At school, I always wondered what it was like to be one of those kids that moved around with their families every few years (or less). Having grown up in little ol’ Canberra, I wondered how much more of the world they’d seen; how much collateral knowledge they’d picked up on the way.

the Ampersand Cafe sits along a busy stretch of Oxford Street in Paddington, opposite the Victoria Barracks. it's a 'cafe bookstore' - which means a multi-story library towards the back of the cafe boasting 30,000 second-hand books, an invitation to lounge around or chat at the communal tables while you sip on a coffee, and a range of $1 books for sale (which one young passerby astutely noticed and managed to convince his mum to buy him four books about dragons). 

it's a popular venue among the locals, without any sign of being pretentious. the decor has retained much of its vintage charm, the menu is full of old favourites, and the staff are warm and inviting. perfect for a rainy day!