Moon Dog Wild West

Overview

Moon Dog's three-storey, 800-person, wild west-themed bar in Footscray's former Franco Cozzo building had quite a few unforeseen delays in the lead-up to its opening. But it eventually came to be, and it is one of the most impressive bars in Melbourne's west.

Guests can find bars on each level pouring Moon Dog beers and seltzers from over 100 taps. Three-time Australian Bartender of the Year Chris Hysted-Adams was also brought in to design the cocktail list and shots menu. This includes an old-school pickleback shot, a regularly changing old fashioned that'll be served in a barrel for four people and a layered tequila sunrise slushie.

A mechanical bucking bull takes centre stage down on the ground floor, where people can compete in actual tournaments with prize money. There's also a secret little Pianola Bar, an arcade, pool tables, a private dining space, a barrel-ageing room, and a stunner of a dog-friendly rooftop that's littered with cacti and fake desert rocks. The Moon Dog crew has completely packed this space out.

Then you've got the food, which is all Tex Mex-inspired. The team is pumping out buffalo chicken ribs, double-decker tacos, roasted pumpkin mole and a Western barbecue bacon burger.

Everything at the new Moon Dog Wild West in Footscray just screams unabashed fun.

Images: Arianna Leggiero