Poppies Southbank sits on Little Stanley Street — a 4-minute riverside walk from the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Whether you're heading to a concert, expo, conference, or gala dinner, we're the perfect place to eat before your event.
Plan Your Evening
A 7pm event? Here's how we'd plan your evening — arrive at 5:30, enjoy a relaxed dinner, and stroll along the river to BCEC with time to spare.
5:30 PM
Arrive at Poppies
Cocktails & starters
6:00 PM
Enjoy Your Meal
Mains & share plates
6:50 PM
4-Min Walk to BCEC
Along the river
7:00 PM
Your Event Starts
Brisbane Convention Centre
About the Venue
BCEC is one of Australia's premier event venues, hosting everything from international concerts and comedy shows to major expos, corporate conferences, and gala dinners. It sits right on the South Bank riverside, connected to the Cultural Precinct and just a short walk from Little Stanley Street.
If you're attending an event at BCEC, you're already in one of Brisbane's best dining precincts. Poppies is a 4-minute walk along the river — close enough to be convenient, far enough to feel like you've had a proper night out before you even arrive.
Timing Your Visit
90 minutes before your event
A relaxed dinner with starters, mains, and a cocktail or two. Our most popular option for evening events.
45–60 minutes before your event
Quick share plates and a drink at the bar — perfect if you're short on time or prefer something lighter.
FULL DINNER
Starters, mains & drinks
90 min
before your event
DRINKS & A BITE
Bar snacks & cocktails
45–60 min
before your event
What to Order
BCEC events are predominantly evening — here are our top picks from the dinner and cocktail menus to get your night started.
Great to share while you settle in
Our most popular starter
Pan-fried with chilli oil
Our #1 dinner dish
With rosemary jus & seasonal veg
Pan-seared, lemon butter sauce
House specialty
Our signature aperitif
Classic, well-balanced
Good to Know
From our front door on Little Stanley Street, BCEC is a 4-minute walk along the South Bank riverside path. It's a lovely walk in the evening — the Parklands are lit up, the river is on your right, and the convention centre is unmissable. We'd recommend leaving the restaurant 10 to 15 minutes before your event starts to allow time to find your entrance and get settled.
For pre-event dinners, our share plates and mains are the way to go. The prawn tagliatelle is consistently our most popular dinner dish. The calamari and the sourdough with dip are great to start while you settle in. If you're after something lighter before a long conference evening, the salads and smaller plates work well. And yes, a cocktail is practically mandatory.
We're open until 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. If your event wraps up in time, walk back along the river for post-event cocktails and bar snacks. It's a great way to wind down after a big night.
Reserve your table before your BCEC event
Mention your event time in the booking notes and we'll take care of the timing.
Book a Table