The tennis is here, with the world’s best players descending on our city for two weeks of aces, break points and grand slams.

To keep you fed between fast-paced matches, Mastercard and Broadsheet bring you Serve: a two-week dining festival highlighting the best of Melbourne’s hospitality scene and priceless experiences.

As part of Serve, Mastercard cardholders can indulge in special dining offers at 10 venues from January 14 to 28, 2024. All venues are located nearby Melbourne Park, so they make for an ideal stop on the way to or from Melbourne Park. Fancy a frozen cocktail? Maybe you’re keen on a four-course meal? Whatever you’re after, we’ve got you covered with Serve.

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Here's your guide to what's on offer across the two weeks.

Lilac Wine Bar

The grungy Cremorne warehouse is designed to make you feel like you're having dinner in a New York loft. It's a cosy, intimate space - and an ideal spot to indulge in a few drinks and snacks before (or after) a game. For Serve, Lilac will be offering up a glass of Pet-Nat and a chicken mousse eclair for $20.

Purple Pit

One of Melbourne’s hottest new venues (underneath favourite newcomer, Reine and La Rue), Purple Pit is serving up a special cocktail just for Serve. Order the Magic Arrow for a concoction of strawberries, cream, Blanc vermouth and orange bitters.

Robata

Alongside the Japanese joint’s signature chargrilled skewers, you can order an exclusive crab and nori tart with heirloom tomato and peach for $12 each. Plus, a riff on the Daiquiri with strawberries and shochu for $22.

Frederic

The Reymond family’s third French restaurant – after Bistro Gitan and L’Hotel Gitan – is going more casual for its Serve special: a lobster roll featuring Apollo Bay lobster, avocado, Marie Rose seafood cocktail sauce, mizuna (Japanese mustard greens) and a brioche bun for $30.

Dessous

The moody, subterranean bar and restaurant in Flinders Lane has the kind of snack menu that nudges you into staying for dinner. Pop into Dessous for its cocktail and snack special, Straight Down The Line. Small Steps gin, bergamot, pineapple, mountain marigold vermouth and koji paired with a pork katsu sando.

Taxi Kitchen

This four-course Grand Slam menu is $75 per person and lets you choose your entree (from kingfish sashimi, baked half-shell scallops, Wagyu dumplings and more) and main (including baked miso salmon, drunken chicken and spiced duck).

Transport Bar

Downstairs from Taxi Kitchen, Transport Bar is serving up Aperol slushies for $16, a welcome treat to cool down with before a hot night spend courtside.

Transit Rooftop Bar

You can also head upstairs from Taxi Kitchen to find Transit Rooftop Bar. During Serve, the rooftop bar will be pouring Piper-Heidsieck for $20 a glass.

Tartine

Over in Richmond, Tartine is serving up an ideal pre-tennis dinner. You can stop by and get a bowl of chilli mussels accompanied by a Neds baguette for $32. It’s an ideal stop before you head to Melbourne Park.

Meatball and Wine Bar

On Flinders Lane, Meatball and Wine Bar is serving up something very special – and sure to leave you feeling full before a game. For $44, you can get crumbed lobster meatballs on saffron rice with lobster and tarragon bisque, served with double butter garlic bread.

Special Events

Serve also includes four exclusive, one-off events at top restaurants like Supernormal, Bar Bellamy, BKK, and Yugen Dining exclusively for Mastercard cardholders.

Mastercard cardholders can also get a one-month free trial of Broadsheet Access, our membership program that lets you get tables at booked-out restaurants, try hot new venues before anyone else, score free tickets, shop discounts on our favourite labels, and more.

Serve Festival is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Mastercard.