How To Spend 24 Hours in Melbourne During the Australian Open

The world’s top tennis players are bound for Melbourne Park. As are some of Australia’s top talents in food, drink, music and culture.

If you’re game for some top courtside action, Broadsheet Access is here to serve. Right now, one lucky member (and their plus one) can win two VIP tickets to the women’s semi-finals plus a double pass to Melbourne Park’s exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Lounge – serving food and drinks from the brand’s top culinary talent. Once the tennis action is over, it’s on to an overnight stay at Le Meridien Melbourne, Marriott’s new premium Bourke Street hotel.

Here’s how you could spend those 24 hours.

Eat

For many punters, the AO is just as much about the food and drink as it is the tennis. And this year’s line-up already looks to be acing it. The 2026 Open features stalls from local favourites like Hector’s Deli, Junda Khoo’s Ho Jiak, the Japanese-convenience-store-inspired Suupaa and Good Days Hot Bread’s Vietnamese chicken concept Season.

There’s a one-off collab between Melbourne Greek institution Stalactites and Taverna’s Angie Giannakodakis. Plus fare from further afield: Nik Hill of Sydney French bistro Porcine has designed a snack menu for the Courtside Bar and American burger chain Shake Shake makes its Australian debut.

Match tickets generally include all-day access to the AO precinct, including all the food and drinks stands at Grand Slam Oval and Garden Square. So get in early and get eating.

Play 

Food and drink isn’t the only thing on offer in the AO Precinct. Grand Slam Oval hosts big screens for watching the tennis action, live music, DJ sets and festival vibes all through the tournament. Over in Garden Square it’s a more laid-back affair, with shady spots to watch the big matches with a cold drink or snack in hand. Or you can visit Topcourt for pickleball and POP tennis courts, gaming stations and retail therapy.

On centre court there’s pre-match entertainment every night from big names like Sophie Ellis Bextor and Casey Donovan. The night of the women’s semi-finals, American icon Patti LaBelle is set to headline, serving retro girl power with hits like Lady Marmalade and Stir It Up.

Sleep

You might be too amped to sleep after watching the women’s semi-finals well into the night. But Le Meridien Melbourne is just a short walk away, and the Access winner (and their guest) will enjoy a free night’s stay in one of its 235 chic guestrooms inspired by mid-century Melbourne. Each space features floor-to-ceiling windows, a marble bathroom and premium Malin & Goetz products. Plus it’s all set inside an art deco facade illuminated by Hollywood lights and a mural by local artist Stephen Baker. 

If a nightcap is on the cards, head to the lobby wine bar for a rotating selection of Victorian wines, or to the hotel’s restaurant bar which serves cocktails created in collaboration with The Everleigh.

Recover

You probably deserve a sleep-in after all that action and entertainment, but there’s still time to take a morning dip at Le Splash, Le Meridien’s showpiece 18-metre rooftop pool deck and bar. With views overlooking Parliament, Fitzroy Gardens and the city skyline, it’s a spiffy Euro-coded place to swim and soak up some sun before check-out. The pool itself is heated to 28C and there are two levels of sun lounges to choose from, so don’t forget to pack your cossie. Hungry? There’s a Mediterranean-inspired menu and plenty of poolside drinks on offer to round out your AO experience.

Join Broadsheet Access today and enter to win the Marriott Bonvoy VIP Australian Open experience. Access is the membership that brings everything we hear about on the ground at Broadsheet directly to you. Our team works around the clock to make sure our members experience the best of their cities. And did we mention it’s only $12 a month?