Dining Near
Queensland Museum
Night at the Museum, Science Night & More
Poppies Southbank is on Little Stanley Street — a 5-minute walk from Queensland Museum Kurilpa through the Cultural Centre precinct. Whether you're visiting for a Night at the Museum, Science Night, or a daytime exhibition, we're the obvious place to eat before or after.
Plan Your Evening
Dinner Before the Museum
Cocktails & starters on Little Stanley St
Mains, share plates, a glass of something good
Through the Cultural Centre precinct
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Grey St
For evening events, arrive at Poppies 90 minutes before your event starts. Mention your event time in the booking notes.
Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank
Queensland Museum Kurilpa
Queensland Museum Kurilpa sits at the heart of the Queensland Cultural Centre on Grey Street, South Bank — right alongside QPAC, GOMA, and the State Library. It's one of Brisbane's most visited cultural institutions, and home to some genuinely excellent after-hours events throughout the year.
From the family-friendly Night at the Museum to the adults-only Science Night series, the museum runs a calendar of special events that pair beautifully with dinner on Little Stanley Street beforehand. Poppies is a 5-minute walk through the Cultural Centre precinct — close enough to be convenient, far enough to feel like a proper evening out.
5 min
Walk from Poppies
9am – 5pm
Museum Hours
Free
General Admission
Ticketed
Special Events
Special Events & Exhibitions
What's On at the Museum
A Night at the Museum
Dinosaur Edition — Queensland Dinosaur Week
Friday 8 May 2026
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Adult $48 · Family $115 · Child $20
A total dinosaur takeover after dark. Roam the museum after hours with access to all temporary and permanent exhibitions, live palaeontologist talks, Tesla Coil shows in SparkLab, a Silent Disco, and Dino Encounters with baby dinosaur puppets. Part of Queensland Dinosaur Week.
Science Night: Sharks
with Dr Emily Lester
Friday 29 May 2026
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Adult $48 · Concession $40
An adults-only night in SparkLab exploring why sharks matter as vital guardians of healthy oceans. Marine scientist Dr Emily Lester presents on the Science on a Sphere globe, with live experiments, live music, and a pop-up bar. Auslan interpreted.
Retro Silent Disco
Amazing Silent Discos
Saturday 13 June 2026
6:30 PM onwards
Dance among the artefacts to iconic 80s, 90s and 00s hits in a retro-charged after-hours silent disco experience inside Queensland Museum. Three channels, one unforgettable night.
Croc! Lost Giants to Living Legends
World Premiere Exhibition
Now on – 15 September 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Included with general admission
Walk alongside one of the planet's most powerful animals in this world premiere exhibition. A journey stretching back 130 million years, bringing you face-to-face with the mighty crocodile.
Make a Scene
Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s
Now on – 19 July 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Included with general admission
Extraordinary pieces from the museum's textile and costume collections reveal untold stories of Queensland's LGBTQIA+ communities through fashion, identity and club culture.
Fragile and Forever
Ceramics from the Queensland Museum Collection
From 29 May 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Included with general admission
Explore ceramics from the artistic to the practical — many on display for the very first time. A quiet, beautiful exhibition for those who appreciate craft and material culture.
Permanent Galleries
Dinosaurs Unearthed
Permanent Gallery
Permanent
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Included with general admission
Unleash your inner palaeontologist and embark on a roaring adventure in this permanent gallery exploring prehistoric Queensland. Come face to face with Australovenator — Queensland's own 'velociraptor'.
SparkLab
Interactive STEM Space
Permanent
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Separate ticket required
An interactive science, technology, engineering and maths space ideal for ages 6–13. Featuring 40 interactive exhibits, a Tesla Coil, the Science on a Sphere globe, and a Maker Space.
Getting There
5 Minutes from Poppies to the Museum
From our front door on Little Stanley Street, walk north through the South Bank Cultural Centre precinct. Pass QPAC on your left, continue along the riverside path, and Queensland Museum Kurilpa is directly ahead on Grey Street. The walk takes about 5 minutes and is entirely flat and well-lit in the evenings.
5-Minute Walk
Flat, well-lit path through the Cultural Centre precinct
Grey St & Melbourne St
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Entry via Level 2
For special evening events — check your ticket for entry details
Leave After Dessert
Aim to leave Poppies 10–15 minutes before your event starts
Pre-Visit Tips
Making the Most of Your Evening
Book in advance
Night at the Museum and Science Night sell out quickly. Book your museum tickets and your table at Poppies as soon as you have your plans confirmed.
Tell us your event time
Mention your museum event time in the booking notes and we'll make sure your service is timed so you're never rushing.
The museum is cashless
Queensland Museum events are EFTPOS only. Worth knowing before you arrive.
Arrive hungry
The museum café is open during daytime hours but closes before evening events. Poppies is your best option for a proper meal before a Night at the Museum or Science Night.
What to Order
Pre-Museum Dinner Picks
Our menu rotates seasonally — these are the dishes that work best before an evening at the museum.
Salt & Pepper Calamari
Light and crisp — great to share while you settle in and look over the evening ahead.
Snow Crab Linguine
Garlic and chilli emulsion, Japanese master stock. A standout dinner dish that won't leave you feeling heavy.
Signature Cocktails
Classic and signature cocktails with house-made syrups. The perfect way to start a special evening.
Menu rotates seasonally. View the full menu online or ask our team on the day.
Reserve Your Table
Dinner Before the Museum
Mention your museum event time in the booking notes and we'll take care of the timing.
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