Mr West

The Verdict

Mr West Bar & Bottleshop is one of the newest additions to Footscray’s thumping bar scene. And trust us when we say—this place stocks everything. Like, everything. 

Owners Josh Hodges (Momo, Cookie, Feral Brewing co, Little Andorra) and Caleb Baker (Greenhouse by Joost, Meatball & Winebar, Custard and Co cider, Bluebonnet BBQ) have a heap of hospo knowledge between them, which pretty much makes them walking encyclopedias for spirits, wines, beers and banging cocktails.

Try this on for size: Mr West boasts a bottleshop on the ground floor which stocks 300+ different craft beers, 300+ local and imported wines and 150+ boutique spirits. Every single one of them is available for drinking in-house, or in the main bar upstairs.

Speaking of the venue, this place is awesome. It's an old, converted $2 shop (if you can believe it). A diamond in the rough for owners Josh and Caleb. The bones are strong as: all concrete walls and wooden rafters. The interiors are impressive, open and comfortable, tailored to suit westside sensibilities. The high ceilings and grungy industrial aesthetic make this a great place for an afternoon tipple, or after work drinks in the rooftop courtyard. The second level of the bar is a comfy lounge with a range of seating and tables.

With 24 taps pouring craft beer, Australian wine and cocktails, this is the bar for the masses. The options are frankly endless—if you can't find something you like here, it might be time to reassess your life. The cocktail list focusses on Australian spirits and native Aussie ingredients: stuff like rainforest cherries, river mint, desert limes, green ants and boobialla. Not your standard stuff, obvs. 

The small eats menu is perfect for snacking. Even better as the night wears on, you're encouraged to order-in from some of the local takeaway joints, and don’t hesitate to get it delivered. We've noticed a few venues offering this (Willows & Wine is another), and it's nice to see. 

Josh and Caleb have created a bar that has pretty much everything, and their vast booze knowledge means the drinks list is constantly evolving. Next time you're out West, give this place a go. 

Image credit: Mr West | Instagram