Australian Open 2018

Overview

We all know the Australian Open is the ideal time to road test your experimental sunhats, mix and match shorts and polos, and practice day drinking in a classy way.

But Melbourne, being Melbourne, does the tennis a little differently. This year, you can't swing a racket around without hitting a gourmet food pop-up.

A range of big culinary names are popping up in honour of the Aussie open. Shane Delia and his Collingwood fave Biggie Smalls can be found in Garden Square, George Colombaris's Gazi is popping up at the Grand Slam Oval alongside Mamasita (a mostly gluten-free modern Mexican restaurant that usually resides on Collins Street) and dessert favourite Doughnut Time.

And if you want to get your fancy on, head on over to the Hisense Arena and try to nab a reservation for Neil Perry's Rockpool or Nobuyuki Matsuhisa's Nobu. Tennis has gotten a helluva lot fancier than your standard hotdog in a cardboard holder.

In the same realm of fanciness, you can also book exclusive food experiences with Pastuso's Alejandro Saravia, Angela Hartnett from London's Murano, and Sydney's Peter Gilmore — but that'll cost a little more because Melbourne's doesn't mess around when it comes to fuelling up for the tennis.

Start preparing your best tennis-themed food puns (anything about grand slammin' doughnuts will do just fine) and grab your tickets here.