Mr West

An old $2 shop in Footscray is now the home of Mr West, a two-storey bar and bottle shop in Footscray's Nicholson Street Mall. The venue’s main attraction is a set of 24 taps pouring not just beer but cider, wine and cocktails.

Alongside local spirits such as Four Pillars gin there are local and international wines, and beers by smaller Australian producers such as Melbourne’s La Sirene, who’s hazelnut ale was at one point used in the house Espresso Martini, which is kept on tap.

The food menu errs on the snacky side, and includes a good selection of cheese, charcuterie, and a ploughman’s board generous enough for a small crew. Mr West is also within walking distance to some of the suburbs longstanding ethnic eateries – and the owners encourage people to BYO from surrounding restaurants.

The space was created with the heavy use of upcycled materials, much of which came from repurposed $2-shop furniture. The original concrete walls of the 500-square-metre area remain, as do wooden ceiling beams. There’s a mix of booth seating and communal tables, and upstairs there’s a small rooftop courtyard.