The South Bank Evening
When the afternoon light turns golden and the river catches it — that's when South Bank is at its best.
There's a specific moment in the late afternoon when South Bank transforms. The heat softens, the light goes golden, the river picks up the colour of the sky, and the whole precinct shifts from daytime to evening mode. We've watched it happen from our tables on Little Stanley Street more times than we can count. It's worth being here for.
Cocktail Hour at Poppies
Our bar opens at 11am and runs through to close — but the sweet spot is the late afternoon. From around 4pm, the outdoor tables on Little Stanley Street are in the shade, the temperature is dropping, and the cocktail list comes into its own. Our signature Poppies Spritz — Aperol, prosecco, fresh orange, and a sprig of rosemary — was made for exactly this moment. The Southbank Sling and the Lychee Martini are close seconds.
Sunset on the River
The best free thing to do in South Bank is watch the sun set over the Brisbane River. From the river walk south of the Goodwill Bridge, you get an unobstructed view west across the water as the CBD skyline catches the last light. It takes about 10 minutes to walk there from Poppies — worth doing before or after dinner. The Story Bridge lights up at dusk and is visible from the northern end of the Parklands.
Dinner at Poppies
Our dinner menu runs from 4pm until an hour before close. The prawn tagliatelle is consistently our most popular evening dish — king prawns, cherry tomatoes, white wine butter sauce, fresh herbs and parmesan. The slow-cooked lamb shoulder and the grilled barramundi are both worth knowing about. For the table, the share plates — calamari, bruschetta, the charcuterie board — are a good way to start while you settle into the evening.
The Evening Precinct
South Bank in the evening is a genuinely lovely place to spend a few hours. Little Stanley Street fills up with a relaxed mix of locals, tourists, and pre-show diners. The Parklands are lit and the river walk is pleasant after dark. QPAC and the cultural precinct are active most evenings with shows and events. The whole area has a low-key energy that's quite different from the CBD — less frenetic, more relaxed.
Late Night
We're open until 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. If you're looking for somewhere to end the evening after a show or a walk along the river, the bar is open until close and the kitchen runs until one hour before we shut. The late-night crowd at Poppies tends to be relaxed — people winding down rather than ramping up, which suits the venue well.
Quick Tips from the Team
The evening table is waiting
Book ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings. Walk-ins welcome on weeknights.
Book a Table