Ampersand Cafe

Ampersand Cafe sits at Shop 2 on Walker Street, a few doors from its Rhodes neighbour strip, and it wears two hats: cafe and florist. Flower arrangements line the space, and the menus lean Japanese-influenced - kimchi shakshuka, hamburg steak and a matcha program that includes the strawberry matcha latte regulars photograph before drinking.

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating areas, reported through the cafe's Google listing and reviewer writeups rather than any venue-published policy, so treat it as visitor-reported. The Walker Street footpath strip is the dog zone, and reviewers consistently describe staff as friendly - a useful trait when your table comes with a dog at the end of the lead. Hours run 7am to 4pm on weekdays and to 5pm on weekends.

The vibe

This is a detail-driven cafe: delicate plating, cut flowers on the tables and a menu that reads closer to an izakaya-influenced brunch list than a standard bacon-and-eggs board. The florist side is not just set dressing - you can leave with a bunch as well as a coffee, which is part of why the tables turn over to a steady stream of regulars. It suits a slower, smaller-table visit rather than a big family breakfast, and the photographic pull of the flower setup means weekend mornings can fill quickly. If you want quiet, aim for a weekday between the breakfast and lunch rushes.

While you're out there

The river parks are a short walk from Walker Street. Mill Park Off-Leash Dog Park is the closest leash-free option, and the suburb's other cafe tables at Bare Witness and Left of Field make a two-stop circuit easy. Parking is at the Walker Street retail car parks; more in the Rhodes destination guide and the NSW dog-friendly cafes list.