West End Favourite The Gunshop Cafe Is Shaking Up Its Menu and Honouring Its History
Here’s what’s new (and what’s never changing) at this West End staple.
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In the heart of Brisbane's West End, you'll find The Gunshop Cafe. It's the kind of place where you'll see long-time regulars chatting at the counter and where the food is fresh, comforting and delicious. While the neighbourhood has changed over the years, The Gunshop Cafe remains familiar, welcoming, and always worth the visit.
Now, after more than two decades, the cafe is shaking up its menu while doubling down on the elements that made it a local haunt in the first place.
The History of the Gunshop Cafe
Housed in a heritage-listed building with exposed brick walls and large windows spilling sunlight into the cosy dining room, The Gunshop Cafe has been quietly holding down its corner of Mollison Street since 2000, doing what it does best: serving up consistently good food, coffee and company. Today, it's as much a part of the suburb's creative and cultural hub as the Saturday markets or buskers.
The Story Behind the Name
Long before it became known for weekend queues and perfectly poached eggs, the building was, quite literally, a gun shop. The space was once home to Kingston Bros, a gunsmith operating on-site from the 1970s through to the 1990s, and when the cafe opened its doors in 2000, the new owners decided to preserve that piece of history in the name. The Gunshop Cafe is now a very different kind of place (more smashed avo than Smith & Wesson), but the nod to the past has become part of its charm.
Original Dishes and New Favourites
One of the most significant updates in recent months is its new seasonal menu. But don't worry, it hasn't ditched the old favourites. The pork, apple and sage sausage, green eggs and ham, and potato and feta hash cakes are still available. But the kitchen now offers Szechuan-style fried chicken and waffles, a summer pasta tossed with scallion and spinach sauce, cherry tomatoes, and ricotta, plus rotating specials like a tempura prawn omelette or French toast with lemon curd. The team designed the menu to reflect what's in season and what they're excited to cook.
A Space That Feels Like Home
Part of Gunshop's long-lasting charm is the way it balances old and new, not just on the menu but in the atmosphere. It's a place where you can show up in Sunday activewear or on a first date and feel equally at ease. The staff is welcoming, and there's no rush to leave or pressure to stay.
Whether you're ordering your usual or trying something new, it always feels like your spot. Inside, the cafe blends exposed brick with original wall murals by renowned Australian artist David Bromley and his apprentice, making it feel like part gallery, part living room.
Coffee That Doesn't Miss
Coffee is taken seriously here. The cafe's house blend is a smooth, well-balanced mix of Colombian and Costa Rican beans, making it a go-to whether you like it black, milky or somewhere in between. There's also a rotating single-origin and special coffee blend sourced from local roasters for those who like to switch it up.
Whether you're ducking in for a quick takeaway or settling in for your second or third cup, the baristas know what they're doing. And yes, they'll probably remember your order. Right now, with a seasonal shake-up and some exciting new dishes on the table, it's the perfect time to pull up a chair.
Find The Gunshop Cafe at 53 Mollison Street, West End, open from 7am daily. See the latest menu and make a booking on the website.
By Jacque Kennedy
