Best things to eat and drink at the Australian Open 2024
A London tapas bar with Michelin cred, and one of Rafael Nadal’s favourite restaurants, is behind this must-try Australian Open snack.
Food
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Get ready for a solid serve of tennis inspired eats and treats at this year’s Australian Open.
1. AO SET POINT PUNCH: $12
Melbourne’s peachy soft serve answer to Wimbledon’s strawberries and cream was a knockout hit last summer. Thankfully it’s back for another serve, but for another serious thirst quencher, the AO Set Point Punch hits the mark. Tropical pineapple and passionfruit tango with bitters, lime and soda for a grown-up, zero booze pour.
Courtside Bar
2. GREEN-ON’S AO BOWL: $21
Frankie Cox was a private chef to New York’s A-listers before she made her Melbourne homecoming to open a sustainable Cremorne salad bar. Now Green On is acing the Western Courts food game with her exclusive AO Bowl: a celebration of summer peaches and tomatoes, jumbled with green leaves, feta, basil, almonds and a vinaigrette.
Western Courts
3. LITTLE HAVANA’S CUBAN SANDWICH: $18.90
Atlas chef Charlie Carrington is taking his Cuban sandwiches love affair courtside in the AO debut of Little Havana. The South American lunch staple piles roast pork, ham, mustard, pickles and Swiss cheese between Cuban bread (think a soft, baguette-inspired loaf).
Western Courts
4. D.O.C DELICATESSEN’S MARGHERITA: $17
Carlton’s deli and pizza pals D.O.C will flip their crowd-pleasing margherita at the AO, decorated with Campanian tomatoes, fior di latte, basil and extra virgin olive oil. Bellissimo.
Garden Square
5. KING & GODFREE’S POLPETTE PANINO: $21.90
Carlton deli King and Godfree’s grab-and-go fave stacks pork and veal meatballs in a warm and crusty ciabatta roll with napoli sauce and scamorza for the ultimate Italian indulgence.
Garden Square
6. BRUNETTI’S SALTED CARAMEL TENNIS BALL: $14
Carlton wins straight sets with Brunetti’s tennis ball cake. It’s all flourless hazelnut sponge, shielded in a milk chocolate mousse and salted caramel, glazed in milk chocolate to look like the real deal.
Garden Square
7. CAMBIO DE TERCIO’S CRUNCHY AVOCADO TACOS: $16
London’s famed Cambio de Tercio is a favourite for Wimbledon legend Rafael Nadal, so this year owner Abel Lusa is taking his Spanish meets Japanese tapas from wintry London to Australia’s sweltering shores for the summer of tennis. Crunchy avocado tacos will undoubtedly be a crowd hit, doused in a ‘Spanish summer’ ensaladilla of olives, potato and olive oil.
Garden Square
8. MORNING MARKET’S CHICKEN SANDWICH: $18
Gimlet chef Andrew McConnell’s famed poached chicken sandwiches will keep you full between sets. Expect a mouthful of walnuts, apple, pickled celery, watercress, cos and jalapeño mayo on sourdough.
Grand Slam Oval
9. SALAMATEA’S FRIED CHICKPEA FALAFEL PLATE: $22.50 FOR FOUR
Sunshine’s Persian kitchen is another newbie to the summer of tennis. Iranian chef Hamed Allahyari is frying golden chickpea orbs alongside a bitey hummus and beetroot dip, fried halloumi, shirazi (tomato and cucumber salad) and lavash bread.
Grand Slam Oval
10. STALACTITES’S MIXED DOUBLES SOUVLAKI: $22
Melbourne’s late night saviour is doubling down on its famed giros. Marinated chicken and lamb shoulder go toe to toe in warm pita, filled out with lettuce, tomato, onions, hot chips and Stalactites tzatziki.
Grand Slam Oval
More Coverage
Lucy Liu chef opens first new restaurant in three years
He’s the chef behind a long-list of iconic Melbourne venues such as Stokehouse, Circa at the Prince, Taxi Dining Room and Lucy Liu. Now Michael Lambie is opening a new South East Asian city restaurant next month.
Is this one of the most exciting restaurant openings of the year?
It’s been open one month, but this charming new British-inspired restaurant is behind an impressive line-up of food, cocktails and good times — and it’s stolen the heart of our food critic.