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It's been almost eight years since Mr West swung open its doors to astonished Footscray locals. Some, rightly so, feared the young bar marked the beginning of the 'cray's dangerous edging into hipster territory. Others, also rightly so, encouraged naysayers to live a little. The latter camp welcomed a new casual drinking home for excellent craft beer, cocktails and locally produced wines – a friendly place where staff could talk tipples with anybody and everybody curious enough to step in for a drink.
So how does Mr West fare in 2025? Has it seamlessly woven its offering into the colourful patchwork of Footscray's spirit? It certainly has, and it's still, simply, one of the best in the west.
What started as a humble watering hole has transformed beautifully into a jack-of-all-trades: an indie bottle-o (if you're a lover of low-intervention drops and crafty brews, this is the place to shop), a cocktail bar shaking up more interesting spirits than most and a BYO dinner joint. Importantly, this venue supports local restaurants and eateries around Footscray by allowing visitors to order takeaway directly to their tables. Broken rice, bánh mì, dumplings? You got it. And maybe that's part of the reason why it's fit in so well.
My partner and I have swanned in on a warm January weeknight, ready for a bite to eat and a refreshing journey across Mr West's taps. It feels like a modern saloon, though less dusty and wild, and more polished somehow. Leafy growths and winding vines spill out of the planters and fresh sunshine filters in through skylights on the second floor.
Despite its clean and modern feel, there's still an old-school moodiness to Mr West that makes you feel as if you'll be accepted and served in all of life's big moments: the promotion (or the resignation), the falling in love (or the falling out of it), the celebration pint (or the commiseration one). Come in, it seems to say. Have a drink with us and join the family.
And there are packs of locals engaging in just that; couples with their dogs have dropped in to grab a bottle of vino, tradies sit out the front with their froffs, and big groups of families and friends chill together in each of the venue's numerous comfy alcoves. It's warm and convivial – the idyllic local hangout for every type of drinker.
It's easy to while away the hours here, and so my partner and I go the whole hog and order an entire NY-style pizza from Slice Shop across the street. Might as well line our bellies for all the bevvies we're eager to try. The Crispy Wizard is up first and it's a highlight – a clean Hop Nation collab lager made from organic malt, hops and yeast. Our bartender doesn't skip a beat in recounting the (sadly almost finished) brew's backstory.
In fact, the team – headed by co-owners Caleb Baker (Greenhouse by Joost, Meatball and Wine Bar, Bluebonnet Barbecue) and Josh Hodges (Cookie, Little Andorra) – are experts at serving up a good time because, well, they're genuinely having a good time. Each member of staff is informative, polite and passionate.
For a venue well-loved by beer fans, its focus is far from myopic; we discover the cocktails to be very worthy of exploration. My Sake and Hibiscus (Kitajima Brewery's 'the Octopus of Shiga Bay' Junmai Daiginjo sake, housemade hibiscus soda and mandarin) is a dream, while my partner has only good things to say about his Madiera and Ginger Beer (Barbeito 'Rainwater' madeira, housemade ginger beer and bitters).
With a smorgasbord of Footscray's exciting and diverse dining options at your fingertips and one of the most cleverly curated booze selections in town, Mr West may not be the newest and shiniest hybrid bar to hit the scene, but its ever-evolving offerings remain fresh. And we're much, much better for it.