The Tivoli Brisbane guide: age rules, bags, parking, trains

The Tivoli is a 1,500-capacity room at 52 Costin Street in Fortitude Valley. It started life as a cake factory in 1927 and has been a live music venue since 1989. Inside, it's one flat floor with a wrought-iron mezzanine wrapped around it and timber roof trusses overhead.

A few things catch people out here: there's no cloakroom, no food, no parking, and the age rules change from show to show. Everything below comes from what the venue, Translink and Brisbane City Council publish, checked on 26 September 2026. Rules can change, so read your event page too. For more gigs around town, see concerts in Brisbane.

Quick facts

Which show type is your ticket?

This is the thing to check first. The Tivoli runs several show formats, and each has its own rules. It's printed on the ticket and the event listing. As of September 2026, the venue's FAQ describes them like this:

• 18+ (standing or reserved seating): nobody under 18 gets in, "not even with a guardian", and that includes babies. You'll be asked for photo ID at the door.
• General Admission Standing, Licensed All Ages 6+: under-18s are allowed. Downstairs is licensed and the upstairs mezzanine is unlicensed. Parental guidance is recommended for ages 6 to 13. Under-6s aren't allowed, and the venue has a "no babes in arms policy". Everyone 6 and over needs a ticket.
• Reserved Seating, Licensed All Ages 6+: allocated seats, the same under-6 and no-babes-in-arms rule, and no alcohol sold to under-18s.
• General Admission Seating: unallocated seats, first come, first served.
• All Ages Alcohol-Free: no alcohol, cigarettes or vapes. Nobody checks ages at the door, but anyone caught drinking is removed, and if you've clearly been drinking outside you'll be refused entry.

What ID works?

The venue accepts a physical driver licence, an 18+ card, a passport, or a digital licence in the Queensland Digital Licence app.

Bags, cameras and what to wear

Is there a cloakroom?

No. In the venue's words: "Since nobody wears cloaks anymore (and it's Brisbane) we don't have a cloak room."

Big bags aren't banned. The catch is that "you'll have to carry it around all night", and whatever you bring stays with you and is your responsibility. On a packed standing floor that gets old fast.

The FAQ doesn't give a bag size limit, so if you're unsure about something bulky, check with the venue.

Camera rules

Smartphones are fine. Anything more serious needs a photographer's pass arranged through the proper channels. The venue also asks you to take your photo and then put the phone away.

Dress code

Casual is fine: shorts, hats, heels, sneakers, even Crocs. The two things you can't wear are steel caps and thongs. The venue bans both "for your safety". That's worth remembering on a hot Brisbane night.

Can you leave and come back in?

The venue's FAQ doesn't cover re-entry or pass-outs. If you think you'll need to step out, ask staff at the door before you go in. There is an outdoor smoking deck, but drinks have to stay inside.

How do I get to The Tivoli?

The venue recommends public transport, since parking nearby is limited. Costin Street is one-way.

Train

Fortitude Valley station is the closest. The venue's directions: exit onto Brunswick Street and turn right, walking away from the Valley Mall.

Translink lists four platforms at the station, with services on the T1, T2, T4, T5 and T6 lines, including the Caboolture, Ipswich, Springfield Central, Cleveland, Shorncliffe, Ferny Grove and Airport lines. Check your line on the Translink Journey Planner, or call Translink on 13 12 30 (24 hours).

None of our sources gives a walking time from the station, so leave yourself some slack the first time.

Bus

The venue names two nearby stops: The Old Museum on Bowen Bridge Road, and Jubilee Hotel on Saint Pauls Terrace at Constance Street. Plan your route in the Translink Journey Planner.

Rideshare and taxis

Costin Street is one-way, and there's a loading zone right outside the venue, which makes drop-offs easy. The venue mentions Uber, Ola and DiDi, or Yellow Cabs and Black & White through 13CABS.

Getting home late

18+ gigs can run late. The venue says "18+ events wrap anytime between 11pm and 2am", and the exact end time is up to the artist. All-ages shows usually finish by 10pm.

For the late ones on a Friday or Saturday, Translink runs Nightlink services. As of 26 September 2026, its late night services page lists:

• Fortitude Valley station is only open to Nightlink passengers between 3:15am and 4am.
• Nightlink buses leave from Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City. Most pick up at any stop on their route, but the N310 and N555 only pick up at selected stops. They'll drop you anywhere on the route where it's safe to stop, and there are security guards on board.
• Secure FlatFare taxi ranks: Translink lists one on the right side of Wickham Street, just past the Brunswick Street intersection (outside McWhirters), and one on the right side of Ann Street approaching Duncan Street (opposite Cloudland). They're staffed by marshals and security guards and watched by CCTV.

The Queensland Government's night security page names a rank on Warner Street approaching Wickham Street instead. The two lists don't match, so check Translink's late-night page for current rank locations before you head out.

Is there parking at The Tivoli?

Not on site. The venue's FAQ says "There is no on-site parking at The Tivoli", street parking nearby is limited, and it recommends public transport. If you do drive, these are the paid car parks the venue and car park operators name:

Secure Parking warns that "Event Parking may apply" when you pick a date that lines up with a major Brisbane event, so check the rate before you confirm. The Brisbane Comedy Festival's venue page suggests arriving about an hour early to find a park.

Accessibility

As of September 2026, the venue's accessibility page and FAQ say:

• Getting in: there's one step from the street into the foyer and two more from the foyer into the auditorium. Both are covered by portable stainless-steel ramps.
• What's accessible: the main foyer and main bar.
• What isn't: the upstairs mezzanine, the dance floor, the lower bar and the secondary bathroom are not accessible for wheelchair users.
• Toilets: "ambulant only", with support rails, and "not fully wheelchair accessible". This is a big one. Contact the venue before you book if it affects you.
• Companion Card: holders get a second ticket for their companion at no cost, subject to availability in the accessible allocation.
• Wheelchair and carer tickets for Ticketmaster events: call the Accessible Bookings line on 1300 446 925, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
• Parking: the venue is on a hill, so there's no disability parking on Costin Street. The closest disability parking is on King Street, about 300m away. Drivers can drop off right out the front in the loading zone.
• Auslan: some events are Auslan-interpreted for d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences. If one is, it's marked on the event page.
• Quieter spaces: the main foyer and lower bar have dimmed lighting, quieter music and live feeds from the stage.

The venue's pages don't mention a hearing loop or a lift inside the building. Ask before the show if you need either.

Standing, seating and where to stand

For standing shows, the floor is flat. The venue's FAQ puts it plainly: "Flat floor requires cooperation." If you want to be near the front, arrive early. If you're tall, the venue asks you to think about the people behind you.

The mezzanine runs around the room above the floor. On All Ages 6+ nights the mezzanine is the unlicensed area and downstairs is licensed. There's also a lower bar downstairs, which doubles as one of the quieter spaces.

Seated shows use reserved or unallocated seating depending on the format. The venue puts theatre-style seating at 690 and cabaret-style at 400. You'll see 1,560 standing and "about 700 seated" on other sites. The venue's own figure is 1,500 standing.

The FAQ discourages newcomers from going into mosh pits, and it says the venue doesn't endorse crowd surfing. It also calls out racism, homophobia, transphobia, excessive pushing, getting in people's space, shouting through quiet moments and heavy drinking. If someone's making you uncomfortable, tell a staff member.

Food and drink

There's no food on site at the moment, whatever older pages (including a 2023 Comedy Festival listing) might say. Eat before you come.

The venue's What's Around page points to King Street, about 100m away, for places like Fat Dumpling, Il Verde and Super Combo. Around Bowen Hills it lists Six Acres, El Camino Cantina, Bar Gusto, WINGHAÜS, Xin Chao, Mista Boo, Montrachet and Netherworld. For cocktails after the show, it suggests Saville Row, Dutch Courage Officer's Mess and Cindy Chow's, with the heart of the Valley about a 10-minute walk away. James Street is also about 10 minutes on foot.

Inside, there are four bars across the venue, and free water. Smoking and vaping are banned indoors, but there's an outdoor smoking deck. Your drink stays inside. Bands often sell merch, and the venue says cash and card are usually accepted.

Toilets

There are four sets of toilets. Two are in the main foyer (Gents and Ladies), and two are in the lower bar (Gents and Everybody). The Everybody toilet has eight cubicles and is open to everyone.

Tickets, doors and resale

• Where to buy: main auditorium shows sell through Ticketmaster. What's Golden shows sell through Moshtix.
• At the door: if a show hasn't sold out, a limited number of tickets may be available on the night, first come, first served.
• Doors: "Doors open at the time on your ticket." The venue says to expect queues on the street and arrive early, and to check door and start times so you don't miss acts.
• Phone died? Bring photo ID to the box office and they can print your ticket.
• Refunds: the venue says it doesn't offer refunds or exchanges for change of mind or illness.
• Resale: the venue points to Tixel as the legitimate resale option besides Ticketmaster, and notes it caps resale prices above face value. It warns against Viagogo, Ticket Merchant, StubHub and sellers in Facebook comments: "Do NOT buy tickets from someone in the comments on Facebook. You will be scammed."
• Sold out? Join the waitlist or check Tixel.
• Lost property: call (07) 3852 1711, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, or message the venue on Facebook.

A bit of history

The building went up in 1927 as a factory and offices for cake maker G E Adams, designed by architect Sidney W. Prior. Brisbane City Council's heritage register gives that date. Wikipedia and some older press say 1917, but the council and the venue both say 1927. The venue says the building was later used by the State Library to store rare books.

After Expo '88, restaurateur Ann Garms took it on, remodelled the interior and opened it in 1989 as the Tivoli Theatre and Restaurant. The council says she added the balcony and stage. The venue says she modelled it on the Paradis Latin cabaret in Paris. Brothers Steve and Dave Sleswick bought it in 2016, and they said at the time they'd keep it as a live music venue.

Since 29 November 2019 it's been listed as a Brisbane City Council local heritage place. The council describes an "industrial brick exterior" around "a large space with distinctive timber roof framing", and says the building shows how the Valley changed from a centre of secondary industry into an entertainment precinct. Past acts the venue lists include Powderfinger, Nick Cave, Missy Higgins, Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift.

Before you go

• Check the show type on your ticket: 18+, All Ages 6+, or All Ages Alcohol-Free.
• Bring photo ID for 18+ shows (licence, 18+ card, passport or QLD Digital Licence).
• Pack light. There's no cloakroom and you carry your bag all night.
• Leave the camera at home. Phones only.
• No thongs, no steel caps.
• Eat before you arrive. There's no food on site.
• From Fortitude Valley station, exit onto Brunswick Street and turn right.
• If the show runs late, check Nightlink times and taxi ranks on Translink.
• Driving? Book a car park and check event rates first.
• Need access help? Email accessibility@thetivoli.com.au before the show.

Upcoming shows at The Tivoli