This two-storey retail-bar destination is one of Footscray’s most important players. Downstairs, there’s a bottleshop with more than 200 artisanal beers, spirits and wines. Upstairs, there’s an outdoor deck and bar to enjoy rotating craft beers on tap, natural wines, fun cocktails, charcuterie and cheese. You’re also welcome to order in from local restaurants. 106 Nicholson Street, Footscray, mrwest.com.au Coco Bananas Grab one of 3011’s best coffees in this caffeination hub and record store, where you can browse new and used records (Tubular Bells box set, anyone?) while your toastie sizzles. 32 Chambers Street, Footscray, cocobananas.com.au The African Calabash In this pedestrianised part of Nicholson Street also known as Little Africa, Colin Walcott-Taylor’s restaurant serves West African food. Think jollof rice and egusi, a spiced soup made from blended pumpkin seeds, which is served with pull-apart fufu, a soft bread made from pounded yam. 143 Nicholson Street, Footscray, theafricancalabash.com Caminito La Boca Ever since Roxana Santa Maria Lopez was a girl in Argentina, she dreamed of having a bodegon – casual, family-run restaurant – just like the ones she visited with her grandfather. Decades later (2024, to be exact), the Lopez family opened Caminito, a brightly painted drawcard for empanadas, asado, churros and more. It’s open from morning till night. 205-207 Nicholson Street, Footscray, caminitolaboca.com.au Addis Cafe & Roastery Mel Dominique has been here for 20 years, sourcing coffee – mostly from his native Ethiopia – roasting it on-site and brewing it into strong espresso to have at Addis or take away. Food straddles Australia and Africa: maybe you want a salad sandwich today, split pea curry tomorrow. 226 Nicholson Street, Footscray, addiscafeandroastery.com.au Tucked down historic Trocadero Arcade, this happy hangout is serious about curds and carbs. The classic grilled cheese (one of 12 sandwiches) uses mozzarella, cheddar and provolone, sparked up with chilli flakes and mustard seeds. Horchata, the milky spiced rice drink, is available hot or cold. 6/119 Hopkins Street, Footscray, instagram.com/saycheese_footscray Kariton Sorbetes Askal chef John Rivera’s Filipino-forward gelato joint has four Melbourne shops now (Burwood, Glen Waverley and Chinatown) but Footscray is the original. Swing in for textured scoops like turon – banana with butterscotch, jackfruit and shards of spring roll pastry. 50 Leeds Street, Footscray, karitonsorbetes.com Nhu Lan Bakery The frustrations of this banh mi favourite’s long queues are also its guarantee of freshness. Rolls are baked on-site and stuffed to order with roasted and barbecued meats. If you’re on a Footscray food crawl, it’s worth knowing that they do small rolls too, and you can get one smeared with just pâté and mayo for under $5. 116 Hopkins Street, Footscray Yummie Hong Kong Dim Sum Grab supplies for home at this decades-old store, where dumplings are deftly folded out back and sold in handy freezer packs. There’s also grab-and-go. The hot tip is to buy a custard tart and eat it on a street wander. 5/7-9 Leeds Street, Footscray The whole fish hanging in the window tells you this is not your average high-street sushi joint. Sit on a plush chair at a marble table for signature maki rolls like the yuzu-miso king salmon, and kaisendon, a rice bowl lavishly topped with fish. Drinks are from a Japanese vending machine, and there’s takeaway, too. 2/7-9 Leeds Street, Footscray, instagram.com/elka.sushi D&K Live Seafood Shop A legend in Melbourne seafood and supplier to many restaurants, this is not just a great spot to buy crab, lobster, fish and oysters straight from the tanks. You can also choose from a large variety of oysters and have them shucked to order for slurping right there. 2/28A Leeds Street, Footscray, instagram.com/dkliveseafood_official Divine Hotpot Train Buffet Here’s a train that’s never delayed. Take a seat by the Divine tracks and hotpot ingredients will slowly trundle by, allowing you to pluck vegetables, noodle cakes, sliced meat, dumplings and more. Pop them into your own bubbling broth and cook as desired. It’s all-you-can-eat fun. 102 Hopkins Street, Footscray, instagram.com/divinehotpot T. Cavallaro & Sons The third generation of Cavallaros is now custodian of this atmospheric store, which opened in 1956 to sell cannoli to Olympics spectators at the MCG. Cannoli are the mainstay, filled to order so they’re always crisp, and best eaten straight away with an espresso. 98 Hopkins Street, Footscray, tcavallaroandsons.com.au Owner Revekah Hurtado showcases food from all over Latin America at her friendly, spacious restaurant on the edge of Footscray Market. Come for filled Venezuelan-style arepas, incredible cassava chips and patacon, similar to loaded fries but with a plantain base. Footscray Market, 190/81 Hopkins Street, Footscray, instagram.com/papelonmelbourne Xuan Anh Banh Cuon Silky, slippery rice rolls, steamed to order, are the draw at this popular market stall. You can’t go wrong with No.1 – minced pork and black fungus scattered with fried shallots − but we’re also fans of the version stuffed with a long and crisp fried doughnut known as quay in Vietnamese (No.10). Footscray Market, 194/81 Hopkins Street, Footscray Huu Huu Thanh Restaurant You wouldn’t want it to be easy to pick a favourite pho in Footscray: discussing broths, noodles, toppings, price and style is an endless neighbourhood topic. Huu Huu Thanh often gets a mention for its deeply flavoured chicken and beef pho, made daily and usually sold out around lunchtime. Also consider their creamy, comforting congee. Footscray Market, 18 Irving Street, Footscray Moon Dog Wild West The old Franco Cozzo furniture store is now a huge beer barn with a cowboy theme. A mechanical bucking bull is the centrepiece: if you’re keen on being thrown around, perhaps do it before you knock back boozy ginger ale, fish tacos and jerk chicken. 54 Hopkins Street, Footscray, moondog.com.au