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Just open: Pop-up coffee spot opens at Five Dock playground

Megan Johnston
Megan Johnston

Pop-up: The menu at Livvi's Cafe has an Italian bent.
Pop-up: The menu at Livvi's Cafe has an Italian bent.Christopher Pearce/Getty Images

If there's one thing that draws a parent to a play-date quicker than a kid to a slippery-dip, it's a playground with coffee.

Caffeine-seeking carers in the inner west can re-charge at a new pop-up stop this spring with the arrival of a kiosk next to the playground in Five Dock's Timbrell Park.

The venture, called Livvi's Cafe, was opened in July by local couple John and Justine Perkins, who lost their baby daughter Olivia to a rare illness eight years ago.

A tomato, prosciutto, rocket and bocconcini panini with a cappuccino.
A tomato, prosciutto, rocket and bocconcini panini with a cappuccino.Christopher Pearce/Getty Images
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Their charity, the Touched by Olivia Foundation, has opened several playgrounds across the country but the Five Dock space is the first to include a cafe.

"Our mission is to create inclusion through play and bring communities together regardless of age, ability and background," Justine says. "We wanted to offer a facility in the form of a cafe and give people with disabilities [a chance] to gain workplace training."

Set along Henley Marine Drive, the space has secured free rent from Canada Bay Council for 18 months. Property company Stockland donated the kiosk structure.

One of the operators of the cafe, Daniel Cordaro, says the menu has an Italian bent and includes a range of prosciutto, salami and vegetable paninis and sandwiches, which are all made on site.

Other options include brownies and cookies from Madhouse Bakehouse and pastries from Bowen Island as well as arancini, toast, ham-and-cheese croissants and bacon-and-egg rolls. Cordaro also serves Campos coffee, Charlie's juices and Italian fruit drinks.

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"It's been a long time coming," says Cordaro, whose family once ran Elio restaurant in Leichhardt. "The playground's obviously very popular with parents and toddlers but what was always missing was somewhere to grab a coffee close by so everyone's excited the cafe's here."

Twenty cents from every coffee sold is donated to the charity and community events will be held at the site, starting with children's storytime at 10am on Monday, September 1. Free babyccinos will be available for children.

"It's a lovely way to bring communities together," Justine says. "[And] a mum with caffeine is much better than a mum without."

Livvi's Cafe, Henley Marine Drive, Five Dock, 7.30am-3.30pm daily

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Megan JohnstonMegan Johnston is a producer and writer for Good Food.

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