The Ampersand Café

📢 Important Announcement 📢

Both our café locations at Halifax Central Library will be closed during the NSUPE, Local 14 strike. We're thinking of the library staff and hope both parties reach a favourable agreement soon. 🤝

--- Release from Halifax Public Libraries Below ---

All locations of the Halifax Public Libraries will be temporarily closed until further notice due to a NSUPE, Local 14 strike. During a work stoppage, the community can expect:

All Halifax Public Libraries’ locations will be closed.
All book drops will be closed during this period.
Regularly scheduled programs will be cancelled.
Room bookings will be cancelled.
All library loans will be extended. Materials will be due after library service resumes, and there are no fines or fees for overdue items.
Our website www.HalifaxPublicLibraries.ca will remain up to date. The website allows you to get a library card online, search the library collection, access digital services and check your Library account.
Holds can be placed on materials via the website but will not be available for pick up. All materials on hold will be available when the Library re-opens.
Digital services like Hoopla, Libby, Overdrive, Kanopy, PressReader and WIFI will be available.
TeleAccess Service (902) 490-5845 will be available.

Our website will be updated when regular library service returns.

Time for another edition of Judge a Book by its Cover! 📚✨ In this series, we challenge our baristas to break the golden literary rule and create an order from our menu that’s inspired solely by a book’s cover.

This time, the book in the spotlight is Daughter. Our creative baristas brewed up a raspberry Italian soda and paired it with a delicate (but crunchy) raisin and walnut pinwheel pastry.

Did our Ampersand team judge wisely, or did they miss the mark? Tell us what you think about this round of bookish pairings! 📖☕️🍴

Let’s throw back to the nostalgic times of picking out the perfect movie for a night in. 🍿✨ At , you can relive that magic by browsing shelves just like these! So why not take a trip down memory lane? Time to stop by, pick a DVD, and bring back the simple joy of movie night. 🎬✨

Why settle for one when you can have a towering tale? Our chocolate brioche pinwheels are stacked as high as your favourite book series (👀 we see you, ACOTAR readers). Because here at The Ampersand Café, we believe in indulging chapter after chapter… or bite after bite. 📚🍫

🎶 "Talk to me, baby!" 🎶 We’ve got cake by the ocean today with this raspberry chocolate mini cake. 🌊🍰 With layers as rich as the Nova Scotia coastline and a flavour that's as vibrant as a Peggy’s Cove at sundown, this treat can be your perfect bite of summer.

A little secret spotted from the fifth floor of Halifax Central Library 🕵️‍♀️. Can you decipher it? 🔍 P.S. If you're diving into the story below, make sure to check out the last photo to set the tone 📷📖
A foggy afternoon in Halifax was as reliable as the tides themselves, thick with the smoke of industry and the scent of saltwater. Waves beat against the harbor’s edge, as if trying to claw their way into the heart of the city. Naval ships, their hulking silhouettes barely visible through the grey shroud, bobbed in the water, waiting for a break in the weather to embark on their Atlantic journey.

The wind howled up the narrow streets of Halifax, carrying with it the whispered secrets of a city on edge. The fog pressed in on every side, making the world feel smaller and closer. It was a day for the brave — or the foolish — to venture out. And on this day, Marta Monteith, a counterintelligence spy for Halifax, purposefully found herself in the café inside the Central Library, thanks to a tip she had uncovered earlier.

Marta sipped her coffee, the warmth a small comfort against the cold outside. She stared out the large windows, her eyes struggling to pierce the fog that shrouded the city. The world beyond was a blur of grey and shadow, indistinct and uncertain. Amidst the ordinary windows and brickwork of a building across the street, she noticed something — a series of dots and lines marked onto the glass windows. Morse code.

Her heart skipped a beat. Carefully, she memorized the sequence. What could it mean? Who had left it there? The code vanished as quickly as it had appeared, swallowed up by the fog, but it was burned into her memory.

Marta set her coffee cup down with deliberate care, her chest tightening with the realization of what she had just seen. She calmly removed the napkin from her lap and dabbed at the corners of her mouth, using the motion to scan the other patrons in the café. Nothing seemed amiss, but that meant little in her line of work. Satisfied for the moment, she reached into her overcoat for her pocketbook to make some notes.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?”

Marta looked up sharply, masking her surprise with a smile. The barista, the man who had made her coffee earlier, had come around the counter and now stood beside her, offering her a fresh napkin. His presence seemed too calculated, his timing too perfect.

“Thank you,” she said, accepting the napkin. “It’s just this weather. Doesn’t it have a way of stealing one’s thoughts?”

The barista, a man in his early thirties with a calm but perceptive demeanor, smiled slightly. “Yes, I suppose it does. How long are you in town for?” His tone was casual to the untrained ear, but Marta sensed an undercurrent.

“I’ve lived here all my life, actually, Mr…?”

“Grant,” he replied, his eyes meeting hers with genuine interest.

“Mr. Grant, then. So I’d like to believe I’ll be here for a good while longer.” She took another sip of her coffee, buying her a moment to study him. “And you? How long do you plan on staying?”

He hesitated for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough. He touched his face, a nervous gesture, and when he spoke again, his voice was smooth, but his eyes left hers for a brief moment. “Oh, a while yet. There’s just something about Halifax that keeps me here. Maybe it’s the people, or perhaps it’s the stories this city holds.”

Marta traced the handle of her coffee cup with her finger. “Stories, you say? Halifax does have its share of those.”

“Indeed,” Grant agreed, his gaze drifting to the window where the code had appeared.

“Well, Mr. Grant,” she said, folding the napkin neatly in her lap, “I hope Halifax treats you well in the time you have here.”

He smiled, but it lacked the warmth he had shown earlier. “I’m sure it will.”

She was sure it wouldn’t.

🎮 Lunch Quest: Complete! We see you, gamers at the library. Why not stop by the café for a little recharge? Power up with a hearty cheesesteak wrap, level up with a crisp Caesar salad, and grab that flaky croissant to boost those stats. Now you’re ready to conquer the rest of your gaming day. 🍽️✨

Celebrate the summer with a little coconut. If you add some chocolate to satisfy that sweet tooth, you’ve got yourself a macaroon! With this sweet, rich, and chewy treat, you won’t be able to stop eating after just one — time for seconds!

Life’s little pleasures, like a good book and a perfect cup of coffee, often hold the hidden gems that make our days brighter. You never know what treasures you’ll find when you read between the lines. 😉📚❤️

Do you love mango? Do you love iced drinks? And most of all, do you love coupons? Well, you’re in luck because this post gets you a discount!

All weekend long, show this post to our baristas at The Ampersand Café and they’ll hook you up with $1.00 off a Mango Italian Soda! This offer expires on August 11, 2024, when we close at 6 p.m. Remember, life is more mango-ficent with a Mango Italian Soda!

Halifax Central Library has lots of information for all you adventurers! Need a Halifax and Dartmouth Urban Walking Map? The Peggy’s Cove Coastal Region Map or the Eastern Shore Road Map? Maybe a Halifax’s Kids Guide would interest you? Or maybe Halifax’s 2024 Official Visitors Guide is what you’re after. Have fun exploring and maybe stop by the cafe to pick up a drink for the road?

On this sunny day, we found a secret in the garden. Perfectly hidden among the greenest leaves, and vibrant pink blooms was this sweet treasure. Do you like seeing macarons at The Ampersand Café? If we fill the comments with magical emojis, maybe some will be waiting for you on your next visit? 🌸✨

In a realm where delicate flowers bloomed with every turn of a page, this enchanted dessert was said to bring joy to anyone who tasted it. This week, let the love stories unfold under moonlit skies and let every sweet treat bring you closer to that happily ever after. 🌸📚💖

Who would dare judge a book by its cover? We would! We’re at it again with another edition of this series where we challenge our baristas to craft an order that matches the vibes of a book’s cover. 📚✨ This time, we picked a book called “I Think I Love You.” Our baristas put together a Goodmore Kombucha Rosehip Hibiscus and a Delectable Desserts strawberry Oreo mini cheesecake. How did the Ampersand team do with this literary no-no of judging a book by its cover?

Do you know where this sign is at Halifax Central Library? We're confident the teens do! 😉

P.S. If you’re looking for some delicious bread, we sell Stone Hearth Bakery loaves and bagels for $3.50! 🍞🥯 Unfortunately, none are cat-shaped at the moment. 🐱

If yesterday’s chocolate cupcake didn’t satisfy your chocolate cravings, we’ve still got you covered. Head up to the fifth floor for a slice of this chocolate salted caramel cake and pair it with an iced chocolate mocha!

Hot tip: We don’t usually put that much chocolate syrup in our mochas, but if you want one just like the photo, show our Ampersand baristas this post and they'll make it for you! 🍫✨

This is your sign to enjoy something chocolaty today. 🍫 May we recommend a treat from our café, like this chocolate cupcake? 🧁 It could be your new favourite reading companion! 📚

Spotted at the Library! 👀 Which one of you has been befriending Shane? 🐔 For those who don’t know, this cute blue chicken is from the popular farming game, Stardew Valley 🎮. It’s a rare chicken that can be difficult to get, and one way is by befriending one of the characters who loves chickens! 🐥

Make sure to stop by the café ☕️ to grab a tasty treat 🍰 to accompany you on your journey to find this adorable little fella! “If I could reset my life, maybe I'd start a chicken farm. Only free-range eggs, of course.” - Shane

Even when it’s warm and sunny, ☀️ we still can’t resist a piping hot espresso. ☕️ Balance its bold, roasted notes with a sweet vanilla sprinkle cupcake 🧁 from Delectable Desserts. And if you need to cool off? Why not enjoy this warm beverage among the flowers 🌸 on the patio of Halifax Central Library?

P.S. Did you know those tiny espresso mugs are called demitasse cups? Most French speakers probably knew, but we just learned while writing the post’s ALT text! 🤓

You know what goes well with a hike through one of Halifax’s beautiful trails in the early morning sun? A green tea! 🍵 Whether you’re trekking the Point Pleasant Park Trails, the Sir Sandford Fleming Park Trail, the McIntosh Run Community Trail, or the Frog Pond Trail, 🥾🌲 your taste buds can join in the adventure with some toasty-herb and sweet-grass flavours. 🌿 What trails you traversed recently?

Here at Ampersand, happy Fridays bring happy puns. Let us know if you’ve ✨ bean ✨ reading anything interesting in the comments below! Or maybe you’re more of an audio book person?

We had brainstormed so many ideas for this post. Between Barbie, Pink Floyd, Pink Panther, and Elle Woods, right down to Mean Girls because we can’t forget that on Wednesdays, we wear pink. So many ideas and we couldn't pick one, so instead, we were just overwhelmed with pink references and left in defeat. Maybe it’s time to open one of these books for some new inspiration?

Before adventuring through Halifax and catching all the must-see tourist destinations, you’ll need to start your day with a hearty breakfast, a little caffeine, and of course, a map! Between Halifax Public Libraries's Halifax Central Library, and The Ampersand Café, you'll be perfectly equipped for a day of exploration and discovery. Let the summer adventures begin.

An apple turnover resting on a bed of delicate purple and white flower petals. The golden crust and sugar crystals *almost* make this treat look too delicate to devour. But one taste of this sweet apple filling has the power to convince us otherwise. Afterall, sweet treats are made of this, right? (drop an emoji below if you get the reference 😏🎵)

This series is at it again! We challenge our baristas to judge a book by its cover and create an order from the Ampersand menu that matches the vibes of the book’s cover. This time, we picked “You Might Be From Nova Scotia If…” and our barista kept it simple with a classic: a London Fog — or should we say Halifax Fog — with a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg. How did we do in this episode of the literary no-no of judging a book by its cover?

Sip and savor the rhythms of TD Halifax Jazz Festival with our special Italian soda from Ampersand! This Mango Creamsicle drink will have your taste buds dancing! And here’s the encore: it’s one dollar off until the festival ends on Sunday, July 14. Don’t miss this chance to jazz up your festival experience! 🎷🎵🥤

When the kiddos are done playing with their pretend treats in the children's section on the second floor of Halifax Central Library, you can head over to the cafe for a real cinnamon biscuit! Imagination is sweet, and so are our treats. 🧸🍪

This vanilla sprinkle cupcake has made these critters smile. We think it will make you smile, too. 😄

Ms. Pacman is eating her way towards a power pellet! Lucky for her, we might just have one up to our fifth floor location — and a few other items for all the gamers out there. Caffeine anyone? 😋 We promise our treats taste better then her pellets.

This July we’re all about colour 🎨🌈 The more colour in your meal, the tastier it will be. Tag us in your Ampersand colourful creations to be featured in our stories!