Ace places to eat and drink during the Australian Open 2018

Looking to refuel between matches at the Australian Open this year? Here's where to hit up for great food, drink and tennis-related specials in and around Melbourne Park.

The Baseline Burger

The hottest buns in town this Australian Open are not to be found on the tennis court, but at The Duke, The Imperial, The Crafty Squire and The Provincial, who are all serving up the Baseline Burger. The fluoro-yellow buns (coloured with matcha powder and saffron) with sesame seed stitching is an Aussie classic, filled with beetroot and pineapple, a beef patty, bacon, a fried egg and cheese, so it tastes as good as it instagrams.

The Baseline Burger is $23 and is available during the Australian Open until 28 January.

The Deck

Breakfast, lunch and dinner with stunning views of the Yarra and Melbourne's skyline? Yes please! The Deck's full a la carte menu will remain available, but the best choice for a pre-tennis meal is the 'Australian Open' menu. Two- ($45) and three-course ($55) options are available, including dishes such as chicken liver pâté with brioche, and pork tenderloin with eggplant. The Deck has breakfast covered, too, with breakfast packages served from 8am to 11am weekdays. Water taxis from Southgate to Rod Laver Arena can be arranged on request, which is ideal for group bookings.

Australian Open menu available 11am for lunch and 5pm onwards for dinner. For water taxis book online at info@thedeckrestaurant.com.au; upper level, 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank, 03 9699 9544.

The Grand

Looking for a party? The Grand's annual 'Grand Slam Tennis Party' on Saturday January 20th is the place to be. With a complimentary Grand Slam cocktail on arrival, a doubles ping pong tournament and fancy dress competition, this isn't for the shy and retiring. Entry is free but the event is a popular one so bookings are necessary. And don't worry – if you get really hungry while you're there, the Grand's usual menu offerings are still available in the public bar and dining room. The menu includes onion rings, for those with pre-game munchies, and a selection of antipasti, for the more seasoned professional.

333 Burnley Street Richmond, 03 9429 2530, grandrichmond.com.au

The Corner

Big screen tennis (so you don't miss the matches you can't make) AND Aperol spritz? Sounds like a dream come true. The Corner also has a killer rooftop bar and is within 10 minutes' walking distance to Melbourne Park. To top it off, funds raised from donating $1 from selected food and beverage items will be donated to AIME. Good times for a good cause.

57 Swan Street, Richmond, 03 9427 7300, cornerhotel.com

Pure South

Relax and avoid the traffic while Pure South takes care of everything for you. Two- or three-course menu ($89 or $105, including a wine or beer) choices include fresh St Helens oysters with lemon, and Huon salmon with cauliflower, braised kombu, melon and red wine. The water taxi, which is moored right outside, goes direct to Rod Laver Arena. No stress, no worries. Or pop into downstairs cafe P.S. for brunch (review here).

Bookings from noon for lunch and 5pm for dinner; river level, Southgate precinct, Southbank, 03 9699 4600, puresouth.com.au

Taxi Kitchen

Feeling fancy but worried you won't have time for a proper meal? Taxi Kitchen has you sorted. The three-course menu ($65) designed especially for the tennis season will be just as speedy as it is tasty. Choose from entrees such as crispy onion and turnip cake, mains of crispy skin duck or salmon, and dessert including a lemon meringue pie. Then burn it all off with a walk to the tennis along the Yarra. Open daily noon-late.

Level 1, Transport Hotel, Federation Square, corner Swanston and Flinders streets, 03 9654 8808, taxikitchen.com.au

BearBrass

Anyone for breakfast before the tennis? Try the Bearbrass breakfast package ($35) with classic choices such as smashed avo and eggs benny. Maybe you prefer dinner? The lunch/dinner package, which comes with complimentary warm flatbread with eggplant dip and a choice of beer, wine or Aperol spritz, is sure to get you excited. Mains include the 'Brass Burger' with chips and gnocchi with tomato and truffle. Located right on the Yarra River, BearBrass can also organise return water taxi tickets so you can get from your table to the courts with ease. Set menu prices include the cost of water taxi, and a drink on the way back from the tennis as well.

Shop g3a, Southgate, 03 9682 3799, bearbrass.com.au

Gazi

Gazi knows they've got a good thing going which is why their menu will stay the same throughout the Australian Open – no catches, just good Greek food. Situated within eyeshot of Melbourne Park, it's the perfect place to stop for those infamous feta chips and a souva and discuss the finer points of Fed's game before or after your session. Early sittings are available for those looking to have a pre-match lunch or dinner, just call ahead.

2 Exhibition Street, 03 9207 7444, gazirestaurant.com.au

Baby Pizza

Baby Pizza's ovens fire up from 7am each day and don't stop until 11pm. Serving classic pizzas and pasta, stop-in for a pre-tennis feast. Their toasted paninis, breakfast pizzas and house-made pastries make good on-the-go options, perfect for an early match, late-night snack or just to munch on court-side.

631-633 Church Street, Richmond, 03 9421 4599, babypizza.com.au

Australian Open Festival

Be spoilt for choice with offerings from favourites including Biggie Smalls, Gingerboy, Hunky Dory Seafood, and Doughnut Time. Unwind with a drink and some tunes at the Canadian Club Racquet Club. Kids can escape into Kids World, complete with a Nickelodeon inflatable playground and mini-courts. Located right on the Yarra with a big screen to watch the tennis and free entry, the festival is a good choice for the whole family. Open 7am-11pm.

Birrarung Marr, Batman Avenue, Melbourne, ausopen.com/festival

The Australian Open

This year, the Australian Open itself is serving up some of the best food and drink in town over the two-week competition. Among the options, the AO Chef Series of pop-up restaurants which features top Aussie and international chefs including Quay's Peter Gilmore and Neil Perry's Rockpool and Nobu popping up at Hisense Arena as well as local favourites Gazi and Mamasita making sure fans won't go hungry on Grand Slam Oval. You'll have to tear yourself away to watch some tennis.

Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australian Open food and beverage options