The concept of this cafe is amazing, a place to get some studying, some reading, and also grab some delicious lunch. It look small from outside but it actually have 3 floors with a huge collection of books, even an outdoor seating section. I was actually really surprise by how amazing the food are, for a cafe that focus on the atmosphere and books . I suggest come here in cold whether , since i came here on a hot summer day and there's no ac to be found, but overall still an amazing experience.
This is my new favourite cafe. Full of character and charm and the coffee is good. Perfect for an afternoon of reading and relaxation.
Located in the heart of Paddington, this book-filled cafe has a living room vibe and laneway seating offering delicious & nutritious bites! šāØ There are over 30,000 books spread across the three levels - so if you love to read and love to eat, this place is worth a checkout! Must orders include the beef brisket sandwich, French toast & the chicken and grains salad!! š Thank you so much for the hospitality, canāt wait to come back!!!
One of my FAVOURITE cafes in Sydney that Iāve been visiting since I was a little girl. A cafe bookstore in the heart of Paddington. Ampersand is the perfect place to grab a coffee and read or have a peaceful lunch with friends. We had the French toast, eggs Benedict with bacon and a green bowl
With a side of iced mocha and of course coffee !
Always revisiting this beautiful cafe. xx
Good food, great coffee, and fantastic ambiance š Such a quaint little nook to grab a bite to eat in, and pass some time with some solid conversation. Cozy is an understatement.
Such a beautiful cafe with an amazing atmosphere, I could have spent all day there it's so cosy! The food and coffee were not only aesthetically pleasing but also very tasty.
There are 2 things I love: books šand foodš². So I was very excited when I found @ampersandcafe
Why not relax, read a book and enjoy a beautiful meal.
Turkish inspired eggs, chai tea, the green bowl (Quinoa,Ā hummus, zucchini, avocado, broccolli and poached egg) and a scroll lamington to die for.
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Came as a guest. A interesting cafe which is part book store. They have tables in in the outside and all 3 floors too. Looks like people prefer upstairs! Food wise tried the French Toast,smashed avo and Turkish inspired eggs. While they were all nice I have to go for the French Toast! My friend really liked the coffee here too
Such a lovely and cosy cafƩ perfect for those rainy days when you want to get some work done or catch up with your besties! Everything we tried was so yummy and loved getting to check out some vintage and newer fashion and style books. Will definitely be back soon this winter!
Welcome to the new world of Ampersand Books & Cafe when you get inside!š PERFECT PLACE for people who love book, coffee and food at the same time! They have delicious food and a great coffee taste.āØ
This place is exactly what I looking for, foods and coffee with the books shelves to be ONE.ā¤ļø The interior of this Cafe is very classic, which is very comfy and cozy! The service is very kind and friendly too. What I could describe more than this is absolutely a PERFECT PLACE to me!6āļø
I wish I could get back to this cafe soon.š
I absolutely love this place. Such a nice vibe with delicious food and the best chai. I felt like I was in a completely different world and could definitely get lost in books here all day!
Youāre transported into a different world as soon as you enter Ampersand Cafe! One can sit here for hours reading a Novel and sip on a great cup of coffee ( By far the best āļø in Paddington!)
To top it all, the breakfast here is great too! Make sure to try the French Toast on your cheat day, you wonāt regret it!
Awesome cafe idea! Itās a cafe and also a bookstore. Multiple floors with plenty of space for breakfast/brunch as well as study space. Great, quiet environment for reading and studies.
Is it a library, cafe, bookstore or all three?Ā Ampersand first came onto our radar in December last year when a Christmas tree-shaped sculpture made of nothing but books caught our attention.Ā But it was not until recently did we realise the upstairs of the cafe also serves as a library where you can immerse yourself in the large book collection while sipping on a cup of coffee.
Perfect place for people who love good books, coffee & food! Delicious food and great menu. The Ampersandian was a personal favourite accompanied by the tea. Could spend hours here browsing books and enjoying a good meal with tea/coffee.
An awesome cozy spot for great food, drinks and endless books to keep you company. The service was great and we highly recommend the Ampersandian Breakfast!
I came with a friend for lunch and it was hard to get a seat because the venue is so popular! Ā Situated in the midst of a hive of activity and atmosphere and easy to get to via all modes of transport. Ā I love the fact I can relax and read while I dine, but I'm a massive book worm so this is totally my vibe. Ā The food itself was lovely, my friend and I shared the french toast and avo and eggs on toast, very tasty and clean. Ā Definitely recommend stopping by even if just for a coffee and a browse of the book collection.
Honestly what a gem!!! LOVED! They have downstair, upstairs full of books and seats! Besides thats, the food is great and staff super friendly. I felt that I was on my happy place! Have the french toast please! And the Ampersandin!
Love the ambience at @ampersandcafe š„°š Not only eating your food, but you can read some of books there! What I order : The Ampersandian, and Grilled salmon & scrambled eggs on brioche..
As you walk down Oxford St, Sydney in Paddington, youāll find yourself passing by Ampersand cafe & bookstore. Make sure you step inside. Downstairs, it looks like a familiar cafe, with indoor and outdoor seating, but make sure you head upstairs in one of the three levels and find a seat amongst the floor to ceiling bookshelves.
Such an amazing atmosphere, the food was so amazing, the vibe of being able to read and enjoy some me time with a friend. Itās a must try. Iām a sweet tooth so the French toast really hit the spot for me.
Grunchy BUT funky spot in Paddington. Perfect for a relaxed Sunday, as you can read one of their many books to choose from and sip on a great cup of coffee and then enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch. The menu was perfect š enough choices but not too many to be confused. Staff were very friendly which always makes a difference. Great spot to try out.
A lovely little cafe thatās super popular with locals for a reason! The cafe/bookstore is 3 levels of books and quaint seating. Thereās great areas for quiet studying or reading as well as a nice outdoor area. The menu is simple but the food is done really well and everything is lovely and fresh.
We went in the morning for breakfast and ordered the Ampersandian, Polenta fries, falafel , coffee, hot chocolate and caramel slice. The food was amazing. Everything was fresh and tasted really good. The service was quick. The staff was super friendly. There were some very interesting books on our table, after exploring the three floors which is stacked with books, I found some really interesting and rare books that were very difficult to leave behind. These were priced pretty reasonably too. Very beautiful place. Would love to come back and cannot recommend it enough.
I came with a friend during the hot arvo on Friday. We spent hours here and totally loved this place. Good coffee, nice ambience, great playlist and super friendly staffs. I would have spent more hours with those lovely books and coffee.
I was walking home after dropping off some used clothes at the Australian Red Cross in Paddington (my favourite op-shop to donate to) and grabbed a takeaway latte with my handy keep cup from Ampersand Cafe. It was so good, and the ambience so excellent that I managed to head back for a proper sit-down latte a week or so later.
Quirky cafe that doubles up as a book shop. There was some cool seating areas outside so thought Iād grab a pew and spend some time here. Order at the counter and once payment made then grab your number and table.
Decided a Mocha would be a nice warming beverage to have. It was a sunny enough day to take advantage of the al fresco seating but plenty of seating indoors too if the weather wasnāt as favourable. Service was lovely and my coffee was brought out quite quickly. Enjoyed the coffee art on top. Tasted nice and well worth the detour.
Such a nice coffee shop in paddington
Close to many good stores around the shop. I ordered chai latte and my friend ordered hot chocolate. Both tasted good.
The ambience was nice. So many book shelfs and good spot for taking pictures
Definitely recommended!!!! And sure!!! I would come by again
Perfect place to get some work done or just unwind by reading some books. I wouldn't say that the tea here is the best, but they definitely make up for it with the general environment of the cafe.
This cafeās one of my favorites because of the ambiance. It gave me that āSunday morning feelingāāthree floors of secondhand books, novel (pun intended) pieces at every cornerāthat urges you to slow down. Their food is so-so but if youād like to kick back and get lost in a book, this is the place to be.
Incredibly themed book cafe. Excellent brekkie menu with varieties of sides options. Polenta chips was a spot on :) ! Nice aromatic coffees. Ambience was cozy and quite. Good for lonely readers with some nice coffee and books ā¤ļø Approx $35 for 2. Service was excellent :)
We stopped into this quaint little cafe on our walk from the centre of Sydney to Paddington markets. It was a sunny day and this place had a really good feel to it. I was full of classic books and little nooks and the staff seemed to be enjoying themselves. We sat at the only table going and then ordered our meals at the counter. They catered very well for the problem child in our group with gluten, lactose issues. I ordered a eggs benedict which has a really zingy hollandaise sauce and certainly hit the mark and everyone left content to continue our walk.
I'm a massive fan of this cafe. Their eggplant parmigiana is absolutely gorgeous, coffee always good, and service consistently friendly. The decor is quirky with piles and shelves of books throughout each level.
Very cute cafe with some beautiful books, perfect as a coffice with minimal noise and distractions. Not much seating, but luckily I came at a time without much customers. No power points which was a let down though. The eggs benedict (vegetarian no bacon) was very refreshing, the hollandaise sauce had a very subtle taste, not very flavourful which was a bit disappointing, but overall it still tasted great.
The coffee was only average however, nothing special but not bad either. Would definitely consider coming back to try more of their food and give the coffee another chance just to enjoy the nice atmosphere in there.
Delightful welcoming friendly place with a great character. Good healthy stuff on menu to take away or eat in the place with a book to read.
I like this place. Not for it's cute and quirky decor that looks like a library, but because they made my chai EXTRA hot. Just how I like it. Thank you!
I was surprised by the size of our eggs Benedict, plenty of bacon and the coffees weren't too bad.
Good value for money. Happy to return on another visit to the Paddington area.
Books meet coffee, tea and food. This place was filled with sophisticated people discussing creative and artistic pursuits, sipping Jasmine tea while perusing Emile Zola or quietly reading a thesaurus in the corner while nibbling a brownie.
I now know about the helm of persius; and if you want to know what "as fussy as a hen with one chick" means, you should come here.
Oh, and the coffee is good as well but also closes at 3pm on Sunday's.
Found this place on the Specialty Coffee Book. Coffee is good with rich aroma. However, it could be better if they use Bon soy. Food is great with generous portions but reasonable prices. I loved the brekky bowl with all my favourite elements including seasonal fruits, Black rice, Bircher musli and etc, and all elements worked perfectly together. Staff is very friendly. I wish I could stay there the whole day indulging in the books.
I adore studying here, amongst the books and old furniture. The chai tea is delicious and the caramel slice goes down a treat. I can't review the meals or coffee since I've tried neither.
Great place with an amazing atmosphere. It's like you're having a breakfast or getting a coffee in a library. Staff is pretty cool and the cafe has 3 floors. I ordered eggs benedict and went to the 3rd floor. Its guiet and so cosy. That was one of the most delicious breakfasts ive ever eaten. Worth every penny. Also i ordered green tea and came with a tea pot. Spent like an in there and loved it.
We go here every now and then. Don't live near the city but we will happily drive in specifically to have breaky here.Ā Staff are good. Food and coffee is always yum. If I had to choose something to complain about, last time I was there I asked for an egg added to my meal and I didn't get it but turned out I didn't really need it and it wasn't on the bill so I wasn't worried.
I'm so glad Sydney still has bookstore cafes. Ampersand in Paddington has vintage style, it's own class, and friendly, timely service. We visited today around lunchtime - I wasn't surprised to see it buzzing. We were lucky to dine in the "library" upstairs, without it being too crowded.Ā Our table of two was quickly filled with the brunch style "Mediterranean" and theĀ "Burger of the Day", alongside a bright yellow mango frappe and solid green "health kick" juice (which was delicious I might add!). With tasty dishes and quite large servings, I was more than satisfied coming in with a near empty stomach. Don't you just love eating good food while surrounded by books? I do and I did. Will be back to actually "read" some books! :)
Books, food, coffee - as they say, you had me at go. Ampersand is a cute as bookshop:/cafe on the Darlo/Paddo border, which continues to thrive despite the generally bleak outlook for the printed word. It serves appetising looking salads and hot dishes but on this occasion I only had time for coffee. My coffee was good and the staff friendly and personable. A great option in a somewhat fragmented neighbourhood.
Awesome place. Really liked the atmosphere. Loved their poached eggs on toast with added bacon and avocado. Great meal to have after a morning run.
Loved our breakfast here! Had the baked eggs with beans, kale et al and the polenta chips. Bought a couple of kids books in the process! Coffee was good too!
Beautiful big meals would recommend to check out this cafe. 3 levels of books & seating of small & large tables & chairs. I had the breakfast bowl & my sister smashed avocado.
One of the best risotto I've ever had. It was just so smooth and melts in your mouth. Loads of flavour. Not sure about calories in it though. Coffee average.
Really nice sitting area up stairs and friendly comfortable vibe! Good prices and great food!!
I had a chance to catch up with an internet friend in Darlinghurst/Paddington. At her suggestion, we went to Ampersand Cafe/bookstore. We both opt for something sweet ā buttermilk pancakes with candied banana and strawberries, served with ice cream. I also get a chocolate milkshake which was also served with a scoop of ice cream. One can never have enough ice cream. Pancakes were a little on the thin side but perfect for my ever-increasing hips so I appreciated this. The candied banana slices made a delicious gummy, thick caramel-y syrup that went so well with the pancakes.
Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore is the perfect cafe to wind down after a day of adventure in the suburb. You can read a good book quietly upsta
Ampersand CafƩ and Bookstore is at 78 Oxford Street, Paddington. It's situated on an incredibly busy road, but "&" somehow manages to be a quiet and peaceful haven in an old Victorian house, with a warren of rooms stacked with second hand books and offeri
Great coffee, great food, great ambience. Staff were super friendly and babes.
Best eggs benedict in my opinion. Love to sit amongst the books and leisurely read/eat. Can get very busy around lunch time.
Perfect little breakfast. The menu is plain but delicious. Eggs are usually runny on the inside. For a while my boyfriend and I used to go there frequently for breakfast when we started dating. It was always nice to sit outside catching the morning sun. There is just enough shade from the shadow of the buildings not to be overcome by the heat of the sun. They sell Cinnamon scrolls which are hard to find in Sydney and are delicious (although they would be nicer if the pastry was softer).
I really enjoy this little cafe. The food is great - I eat here whenever I'm at uni. It's reasonably priced and the staff are lovely. The books are the sweetest touch and the decor, mostly found objects, makes for an edgy touch that sets ampersand apart from the rest. Love to bring friends here for a chat or even eat here myself and relax with a book.
Fantastic! Went here for brunch on a aunday and all our meals were great quality and very quick. The egg white omelette with spinach and mushroom was awesome and the rye toast a great addition. Coffee was great too. Will definitely be back - next time Mediterranean brekkie for sure!
Was the first time I have being to ampersand.have heard a lot of great things about it. Was extremely busy and was surprised what a small team can produce under the circumstances. My food and coffee was exceptional would defiantly go back
Double Happiness. One of my favorite places in Sydney, such a fabulous cafe AND also a great bookstore!! I do recommend it to everyone. Service can be a bit chaotic when its packed, but the staff are very friendly and eager to please should there be an issue. Dislike being called 'Darl' and 'Love' by the cashier, but its worth it for the superb coffee from their magic baristas. Standard of food has definitely improved the last few months and i'm loving their new cakes!!
ALSO: If you love to read, the handsome book guy a the back (when he is there on the weekends I think) is very knowledgeable and can usually tell you if he has a book in stock just from his head, which is pretty amazing considering their stock is not computerized and they must have tens of thousands crammed on three floors there!
Smooth Operator!. Such a slick operation! Like cogs in a well oiled machine the staff at Ampersand are friendly too and know how to have a bit of a laugh with one another while on the job ;) I've often thought of how much fun it must be to work there! The food is excellent and the coffee is without doubt the best in the area. When I want to impress visitors from out of town, I bring them to Ampersand.
OMG!!!. I went to this wonderful cafe for the first time today and what a find! The staff were friendly, the vibe was awesome, I could spend hours in there reading all of the second hand books. I was there for lunch and had the BEST pumpkin tart- pie creation I have EVER had!!! I felt like I walked into Donna Hays cook book. I am abosultely coming back to try the breakfast menu.
Delightful. This cute little cafe has a small outdoor pavement area where you can eat, or inside on tall stools surrounded by books that they sell. I went for brunch on a Saturday and although busy we didn't have to wait longer than 2 minutes for a table. I have a major sweet tooth, so I ordered the Breakfast Bowl which had delicious apple and berry crumble, warm rice pudding (which tasted a lot like sweet porridge) bircher muesli, rhubarb & mixed seasonal fruit, topped with dessert yoghurt... delicious! My friend had the Morning after breakfast, she said the eggs were a bit watery and the bacon a bit fatty but she did enjoy it. I'd definitely come again for the Breakfast bowl - I'd consider it a new favourite!!!
Love ampersand. I'v now visited both Paddington and Surry Hills, and I love them both! fresh, simple, affordable food and a great ambience to match. Love their breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. So affordable! Try their salads and salt/pepper calamari at Crown St and their sambos at Oxford St. Mst try the Meditteranean Breakfast! Yummy!
A heavenly oasis of five star coffee and beautiful second hand books.. In my opinion Ampersand Cafe/Bookstore is a rare establishment that offers a unique homely atmosphere, happy/helpful staff, top coffee and food, and glorious 2nd hand books. I disagree with the previous comment, as my experiences at Ampersand have never been short of wonderful. The cafe/bookstore has an abundance of atmosphere with a homely/cosy feel. The coffee and food is consistently brilliant and always arrives at my table within minutes of me ordering. If its take away, you can guarantee that one of the friendly baristas will have a chat, regardless of whether they have 2 coffee orders or 10! The Corn Fritters with a side of bacon are cooked to perfection and with the bacon crispy, but never burnt. And the homemade muffins are sooooo yummy, sweet and warm fresh from the oven. I love Ampersand Bookstore! It never fails to disappoint :)
Great coffee. Lovely blend and perfect temp. Ampersand Breakfast was beautifully presented and the corn fritters were surprisingly full of flavor thanks to the relish and avocado accompanying them. Friendly staff and eclectic atmosphere thanks to the books and the hipsters getting their dose of Sydney morning sunshine. Good times.
What an amazing place to chill!
-3 floors, many seats (a bit crowded during the weekend). 10-15min for the service,
-Many books to choose
-Drinks and meals (breakfast and lunch) are not too excellent, but still we come for the atmosphere,
-We've been there over 4 times this month
-Easy to reach there
This is one if my favorite coffee shops in Paddington as it is cozy and atmospheric. It looks like an old house or a library, where you are surrounded with hundreds of books š I love a cup of coffee with a cake or breakfast there. The staff is great- friendly and caring.
Gorgeous homely cafe and bookstore with great seating available both in and outdoors.
VIBE: Relaxed homely setting, floor to ceiling bookshelves, comfy furniture, great little reading nooks.
FOOD: Plenty of options, daily salads, burgers, healthy bowls, brekky faves etc. They cater to gluten free, vegan and vegetarian folks too, with gf bread, brownies, almond and soy milks etc.
STAFF: Absolutely lovely. Attentive, efficient, kind and understanding. They were very helpful recommending gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options.
ACCESSIBILITY: Pram and wheelchair access available, although toilets are downstairs. Outdoor seating let's a great flow of fresh air through on hot days. Also ideal for those with dogs.
OVERALL: An absolute fave, will definitely keep coming back! So glad we got to meet the owner at Blues Pt road who recommended the place. We love it!
Got to say, my favourite cafe in Sydney. Always come back here for a cuppa. Best tea in town. If quirky and bohemian is your thingā¦ā¦and itās on Oxford St. Tons of books inside, two floors. Chairās not the most comfortable, probably a tad cramped but well worth a visit. Food pretty good too.
Coffee combined with plenty of second hand books in an old building. Like straight out of a Dicken's novel! Nice coffee, friendly staff. Personally would like more variety of subject but this is a nice place to spend an hour.
I absolutely love this place. I always have trouble deciding what to get cause I like almost everything in the menu. Service is fast, nice ambient music and books everywhere
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