was very flavoursome and then we had to have some delicious Greek sweets! The Kataifi was perfect, crunchy and sweet. Then the white mousse cake, wow! Highly recommend this place! Check them out! They have a gorgeous outdoor area also!

4.3<br/><br/>Oh me, oh my. What a fabulous cafe restaurant we have tucked away here. I lived around here many moons ago. The number of good cafes it had at that time was zilch. Zero. Nil. None. Take your pick of word. There was nought of note here, trust me folks. But, boy, things have changed. Olive Lane is easily the best cafe in the area on what I’ve experienced. It’s modern. It’s pleasing to the eye. Pleasing to the palate as well. It’s well run too. <br/><br/>The look is modern chic here. It’s not overdone and the cafe is pleasantly fitted out. There are good indoor and outdoor areas. Service was charming throughout. Harmonious, efficient and pleasant with a good team atmosphere. There was a great R&B mix on, black panther soundtrack excerpts and the like. The mellow stuff not the gangsta stuff. It went down well and also importantly didn’t spook any of the older customers.<br/><br/>My coffee to start was lovely. A good solid long black which was well made and well served. I ordered lamb shoulder for my lunch. It may be the best lamb I’ve ever had. Soft and full of moisture. Full of flavour with a gorgeous lemony tang. The meat was gently falling off the bone. It was an utterly beautiful dish. I’d cross any number of suburbs to eat lamb this good. Every mouthful was amazing. I didn’t fancy the menu listed potatoes and asked for a salad in lieu. It was a lovely little Greek salad I chose. It became more and more delicious as I had it. A beautifully composed and balanced salad. Every element was superb with just the right mix of oil. <br/><br/>It was a tiny bit pricey here for lunch but it’s all quality. On paying I discovered there was no direct swap, potatoes for salad, as I’d hoped so the meal cost me more than I had anticipated. I should have queried it, I suppose, or clarified the matter when ordering. Such is life.<br/><br/>It’s a very good cafe Here though and I’ll long have memories of that exceptional lamb dish and really tasty salad.

Great local cafe. Service is superb. Coffee really good. Food was terrific- saganki with figs and cherry tomatoes was superb, as was souvlaki and the burger.<br/><br/>Cheesecake was wonderful and light, the other desserts weren’t as good.<br/><br/>Will be returning for sure.

Love the fredo cuppucino. They had a nice twist on the standard smashed avocado. Servings were generous. And service was good, especially when I saw them handle another customer giving them a hard time over an unreasonable request.<br/>

Loving the interior indoor and outdoor. Staffs were extremely polite and friendly. This young boy serving me at the back courtyard has first class customer service attitude which many don’t have. They have some beautiful cakes and pastries displayed. I had the chocolate mousse and it is really good. Coffees are good too. Definitely worth coming back again.

It was overall an utterly delicious and thoroughly enjoyable feast. The amazing Greek influences permeate not just through their well-executed menu, but also in their warm, welcoming hospitality.<br/><br/>With such generous portions and delicious food, it’s no surprise Olive Lane was packed with locals on a Sunday afternoon.

Gorgeous cafe located in Balwyn North shopping district. The interior was stylish modern with a beautiful outdoor seating area and gorgeous array of freshly baked pastries on display. <br/>Selecting the smashed avocado (vegan), lamb shoulder and lemon roasted potatoes which turned to be some excellent choices. <br/>The smashed avocado came with thick sourdough slice, cherry tomatoes and kalamata olives which was beautifully simple dish that delighted the senses. The lamb shoulder fell of the bone and melted in your mouth it was served with perfectly seasoned potatoes and creamy tzatziki sauce which completed the lamb wonderfully. The lemon roasted potatoes was the a great add on as a side and can recommend!<br/>Our time at Olive Lane was lovely with beautiful interior, incredible fresh tasting food and pastries that would send anyone into an indulgent coma. It is a must for all go and enjoy.

My wife and I had breakfast here on Sunday. We both had the eggs benedict and it was fantastic. We liked the coffee so much, we both had 2 cups each. The loukomades are excellent. We highly recommend this place for breakfast. The service is great. We will definitely come back.

Best eggs benedict I've ever had (and I've had plenty)! Good think slab of bread that was nice and soft, 2 eggs, spinach, ham and plenty of sauce. Went for brunch on a sunny Sunday and sat outside. Really good atmosphere, service and food. Prices aren't cheap but generally inline with what you'd expect.

I left a phone booking, but was met with a blank look when I arrived, so fortunately there was a table available for lunch but right next to the door, so windy every time it was opened to the outside dining area. The meals are not large, so I’d recommended both entree and main or main and dessert. The meals are authentically Greek. There is a wide range of Greek cakes etc. It was very busy at the time we were there for lunch. Not inexpensive for the size of the servings.

Decided to pop into Olive Lane Balwyn North yesterday for breakfast 😍 The Greek style cafe was incredible. I had the omelette (with added bacon of course 🥓) and an iced long black. Finishing with a bougatsa, the entire experience was amazing! Delicious food, awesome vibe and I can guarantee you, I’ll be back

My new favourite place. Food is delicious, service is great and the atmosphere is ever better. Such a great selection on the menu ... you defiantly need to try the Strapatsada eggs Greek style, soo good!!!!

Great cafe fitout but sadly the pricing does not match the food offered. While there were many staff walking around, we found it hard to get their attention or get food cleared when we actually wanted it but several times they tried to clear half-eaten plates.<br/><br/>Saganaki ($15) was disappointing - dense and chewy with no flavour. Chicken souvlaki was okay but you only get 1 large skewer per plate which is not very much meat for $20. The only dish I would have again would be the lamb shoulder ($32) which was a generous serve and tender.<br/><br/>The loukomades ($1 each) were a let down as they are not cooked fresh and are soggy and chewy by lunch service. The honey ones are always the first to go as this is the authentic flavour as opposed to Nutella.<br/><br/>We ordered 3 mains to share between 4 + a drink each + loukomades. All up it cost $100. For this price, I would rather go to Hellenic Republic and get more food and service for my money.

Best service in Melbourne 👌. The staff is so friendly and the coffee is on point . I have a feeling this shop will set a new standard for Mediterranean coffee shops in Melbourne . Good job guys

Beautiful addition to the brunch scene and a very welcome foodie destination in Balwyn. Love that they have a different twist to typical brunch options instead of the usual suspects present at almost every other brunch joint. Make sure you leave space for their delightful desserts and pastries because they are really really good. Will be back for more!

Thought to try out this new cafe, it was so busy for a Thursday lunch and the atmosphere was great. Decor, style and atmosphere are comfortable and modern. Loved the addition of hanging bags with blankets for people to use if they’re cold sitting in the half in-out area. <br/>The spanakopita was a great surprise for me because usually I compare the phyllo to home made - but this was spectacular, buttery and flaky and crunchy and the filling had plenty of spinach.

Eggs Benedict was something that I could never find in Balwyn North. And wow did Olive Lane not disappoint!! Absolutely sensational taste and it left me wanting more. <br/><br/>Can't wait to head back and try something else on the menu. I think it will have to be the burger!

This new cafe is a breath of fresh air in North Balwyn. The high ceilings are the first thing you notice, coupled with hung-up beams and plants. Walk a little further to the back and it becomes semi-outdoors with a long bench seating situated on one side. Walk a little more and you’ll end up at the courtyard wheres there’s a nice scenic view. Getting back to what’s more important, the Hellenic-inspired food. I’ve got to be honest, the two dishes we ordered for lunch sounded fancy but turned out to be dry and surprisingly standard. The coffee was good though; smooth and tasty. There’s also artisanal pastries and desserts if you fancy something a little less heavy. Good service.

Visited Olive Lane on recommendation from a friend with my grandma for lunch. The place was pretty busy and we were lucky to get a seat (on a Monday!). The fit out is excellent. Very tasteful and well thought out. And the seating is spacious and although many hard surfaces not loud. We were seated in the courtyard which we were hesitant about given the cold weather but the heaters made it fine. The waiter who served our table was nice, polite and not over intrusive. I had the Greek scrambled egg dish which was really good! Nice to have something a bit different. The coffee was pretty good. Overall great experience. Additionally we noticed they take bookings. Smart in Balwyn with a lot of older people. Will certainly be back to try some of the other menu items and the sweets.

Lovely lunch at Olive Lane today. I had the smashed avocado and my companion the calamari salad. Both delicious!<br/><br/>Pros:<br/>- Delicious food and coffees.<br/>- Friendly and fast service.<br/>- Lots of seating.<br/>- Beautiful decor.<br/>- Gorgeous cakes/desserts.<br/><br/>Cons:<br/>- N/A.<br/><br/>Will be back!!!

Recently had the pleasure of visiting Olive Lane. Such a great fit out with a great pet friendly outdoor area. The food was delicious and so was the coffee! Highly recommend visiting

This café is worth the drive to Balwyn.. Very cool, modern vibe and fit-out. Staff are quite friendly and the brunch/lunch dishes are as we know them but with a Greek twist. Coffee was spot on! And the food coming out and cakes on display looked yum and super fresh. I had the open chicken souvlaki, very healthy and tasty. With a decent sized menu there are plenty of healthy dishes as well as options for a hangover. I’ll be back again and again.

Great cafe! Lovely food with delicious Greek flavours and delicious coffee. Great service with a beautiful decor. Will definitely be back 😊

A new local gem, just what the area needed! And I'd still drive across town to dine here!  Beautiful, fresh and modern interior. Cosy warmth and friendly staff. The little Greek touches on traditional brunch dishes were exciting and worked so well.  I've had a million and one smashed avo dishes across Melbourne, so the twist with the kalamata olives was a delicious treat! Coffee was superb.  A variety of cakes and sweet treats will tempt you, beware! They're delicious and the perfect sweet bite after a savoury meal.  Thanks Olive Lane, I'll be back again and again!

Gorgeousssss cafe and fantastic service! Olive lane takes you to Greece with a menu worth coming back for more. With a Greek twist to the traditional brunch dishes and the freshest bread I’ve ever had.. it’s one cafe definitely worth visiting. An indoor and outdoor area will be perfect for the coming spring and summer days.

Friendly staff, reasonably priced and very generous servings.<br/><br/>I loved their freddo cappuccino and authentic Greek cakes.<br/><br/>Nothing compares in the area apart from my Mother's cooking!

My new favourite brunch spot! Absolutely delicious with such lovely staff. Thank you for<br/>Opening walking distance from my home . I will<br/>Be seeing you all a lot!

The food was amazing as was the service. The staff were polite. I would defiantly recommend. I give you guys 5 stars. ❤️ Thank you it was great.

Went there for lunch yesterday... the burger rocks. Love the vibe, great fit-out and great food.<br/><br/>Exactly what Balwyn needed and will definitely be back.

My new favourite brunch spot and, dare I say, best coffee in Melbourne! Made the trip to Balwyn especially -- so worth it. Try to get a spot on the patio if you can and if you're a fan of halloumi, you're in for a treat. Will be back soon for the baked goods!

Warm ambience, superb service and fantastic tumeric latte! The Greek sweets are well worth trying! Great family environment ! Will definitely be visiting again, can’t wait to try the eggs benny!

Great vibe and fit out, the food is awesome (try the calamari). The deck out the back is what Balwyn has been missing, great for families or a lazy lunch. Definitely worth a visit :)