diff --git a/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-07-17-topbar-unread-drawer.md b/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-07-17-topbar-unread-drawer.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40c3568
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-07-17-topbar-unread-drawer.md
@@ -0,0 +1,346 @@
+# Topbar Unread Drawer Implementation Plan
+
+> **For agentic workers:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task. Steps use checkbox (`- [ ]`) syntax for tracking.
+
+**Goal:** Add an "Unread" dropdown to the topbar utilities (next to notifications) with a live unread-topic count badge and a fetched list of unread topics.
+
+**Architecture:** A new template partial imported by `topbar.tpl` gives the button + badge (core's `component="unread/count"` socket updates make the badge live for free). A small addition to `public/client.js` fetches `/api/unread` on dropdown open and renders topic links with plain DOM building. SCSS reuses the existing `.wg-topbar__dropdown` vocabulary.
+
+**Tech Stack:** NodeBB templates (benchpress `.tpl`), jQuery/Bootstrap 5 dropdown events, NodeBB client `api` module, SCSS. Tests are plain-Node assert scripts in `tests/` (run with `node tests/<file>.test.js`).
+
+## Global Constraints
+
+- NixOS host: no global installs; run tests with plain `node`.
+- One branch, one PR: all commits go on the existing `feat/topbar-unread-drawer` branch.
+- Verification against the dev container in `../sow-nodebb` (`make dev`, `make dev-build`), forum at http://localhost:4567. Theme edits need `make dev-build` before they show up.
+- Titles from the API must be inserted with `textContent` (never HTML strings) — trust boundary.
+
+---
+
+### Task 1: Unread drawer template + mobile drawer link
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl`
+- Modify: `templates/partials/header/topbar.tpl` (logged-in utility list, before the notifications `<li>`; and the drawer-actions block)
+- Test: `tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js` (append assertions)
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Produces: `<li component="unread" ...>` containing a dropdown toggle and `<ul ... data-wg-unread-menu>`; Task 2's JS binds to `.wg-topbar [component="unread"]` and renders into `[data-wg-unread-menu]`.
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing test** — append to `tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js`:
+
+```js
+const unreadDrawer = read('templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl');
+assertIncludes(
+	topbar,
+	'<!-- IMPORT partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl -->',
+	'Topbar should mount the unread drawer before notifications'
+);
+assert(
+	topbar.indexOf('partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl') < topbar.indexOf('partials/sidebar/notifications.tpl'),
+	'Unread drawer should sit before the notifications item'
+);
+assertIncludes(
+	unreadDrawer,
+	'component="unread/count"',
+	'Unread toggle should carry the live core count badge'
+);
+assertIncludes(
+	unreadDrawer,
+	'data-wg-unread-menu',
+	'Unread dropdown menu should expose the JS mount hook'
+);
+assertMatches(
+	topbar,
+	/href="\{relative_path\}\/unread"[^>]*>[\s\S]*?component="unread\/count"/,
+	'Mobile drawer actions should include an Unread link with count badge'
+);
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+Run: `node tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js`
+Expected: FAIL with `templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl should exist`
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Create `templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl`**
+
+```html
+<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle d-flex gap-2 align-items-center" href="#" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="[[unread:title]]">
+	<i class="fa fa-fw fa-inbox" aria-hidden="true"></i>
+	<span component="unread/count" class="badge rounded-1 bg-primary {{{ if !unreadCount.topic }}}hidden{{{ end }}}">{unreadCount.topic}</span>
+</a>
+<ul class="dropdown-menu wg-topbar__dropdown unread-dropdown p-1 shadow" role="menu" data-wg-unread-menu>
+	<li class="dropdown-item disabled"><i class="fa fa-fw fa-spinner fa-spin" aria-hidden="true"></i> [[unread:title]]</li>
+</ul>
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Mount it in `topbar.tpl`** — insert before the notifications `<li>` (line 40):
+
+```html
+				<li component="unread" class="nav-item unread dropdown" title="[[unread:title]]">
+					<!-- IMPORT partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl -->
+				</li>
+
+```
+
+And in the drawer-actions block, insert before the notifications `<a>` (line 112):
+
+```html
+				<a href="{relative_path}/unread"><i class="fa fa-fw fa-inbox" aria-hidden="true"></i><span>[[unread:title]]</span><span component="unread/count" class="badge rounded-1 bg-primary {{{ if !unreadCount.topic }}}hidden{{{ end }}}">{unreadCount.topic}</span></a>
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Run test to verify it passes**
+
+Run: `node tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js`
+Expected: exits 0, no output
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl templates/partials/header/topbar.tpl tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js
+git commit -m "feat: add unread drawer button to topbar"
+```
+
+---
+
+### Task 2: Client JS — fetch and render unread topics on open
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `public/client.js` (inside `initWestgateTopbar()`, next to the existing `shown.bs.dropdown.westgateTopbar` handler)
+- Test: `tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js` (new)
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: `[component="unread"]` / `[data-wg-unread-menu]` markup from Task 1; NodeBB client `api.get('/unread', {}, cb)` whose payload has `topics: [{ title, slug, category: { name } }, ...]`.
+- Produces: `window.westgateTheme.renderUnreadMenu(menuEl, topics)` (exported for the test): clears `menuEl`, appends up to 10 `<li><a class="dropdown-item" href="<relative_path>/topic/<slug>">` items with title text and a category `<small>`, then a footer link to `/unread`. Empty list → single disabled item `[[unread:no-unread-topics]]`.
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing test** — create `tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js`:
+
+```js
+'use strict';
+
+const assert = require('assert');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const client = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'public', 'client.js'), 'utf8');
+
+assert(
+	client.includes("'show.bs.dropdown.westgateUnread'"),
+	'client.js should fetch unread topics when the unread dropdown opens'
+);
+assert(
+	client.includes("api.get('/unread'"),
+	'client.js should load the unread list from the /unread API'
+);
+assert(
+	client.includes('renderUnreadMenu'),
+	'client.js should expose the unread menu renderer'
+);
+assert(
+	/textContent/.test(client) && !/innerHTML\s*=[^=]*title/.test(client),
+	'Topic titles must be inserted via textContent, never innerHTML'
+);
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+Run: `node tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js`
+Expected: FAIL with "client.js should fetch unread topics when the unread dropdown opens"
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Implement.** In `public/client.js`, add above `initWestgateTopbar()`:
+
+```js
+	function renderUnreadMenu(menuEl, topics) {
+		if (!menuEl) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		menuEl.textContent = '';
+		const relativePath = (window.config && window.config.relative_path) || '';
+
+		function addItem(node) {
+			const li = document.createElement('li');
+			li.appendChild(node);
+			menuEl.appendChild(li);
+		}
+
+		const list = (topics || []).slice(0, 10);
+		if (!list.length) {
+			const empty = document.createElement('span');
+			empty.className = 'dropdown-item disabled';
+			empty.textContent = '[[unread:no-unread-topics]]';
+			addItem(empty);
+		}
+
+		list.forEach((topic) => {
+			const link = document.createElement('a');
+			link.className = 'dropdown-item wg-unread-item text-truncate';
+			link.href = `${relativePath}/topic/${topic.slug}`;
+			link.textContent = topic.title;
+			if (topic.category && topic.category.name) {
+				const category = document.createElement('small');
+				category.className = 'wg-unread-item__category';
+				category.textContent = topic.category.name;
+				link.appendChild(category);
+			}
+			addItem(link);
+		});
+
+		const divider = document.createElement('hr');
+		divider.className = 'dropdown-divider';
+		addItem(divider);
+
+		const seeAll = document.createElement('a');
+		seeAll.className = 'dropdown-item wg-unread-item--all';
+		seeAll.href = `${relativePath}/unread`;
+		seeAll.textContent = '[[unread:title]]';
+		addItem(seeAll);
+
+		if (window.require) {
+			window.require(['translator'], function (translator) {
+				translator.translate(menuEl.innerHTML, (translated) => {
+					menuEl.innerHTML = translated;
+				});
+			});
+		}
+	}
+```
+
+And inside `initWestgateTopbar()`, next to the existing search-focus handler:
+
+```js
+		$(document)
+			.off('show.bs.dropdown.westgateUnread')
+			.on('show.bs.dropdown.westgateUnread', '.wg-topbar [component="unread"]', function () {
+				const menuEl = this.querySelector('[data-wg-unread-menu]');
+				require(['api'], function (api) {
+					api.get('/unread', {}, function (err, data) {
+						if (err) {
+							renderUnreadMenu(menuEl, []);
+							return;
+						}
+						renderUnreadMenu(menuEl, data && data.topics);
+					});
+				});
+			});
+```
+
+And with the other exports near the bottom:
+
+```js
+	window.westgateTheme.renderUnreadMenu = renderUnreadMenu;
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run tests to verify they pass**
+
+Run: `node tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js && node tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js`
+Expected: exits 0, no output
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add public/client.js tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js
+git commit -m "feat: load unread topics into topbar drawer on open"
+```
+
+---
+
+### Task 3: SCSS for unread rows
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `scss/westgate/_topbar.scss` (append after the `.notifications-dropdown` width block, ~line 177)
+- Test: `tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js` (append)
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: `.unread-dropdown`, `.wg-unread-item`, `.wg-unread-item__category` class names from Tasks 1–2.
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing test** — append to `tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js`:
+
+```js
+assertIncludes(
+	stylesheet,
+	'.unread-dropdown',
+	'Topbar styles should cover the unread dropdown'
+);
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+Run: `node tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js`
+Expected: FAIL with "Topbar styles should cover the unread dropdown"
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Implement** — in `scss/westgate/_topbar.scss`, extend the existing width rule so it reads:
+
+```scss
+.wg-topbar .notifications-dropdown,
+.wg-topbar .chats-dropdown,
+.wg-topbar .drafts-dropdown,
+.wg-topbar .unread-dropdown {
+  width: min(24rem, calc(100vw - 1.5rem));
+}
+```
+
+and append:
+
+```scss
+.wg-topbar .wg-unread-item {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: baseline;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.wg-topbar .wg-unread-item__category {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  opacity: 0.7;
+}
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run test to verify it passes**
+
+Run: `node tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js`
+Expected: exits 0, no output
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add scss/westgate/_topbar.scss tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js
+git commit -m "feat: style topbar unread dropdown rows"
+```
+
+---
+
+### Task 4: Verify in the sow-nodebb dev container (Playwright)
+
+**Files:** none (verification only)
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: the running dev forum at http://localhost:4567 (`../sow-nodebb`).
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Build and start the dev forum.** In `../sow-nodebb`: confirm `.env` has `PLUGIN_PATH=../sow-nodebb-theme`, `PLUGIN_ID=nodebb-theme-westgate`, `EXTRA_PLUGINS=nodebb-plugin-westgate-wiki`, then:
+
+```bash
+make dev
+make dev-build
+```
+
+Expected: NodeBB build succeeds; http://localhost:4567 responds.
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Playwright checks** (playwright-skill / MCP browser tools) against http://localhost:4567, logged in with the admin creds from `../sow-nodebb/.env`:
+  - The topbar utility list shows the unread item (`li[component="unread"]`) immediately before the notifications item.
+  - With unread topics present (create a topic from a second account or incognito post), the badge `[component="unread/count"]` is visible with a number.
+  - Clicking the toggle opens the dropdown and lists unread topic links; clicking one lands on that topic.
+  - The dropdown footer link lands on `/unread`.
+  - At mobile width (~390px), the burger drawer shows the Unread row with badge.
+
+Expected: all checks pass; screenshot the open dropdown for the PR.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Run the full local test suite**
+
+```bash
+for t in tests/*.test.js; do node "$t" || exit 1; done
+```
+
+Expected: exits 0.
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Commit any fixes made during verification, then push and open the PR** on the existing `feat/topbar-unread-drawer` branch.
diff --git a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-17-topbar-unread-drawer-design.md b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-17-topbar-unread-drawer-design.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..183c08e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-17-topbar-unread-drawer-design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+# Topbar Unread Drawer — Design
+
+Date: 2026-07-17
+
+## Goal
+
+Add an "Unread" item to the topbar utilities, next to notifications. It shows
+a live badge with the number of unread topics. Clicking it opens a dropdown
+that lists recent unread topics.
+
+## Template
+
+New partial `templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl`, imported in
+`templates/partials/header/topbar.tpl` just before the notifications `<li>`
+(logged-in menu only). It follows the structure of the neighboring utility
+dropdowns:
+
+- Toggle button: `fa-inbox` icon, `title="[[unread:title]]"`, badge
+  `<span component="unread/count" class="badge ... {{{ if !unreadCount.topic }}}hidden{{{ end }}}">{unreadCount.topic}</span>`.
+  NodeBB core sends `unreadCount.topic` in header data and live-updates any
+  `component="unread/count"` badge over sockets, so the count needs no theme JS.
+- Dropdown body: an empty `<ul class="dropdown-menu wg-topbar__dropdown">`
+  shell with a loading placeholder item.
+
+## Client JS
+
+Small addition to `public/client.js` (inside the existing topbar init):
+
+- On `show.bs.dropdown` for the unread item, call `api.get('/unread', ...)`
+  (same data the `/unread` page uses).
+- Render up to 10 topics as plain links: topic title, category name,
+  unread-post count. Footer link "See all unread" → `/unread`.
+- Re-fetch on every open (always fresh, no caching). Errors show a short
+  "could not load" item — never a blank menu.
+
+Skipped: mark-all-read, pagination, watched-filter tabs — the `/unread` page
+already has all of those.
+
+## SCSS
+
+Reuse the existing `.wg-topbar__dropdown` styles. Only a few lines for the
+topic rows (truncation, spacing).
+
+## Mobile drawer
+
+Add a plain "Unread" link with the same `component="unread/count"` badge to
+the burger-drawer actions block in `topbar.tpl`, matching the existing
+notifications/chats rows.
+
+## Accessibility
+
+- Toggle is a real `<a role="button">`/dropdown like the other utility items,
+  with `aria-label` and Bootstrap's dropdown keyboard handling.
+- Badge count also appears in the accessible name (matching how the
+  notifications item does it).
+
+## Verification
+
+Manual + Playwright checks run against the **sow-nodebb dev container**
+(`../sow-nodebb`):
+
+1. In `../sow-nodebb`, set `.env` for theme work
+   (`PLUGIN_PATH=../sow-nodebb-theme`, `PLUGIN_ID=nodebb-theme-westgate`,
+   `EXTRA_PLUGINS=nodebb-plugin-westgate-wiki`), then `make dev` →
+   forum at http://localhost:4567.
+2. After template/JS/SCSS edits: `make dev-build` in `../sow-nodebb`, then
+   reload the browser.
+3. Playwright (playwright-skill / MCP browser tools) against
+   http://localhost:4567: log in, confirm the Unread button exists next to
+   notifications, badge shows the unread count, opening the dropdown lists
+   unread topics with working links, and the footer link lands on `/unread`.
+   Also check the mobile burger drawer shows the Unread row.
+
+Existing template contract test `tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js` is
+updated if it asserts the utility-list structure.
diff --git a/public/client.js b/public/client.js
index 04839e8..6365ba4 100644
--- a/public/client.js
+++ b/public/client.js
@@ -159,6 +159,55 @@
 			});
 	}
 
+	function renderUnreadMenu(menuEl, topics) {
+		if (!menuEl) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		const relativePath = (window.config && window.config.relative_path) || '';
+
+		// remove the loading row and any previously injected topic rows;
+		// the empty-state and footer/divider rows are server-rendered and stay put
+		const loading = menuEl.querySelector('[data-wg-unread-loading]');
+		if (loading) {
+			loading.remove();
+		}
+		toArray(menuEl.querySelectorAll('.wg-unread-topic')).forEach((li) => {
+			li.remove();
+		});
+
+		const emptyEl = menuEl.querySelector('[data-wg-unread-empty]');
+		const footerEl = menuEl.querySelector('[data-wg-unread-footer]');
+
+		const list = (topics || []).slice(0, 10);
+		if (emptyEl) {
+			emptyEl.classList.toggle('hidden', list.length > 0);
+		}
+
+		list.forEach((topic) => {
+			const link = document.createElement('a');
+			link.className = 'dropdown-item wg-unread-item text-truncate';
+			link.href = `${relativePath}/topic/${topic.slug}`;
+			link.textContent = topic.title;
+			if (topic.category && topic.category.name) {
+				const category = document.createElement('small');
+				category.className = 'wg-unread-item__category';
+				category.textContent = topic.category.name;
+				link.appendChild(category);
+			}
+
+			const li = document.createElement('li');
+			li.className = 'wg-unread-topic';
+			li.appendChild(link);
+
+			if (footerEl) {
+				menuEl.insertBefore(li, footerEl);
+			} else {
+				menuEl.appendChild(li);
+			}
+		});
+	}
+
 	function getWestgateTopbar() {
 		if (!document || typeof document.querySelector !== 'function') {
 			return null;
@@ -225,11 +274,31 @@
 			.on('shown.bs.dropdown.westgateTopbar', '.wg-topbar [component="sidebar/search"]', function () {
 				$(this).find('[component="search/fields"] input[name="query"]').trigger('focus');
 			});
+
+		$(document)
+			.off('show.bs.dropdown.westgateUnread')
+			.on('show.bs.dropdown.westgateUnread', '.wg-topbar [component="unread"]', function () {
+				const menuEl = this.querySelector('[data-wg-unread-menu]');
+				const relativePath = (window.config && window.config.relative_path) || '';
+				fetch(relativePath + '/api/unread', {
+					headers: { accept: 'application/json' },
+				}).then(function (res) {
+					if (!res.ok) {
+						throw new Error('unread fetch failed: ' + res.status);
+					}
+					return res.json();
+				}).then(function (data) {
+					renderUnreadMenu(menuEl, data && data.topics);
+				}).catch(function () {
+					renderUnreadMenu(menuEl, []);
+				});
+			});
 	}
 
 	window.westgateTheme = window.westgateTheme || {};
 	window.westgateTheme.wrapWikiTables = wrapWestgateWikiTables;
 	window.westgateTheme.initTopbar = initWestgateTopbar;
+	window.westgateTheme.renderUnreadMenu = renderUnreadMenu;
 
 	$(document).ready(function () {
 		wrapWestgateWikiTables(document);
diff --git a/scss/westgate/_topbar.scss b/scss/westgate/_topbar.scss
index 1684bc0..fead2c1 100644
--- a/scss/westgate/_topbar.scss
+++ b/scss/westgate/_topbar.scss
@@ -172,10 +172,23 @@ $wg-topbar-panel-bg: rgba(21, 17, 26, 0.98);
 
 .wg-topbar .notifications-dropdown,
 .wg-topbar .chats-dropdown,
-.wg-topbar .drafts-dropdown {
+.wg-topbar .drafts-dropdown,
+.wg-topbar .unread-dropdown {
   width: min(24rem, calc(100vw - 1.5rem));
 }
 
+.wg-topbar .wg-unread-item {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: baseline;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.wg-topbar .wg-unread-item__category {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  opacity: 0.7;
+}
+
 .wg-topbar .dropdown-item,
 .wg-topbar .btn.btn-ghost,
 .wg-topbar .btn.btn-light {
diff --git a/templates/partials/header/topbar.tpl b/templates/partials/header/topbar.tpl
index 67ce13f..5938994 100644
--- a/templates/partials/header/topbar.tpl
+++ b/templates/partials/header/topbar.tpl
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@
 				</li>
 				{{{ end }}}
 
+				<li component="unread" class="nav-item unread dropdown" title="[[unread:title]]">
+					<!-- IMPORT partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl -->
+				</li>
+
 				<li component="notifications" class="nav-item notifications dropdown" title="[[global:header.notifications]]">
 					<!-- IMPORT partials/sidebar/notifications.tpl -->
 				</li>
@@ -109,6 +113,7 @@
 
 			{{{ if config.loggedIn }}}
 			<div class="wg-topbar__drawer-actions">
+				<a href="{relative_path}/unread"><i class="fa fa-fw fa-inbox" aria-hidden="true"></i><span>[[unread:title]]</span><span component="unread/count" class="badge rounded-1 bg-primary {{{ if !unreadCount.topic }}}hidden{{{ end }}}">{unreadCount.topic}</span></a>
 				<a href="{relative_path}/notifications"><i class="fa fa-fw fa-bell" aria-hidden="true"></i><span>[[global:header.notifications]]</span><span component="notifications/count" class="badge rounded-1 bg-primary {{{ if !unreadCount.notification }}}hidden{{{ end }}}">{unreadCount.notification}</span></a>
 				{{{ if canChat }}}
 				<a href="{relative_path}/user/{user.userslug}/chats{{{ if user.lastRoomId }}}/{user.lastRoomId}{{{ end }}}"><i class="fa fa-fw fa-comment" aria-hidden="true"></i><span>[[global:header.chats]]</span><span component="chat/count" class="badge rounded-1 bg-primary {{{ if !unreadCount.chat }}}hidden{{{ end }}}">{unreadCount.chat}</span></a>
diff --git a/templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl b/templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54b1b7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle d-flex gap-2 align-items-center" href="#" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="[[unread:title]]">
+	<i class="fa fa-fw fa-inbox" aria-hidden="true"></i>
+	<span component="unread/count" class="badge rounded-1 bg-primary {{{ if !unreadCount.topic }}}hidden{{{ end }}}">{unreadCount.topic}</span>
+</a>
+<ul class="dropdown-menu wg-topbar__dropdown unread-dropdown p-1 shadow" role="menu" data-wg-unread-menu>
+	<li data-wg-unread-loading class="dropdown-item disabled"><i class="fa fa-fw fa-spinner fa-spin" aria-hidden="true"></i> [[unread:title]]</li>
+	<li data-wg-unread-empty class="hidden"><span class="dropdown-item disabled">[[unread:no-unread-topics]]</span></li>
+	<li data-wg-unread-footer><hr class="dropdown-divider"><a class="dropdown-item wg-unread-item--all" href="{relative_path}/unread">[[unread:title]]</a></li>
+</ul>
diff --git a/tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js b/tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js
index 0f31f82..b63d33c 100644
--- a/tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js
+++ b/tests/global-topbar-contract.test.js
@@ -148,3 +148,35 @@ assertExcludes(
 	'brand-header',
 	'Removed brand banner widget area should not remain registered'
 );
+
+const unreadDrawer = read('templates/partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl');
+assertIncludes(
+	topbar,
+	'<!-- IMPORT partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl -->',
+	'Topbar should mount the unread drawer before notifications'
+);
+assert(
+	topbar.indexOf('partials/header/unread-drawer.tpl') < topbar.indexOf('partials/sidebar/notifications.tpl'),
+	'Unread drawer should sit before the notifications item'
+);
+assertIncludes(
+	unreadDrawer,
+	'component="unread/count"',
+	'Unread toggle should carry the live core count badge'
+);
+assertIncludes(
+	unreadDrawer,
+	'data-wg-unread-menu',
+	'Unread dropdown menu should expose the JS mount hook'
+);
+assertMatches(
+	topbar,
+	/href="\{relative_path\}\/unread"[^>]*>[\s\S]*?component="unread\/count"/,
+	'Mobile drawer actions should include an Unread link with count badge'
+);
+
+assertIncludes(
+	stylesheet,
+	'.unread-dropdown',
+	'Topbar styles should cover the unread dropdown'
+);
diff --git a/tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js b/tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04aad59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unread-drawer-client.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const assert = require('assert');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const client = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'public', 'client.js'), 'utf8');
+
+assert(
+	client.includes("'show.bs.dropdown.westgateUnread'"),
+	'client.js should fetch unread topics when the unread dropdown opens'
+);
+assert(
+	client.includes("'/api/unread'"),
+	'client.js should load the unread list from the /unread API'
+);
+assert(
+	client.includes('renderUnreadMenu'),
+	'client.js should expose the unread menu renderer'
+);
+assert(
+	/textContent/.test(client) && !/innerHTML\s*=[^=]*title/.test(client),
+	'Topic titles must be inserted via textContent, never innerHTML'
+);