PHOTO: The cult New York–born burger brand will make its long-anticipated Australian debut at the Australian Open, opening pop-ups from January 12 through to February 1. FILE
🎾🍟 Shake Shack Is Coming — And Tennis Fans Get First Dibs
After years of speculation, Shake Shack is officially touching down in Australia next week — and it’s doing it in true blockbuster style.
The cult New York–born burger brand will make its long-anticipated Australian debut at the Australian Open, opening pop-ups from January 12 through to February 1.
For the first time ever, Australians will be able to order a Shake Shack burger without boarding a long-haul flight.
📍 Where to Find Shake Shack at the Australian Open
Shake Shack will operate at two major locations throughout the tournament:
📌 TOPCOURT — a brand-new entertainment precinct at Birrarung Marr, just outside Melbourne Park
📌 John Cain Arena
Both locations are accessible with a Ground Pass, making the pop-up one of the most sought-after food stops of opening week.
Shake Shack’s impending arrival has already generated huge excitement online
🎶 More Than Tennis: AO Goes Full Festival Mode
The Australian Open has evolved well beyond a traditional sporting event — and Shake Shack’s arrival only reinforces that shift.
TOPCOURT has been designed with a Gen-Z and festival-first crowd in mind, blending:
🎧 Live electronic music
🍔 Food pop-ups
🎮 Gaming and culture activations
🍹 Night-time drinks and DJs
During Opening Week, the precinct will host performances from Hot Chip, Elderbrook, and The Presets, allowing fans to watch world-class tennis by day — then party riverside with a burger in hand by night.
🍔 What’s on the Menu?
Shake Shack will be serving its globally famous ShackBurger, featuring:
🥩 Smashed Angus beef patty
🧀 Melted American cheese
🍅 Tomato & lettuce
🥫 Signature ShackSauce
🥔 Toasted potato bun
There will also be an exclusive Australian Open Shake, available only at TOPCOURT throughout January.
📱 Internet Loses Its Mind (Mostly)
The announcement has sparked a wave of online excitement.
💬 “Shake Shack finally coming to Aus is everything.”
💬 “World’s best burger finally hits Melbourne — do I need to line up now?”
💬 “Can’t stand tennis… but I might go just for this.”
Not everyone is convinced, however.
💸 Some Aussies joked about premium prices, with one quipping:
“$50 for a burger and chips then, is it?”
Others questioned why an international brand was chosen over local favourites like Betty’s Burgers.
🗣️ Tennis Australia: ‘It’s a Festival Now’
Speaking after the announcement, Tennis Australia’s Fern Barrett said Shake Shack’s arrival reflects how much the Australian Open has changed.
“Shake Shack’s arrival at the AO underlines how much this event has grown beyond the court. It’s a festival of food, sport and culture.”
She added that innovations such as expanded in-seat ordering, roving vendors, and automated snack services are designed to cut queues and keep fans focused on the action.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Shake Shack’s Australian debut isn’t a permanent store — it’s a limited-time pop-up tied to one of the country’s biggest sporting events.
That means:
⏳ Limited availability
📍 Melbourne-only (for now)
🍔 Huge queues likely
For burger fans, tennis lovers, and festival-goers alike, this could be one of the hottest food launches of the summer.