Caretaker’s Cottage And Shake Shack: What’s On The Australian Open Food And Drink Menu For 2026
We all know tennis is the main event, but the food at the Australian Open is like an annual festival itself. Over two weeks, some of the best chefs and biggest brands are setting up shop at Melbourne Park. As well as the return of some of last year’s most popular dishes (hint: a buttery beef-and-frites baguette), there's a hefty lineup of legends making their way to the AO. We’ve got the list, and our mouths are already watering.
Get ready for a first time popup with American burger icon Shake Shack, an exclusive suite with multi-award-winning bar Caretaker’s Cottage, a ‘best of’ lineup of Ho Jiak snacks, the newest offering from Shane Delia, a Greek dream team collab, a Japanese-inspired grab-and-go konbini and local Melbourne favourites like Hector’s Deli putting their best food forward for the crowds.
Need to know where else to eat, stay and play while you’re in Melbourne? Check out our guides for Melbourne's Best Airbnbs, Best Hotels and Victoria's Best Stays. Book a spot at one of the city's Best Restaurants, stop by the Best Bars or start the day at the Best Cafes in the CBD.
From the best snag you ever had to Michelin starred royalty in the AO Reserve, here’s everything we’re getting hungry for at AO 2026.
AO Food & Drink At A Glance
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AO Newcomers
Shake Shack
Image Credit: Shake Shack | Facebook
In an exciting international debut, American burger sensation Shake Shack are in Aus for the first time, slinging their signature burgers, crinkle cut fries and cheese fries at the Top Court, plus special one-off shakes: Honey Macadamia and Choc Fudge Cookies and Cream. Try it here first and see what all the fuss is about.
Layla
Image Credit: Layla Brisbane | Instagram
It's also an exclusive opportunity to try Shane Delia's Brisbane eatery, here on home soil. Delia says Melbournians are going to fall in love with Layla.
“It has the same obsession with spice and flavour, but this time we’re exploring the origins of the spice trail with more exotic influences stretching from Sri Lanka to Iran,” he says. “You’ll still feel that familiar Middle Eastern soul, but with a fresher, more playful edge that keeps everything exciting.”
Settle in for a vino and some Habibi Butter Chicken and linger a little at Layla in Garden Square.
Vic’s Meats
Image Credit: Vic Meats | Instagram
Vic's Meats are turning up the heat with the most elevated, precision-engineered snag-in-bread known to mankind. For butcher Anthony Puharich, the Big Butcher’s Banger fits the grand tradition of Australia’s “big things” (prawn, banana, merino, you get it).
It’s no everyday sausage: thirty centimetres of premium O’Connor grass fed beef, a Martin’s hoagie roll, grilled onions and lashings of tomato sauce. Served with a side of fries in a nifty carry box, yours to grab from Garden Square.
“It is unapologetic, it is indulgent and it is exactly what you would expect at the iconic Australian Open,” he says. “It really is one serve you won’t forget.”
Ho Jiak
Image Credit: Ho Jiak | Instagram
Ho Jiak: Junda's Playground is a menu of greatest hits from across his venues brought to the Grand Stand Oval, from prawn toast with molten salted duck egg to lohbak (spiced pork jowl rolls deep fried in beancurd), satay chicken and even a riff on the signature dumplings, special Tom Yum Bombs.
Chef Junda Khoo says the menu of flavour-packed snacks-to-go are perfect for slamming back at the Grand Slam Oval.
“The Tom Yum Bombs are everything you love about a bowl of tom yum, packed into a single dumpling so you can enjoy all the flavor in one bite,” he says. “It was specifically designed for AO and it'll only be available during AO... the chances of it selling out is pretty high.”
Hector’s Deli
Image Credit: Hector's Deli | Instagram
In Garden Square, Hector's Deli has a limited number of their signature maple glazed donuts per day, along with their deli classics including the fried chicken sandwich, beef and pickle deluxe toastie and the much-loved nostalgia of their salad sandwich.
Season
Last year saw Brunswick’s Good Days bring their vermicelli noodle salads to the AO, and this year sibling venue Season is serving up Vietnamese fried chicken in Garden Square. It’s a change in style from their usual char grill, but they’re leaning into it with crispy tenders (in original or spicy flavour), a fried chicken sandwich with pickled daikon and kimchi mayo and a refreshing green papaya salad.
Match Ready
Western Courts is home to a fast service Japanese konbini-style offering at Match Ready Food & Drinks. Created by Cremorne’s Suupaa, you can expect a combo of grab-and-go and made-to-order konbini cuisine like sandos, noodle bowls and fried chicken. Get in, get fed, get back to the game.
JollyGood
Image Credit: Jolly Good | Instagram
The spirit of the great American diner comes to the Grand Slam Oval. It’s classic retro comfort food, they’ll be churning out countless American-style JollyGood Cheeseburgers (and the meat-free version) as well as the crispy Fried Fish Sandwich with tartare sauce, lettuce and good ol’ hi-melt cheese.
Returning Favourites
Grey Goose Courtside Bar
Image credit: Grey Goose | Supplied
Following the buzz of last year’s courtside takeover, the Grey Goose Courtside Bar is back at the Australian Open for another summer of Lemon Ace sipping and prime match viewing. Expect the return of the zesty Lemon Ace cocktail (also available as an AO-exclusive can), plus a French-inspired menu by Porcine’s Nik Hill: think lobster and leek quiche, duck liver parfait and sweet custard tarts, served up with uninterrupted views over Court 6. Park yourself here between sets and let the French flair do the rest at Melbourne Park.
Stalactites and Taverna
Image Credit: Stalactites | Website
A half-new-half-return, this year Melbourne institution Stalactites is teaming up with fresh Greek fave Taverna. Chefs Nicole Konstandakopoulos (Stalactites) and Angie Giannakodakis (Taverna) will collab for souvlaki, spanikopita and one very special item created just for the Grand Slam Oval.
“We wanted something that felt like the perfect bite for the AO. Easy, delicious and courtside-friendly,” Konstandakopoulos says. “We’ve created a lamb filo cigar filled with Stalactites’ signature seasoned lamb, which Taverna slow-cooks for six hours and then adds fresh herbs and their extra Greek flair. It’s all wrapped in crisp, golden pastry and served with our tangy Stalactites tzatziki. It’s fresh, easy to enjoy between matches and drinks.”
Entrecôte
Image Credit: Entrecôte Restaurant | Instagram
Following the success of last year’s AO debut, Entrecôte is back for another round of Mitraillette Baguettes (beef, frites and herby butter, what’s not to love?) and Entrecôte cheeseburgers, plus a new Grande macaron with strawberries and vanilla buttercream - an iconic flavour pairing with a day of tennis. Get to Garden Square for these ones.
D.O.C.
Image Credit: D.O.C | Instagram
Another returning classic, D.O.C. will be at the Grand Slam Oval slinging Italian street-food style pizza by the slice, with classic Margherita, Salama and San Daniele toppings and add-ons of stracciatella, chilli and rucola. They’ll also be debuting a porchetta roll of the day during O Week only.
Honourable Mentions
From the humble Wonder Pies of the Ballpark (nostalgia wrapped in pastry) to the headliners of the AO Reserve, 2026 promises to be all killer, no filler at every level.
Caretaker’s Cottage have worked with AO Reserve to bring “the best” of their award-winning bar into an exclusive experience in the Bar Suite.
“The room is a distilled version of all of the best parts of our little bar,” co-owner Rob Libecans says. “Music, bespoke cocktails and our award-winning modern hospitality. Probably Victoria’s smallest pub above Australia’s most iconic court.”
Some top notch out of towners have made it in for the AO Reserve, notably Simon Rogan from UK’s L’Enclume, a chef of Michelin starred kitchens serving up luxury at Club 1905. Peter Gilmore from Sydney’s Bennelong and Quay is on the rooftop, Tassie’s Agrarian Kitchen is in the Glasshouse and Brisbane’s SK Steak and Oyster is in the bistro. There’s a Sushi Room private omakase in the VIP On Court, presented by Piper-Heidsieck and the suites are catered by Alejandro Saravia (Farmer’s Daughters).
Main image credit: D.O.C. | Three Fold Social
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