While diehard tennis fans will undoubtedly be hunkered down in the stands at Rod Laver Arena beginning this weekend, the Australian Open also presents attendees with a once-a-year opportunity to sample some of the finest bars & restaurants in Australia — from Melbourne, Sydney and places beyond.
In anticipation of AO 2025, we’ve rounded up all of the most scrumptious food & drink pop-ups that will be setting up shop at Melbourne Park imminently.
With over 21 vendors to choose from, advanced planning is crucial. Follow this guide and you’ll be able to sidestep the queues, ace your order and spend more time enjoying Australia’s biggest tennis event of the year.
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Grey Goose ‘Lemon Ace’ Signature Cocktails
As part of the reveal for its inaugural partnership with the Australian Open, Grey Goose will be slinging custom-made ‘Lemon Ace’ cocktails all throughout the duration of AO 2025.
A refreshing highball-style serve “created exclusively for tennis fans”, you’ll be able to get your mitts on the Lemon Ace at two Grey Goose-themed bars at Melbourne Park.
Ground pass holders will get access to the ‘Grey Goose Rooftop’ overlooking Court 6: even if icy citrus tipples aren’t your bag, the team here have curated a whole signature cocktail menu — with plenty of vodka-based serves to choose from.
Meanwhile, courtside VIPS will want to check out ‘Club 1905’: one of the dedicated AO Reserve dining spaces where Grey Goose bartenders will be slinging the house’s signature dry and dirty Martinis. Or, if you fancy a neat pour, the ultra-premium Grey Goose Altius.
Canadian Club AO Launch Party (January 12th, 2025)
Following more than a decade of partnership with Tennis Australia, Canadian Club is kicking off Day 1 of the 2025 Australian Open with a launch party — and it’s free to attend.
Set to take place on the AO Hilltop at Birrarung Marr, guests will be treated to an immense Sunday evening of music, dancing and Canadian Club’s signature dry mixers on tap.
To soundtrack this epic affair, the famed Beam Suntory whisky label has enlisted The Jungle Giants; with the popular Aussie indie rockers supported by DJ Brooke Evers, and local Melburnian synth quartet Nite Theory.
The only catch? Tickets are limited. Head to the link below to secure yours ASAP.
Entrecôte
A stalwart on BH‘s list of the best steak restaurants in Melbourne, Entrecôte is making its debut at the Australian Open this year with a menu that is all killer no filler.
The Prahran institution’s signature cheeseburger is bound to be an event-long crowd-pleaser, and is supplemented by the mitraillette: a devilish open-face baguette, laden with Rangers Valley beef, perfectly cut fries and Entrecôte’s secret herb butter condiment.
CDMX Taqueria
The cult-favourite taqueria that, since 2022, has been taking Melbourne City by storm is finally coming to the hardcourts.
More or less the perfect culinary mode for a massive sporting moment like AO 2025, diners should expect the CDMX pop-up to be loaded up with Modelo brews, one-bite-friendly tostadas and birria tacos — filled with the divine, slow-cooked beef that it takes the CDMX kitchen 8 hours to prep.
Piccolo Panini Bar
Hawthorn’s favourite hole-in-the-wall sandwich joint is making its debut at Melbourne Park this year, with a range of signature food items that will satisfy AO goers at all hours of the schedule.
Fans of Piccolo proper can turn to such classics as the crumbed chicken cotoletta or rustic meatball panino — all served on house-made focaccia with the shop’s range of signature toppings. And if you’re looking for a sweet treat on the go? Donuts, with either a choice of jam or pistachio papi are also available.
El Jannah
The big kahuna of Aussie charcoal chicken specialists has finally made it into the big tent at AO 2025 this year — operating out of the eclectic Grand Slam Oval alongside a variety of other specialists in world cuisine.
If you’ve ever tackled a deluxe chicken plate at any of El Jannah’s actual shopfronts in Sydney, you probably know what to expect: poultry, cooked over open flame in the Lebanese style alongside a range of classic supporting dishes including pickles, tabouli and the downright addictive EJ garlic sauce.
A1 Bakery
The Middle Eastern bakery based out of Brunswick, which has been a favourite of Melburnians since 1992, is finally taking its operation courtside.
Setting up shop in the AO’s Garden Square precinct (in the vicinity of live music and Melbourne Park’s biggest screen), the A1 crew will be slinging its signature traditionally leavened bread — in the form of pizza, falafel wraps and the rightfully legendary tomato and shanklish cheese pie.
Good Days
One of two new food concepts debuting at Melbourne Park’s Western Courts, Good Days is a must-do for AO 2025 attendees hankering after fresh and flavourful Vietnamese cuisine.
Beyond the usual assortment of dependable Viet-Aussie fare (the shop’s turmeric fish banh mi is so popular it has its own Broadsheet recipe), there is also a solid range of options catering to vegan and vegetarian diets.
Good Days have even gone the extra mile with “a few big event-coded specials” — such as hot chips tossed in a pho spice mixture, served alongside basic mayo. Get stuck in!
Tennessee Wingboys
The Western Courts’ other big food highlight comes to diners courtesy of Tennessee Wing Boys. The Prahran hotspot claims it’s the purveyor of “Melbourne’s best Southern fried chicken”.
Whatever the truth of that boast, it’s undeniable that Tennessee Wing Boys will certainly be slinging the best Nashville-style hot chicken at the 2025 Australian Open.
Burgers and wings are the obvious star attraction, but be sure to order a side of hand-cut fries. Twice-cooked and tossed in-house seasoning, they’re a symphony of flavour and satisfying crunch.
D.O.C
An icon of Melbourne’s pizza restaurant scene, DOC is returning to the Australian Open this year with a slice dispensary and espresso bar — both located on the Grand Slam Oval.
A really great option when you’re hurrying along between matches, the specialty here is the aforementioned pizza al taglio: by the slice, rectangular and divvied out into compact palm-size parcels.
Local pie fiends will recognise a number of classic DOC toppings: including the all-time-great San Daniele, topped with salt-cured ham from the eponymous Italian region and generous lashings of buffalo mozzarella.
‘On-Court’ Presented By Piper-Heidsieck
Food trucks and snack stalls are all well and good, but for the ultimate VIP experience — complete with priority seats in the thick of Rod Laver Arena — this ‘On-Court’ package is the clear clincher.
To all intents and purposes a collab between Piper-Heidsieck and Sushi Room’s Shimpei Raikuni, this properly punchy option gives diners access to a private suite beneath the RLA Courts.
Here, over both daytime and dinner sessions, Shimpei-san will prepare a selection of the same signature sushi you’ll find at his award-winning Brisbane restaurant — served alongside a selection of Piper-Heidsieck bottles poured freely over 6 hours.
AO 2025 Food & Beverage Highlights (By Location)
AO Hilltop at Birrarung Marr
- Canadian Club — The ultimate Australian Open launch party, with DJs and live music.
Garden Square
- Entrecote (NEW) — cheeseburgers, Mitraillette steak sandwiches
- A1 Bakery (NEW) — cult-favourite Lebanese pastries
- Piccolo Panini Bar (NEW) — Panino and homestyle Italian desserts
Western Courts
- Good Days (NEW) — Vietnamese salads and rice bowls, with a range of vegan options
- Tennessee Wingboys (NEW) — Nashville-style hot chicken, plus burgers and snacks
Grand Slam Oval
- El Jannah (NEW) — Lebanese charcoal chicken
- CDMX Taqueria (NEW) — authentic Mexico City-inspired tacos
- D.O.C — Traditional pizza by the slice and espresso
AO Reserve Experiences
- Sushi Room x Piper-Heidsieck — Bespoke food & Champagne pairing
