What to Do in Melbourne During the Australian Open

Three Melbourne insiders share their favourite haunts and sure-fire hits during an electric summer in the Grand Slam city.

The Pro: Mark Philippoussis

Aussie tennis champ and founder of activewear label As We Create knows how to get the most out of a Ground Pass at the Open – even when he’s not smashing a backhand down the line.

“Every Grand Slam is special – the French Open is unique, Wimbledon is historic, the US Open is loud and intense with the New York crowd. In Melbourne (6-26 January), you can go knowing nothing about tennis and still have the best day of your year. They call it the ‘Happy Slam’. The kid’s area, Ballpark, has a zipline and playground, plus heaps of activities to keep them entertained. There’s live music and stuff happening in every corner.

I remember my favourite AO moment… I’d just turned 19, it was 1996 and I beat Pete Sampras when he was number one in the world. It was a night match in the third round and all my family and friends were there. As a born-and-bred Melbourne boy who’d looked up to Sampras as a kid, I’ll never forget it.

The matches to watch are on the outer courts in the first four or five days. You’re seeing unseeded players and they fight it out in incredible five-setters.

I’m biased but I think Melbourne is one of the best cities in the world. The way it’s designed, the cafés and restaurants, the shopping, the laneways – everything comes together in summertime when we finally get some decent weather. I usually wear a pair of lightweight shorts if it’s hot – my clothing label is ethically made in Melbourne from 100 per cent organic cotton – but I’ll have a long-sleeved hoodie in my bag for when the temperature drops.

Fed Square, right across from Flinders Street train station, comes alive during the AO. Every year they set up huge screens and people congregate with picnics to watch the matches. Start the day with a good coffee – you’re not going to last the distance without one. Code Black Coffee on Flinders Lane has the best in the city. They also run a Lebanese wine bar, No. 100 Flinders Lane, which is tiny and you have to book but the food is incredible.”

The fan: Rebecca Harding

A model and co-founder of bodycare brand Lui, this local has been soaking up the magic of her hometown tournament since she was in high school.

“There’s a buzz about Melbourne in summer; we have so many international visitors flying in for the Open. I went to boarding school just over the river from Melbourne Park and my whole boarding house would walk over to watch the games together on the outer courts and try to player-spot.

A lot of the city’s restaurants put in outdoor seating areas during the pandemic so now we have an incredible alfresco dining culture, which I love. France-Soir in South Yarra is open from lunch until late – helpful if you’ve been out at a sporting event – plus they also have a small bar serving drinks and snacks next door, Le Splendide, which is open until 1am. My hot tip? Order extra garlic and herb butter with the grilled fish, add a petit chablis on a warm day and it’s the best thing you’ll ever eat and drink.

We have lots of great pubs in Melbourne to soak up the vibe and take in a match. Union House in Richmond has fantastic food and it’s a quick tram ride to Rod Laver Arena. The Union’s wine list is extensive and Andy [Lee, radio presenter and Harding’s fiance] says the beer is excellent.

One of my girlfriends, Frankie Cox, owns the salad bar Green-On, which is also in Richmond, and she did a pop-up at the AO last year. That was a really proud friend moment for me.

If you don’t have AO tickets but want to be part of the atmosphere, there are public barbecues along the Yarra River that anyone can use. You have a beautiful view of the city, the Royal Botanic Gardens behind you, it’s free and you can hear the roar of the crowd every time someone scores a point. It's magic.”

The chef: Julia Busuttil Nishimura

The Melbourne-based cook and author has built her summers around the Open for the past decade. This year, she’ll be part of the festival’s fabric.

“My husband is a tennis coach and the Open is one of the ways we bonded. We’ve come every year from when we first started dating and now with our kids – we are definitely a tennis family. Growing up in Adelaide, I have recollections of being glued to the telly during school holidays, the weather ridiculously hot, watching the matches with an Icy Pole in hand. Getting to be a part of it with my food this year is really special.

I’ll be popping up in Garden Square serving Mediterranean-inspired salads and pastizzi. We’re also doing an Amalfi dessert called delizia al limone, a lemony custard in sponge – it’s so good. And, of course, a little raspberry limonata to go with it, inspired by the Italian summer.

The area outside Rod Laver Arena is packed with deckchairs. The energy is incredible during the big matches and if you have kids, you don’t need to worry about keeping them in their seats the whole time.

My favourite restaurant ever, Tedesca Osteria, is about an hour out of the city in Red Hill. It’s also coming to the AO and you can book in as part of a package [at Glasshouse restaurant in the final week of the tournament]. Outside the Park, Gimlet is amazing and a Melbourne institution. It’s open late and is a walk from the action, whether you want a fancy cheeseburger or the theatrics of tableside steak tartare. And Kirk’s Wine Bar is down a laneway and really fun – you can go there for a glass of wine and some hot chips.

My one piece of advice for the Open would be to come hungry as there is so much good food – it’s a day of eating as well as tennis.”

On your radar...

Best on court

The list of players to watch in this Grand Slam ranges from household names such as 10-time AO winner Novak Djokovic to the Aussie who defeated him at the recent US Open, Alexei Popyrin. Fellow Australians Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson are both in the top 30, with their compatriots Olivia Gadecki and Ajla Tomljanovic – who won a WTA 125 title in Hong Kong late last year – ranked in the top 100.

Make a racket

The thwack of ball hitting hard court won’t be the only soundtrack to this year’s event. AO Live, an evolution of the music offering that has long been part of the tournament, will feature international artists Benson Boone, Kesha and Armand Van Helden, among others, over the three weeks. DJs will spin at Grand Slam Oval, a roster of live music will light up Garden Square and, leading into the finals, a three-night extravaganza will be open to everyone with a Ground Pass.

Serving up

The city’s culinary pedigree will be on full display at Melbourne Park. In Garden Square, alongside an Ostro pop-up from Julia Busuttil Nishimura, Prahran-based French brasserie Entrecôte will make its AO debut with its famous burger and frites, while northside institution A1 Bakery slings halloumi pies. An outpost of Bourke Street canteen SilkSpoon will be among the options keeping punters happy at Grand Slam Oval, while all-abilities Balaclava social enterprise All Things Equal will serve classic café fare at the family-friendly Ballpark, where you can also find flaky pastries at chef Ray Capaldi’s Wonder Pies pop-up.

Come celebrate

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the Australian Open, first played at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground (now Albert Reserve) in 1905. To honour the milestone, 2025’s event will unveil Topcourt in Middle Terrace at inner-city park Birrarung Marr, where live music, augmented reality, food and fashion will converge.