1. Huong Viet Vegan
Grab your meat-free mates and head to Footscray's dedicated vegan Vietnamese restaurant. Order steaming bowls of pho; flavoursome broth crammed full of noodles and all sorts of vegan-friendly fish, beef, chicken and more. We recommend snagging a seat by the window, for a front row view of Leeds Street.
2. Ras Dashen
Footscray is famed for its Ethiopian options and Ras Dashen is up there as one of the best. Spicy curry-like portions are served on plates of fermented injera bread, designed to be eaten by hand and shared with gusto. Order the alicha wot, doro wot or the beyenetu vegetable spread. Wash it all down with a cup of traditional Ethiopian coffee or deliciously cool beer.
3. Rudimentary
What if you took a bunch of shipping containers, added a kitchen, threw in a chef and barista and opened your doors to the public? The team at Rudimentary have carried out this very experiment, the result quickly becoming a local hot spot. The cafe serves up delicious and wholesome meals, featuring the spoils from their own kitchen garden. If the weather is fine, roll in for a breakfast roll outdoors, where you can sit in the sun and while away the time.
4. Bar Thyme Bistro
Spend time at Footscray's neighbourhood bistro, where the menu changes daily. Offering a completely homely feel, the interior is decorated with wine posters, old menus from London restaurants, internationally sourced bric-a-brac and bottles of wine that have been uncorked since the bar first threw open its doors. The changing menu offers a French flair, with oysters and freshly baked bread constants around seasonally guided options. This is, at its heart, a wine bar. Drinks on offer include freshly uncorked wines from around the globe, and a carefully curated collection of cocktails.
5. Nhu Lan Bakery
Footscray is home to quite a few contenders for the tastiest bahn mi in Melbourne and this unassuming bakery is up there with the best of them. Order a crumbly baguette, loaded with barbeque chicken, pork meatballs, tofu, cold cuts and greens – and perhaps a traditional Vietnamese dessert for afters. The line can curl down the block at lunch time, but trust us, it's worth the wait.
6. Hail Lilith
Turn down a laneway and enter a den-like bar, dedicated to both an ancient feminine icon and plant-based eating. Menu offerings such as watermelon tartare, spicy wings, mushroom cerviche and a completely vegan cheeseburger complement a drinks list that's primarily bourbon-based. The dark lights and goth-like styling of the bar make it the perfect setting for regular burlesque performances and erotic poetry nights.
7. Bar Josephine
Head down the western end of Barkly Street to a cosy bar with a humble facade. Upcycled furniture fills the space, the walls crammed with knick knacks, VHS tapes and secondhand books. The 12 tap rotation of craft beer leans heavily on local options, accompanied by a short but sweet wine and cocktail list. A local favourite, Bar Josephine is the perfect place to meet up with mates, or sit alone with a pint and decent read.
8. Matsu
Korean-born chef Hansol Lee trained at notable Melbourne restaurant Kenzan and has brought everything he learned to the west. This petite kaiseki bar seats four people at a time; that's 32 people a week, making it one of the hottest tickets in town. Those lucky few who make it through are treated to an evening of traditional Japanese multi-course experience, guided by seasonal offerings. The small but rigid format of the restaurant's operation means there's no catering for dietaries or allergy restrictions and while ever-changing, the menu is seafood heavy. If de fruits de mer is absolutely your thing and you manage to secure a coveted spot at the table, you're in for an unforgettable experience.
9. Harley and Rose
Meander up Barkly Street to West Footscray, where the hits just keep coming. Family-friendly trattoria Harley and Rose serves up a seasonally-changing menu, where woodfire pizza is the hero, but not necessarily the only star of the show. Classic Aussie hits play from the speakers and the streetside beer garden packs out on a sunny afternoon.
10. Chibog
Every dish that comes out of Chibog's kitchen manages to be picture-perfect, as well as delicious. The Filipino restaurant specialises in braised meat dishes (the pork sisig is a particular highlight), but both pescetarians and vegetarians are catered for. Keep spirits high with a colourful cocktail – try the Pinoy Old Fashioned or Kape Ko.
