As an American exploring Paddington for the first time I came across this awesome cafe on Oxford. My flat was close by and the purple exterior was a happy purple that made me curious. Then I saw things that sparked joy. Coffee, books, art, food, Australian wine. And the outside tables were occupied by chill patrons of the intellect hip kind. My kind of people enjoying the warm Sydney weather. Add to this 3 floors to explore. I loved this place so much I came a few times. I loved looking through all the books and trying items off their menu. Rose' excellent. Flat white perfect. Chai very nice. The food is made from scratch so I cannot give this place enough Yelp stars. It would be 5 stars for each category. Their wifi works great too. I tried to order things I wasn't familiar with. They also have specials of the day so give that a go if you find your way here. I tried a Caramel Slice coz I've never seen that before. It's a posh layered dessert snack type a thing. So glad I ordered and would order that again. This cafe / bookstore encourages you to grab a book and relax. So I found a few and ordered the Tapas board. Keeping with a variety theme. I had a variety of books and paired it with a variety board of food. They serve breakfast lunch dinner and good Aussie vibes. Mel M Yelp 22:10 read more

As you walk down Oxford St, Sydney in Paddington, you'll find yourself passing by Ampersand cafe & bookstore. 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. Set into three rooms, consisting of books aplenty, organised into their themes with comfortable seating, this is somewhere you could absolutely sit for hours. Order your food at the front, and it will be delivered to you as you immerse yourself in the books. Whilst it is only a small menu, the food is interesting and they also have some daily salads, sandwiches and pastry goods. A couple of options using black rice, we chose the brekky bowl with Bircher and sticky black rice with figs, cinnamon and fresh fruits. We really liked this as it was quite different to your normal Bircher. French toast is an option, baked or poached eggs and smoked salmon is on the menu but we opted for a familiar favourite - the eggs Benedict with crispy bacon and creamy hollandaise. We were hungry so we also shared one of the fresh Reuben Bagels. It was filled with a super flavoursome pastrami, cheese and sauerkraut and this was the winner on the day. For those wanting lunch, there's a burger, steak sandwich and even a black risotto or polenta chips. Coffee is by Little Marionette and the mocha was a good drop, complete with Lindt chocolate. We also had a cold drip which we certainly enjoyed. Smoothies and teas are also available. Pop in for a nice meal and a good read. read more

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 read more

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I've been stopping into this delightful cafe and bookstore on Oxford everyday to fuel before heading out to explore the city (a short walk from the flat I'm renting in Paddo) Come for the free wifi, delicious food, or to read one of thousands of books on one of the 3 levels. I've had the brekky bowl, and a pastry so far, but I ALWAYS get the iced tea which is wonderfully light and refreshing- Blueberry, Apple, Rose and Cardamon- spectacular! Yesterday I met Flávio the chef who was so kind and gave me some great recommendations for things to do in the city. Highly recommend! Great place to relax, refuel, spend time with friends or alone. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Some great street art outside - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

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I have Walked past this cute little cafe/ bookstore/ courtyard multiple times and finally tried it. The vibe is great - love the outside sitting. The food is very fresh and servings generous looking at all the plates I saw. I got the arancini ball, simple but well done. Fresh tomatoes inside, melting mozzarella, crispy outside and moist inside. Could not ask for more. The breakie and lunch options look fabulous - I ll be back for more ! read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Very cut courteyard - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

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Amazing! So cool! What a combination! So. How it works, is you go in, order something to eat and/or drink, take a seat and dine amongst the books, and when you go, you can buy a book on the way out! At least I think, not all other books had price tags, and some looked worn, like an old library book. Which makes me think; maybe I was allowed to sit and read while I ate?!?! Ohhh, it all feels so taboo; food in the library? People browsing around you whilst you sit at the table? Weird, but in a great way. And its just got such a cool old vibe. Three levels worth of books and dining tables, all fit inside an old house with creaking floorboards and views of the rustic neighbourhood of Paddington above, a stone dungeon below, and a courtyard and café inbetween. And the foods worth it too. What a great place for something different! Honestly, I don't think I want to do either a book store or a café separately now that I've seen how cool it is when their together. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

Atmosphere is a tricky thing, in cafe's many things can create or a collection of many things may comprise an atmospere which gives you that feeling of being as comfortable and relaxed as you would at home, providing a place of escape. Sometimes it relates to the location, the decor, the friendliness of staff, the quality of the food and coffee, sometimes it may be a particular experience you associate with the cafe. I think usually it is a combination of several of these qualities. Ampersand Café & Bookshop on Oxford Street manages to succeed in creating the rare quality of this relaxing environment (at least for me). The coffee is excellent, but I don't think that is it, I think it is location and layout in which the cafe opens onto the little side street and the way they have incorporated the books shop approach, with the books in the walls around the coffee shop, with a sense of them overflowing creates a nest like environment, which I enjoy. It is the sort of place where I could sit four hours and relax and read, write or whatever. Not too many places successfully achieve this for me, but Ampersand does it to perfection. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

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Oooh I love this place! Firstly this place is a bookstore (obviously). They buy and sell second hand books - almost four floors of them. It is literally a treasure trove if you're a book lover like me - so much fun to spend hours in searching for a title or chancing upon great finds. Secondly this place is a very cool café! The courtyard is a great place to perch on Oxford Street. The coffee is great as are the sweet pastries (the chocolate brownie is amaze). The combination of the books and the coffee give this place lots of charm- really worth a visit. read more

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One of the things that I have noticed about Sydney that doesn't seem to be the case in Melbourne, is the existance of these secondhand bookstore/cafes. In fact there is one on the other side of the road from this one, but Ampersand has a much, much better atmosphere to it. Sure, while the bookstore cafe isn't new - Borders and Dymoks have been doing it for ages, this concept of the hip cafe and secondhand bookstore is. Okay, they have it over in Europe as well, however I have yet to see them come to Melbourne. Anyway, I have to admit that I absolutely love this place, and if it wasn't for the fact that Sydney is so expensive, I would move in around the corner and spend every morning in this place. read more

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Great coffee and plenty of trending plates to have breakfast; even lunch. Don't talk to the ladies that carry the stuff to the table, they bark and even could bite you. Tip: first buy the solid, wait 15' and buy the liquid... they would never understand t you want both at the same time. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Trending fashioned group of stuff offered to eat - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

I somehow always compare this to Gertrude & Alice in Bondi Beach, and have been finding it hard to see which is better and more my type of place to be. Normally my consensus would come down to the coffee - as even though it's a bookstore as well, it most likely came to fruition due to the owners need/love/want/desire/lust for coffee (and books). So I'm going to say that the coffee isn't the best I've had, and the service sometimes takes a long time considering the amount of staff they have there, and it's a bit pricey. Although, the vibe is relaxed, the design of the store makes people feel uncomfortable as to whether they're allowed to go upstairs and explore the rabbit warren. Possibly frightened that a werewolf, tiny warlocks, or the reincarnation of Hercules would pop out of their tormented stereotypes, attempting to show their comic talents and challenge their past genres. They definitely seem to be more passionate about their meals, than their coffee, although for a basic drop of espresso it's fine, and can be quite tasty. My Lattes have often been too thin, and not strong enough. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

I must admit, even though its a cafe and bookstore, I only really use Ampersand for the former. When I pass by I'm always on my way somewhere in Paddington or Darlinghurst and as a certified coffee addict I can't resist this place. The coffee is really creamy, never burnt and the balance is perfect. Also if you're a Sydney Uni alumni check out the blueberry bagels. I used to have the exact same one every day at Wentworth Bldg ;) Check it out, its a great little coffee stop if you're in the area. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

I do not spend enough time in Oxford Street. To remedy this I took a wander this afternoon and found this little cafe on the recommendation of a friend. The cafe doubles as a bookshop with seating on all three floors. I took advantage of the nice day and sat outside eating my eggplant parmesan - very tasty. The whole atmosphere felt like you were walking into your cousins library and not into any old cafe. However, I would say that the selection could be bigger but what I had was delicious. Definitly need to go back and stay longer in the fiction section. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Loving my eggplant parmesan - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

Inconsistent coffee. Been there a few times and the sandwiches are great; but the coffee is good to bad. The atmosphere with the books is nice, but I am really there for a good drink. If that can't be done, then I won't go back. read more

The charming girl at the register forgot my croissant and charged me only a few dollars for a croissant and two pots of tea, so I suppose I have been unwittingly bribed ... But I vaguely heard of that thing called ethics so I suppose I will endeavour to remain objective. Ampersand Cafe and Bookstore is a nice little place, almost discreetly tucked into an alleyway off Oxford St. Despite the latter being a major artery, this Sunday morning was quiet enough to enjoy conversation and tea in relative peace. The street art on the walls and the eclectic furniture displayed give a sense of casualness that is easy to enjoy. Even though the food and beverages weren't the best, it is largely compensated by peace of mind. Imagine that peace of mind and duck-fat fried mushroom with garlic and parsley, bacon and a little haloumi stack: I might add it a fourth star next time I have breakfast there! read more

I do love the quirky atmosphere of this little coffee/ bookshop- however the coffee I had yesterday was subpar. So subpar indeed that I didn't finish it. I prefer their sister cafe on Crown St and the staff there are much more friendly.. Got a little 'tude yesterday which was disappointing. But it probably wasn't enough to stop me from coming back. In relation to the coffee- perhaps the barista just had an off day? However since I am trying to do 1 coffee a day at the moment it was a bit sad this used up my one precious cup of goodness. In the future I might stick to the chai -it is the tastiest cup in the inner city! read more

This was the first Ampersand to the second Ampersand that now sits comfortable on Crown St, Surry Hills. This one is a little grungier, more groovy, less grantstanding, more rickety, less pretty, more woody, less light-friendly, more book-friendly, is a lot easier to get to if you want to spend the day looking at boutiques and other stores on Oxford St, more makeshift-y, more about the coffee, more fringe-festival-y, more uppity (stair-wise), more sketchy (art-wise), more casual, less bakery-heavy, less Crown St doyenne's, more Oxford St heavy's, more take-away friendly, less kitchen-y, less seating, more natural element-y. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

Okay..spotty service (guys were great), had to ask to rewarm my sandwich, which was cold in the middle, and I was met with a cold stare. Cool ambience, decent prices. While there, the server asked a party of 4 to move from their seats downstairs to upstairs, which I thought fairly odd. In any case, decent little establishment. read more

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Paddington, NSW

A strange, hipster joint. The ice tea is either amazing and delicious or absolutely horrid; it's touch and go, and a pricey risk. The sale books outside often hold half price gems, so worth checking out. Not a bad place, just not my first choice. read more

One of the best places in Sydney to get a coffee and a meal. Not only is the coffee great, but the food is excellent. Vegan & vegetarian options on the menu and fresh in their fridge every day - I know I'll find something tasty that I can actually eat when I go there! The staff is always helpful and always offer the best service. And that they remember your name is just too good. The attention to detail is the absolute winner for this cafe, from the saucers to the figurines in the bookshelves. All of this makes the atmosphere just perfect. read more

Now and again I find myself in Paddington and in desperate need of coffee. Normally this desire comes on while I am attending the Social Innovation BarCamp at the COFA campus. Every time I am in this situation it seems someone near me will suggest Ampersand as the best cafe in the area, and it has not let me down yet. The thing I like most about this place is the attention to detail. Each time I go there the guy making the coffee is focused on getting the most out of each bean. Helping them get the most out of each cup, they luckily use Allpress coffee which is not too shabby at all. If you see a cafe serving this, it is a great first step (though not a guarantee). Anyways, if you are in the area, make sure to drop in, check out the book store, and grab a great cup of coffee. Cafe Summary ------------------------ Passion for Coffee - 8/10 Coffee beans - Allpress Crema (1=burnt, 10=velvet) - 8/10 Special coffees avail? - N/A read more

I tried to buy a scroll and coffee for $8.50 but the girl at the register wouldn't accept my credit card with a purchase under $10. I explained that I would be happy to pay a 50c merchant fee but she insisted that I must pay $10. I told her she would miss out on a sale but she didn't seem to care. Rude customer service! Would not return! read more

Ok I love the idea of this place, it's quirkiness and the books on the table that you can just flick through as you drink a good coffee -BUT - I hate saying this, the place is in need of a thorough scrub-a-dub-dub! The room on the bottom floor smells so bad of mold that I'm surprised it's used as another eating area!!! The books and the area inside where the pamphlets are have alittle bit of a grimy, slicky feel to it - kinda like how the top of a kitchen rangehood feels with evaporated fat. I thought the staff were great, the coffee was good, the concept and the books are a great quirky selection - but for a place that's pretty well staffed, some of them could be giving the place alittle elbow grease! Sorry guys read more

Hmm I am a little divided on this little cafe.. The decor is nice with a book cafe european feel to it, I specially love the seating area with graffiti art in the back lane... Its the perfect place for spending a sundy afternoon with good coffee and a book.. they have a pretty good colletion and have a sale going on the outside, which are books on half price and you can end up finding a real steal... I did try their cinnamon roll which was overlaoded with sugar so had to leave most of it for the fear of getting a sugar high and walking like a zombie.. Having said that its a nice little joint for coffee and people watching read more

I'm hopelessly in love with this place! The coffee is great, though everyone makes them differently. I know when to order my Carmel latte, and when to stick with my usual based on who's at the bar. The chai is also a mega treat! A fabulous collection of old books, little seating nooks and incredible food. I've never ordered anything that wasn't fantastic. Only problem for me is that there are no power points which makes working on the laptop a challenge. read more

Great coffee, great breakfast and a really lovely bookshop to browse after Had the mushroom toast which was delicious. A lovely relaxed breakfast spot read more

Fantastic service, great food, good prices. Will make the effort to come back for breakfast... Sounds delish!

A place where my love of coffee and love of books is combined. Always a great range of salads that cater to a range of needs including vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free etc. The menu has some interesting choices too with baked eggs and black quinoa, to a black rice porridge. Always good if you need something on the run and the fact you can have it heated as well is perfect. Definitely one of my favorite places for dining and take away. read more

When Madonna starts two hours late, it's still appalling, but there is only one Madonna. However, there are many good coffee shops in Oxford Street. At 8am with only ONE other customer in the entire cafe, the THREE self-obsessed staff managed to refuse to greet us nor even offer eye-contact for over FIVE minutes after we entered and stood at the counter, and even then, still with the expression that somehow we had offended them by presuming to exist (now, possibly I might, but my partner is a bona fide Amazon loved by children who works in child patient care, we had walked in quietly and happily, so the problem was not us). We stood there with awkward confusion as though we had offended some secret local rule, it would have been frustrating if it wasn't so bad that it was funny. Possibly the staff are directly decended from the Ancient Nordic God of Hipsters and we failed to offer the customary beard cutting sacrificial blessings in which case, totes our bad. The coffee eventually, was good, but two minutes in any direction are many great cafes serving outstanding coffee with hospitality experts with all varieties of style that whatever their particular affect does not stray them unnecessarily over the boundary of unwarranted rudeness. read more

This is where you would find me nearly every Saturday afternoon, I love it here! Breakfast bowl, long black and finish it off with a cinnamon scroll. Do it! read more

I love everything about this place - from the adorable name (ahem, grammar geek) to the fact that it combines my three great loves of books, coffee and food. It's a calming space, with a few outdoor seats available downstairs, but I'd suggest climbing the creaky old staircase and finding a nook upstairs. They make great coffee and excellent home-made Chai, plus a cute range of cupcakes and other treats. Their brekkie menu is fantastic - how can you say no to apple and berry crumble with yoghurt, honey and cinnamon? (Fact: you can't.) There are more than 30,000 used books filling up the shelves, so whether you're after a classic or an atlas, it's sure to be hiding here somewhere. Buy or sell your books, or simply enjoy a cuppa from the winner of the 'Best Coffee/Tea House in Sydney Metropolitan Region 2010'. read more

I was blown away. It was amazing! Food, staff, service...and they have another one in Surry Hills! going there tomorrow

Pretty bad eggs benedict - the hollandaise seemed like pure butter. The french toast was soggy and undercooked. Underwhelming.

coffee and tea is what i like to drink when i am over stress with my business, and the coffee here made my day yesterday..thanks