Ampersand Guild’s cafe a chill place downtown for coffee and simple sandwiches

If you’re an artist (or like to hang out with them), there’s a place in downtown Macon to make your dreams come true.

More of a hangout than a restaurant, Ampersand Guild Hall is a place where guild members and non-members can chat over a Vietnamese coffee and a piece of “fancy toast.” Members also have the ability to use rooms at the Guild for creating art, making flyers, and getting discounts for open mic nights and modeling sessions.

Cafe prices are extremely reasonable and are a great alternative to chain coffee shops that charge twice as much. A French-pressed coffee is just $2.90 and cafe au lait starts at $2.95. My Vietnamese coffee came with an extra surprise once it was stirred — ask Andrea to give you a demonstration if you order one. Chai lattes, drip coffee and cold brew also are available.

Snacks are limited to sandwiches and toast, but are made with love and imagination. We had the coconut cream fancy toast, cinnamon sugar toast, and cream cheese and apricot jam toast, each for about $2. Nutella and bacon toast is a little costlier, as is the avocado toast.

If you have a little one with you, or you feel particularly sparkly, ask for the “fairy bread.” Gluten-free is available for $1 more.

Sandwiches range from the simple, like grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly, to the unusual — the Monster with Nutella, bacon, peanut butter and banana. Sandwiches range from $3-$5.

Aside from the cafe, Ampersand is worth a visit for the local artists gallery and to meet like-minded Maconites. We’re planning a trip back on a Friday to hear local performers and I’ve got my eye on a few items for sale. Every second Friday is Poetry Night starting at 6:30 p.m. and other events will be on their Facebook page as they come available.

So put on that quirky T-shirt and your beret and head downtown for a very chill experience.

Read more reviews of local restaurants

This story was originally published June 21, 2017 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Ampersand Guild’s cafe a chill place downtown for coffee and simple sandwiches."