Ampersand Cafe on Alki

Sadistic barista ruins day; should be fired. Last Sunday, I joined a friend who was staying in West Seattle to get rest and relaxation for his chronic, serious illness. After a long walk along the chilly waterfront, we stopped to warm up with espresso at Ampersand Cafe. We ordered outside, took our drinks inside (as per the impractical, Covid-holdover arrangement), and my friend went to get a napkin, taking one from the station nearest the barista counter, thinking it was a self-service station for customers. The interior layout is odd, with an unplugged, short display case (used for storing boxes of macaroni and cheese), apparently intended (or so we learned) as a demarcation between customer and barista turf. As my friend returned to our table with the napkin, the barista yelled, "SIR! This is MY area! This is MY station! You don't come into MY area!" My friend apologized immediately and profusely over a completely innocent misunderstanding, but the barista continued: "This is MY AREA!" as she exaggeratedly shoved a chair into the open space beside the display case (as if my friend would try to return!). My friend repeated the apology. The barista refused to acknowledge it, keeping up the tirade as if the victim of a horrific crime. The barista's manner was utterly humiliating and seemed intended to create a spectacle. Only a mother and child were inside, though, to witness the scene. (Btw, it was cold outside and the location is ideal, so the place should have been packed.) It felt like being in a Portlandia sketch, when, after being dressed down inside, my friend still had to step outside and around to the ordering area to speak directly with a barista only mere feet away. He quietly told the barista that the way she had addressed him was out of line. The other barista chimed in, saying she'd overheard and it wasn't rude. I said it absolutely was (which was being generous). We wondered if it is some kind of twisted game the baristas play with customers---or perhaps they're trying to drive business into the ground---because it would be so easy to clearly mark the area as off-limits. Easier still: accept an apology over an honest mistake. Shaken, we left. So much for avoiding stress. How was the espresso? My Americano was watery, lukewarm, and on the pricey side. The cafe is dirty and strange. Barring major changes, I hope to never set foot in it again.

This place is amazing. I can’t believe I never knew it was here. I was walking to Natalie’s On Alki, which is one of my favorite places besides Alki coffee and I found this place. Everything is amazing and it’s such a cool vibe. Pastries are great. The chai is in Houzz and delicious. I’m gonna go here all the time. I love it.

A very pleasant little cafe--I ordered chai tea and a bagel sandwich, and I was not disappointed with either. It was not the best food I have had in seattle, and the space inside is rather cramped, but the day was dreary and drenched, and I simply wanted a warm place to go and eat and gather my thoughts. This place absolutely provided that. West Seattle has many cafes situated along the beach catering to tourists, as it seems that West Seattle as a whole has at least as many tourists looking for a calm nautical escape as it does every day residents. If you are here for the day and simply want a space to escape from the rain, I recommend coming here.

Good sandwich but ordering outside than to go inside to eat was a bit weird for me. Maybe if it wasn't raining it would have not been as bad. Turning on some heat in the place would be nice.

What happened to this place? It used to be a cozy, welcoming spot to meet friends on a rainy day. Today, the indoor seating area was really dirty and unheated, and the barista was incredibly rude. No wonder there was no one there on a busy Sunday afternoon.

I have enjoyed every visit! Great coffee, tasty food, and a ton of really good sandwich options. I love that this cafe has small pastries AND actual sandwiches - everything you need! They also have a really large drink menu, with tons of special drinks, syrups, and alternative milks. I enjoyed an Oahu Coconut Cold Brew, and my partner had a Salted Caramel Breve. I love stopping here any time I am at the beach!

This morning there was a line to get coffee and breakfast. The two gals working busted through everyone’s orders in record time and with awesome attitudes. Not to mention they have the most delicious spam breakfast sandwich! Thanks Ampersand for being here!

Can’t beat the location! A great selection of coffees, breakfast/lunch sandwiches & house made sweets. A great stop along Alki Beach! The place is filled with both locals & tourists!

Kind of a shack looking place across from the beach. Cute area to sit outside. Inside is a bit cramped, and they have you order through a door opening and then have you go around to the other door inside to pick up. Not horrible unless its raining, then nope. I first tried their rosewater cardamom latte and asked for it half sweet. It was still a little sweet and I couldn't really taste any cardamom. The second time I went I tried a plain latte with cinnamon on top. It was decent, but their prices are a little hefty. I didn't get any food, but they had some mini donuts at the front that I am thinking should have been tried . Service was okay. Not a long wait for my coffee. They do have some other interesting menu items that would be worth a return visit.

Sadistic barista ruins day; should be fired. Last Sunday, I joined a friend who was staying in West Seattle to get rest and relaxation for his chronic, serious illness. After a long walk along the chilly waterfront, we stopped to warm up with espresso at Ampersand Cafe. We ordered outside, took our drinks inside (as per the impractical, Covid-holdover arrangement), and my friend went to get a napkin, taking one from the station nearest the barista counter, thinking it was a self-service station for customers. The interior layout is odd, with an unplugged, short display case (used for storing boxes of macaroni and cheese), apparently intended (or so we learned) as a demarcation between customer and barista turf. As my friend returned to our table with the napkin, the barista yelled, "SIR! This is MY area! This is MY station! You don't come into MY area!" My friend apologized immediately and profusely over a completely innocent misunderstanding, but the barista continued: "This is MY AREA!" as she shoved a chair into the open space beside the display case (as if my friend would try to return!). My friend repeated the apology. The barista refused to acknowledge it, keeping up the tirade as if the victim of a horrific crime. The barista's manner was utterly humiliating and seemed intended to create a spectacle. Only a mother and child were inside, though, to witness the scene. (Btw, it was cold outside and the location is ideal, so the place should have been packed.) It felt like being in a Portlandia sketch, when, after being dressed down, my friend still had to step outside and around to the ordering area to speak directly with barista mere feet away. He quietly told the barista that the way she had addressed him was abominable. The other barista chimed in, saying she'd overheard and it wasn't rude. I said it absolutely was (which was being generous). We wondered if it is some kind of twisted game the baristas play with customers--or maybe they're trying to drive business into the ground--because it would be so easy to clearly mark the area as off-limits. It would be easier still to accept an apology over an honest mistake. Shaken, we left. So much for avoiding stress. How was the espresso? My Americano was watery, lukewarm, and on the pricey side. The cafe is dirty and strange. Barring major changes, I hope to never set foot in it again.

Good warm mini donuts and coffee on the beach. Also, open when most places closed in the early morning. I will definitely come back.

Lovely coffee cafe beachside. Homemade goodies are delicious. Enjoyed couple mini donuts and a crunchy chunky oatmeal cookie. Both yummy. Had regular drip coffee, was hot and good. A lady w 2 dogs had to show me the door to order is in the back or side area... the first door is just for dropping your dishes off or sitting inside. I took my stuff to go and sat across the street beachside! Happy it was open early, I think I arrived around 7am. Definitely drop in here again !

I came here on a Thursday afternoon in February, so admittedly it was not peak hours but we had hardly any wait and plenty of seating available. It was pretty cold even indoors here, but I liked the atmosphere and it was a nice stop on beautiful Alki Beach

Great little coffee shop on alki beach We had lattes, breakfast sandwiches and banana bread here and all were wonderful and would order all of them again. The only thing I was ask is to have a little more egg and content in the breakfast sandwich, otherwise it was all good. The banana bread was super good! Little small and a little weird ordering in the door (unless we had a unique experience) but otherwise a great little coffee shop on the beach

Our family and friends made this the meeting place a day after a wedding. It was a good choice as there was many items to choose from for drink and food. The outdoor seating with the bay and beach right across the street was a bonus. We were all waited on fast and headed out to wander the beach while enjoying the last days of visiting and the event. I even stopped back by to get another cup of coffee on our way out from the area. Great local, friendly spot. Use it a lot if you live nearby!

Ampersand Cafe is the most amazing quaint cafe near the waters off the bay. The coffee is great and the Hawaiian sandwich with avocado was so yummy. I dream about this sandwich. I hope to be back to Seattle and Ampersand soon.

We are local to West Seattle and really really want to love this place. The main problem is the service. If you are ordering food, you are waiting on average for 20-30 minutes - regardless of how many people are there. If you are ordering drinks (and it is busy), the wait time is a little bit better, but not by much. They really need to work out the service time issues. Overall, the staff doesn't really seem to care. Every time we give it another try, we're reminded why we shouldn't come back. Also, The indoor seating area leaves a lot to be desired as well. It's cluttered and not well kept. There is so much potential here in this prime location, it's a shame to see it go to waste.

Wasn't impressed with the iced mocha I got It was tasting mostly like a cup of milk with ice Service was fine and the indoor area was messy and seats dirty

I tried to explore a few different West Seattle options for coffee, I've come to the conclusion Ampersand has the best coffee this side of the west Seattle bridge!! Highly highly recommend!

Cute place right across from the waterfront. The food tasted pretty good, although it isn't quite worth the long wait we experienced. There was a 10-15 minute wait in line just to order, and then a 25 minute wait for the food (2 pretty basic small breakfast sandwiches like the one pictured). It doesn't seem like they're equipped to handle more than a handful of customers at a time (at least not on the day we went). So I'd recommend this place if there's no line to order or if you don't have anywhere to be/don't mind waiting. If there's a line, I'd recommend trying another nearby cafe.

Cutest coffee shop on the beach. We love it here. While the indoor space is very small there is enough outdoor space to enjoy your coffee and food. Everything on the drink and food menu is great. Bagels are dynamite and so is the veggie sandwich. Biscuits with honey are not crumbly and very good. Service is fast and the staff is really friendly!

I loved waiting in line with everyone on an early Sunday morning this summer while visiting friends. It feels so hyper local in a place that can feel commercial during the peak months in Seattle. The coffee was delicious and the location is pristine for walking or meeting up with friends. Highly recommend!

Please, do not waste your money here. I don't know how a place can make such bad coffee. It baffles me each time I go and unfortunately, it's now the only coffee shop in walking distance, so I've been desperate enough to go quite a bit. Like a fool, I think to myself on those early mornings, maybe this will be the day they actually make a decent latte/cold brew/chai, ANYTHING. But, each time I walk away with a steaming cup of flavorless liquid. I've tried everything: adding extra shots, changing the milk, adding extra flavoring, getting one of their specialty drinks, they are ALL AWFUL. I know what you're thinking, "this is just one persons opinion, maybe I'll try it for myself." Please don't. It's not just my opinion. Poll anyone that has just tried their drink. Every drink is terrible. If you're coming to visit Alki, your best bet is to get coffee on the way. If you live in Alki, unfortunately we have to drive for coffee now folks. Our only hope is that this place goes under and a place that can actually make a cup of coffee comes in. Until then, we are out of luck. Their food is okay. Biscuits are dry, sandwiches are decent. But for the love of God please don't get the vegan breakfast sandwiches. They are sent straight from the pits of hell. Here's hoping someone at Ampersand reads this and re-evaluates how they're training their teams to make "coffee".

We were charged $8 for two cups of hot tea. The gentleman asked my husband what size he would like, and my husband said a large. They didn't mention that they would only use a larger cup with one tea bag. I guess if you are not a tea drinker, it wouldn't occur to you that essentially that's just hot water at that point. My husband also tipped them $2. So we bought two large cups of hot water for $10. Neato.

Just tried to visit the cafe for an afternoon latte and a snack and they closed an hour early - marked by a hand written note on the door. This isn't the first time I've walked all the way to Ampersand only to find out they randomly closed early.

The service set up changed dramatically during the pandemic and is still the same, so it is not quite as warm and inviting as it was, but the seating area inside and out is still wonderfully scenic. The coffee and drink selection is still wonderful and they have a good food selection. A great location of any small meeting, especially with out of town or area people who are always awed.

Good coffee, delicious mini donuts and Alki. Solid combo especially during early weekend morning.

Loved the Hawaiian and a tasty americano; my partner got a lavender latte and very happy. Prompt service with a smile! The dozen mini donuts were a pleasant surprise and perfect breakfast dessert

This place STILL has a barrier between the staff and where customers order. They make customers stand OUTSIDE IN THE COLD to order coffee. Why you ask? Covid...in 2025?? Give me a break. I think it is very rude of a business to treat customers like this. Also, service is very slow and inside is not clean with no decor. Storage and garbage visible from the odd waiting. Good location. Needs new ownership, but maybe Seattle likes dirty, rude coffee joints?

I haven't been in a while since Starbucks closed.. What a bizarre experience, from having to order from outside to picking up my order from what looks likes like a storeroom, it was like going to a gas station without the gas. Not sure the place is cleaned even weekly. what a mess!!! Not going back.

Something simple like Nori seasoning and just a drizzle of teriyaki, and you can make a small breakfast sandwich have all the flavor you need! Optional avocado or Spam to go with it (avocado here).

I got the "Nuts for you" latte today. It was so delicious. My friend purchased a lavender latte.. truly lovely! Thanks guys! Also, this is my very new account but my old one posted a photo that is now used as the main one on this page so thank you for using my photography too. I will be heading there again soon as i was given a $20 coupon as a gift a few months ago. Updated 9/8 - ordered a golden chai, it was nice but super spiced. Great for cold and flu season but no so much if you want a soothing warm drink generally. Very strong but yummy. Thank you for being considerate about covid safety. I attached photos of their new outdoor ordering/pick up areas.

Iced vanilla latte wasnt good. Donuts were tiny but good flavor. The place is also very dirty from the inside. I wouldn't recommend.

Nice little coffee shop on Alki. Stopped by on a rainy day and got their lavender latte. The latte was good. My friend ordered a cold brew and found it okay. I enjoyed my latte and will stop by to try their chai some day soon. They do have sandwiches and some food options which i did not try. Enjoyed my lavender latte though.

Friendly. Good coffee. Not sure why you would get coffee from ... when this delicious location is right here with an amazing view of the sound. The location is perfect for reading, relaxing, grabbing a treat, working on your laptop or just people watching. Try one of their fun coffee creations, my personal favorite was the honeybear latte.

Common guys!! One of the worst Lattes i've had in my life. I ordered a peppermint latte and...wow. It didn't taste like peppermint, it tasted like spearmint gum. Literally. Just objectively bad. The service was really nice and the vibes were cute so it's a shame the product didn't meet expectations. Please reconsider getting a coffee from this establishment.

Coffee is smooth and great. It's not bitter. The small donuts are fun and delicious. The wait can be 10 min plus but that's because they are actually making food to order.

The coffee here is really balanced, smooth, and strong. There are tons of creative, interesting drinks, and above all the mini donuts are unreal. I had to stop myself at three. I find myself wantijg to return to have more. But on top of all of that, people were so NICE. People who work there, and people who go there. There was even a guy teaching his puppy how to feel safe around a restaurant with people, and everyone encouraged the doggo and cheered for it when it finally was able to sit and feel safe. It really warmed my heart. Having that level of safety and care says a lot about this place. I got a facial today at Head to Toe and this was the perfect place to go afterwards. I even got to stop by the lookout park on the way. I am looking forward to returning. If you go, pls respect the good vibes of this special place.

Unfriendly teenagers rolling their eyes that not every customer knows their menu by heart. Please train your staff better. Otherwise, nothing remarkable, really, for a to go window -- just conveniently located.

Super cute cafe by Alki beach. I came here at night so I didn't get the full beach experience, but it was still nice and cozy in the evening. It's a small place with only a few tables but it seemed like they had seating outside for the weather is nice. I got a Chai latte and it was average. It didn't have enough spice to my liking but pretty decent price for an area that is consider touristy. The latte art is beautiful and the worker was super friendly!

Gorgeous coffeeshop right on the beach. The indoor seating area is a little crowded but they have tables outside and when push comes to shove, you can take your food and drinks to go and sit on the beach instead--it's literally steps away! I got a rosewater cardamom latte hoping it'd have very strong flavors, like a matcha latte, but it just tasted like a regular espresso latte with a tiny hint of rose. No cardamom at all. My friend had a ginger honey latte and said the same thing. That said, for what it was it tasted fine, and I do appreciate the effort they put into their menu. I'd would want to try something else because they have such a unique, Hawaiian coffee selection. The five stars are for their assorted cookies. BEST snickerdoodles I have ever tasted in my life, and only for 55 cents each after tax!! They are super chewy and cakey in the middle, and not too too sweet. I wiped out their entire display case and would have bought more if they had any. I also love how everyone comes to Alki Beach with their dogs. There were so many dogs on the patio, I was in heaven!

15 minute wait for one latte. No hustle or apology for the wait. Coffee was actually ok but no name on the food, no one to ask if it was mine. Myself and another customer had to figure out who's it was. French toast was actually banana bread, I don't know if that was a mistake or what they use for their French toast but French toast it was not. I ate it but did not enjoy it. Yogurt with granola was very sour. For such a prominent spot on Alki I'm surprised how bad this was. I'm a local and it's the 2nd time I've been, I now remember why I didn't go back first time round.

Perfect old Seattle style coffee shop. Nice wine and beer list, cute patio, cool music, and great simple food. Cozy on cold rainy days and no finer place to be in the sun. Staff is also great. But hey, know what you want before you get in line. That's from me, not them, no"ums" when you get to the front.

Love this place. They can get very creative with their coffee and tea creations! I love looking at the list of custom mixes by the cash register. Check out the board to your right while there to see the specials of the day. Every time I've gone, it has been pretty low-key. I go on Sundays and haven't had an issue finding a seat yet. As it starts getting warmer, I imagine it will fill up quicker but there is also outdoor seating available. The workers are also great and low-key. And the location itself is very understated but with a killer view of Seattle and the beach. I'm a huge fan of the overall calm and welcoming mood of the entire establishment. Last time, I ordered some flu-buster or sinus-clearer creation with ginger tea, some other things, and cayenne powder. WOOOOwie it had quite the kick and cleared my plugged nose very quickly. While I typically come in the afternoon for tea and to journal, I'd love to make it over closer to happy hour timing and grab a beer before walking down the beach on a hot summer's day. Soon!

Idk, this place may be better for coffee/drinks than food. Stopped by and picked up a ham and cheese sandwich and a bagel with cream cheese to eat later. Wife said her bagel was good. I thought my sandwich would be larger but hey, it was only like $5 so can't expect much right? The bread on my sandwich was kinda dry but a couple of hours had past before I got to it. The ham/egg/cheese tasted good. Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up.

Fantastic creative food and coffee right on Alki beach. The Hawaiian breakfast sandwich is amazing. Nori, egg and spam (or avocado) on a Hawaiian roll. Perfect. The frittata sando was also excellent on homemade bread. Prices are really reasonable also. 55 cent mini donuts top off the coffee nicely too

Nice indoor/outdoor café in a suberb location on Alki beach with a great view of the water and surrounding area. Good sweet breakfast options from French toast to muffins, and some savory options as well. We tried the Bread pudding french toast which, while tasty, was super sweet to consume in its entirety at breakfast and was more like a dessert. Delicious still, and worth trying if you don't mind the soft consistency and can share with someone. Also tried the Greek yogurt with granola, but this disappointed me due to how it was served. The yogurt was in a small plastic on-the-go container and came with pre-packaged granola in a bag. This is not how I want breakfast at a café if I'm dining in. I've ordered yogurt elsewhere before and received it in a bowl, with the granola already spread on top or nicely placed in a small cup/container, and honey to pour. Presentation matters and it ups the feeling of quality of what you're eating. Instead I felt like I bought something from a grocery store and just sat down at the café to eat it. I did enjoy my cappuccino though. Great balance of coffee to milk, and designed on point. Good beach café.

My wife and I ordered two decaf lattes. They were lukewarm and essentially tasteless. They were a watered down latte with a slight taste of coffee. On the plus side, the pastry we got was very good, and the service staff were friendly and efficient. I would not recommend going here for their coffee.

Cute and cozy cafe in Alki. They have a ton of different alternatives for milk. They also have creative and seasonal coffee and tea drinks. The best part is they also have beer and wine! It's a great spot to chill and hang out when in the area. I didn't get to try the food, but everything looked fresh and tasty. I ended up getting a Honey Bear latte which had local honey, cinnamon and I got coconut milk with it. Yum! The local honey made it super sweet, but it was good.

Was a place I enjoyed coming to especially because of location but lack of customer service isn't worth it. Some drinks are good but I wasn't informed of the difference of chais that they had and I wasn't expecting a spicy drink. Wasn't offered a replacement or an apology for lack of information. I bought another but most likely won't be coming back .

This place is absolutely delicious! Just make sure you have about 45 minutes to spare for a coffee cause the wait is always long.

Surprisingly quiet for a Sunday on Alki. Walked in and was immediately attended to. Ordered my latte and had it in hand within minutes. Staff is very friendly, bluegrass music playing in the background. The place is neat and clean and just an all around nice experience. And the latte was delicious! Hit the spot!

Much more than a coffee shop with a view! This was my first time stopping in after passing by a thousand times. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only do they have a great beer and wine selection, they also have a wide variety of sandwiches and baked goodies to offer as well as coffee and tea. The bottom line is, you can get whatever you "need" here and have a great atmosphere with a killer view too! We opted for two of the baguette sandwiches - salami and ham & brie and both were outstanding. They paired well with the local craft beers on tap. A great place to hang out and people watch while enjoying some seriously delicious food and drink!

Eh. The staff was friendly enough. The café was small and cozy. There was an outside seating area so the breeze was nice, and the inside had plenty of tables and chairs for lounging. The espresso I ordered with a flavor shot was darn strong. It was in such a medico cup that my friend and I wondered what the heck I ordered. It was in a miniaturized cup that was twice the size of the clear cups you use to hold sauces in for to-go orders. Seriously. It was as if she gave me a pure shot of espresso... So I ended up adding a load of sugar and milk. At least my friend enjoyed his tea. Yikes for this choice of beverage.

We were hanging out on Alki Beach on a cold afternoon and wanted to grab something warm. The Ampersand Cafe had high ratings, so we decided to drop by. We got a chai tea latte and a hot chocolate, neither of which were memorable -- they were just ok. The chai was a bit too cinnamon-y and the hot chocolate was less chocolatey and more sugary.

Checking out this spot on vaca due to the high reviews. Service is a little slow- but hoping the breakfast sandwiches make up for the wait. Hot chocolate not so hot. Meh.

ordered a small coffee, biscuit and bagel to go. Coffee came out in 2 minutes, biscuit and bagel took 27 minutes. when I got to eat the bagel it had a nickel sized spot of blue/green/grey mold. will not be going back.