Sheridan McKenna and Carla McAllister are two die-hard foodies that have long desired to funnel their epicurean interests into something more concrete. While so many of us have envisioned ditching the rat race in favour of opening a bar or cafe, Sheridan and Carla are among the rare few that followed through on their dreams, enacting a career change to open their own cheery chow and coffee spot Musketeers Cafe. The 40-seat cafe is located in a cracking character-filled location on Stanley Street nestled among neighbours Can You Keep A Secret?, Woolloongabba Art Gallery and C’est Bon. The duo’s shared vision for Musketeers centres on community vibes, inclusivity and kindness, with Sheridan and Carla instilling their own essence into both the look of the cafe and its vegetarian- and vegan-friendly offering. When it comes to the decor, Sheridan claims that the duo essentially vomited their personality onto the walls, which has resulted in colourful murals, thoughtful affirmations and eye-catching decorative touches. The team is making the most of the building’s century-old interior – the entry (formerly an old shopfront) is now home to the coffee bar, brand-new kitchen and sun-dappled dining area, while deeper in the building sits a separate chill-out room (which boasts a library fashioned out of an old fireplace) and a spacious second dining space at the rear. Dog-friendly footpath dining is also in the works for those that want to soak up a bit of sun while they eat.
Both Sheridan and Carla list food as their love language, and at Musketeers that love is on full display. Anyone that has ever been bummed out at the sight of only one or two vegetarian or vegan options on a menu will jump for joy while perusing the Musketeers offering. A slew of dietary conscious eats – many of which boast a Mediterranean or Moroccan influence – offer something for most tastes. The fun starts with all-day breakfast dishes like The Benny (poached eggs or polenta ‘eggs’, smoky eggplant bacon and vegan dill hollandaise), spinach savoury crepes with roasted heirloom tomatoes, coconut labneh and sumac, toffee apple fritters with coconut-sugar toffee, maple-vanilla coconut yoghurt mousse, and the banana bread French toast with salted caramel, stewed rhubarb, fresh strawberries and vanilla oat ice-cream. At lunch, the menu expands to include crunchy burrito bowls, pulled smoky jackfruit burgers and honey-roasted butternut squash, while a cabinet houses tempting treats and grab-and-go brekkie sandwiches. Musketeers Cafe’s coffee is sourced from Parallel Roasters, which is available alongside Hrvst St juices, Somersault Soda, kombucha from Probiotic Kitchen, fresh smoothies and tea from The Tea Collective. The team is also using the opportunity to uplift local endeavour, giving Brisbane makers space to showcase foodie goods and artful wares in either the Musketeers pantry space or retail display. Bags of Parallel’s coffee beans, Bee One Third honey, jams and chutneys from Stone & Lea and Brisbane Pickle Co.’s small-batch pickles are available, while hand-painted pots from Elle’s Balcony Garden, candles from Three More Days, art prints from Paper Hands, and earrings from Busy Head stock the shelves of the gift space.
Musketeers Cafe is now open to the public – contact details and operating hours can be found in the Stumble Guide.
