Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 4 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
A drinks-first date wants low stakes, a seat and an easy way to end the night. The five venues here sit in and around Footscray, with three in Footscray itself, one in West Footscray and one in Seddon. Each is a wine bar, a cocktail bar or a bar with a bottle shop attached.
Everything comes from what the venues and Broadsheet publish, checked against two sources on 4 October 2026. We read talk-ability from the listed facts (a Friday-night event on the schedule means louder) and take prices only from printed menus. We could not find accessibility details published for these places, so ring ahead if step-free access matters. And if drinks are not your thing, check each venue’s own menu before you pick.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine list and a first-date table | Bar Thyme | House Sourdough & Balsamic Garlic Butter | $8 |
| Happy-hour cocktails and share plates | Littlefoot Bar & Kitchen | Espresso Martinis and Frozen Margaritas (happy hour) | $15 |
| Natural wine with an outdoor area | Mr West Bar & Bottle Shop | Hop Nation Melbourne Black Pub Stout (bottle shop) | $ 8 |
| Oysters and a glass, west side | West Footscray Wines | Wine By The Glass | $10 |
| Weeknight oysters and a long wine list | Seddon Wine Store | oysters (Tuesday from 4pm) | $2.50 |
Bar Thyme — 227 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Broadsheet says Bar Thyme has “an old-school charm about it”, with vintage prints on the walls and Miles Davis on the record player. That is a record player doing the talking, so conversation has room. Broadsheet also points to “a casual glass from the lo-fi wine list”, and the venue’s site has a reservations page, which helps when you want a first date to start on time. Its site lists Wednesday to Friday 5pm to 11pm, Saturday 12pm to 11pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm. The menu prints House Sourdough & Balsamic Garlic Butter at $8 and Smoked Mackerel Rillette, Horseradish, Crostini at $18, so a light shared order is easy. Plan B: the Sunday session, listed 12pm to 4pm, is the daytime option.
On the menu (copied from barthyme.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- House Sourdough & Balsamic Garlic Butter: $8
- Smoked Mackerel Rillette, Horseradish, Crostini: $18
- Pan Fried Snapper, Charred Broccollini , Herbs, Gazpacho: $35
- 300G `Galiciana’ Sirloin Steak, Cafe De Paris Butter, Chips: $45
Split or splurge: share the House Sourdough & Balsamic Garlic Butter at $8 to keep it light, or move to Pan Fried Snapper, Charred Broccollini , Herbs, Gazpacho at $35 if the date is going well.
Littlefoot Bar & Kitchen — 223 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Littlefoot’s site lists happy hours with $15 Espresso Martinis and Frozen Margaritas, which makes the first round an easy yes. Broadsheet calls it a “convivial bar”, and the site describes “Delicious Italian-fusion snacks, share plates and main dishes”. For talk-ability, note that the site lists Fridays from 8PM as “UNCUT JAMS”, so earlier in the evening is the quieter bet. It also lists “Wholesome, fortnightly catchups for queer cats of all flavours.” Plan B: the menu prints Mulled Wine at $9 if cocktails are not the plan.
On the menu (copied from littlefoot.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- Espresso Martinis and Frozen Margaritas (happy hour): $15
- Mulled Wine: $9
- Pastas (Sundays all day): $20
Talk-ability: the site lists “UNCUT JAMS” on Fridays from 8PM, so pick another day or an earlier start if you want to hear each other.
Mr West Bar & Bottle Shop — 106 Nicholson Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Mr West is a bar and bottle shop, and its site says it offers “an exceptional selection of natural wines, craft beers, and artisanal spirits.” The site also mentions an “outdoor alfresco area” or the option to “relax upstairs”, so there is more than one place to sit if the first spot feels wrong. It invites you to order from local takeaway restaurants through a delivery app, which turns a drinks date into a dinner one without moving. The site lists the bar open Tuesday to Thursday 4pm to 11pm, Friday 4pm to 1am, Saturday 1pm to 1am and Sunday 1pm to 10pm, closed Monday. We could not find a published accessibility note for the upstairs area.
On the menu (copied from mrwest.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- Hop Nation Melbourne Black Pub Stout (bottle shop): $ 8
- Burning Sky Luppoleto Pilsner (bottle shop): $ 12
- Blackmans Dark Ale (bottle shop): $ 7.50
Exit plan: the site lists the bar closed on Monday and open to 10pm on Sunday, so a Sunday date has a natural finish.
West Footscray Wines — 1/578 Barkly Street, West Footscray VIC 3012
This one is in West Footscray, along Barkly Street, not Footscray proper. Broadsheet calls it a “west-side wine bar and bottle shop, run by locals, is compact but comprehensive”, and mentions “the colourful courtyard out back”. The site says “Wine store or wine bar … You choose.” It lists Wednesday to Saturday, 3pm to 10pm, with Wine By The Glass at $10 every Wednesday from 4.00pm to 8.00pm. The menu prints Sydney Rocks oysters at $2.50 each in happy hour, and Baked Camembert at $18. Plan B: it is closed outside those days, so check the day first.
On the menu (copied from westfootscraywines.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- Wine By The Glass: $10
- Sydney Rocks oysters (happy hour): $2.50 each
- Hot Chips, Tomato Sauce (vg, gfo): $11.50
- Baked Camembert: $18
Split or splurge: the menu prints Cheese Board at $26 and Hawke’s Lager at $9, so a shared board and a drink each stays simple.
Seddon Wine Store — 2/101 Victoria Street, Seddon VIC 3011
Seddon Wine Store says its wine bar offers “an ever changing list of wines by the glass all stored under gas to ensure freshness”, and that its whole retail range of “over 500 wines” can be enjoyed in house. That gives two people plenty to point at and talk about. Its site lists “$2.50 oysters” every Tuesday from 4pm and an Aperitivo invitation each Wednesday. Its listed hours run from Monday to Sunday, so it suits a Monday night when other places are closed. We could not find a tasting scheduled on the site right now, and its food menu looks out of date, so we have not used food prices.
On the menu (copied from seddonwinestore.com.au and seddonwinestore.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- oysters (Tuesday from 4pm): $2.50
- Seasonal Mixed Dozen: approximately $290
Say this: “Which special pour is open to go with the Tuesday oysters?” The site says something special is opened to pair.
Quick answers
Where can I find a wine bar for a date in Footscray?
Bar Thyme in Footscray has a lo-fi wine list, per Broadsheet, and a reservations page on its own site. Mr West Bar & Bottle Shop describes a natural wine selection, West Footscray Wines calls itself a wine store or wine bar, and Seddon Wine Store lists wines by the glass stored under gas.
Which of these bars have outdoor space?
Mr West’s site mentions an outdoor alfresco area or upstairs, and Broadsheet describes a colourful courtyard out back at West Footscray Wines. We could not find outdoor seating mentioned for the other three.
Where can I get a drink in Footscray on a Monday?
Seddon Wine Store lists Monday 11am to 9pm on its site. Mr West’s bar is listed closed on Monday, and Bar Thyme, Littlefoot and West Footscray Wines list Wednesday starts, so Seddon is the one with a Monday listing.
Which date bars have a happy hour or a weekday special?
Littlefoot’s site lists $15 Espresso Martinis and Frozen Margaritas in happy hour. West Footscray Wines lists Wine By The Glass at $10 on Wednesdays and Sydney Rocks oysters at $2.50 each in happy hour, and Seddon Wine Store lists oysters at $2.50 on Tuesdays from 4pm.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 4 October 2026: the places’ own websites, Broadsheet and OpenStreetMap. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 4 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Bar Thyme: barthyme.com.au, broadsheet.com.au/best-bars-footscray, barthyme.com.au/bar_thyme_menu.pdf
- Littlefoot Bar & Kitchen: littlefoot.com.au/whats-on, broadsheet.com.au/best-bars-footscray, littlefoot.com.au
- Mr West Bar & Bottle Shop: openstreetmap.org/636860759, mrwest.com.au/opening-hours, broadsheet.com.au/best-bars-footscray, mrwest.com.au, mrwest.com.au/friday-tasting, mrwest.com.au/menu
- West Footscray Wines: westfootscraywines.com.au, broadsheet.com.au/best-bars-footscray, westfootscraywines.com.au/WEFO-MENU-JULY-2026.pdf
- Seddon Wine Store: openstreetmap.org/8850272451, seddonwinestore.com.au, seddonwinestore.com.au/whats-on
