Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore.

Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore brings together two fairly straightforward pleasures: coffee and books. At 78 Oxford Street in Paddington, the cafe is spread across three floors with more than 30,000 books lining the space. Visitors can take a book from the shelves to read while enjoying their coffee and food, and every book is available to buy if it proves difficult to put down. The bookstore also buys quality secondhand books, giving the venue a role beyond simply displaying a large collection.

The food offering covers all-day breakfast, brunch, salads, sandwiches and lunch, with most of the food prepared on the premises. The website specifically highlights homemade chai, granola, bircher, labneh, beef cheek pappardelle, brownie and caramel slice, alongside coffee, organic tea, iced tea and fresh juices. Ampersand is also fully licensed, so it can suit someone looking for more than a coffee stop. Its emphasis is on carefully prepared food and beverages, with most products made from scratch.

The setting is the main point of difference: a cafe surrounded by floor-to-ceiling shelves of books rather than a conventional dining room. That makes it a natural choice for solo visitors who want to browse or read, as well as book lovers meeting for a relaxed catch-up. It may also appeal to visitors looking for an unusual Paddington stop, with plenty to explore across the bookstore and cafe. The venue offers gift certificates that can be used in either part of the business, and some books are also available through its online store.

Ampersand says its approach is centred on service, food and beverages, community support and respect for people. The site does not set out a founder story, but it does describe a team that prepares much of the menu on site and aims to deliver a consistent customer experience. In 2025, the cafe and bookstore was placed sixth in the 1000 Libraries Awards’ list celebrating notable book cafes and libraries around the world. It opens from 7am to 4pm on weekdays and from 8am to 4pm on weekends, making it suitable for an early coffee, a daytime meal or an unhurried browse in Sydney’s Paddington.