Whether you live for the Australian Open and have been in a tennis-centred fugue state since Challengers came out, or you couldn’t care less for the Melbourne major, there’s no question it defines the city in January.

With qualifiers underway and the tournament formally kicking off on Sunday, this week’s Hot List update is dedicated to those in the former camp. Here’s where to head if you want to ace this Australian Open.

Where to go on your way to and from Melbourne Park

One thing that makes the Australian Open so special is it’s the only grand slam that a lot of people walk to. Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open might technically be in Paris, London and New York City, but they can hardly be called central and simple to get to. No wonder the Australian Open is called the Happy Slam – nothing builds anticipation like hopping off the tram or train at Flinders Street and walking along the river to the courts. It’s a real carnival.

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That central location also means that, unlike the other slams, it’s ludicrously easy to have a good meal immediately before – and after – your trip to the tennis. You’ll be so close to so many venues on The Hot List – it would be rude not to check them out.

Why not get off the train near Parliament Station for a bite at Maison Batard? The open-air rooftop terrace is one of the buzziest spots in the CBD this summer (and the tableside mousse, Batard’s breakout dessert, is served upstairs, too). Over near Melbourne Central, you could head to Music Room for a pre- or post-tennis tipple. If the weather’s cooperating, you could kick on to the Her Rooftop upstairs. Nothing’s better than going to the tennis in a big group, and Dodee Paidang on Little Collins Street is one of the best restaurants for large groups – especially when you get a few beer towers involved.

If you’ve got a ground pass and you’re heading in for a day session, consider grabbing a coffee and a snack at Tori’s or Patricia before you do. They’ll provide the crucial fuel you need for watching other people exercise all day.

South of the river, Juniper, France Soir, and Leonard’s House of Love are all close by. And Yugen Dining, as part of Serve festival, is hosting a one-off special dinner on January 21 – it kicks off at 7pm, giving you just enough time to scamper over at the end of the day session.

Where to eat once you’re at the Australian Open

If you’d rather save your stomach real estate for once you get to the AO, you’ll have plenty of options. This year’s Australian Open food line-up is as good as ever, and includes a few participants from The Hot List.

In Garden Square, the tournament’s central hub, Prahran institution Entrecote will be serving some house favourites, including the Entrecote cheeseburger and a baguette sanga loaded with steak, fries and herb-and-garlic sauce. Portable steak frites? What a time to be alive. Just around the corner, near the western courts, Brunswick’s Good Days will be making its debut appearance at the Australian Open, serving up a range of Vietnamese rice bowls and salads.

Looking for a more deluxe option? If you have a fortune in spare change hiding between the couch cushions, you could go for a Club 1905 food and drink experience, by Martin Benn and Vicki Wild – formerly of Society and Sydney’s Sepia. You can get tickets for individual sessions at Rod Laver Arena, or really lash out and get a ticket that covers the entire tournament, including the finals. You can also catch Benn’s cooking at the NGV Garden Restaurant until mid-February.

And, most importantly, here’s where to eat if you want to spot the players

The other cool thing about the Australian Open being in the centre of Melbourne is that it’s often really easy to stalk – sorry, spot – the top tennis players in the world while they’re out and about in town.

Crown is where heaps of players typically stay, thanks to its proximity to the courts. So there’s a decent chance that a few of them are going to check out Marmont and Kolkata Cricket Club, both of which have just opened and went straight on The Hot List. If no players make an appearance, at least you’ll be able to watch the matches in comfort in Kolkata’s sports bar section.

Then, there’s the Greek connection. Stefanos Tsitsipas is a famous gourmand about town (he even had his own souvlaki at Stalactites a couple of years ago), so he’s bound to crop up somewhere, especially if he makes a deep run – maybe at Kafeneion? Plus, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are well-publicised fans of Collingwood classic Jim’s Greek Tavern and often stop by when they’re in town.

This week’s Hot List activity

• Most trending restaurant: Soi 38 (runner-up: Marmelo)
• Most trending bar: Caretaker’s Cottage (runner-up: Leonard’s House of Love)
• Most trending cafe: Moon Mart (runner-up: Patricia)