Ash Barty’s guide to Melbourne
The tennis champion shares her must-dos in the Victorian capital, her home away from home.
It’s almost been one year since news broke of Ash Barty’s bombshell retirement, just two months following her monumental Australian Open win against American Danielle Collins. And still, Australia hangs on to her every move. It’s no wonder all the 26 year old craves is some normalcy.
For the past 10 months, the tennis legend has leaned into the simple life she chose over the tournament circuit, where she won 15 titles throughout her career, including her historical Wimbledon victory in 2021, and remained number one for three consecutive years, becoming only the eighth woman in history to do so.
Aside from a few more achievements, including her recent announcement that she and her husband, Garry Kissick, are expecting a baby, and the release of her autobiography My Dream Time, the three-time Grand Slam winner has luxuriated in spending lost time with her family and friends in her hometown of Springfield in Ipswich, Queensland. But as the nation tunes in to the Australian Open, Barty will once again be court side, only this time experiencing the excitement of the tournament without the pressure of competing.
“Melbourne’s sporting precinct is the best in the world,” she says. “There is nowhere better than Melbourne during the Australian Open.”
Here are all of Barty’s go-to spots for when she finds herself in the Victorian capital during the peak of summer. Let the Barty Party commence.
EAT
A morning well spent: Like most who visit the Victorian capital, the search for the best cup of Joe begins as soon as you step foot in Melbourne. Barty’s caffeine pilgrimage, however, usually starts and ends at The Pound Cafe in South Yarra. “It’s a reliable go-to and I’m very loyal to good coffee,” she explains. “I typically drink three coffees a day and I like them strong.”
A favourite among visitors and locals alike, the eatery located on Chapel Street is open for breakfast and lunch, offering Barty’s favourite, mountains of scrambled eggs on toast, along with silky omelettes, and poached eggs with molten yolk atop smashed avocado.
On the perfect summer’s day, patrons can sit outside beneath umbrellas and enjoy the best of Australia’s cafe-culture.
Prime dining: Known as one of the best steakhouses in Melbourne, Squires Loft in South Yarra has a strong following, which includes the tennis superstar. You can find her seated at a quiet corner table while the establishment’s grill masters prepare her eye fillet steak with roast veggies and chips.
With produce sourced from the pastures of the Western District of Victoria and Gippsland, the dishes are of the highest quality, a testament to the business which has been operational for two decades. You also won’t have an issue finding a table, as there are multiple venues across Melbourne.
STAY
Check into luxury: If you’re looking to splurge, the W Melbourne is resplendent with extreme decadence and rooms categorised as WOW, Extreme WOW and Fabulous. Accommodation features floor-to-ceiling windows with stellar skyline views.
It also has plenty of restaurant options, including Lollo, the hotel’s flagship eatery with Tonka’s Adam D’Sylva as creative director and menu items like freshly baked duck lasagne, with layers of pesto and rich bechamel. The hotel’s Curious cocktail bar is also a must-try for guests. Known for making a twist on the classics, Melbourne’s love for coffee is reimagined with options like its overoasted blend, made with brandy, coffee liqueur, macadamia and wattleseed orgeat and mead.
But, perhaps the most important of perks is its proximity to the city’s sporting precinct, made all the more accessible with an exclusive hotel package created by Marriott Bonvoy in collaboration with Barty. The package includes a personal welcome note, a copy of Barty’s new memoir and special edition AO sports merchandise which can be enjoyed with the Ultimate Marriott Bonvoy Moment, where guests will have a two-night stay, transfers to the Open, a private tennis clinic with the star herself, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Rod Laver Arena.
PLAY
Flex your skill: Located in Melbourne’s famous sandbelt golf region, Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club is home to two championship golf courses, as well as being a luxury accommodation destination.
“Peninsula Kingswood is just beautiful and a great place to spend time, even though it is a good challenge,” says Barty, a keen golfer herself.
A gymnasium, tennis court, bowling green and 25-metre indoor swimming pool are among the amenities available to visitors. Its room options range from clubhouse accommodation to remote rooms, which are perfect for anyone hoping to experience the sandy inlets of the Mornington Peninsula’s beaches and bays, like Mount Martha and The Pillars, and the region’s best wineries, including Montatlo vineyard and Pt Leo Estate.
See Melbourne come to life: Nothing screams Melbourne more than its eponymous Cricket Ground. Whether it’s to see her first love, cricket, or a high-intensity AFL match, Barty will make the time to get among the crowds to back her favourite teams. “I love catching a sporting match because the energy is so revitalising and the city comes alive,” she says.
For some fresh air: Barty says it doesn’t matter where she is meeting up with friends, she’s just happy to connect with the people she loves the most, especially the families she stayed with when she first moved to Melbourne as a young girl to play tennis.
“I have so many memories of our time together and I always enjoy catching up with them when I am in town and being able to make time for them is even better,” she says.
But it doesn’t hurt if you happen to meet them in Melbourne’s wonderfully luscious Royal Botanic Gardens, another of her must-sees. Located in the heart of the city, the garden offers the perfect retreat for those wanting to escape the bustling city sidewalks. It’s also right next to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl where the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will perform free concerts throughout summer.