Assisted listening devices
Yes
Violet Crown Cinema in Austin
Categories
Location on the map
Austin, Travis County, Texas, US
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible lift
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Food
Yes
Amenities
Stadium seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Comments (199)
The cleanest Movie theater in Austin. Awesome options for food and drink. Hit up Toy Joy across the street if you have some time to kill
The employees were so friendly but the manager was absolutely amazing and went out of his way to help us with our parking situation. The theater itself was very nice and clean with good food!
The movie theatre suggestion you would never expect; sit in the front row. The chairs in the front row are larger, fully recline, and are far enough away from the screen to enjoy the movie. Although there is no waiter service while watching, the snacks and cocktails can be taken into the theatre. The setting is more intimate and a good alternative to find tickets when the larger theaters are sold out.
Quaint theater downtown with snacks and cocktail options. The movie theaters are small and always very warm contrary to what you might be used to at a typical movie theater
Go to spot for a unique movie and dining experience. The chairs dont recline and the theaters are always a little hot for me. Also the food can smell during the movie since no one takes it out. Im being picky. Overall Im always satisfied with food and service so Ill keep going back
Intimate, upscale cinema always showing a great blend of art house, independent, and big-budget Hollywood films. Theaters are small and have comfortable seats. There is a really beautiful restaurant and lounge to relax in before the movie starts, so I recommend getting there early to grab a drink and some food prior to the show! When the weather is nice, take advantage of the balcony with second-story views of 2nd street.
Violet Crown Cinema delivers! Being the only theater in the west downtown of Austin with walkability access to pedestrians and restaurant goers in the area. It is surrounded by boutiques, shops, and bar. Pretty small but seats are comfy. Being right at downtown, be prepared for parking challenges and it is not free.
This is a great little cinema. I got there really early for my movie and I was able to get some cake balls (delicious!) with popcorn (yum - way better than typical theater popcorn!) & a glass of prosecco. I sat at a little table in the lobby area watching previews while I was waiting. In the theater, great viewing with comfy seats & big screen.
Fun, intimate movie experience. Food is way better and more reasonably priced than standard theaters. Wish they had more blockbusters — am always on the lookout for good movies to be showing.
Really cute and small theater. Wish I had known earlier they served coffee, wouldn’t have stopped at a cafe earlier!
Cool movie 🎥🍿 vibe! Lots of beers 🍻 on tap. The drinks and food are amazing for a movie joint! Small cozy theaters! A great movie experience!
Fine but had difficulty getting out of parking garage...parking ticket would not go thru so line of cars & rude attendant on parking garage line.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! OK, this is NOT a huge screen multiplex with car sized speakers blaring sounds of big budget explosions in outer space.* But for a relaxed environment with a full service bar you cant beat this place! You dont have to pay extra for your tickets because someone else wants to dine in their leather recliner served by a wait staff. The seats are comfortable and they do serve food but youll have to carry it to your seat yourself...how tragic! I like indie films shown in a comfortable environment and this place fits that description.*Those explosions dont make any sounds anyway since space is a vacuum. Just sayin.
The Pros: Set in the heart of downtown (which I guess can be a pro or a con depending on how you feel about downtown Austin), intimate seating, selection of arthouse films that might be screening at bigger theaters. Food and drinks are solid (a lot of other reviews complaining about the price, but its definitely a quality upcharge. Worth it for me)The Cons: A recent screening of The Green Knight was practically unwatchable due to the projection being so dark. The chairs, though comfortable, are creaky and loud as anything. If you are sensitive to sounds, all of the shifting around will bug you. Also be prepared for your fellow audience members to leave to go get drinks/food/the bathroom throughout the entire thing. No late entry policy means fellow audience will enter (phone flashlight on and all) during the first half hour of the film. Lastly Ive been to all of the major movie theaters here in Austin and I can honestly say this is the WORST ONE in terms of audience talking throughout the movie. Its not even close. No policy (like at the Drafthouse with the cards) means youll just sit there and fume.
Ive always enjoyed this little theater and its film selections. The food and drinks are good, though I do wish they gave instructions on their website about how ordering works so you can plan how early to arrive.
Nice bar, good food, all in beautiful downtown Austin.
Visited for the first time tonight and pretty unimpressed. Line for drinks is long, there was no soap in the bathroom, and food options are limited. Parking situation is good and small theaters are cozy.It’s no Alamo but still a good spot.
Great drinks, smaller theaters, and probably the best Chicago dog downtown? ✔️ Also, counter service at a theater instead of waitstaff during the movie? Yes, this is the way it ought to be
Violet Crown is a medium between Alamo Drafthouse and a regular cinema. No food delivery to your seat but a full bar similar to Alamo. Less movie trailers than your average cinema and a more boutique feel. Worth the visit!
This is our favorite theater in Austin. We like the personal feeling that you get at this theater. The restaurant is good. Good beer. The seating is excellent. We recently had an experience where an extremely rude person absolutely refused to quit using his cell phone right in the middle of the movie. I’m talking about throughout the entire movie. I reported it to the manager and he handled the situation delicately and we appreciate it.
You can order food at the bar before the movie. Cocktails are pricey but delicious. TV outside the bar shows countdown till movie starts. Theatre seats are the more comfortable ones Ive sat in and they do not have that gross stale soda / popcorn stench or feel. Its a pretty clean theatre.
The only benefit of coming here is the offering of indie movies that may not be available at larger theaters. Beyond that, food is overpriced, only the front row has more comfortable seats with foot rests, not recliners. The comfort is on par with any other theater that has yet to upgrade to recliners. Sound dampening is poor, you can practically be listening to two movies at the same time. Will I visit again, possibly if there is a movie I really want to watch but not being played on other theaters (such as Honey Boy during this visit), but will it ever be my theater of choice? No.
I have been to movie places where you can have food as well, and they generally arent great.Happy to report this place was great.The food is outstanding. Its a full bar setup, with a very friendly bartender. Food came out very well presented, and top quality. I could easily see myself coming here just for food and drink. Its not just warmed over stuff like you get at other places. Its tasty, and came out piping hot.The theaters are small, but thats fine by me.Taking the food and drink into the theater is encouraged, but note that the space will be a bit small. I had no problem, but the person with me found it a bit cumbersome.The movie seats were large and very comfortable.The entire place was clean and well-run.Best of all they were very patient with me as a newbie. I didnt quite understand the procedure, and the staff was very patient and didnt make me feel like an idiot.
Great space to hang out before a show or even after. The staff is excellent, attentive. The food and beverages are great and with a unique selection to choose from. The theatre itself goes right along with everything else top notch. A huge plus for those who choose to drive in how about complimentary parking indoors with access directly to the theatre.
Awesome and very unique movie going experience. Very disappointed that we went to dinner before coming here. The food coming out of the kitchen looked amazing! And such a great atmosphere with the BEST customer service. I will definitely be back to try those Brussels sprouts! (Pineapple margarita was the bomb).
Really cute place to catch a movie. The theaters are small and intimate. You can get a drink or food before hand and bring it in with you and each chair has a tray you can pull out. The chairs are very comfortable. And they offer free refills on the large popcorn and fountain drinks. I had a seasonal cocktail that was quite yummy.
Love this theater!! Nice central location, small theaters with comfy seating and high quality picture & sound. Cafe and bar are nice additions. Park in attached garage for 4 hrs. for free. Appreciate the selection of indie films shown.
New favorite cinema. Tired of the Alamo crowd? Go here. French Connection had me in hysterics from start to finish.
This is a luxury theater. So much to love - the assigned seats, their choice of films, the real butter in the popcorn, full bar, those seats in the front row. In truth, when Ive missed out on front row seats, Ive found all the seating really comfortable and with an uninterrupted view of the screen. Parking is validated. Prices are not much higher than a non-luxury theater, if theyre higher at all. Ah, there is only flaw in all this perfection, the kitchen is super slow if youre ordering food. Still, no other theater gets close to this nice of an experience.
Love this theater it has such a cool vibe with amazingly curated films. The bar is awesome and the seats are super comfy.
Great movie experience, small theater, big seats, great view and sound. Get there early and enjoy good wine and food. Food not 5star but way better than most places and there is great selection of cocktails and wine. We bought bottle to take in theater. Also enjoy seeing movies at VC!
I have not been to a film in years and it was enjoyable and did not break the bank
The Violet Crown is a classy but not stuffy cinema that seems to really care about how your film is viewed. All the employees we encountered were attentive and helpful especially when we were deciding on what to eat. The small theaters make for the perfect setting for any film and each seat is cushy and has an unobstructed view of the screen. I know these days it’s easier to have a server come in and bring you your drinks and apps but I really love that the full bar and tasty menu is offered only at the entrance. I feel when servers are coming in and out of the theater it always takes away from whatever film you are supposed to be engrossed in. My only wish is that I lived in Austin to see every film there, but the drive from San Antonio will be well worth it. Thank you for opening a theater that is made for people who love films.
It is very laid back and quiet. It is a great place for a variety of dinner and drinks or coke and popcorn. Looking for a place to grab a couple of glasses of wine and a movie but not feel awkward going alone, then this is the place to go. After the movie, sit outside and enjoy the view.
This place is like a classier version of the Alamo Drafthouse. You do have to take your food and drinks from the cafe to the theater yourself, and the tables at your seat are a little rickety, but my overall experience was fantastic.The cafe is wonderful. I had some amazing lightly fried Brussels sprouts- I HIGHLY recommend them!Expect to spend a bit more when coming here. Being a general cheapo, myself, I still recommend the Violet Crown experience every once in a while.
This is my favorite theatre in Austin. I love the affordable and decent sized snacks. The snacks are even healthy!! You can still get soda and popcorn if you want. The seating is amazing but the rooms are much smaller so reserve in advance. They have a relaxing bar area and a nice lounge.
An awesome little place to go watch a movie and get a bite to eat. Most dining movie theaters only allow you to dine in the theater, at the Violet Crown you Have the option to eat at two different seating areas. ones near a bar and the other ones separated from the bar. Or you can just place your order and eat inside the theater. You could also hang out outside on the balcony overlooking second Street. The views of the surrounding architecture and buildings is beautiful Austin has really grown.
Solid movie theater experience, coffee was great. They have a full bar and some desserts, might have more food items but thats what I saw at this visit. One minor detail, the screen we saw Captain Marvel on (amazing movie, go see it!!) had a few dead pixels that registered like bright blue dots/stars. Not a total movie ruiner but some people are bothered by that so I thought Id mention it.edit because I cant figure out how to reply to a response: I saw Captain Marvel 3/10/19 at 8:50pm on Screen 2 :)
This is one of my favorite places to catch a movie the Drinks are GREAT unlike most dine in theatres. The have an awesome balcony that has seating to have a drink or two before your movie starts. Overall great experience!! I’m a repeat customer.
This is the spot in town to watch art house films. They validate parking, which makes it very easy to drive to even though its downtown. They also have a nice bar and food selection, so you can come early and drink/eat or just grab something for the film. Finally, the theaters are more intimate with very comfortable seats.
Excellent place! Nice bar and menu, parking, cozy atmosphere, comfy movie theater seating, and you can bring your food and drinks into the theater. New favorite place to see a movie in Austin. Will be back for more date nights.
We saw the Grand Budapest Hotel here and it was so great. Theyve always got a good selection of movies. You can get snacks or real food- we got beers and bottomless popcorn- and eat and drink in the theater. The theaters are small and super clean and old-fashioned looking. Its great that theres free parking in the garage right next to it, too! After the movie you can stay and eat in there little cafe/restaurant which is super nice.
I just love this quaint theater, super easy to miss in the center of downtown Austin. There is a cool bistro area for snacks and drink. You can even bring it ALL in the theater with you. Intimate theater size, and don’t forget your completely parking stamp!
This is one of my favorite places to see a movie in Austin. The theaters are fairly small, and the chairs are nicer than I have in my living room. Great cocktails and beer, and the food is good also. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Free validated parking.
This theater is nice enough, but if I have a choice between going here and going to Alamo Drafthouse then I always choose Alamo Drafthouse. The seats are not as comfortable at Violet Crown and there is only one aisle against the wall (at least in the theaters I have been in) so people who are seated at the opposite end of the row have to walk across everyone to get to their seats. I do appreciate that this theater is sometimes the only place to see less popular movies and documentaries.
A really cool movie theatre that only plays low budget films! It is a theatre that only seats 50 so you have to get your tickets ahead of time. Big comfy leather recliners and a full menu so that you can have dinner or lunch there. Wine and beer bar as well. Any movie you see here will be a completely exclusive and original experience because they don’t play anywhere else.
A total different experience when catching dinner and a movie. You can eat outside in the restaurant area/bar area or you can eat at your seat during the movie. You also have the option to exit the theater and get more food or drinks as you’d like and bring her back to your seat as any other theater except this theater service real food and real alcoholic beverages. I’ve been here more than a handful of times and I definitely plan on going back Great atmosphere great experience overall.
Violet Crown is an amazing theater. Great food and drinks. Also their selection of movies are top notch.Ive seen several documentaries and indie films and just love the theater overall.Protip, if you reserve your seats far enough in advance, select the first row closest to the screen. These chairs are super comfy and really add to the movie experience.
I love the small but comfortable theater plus reserved seating. The crown fries are AMAZING!!! Definitely go for the 22oz beers so you dont have to get up during the movie for another drink. You can even just come hang out in the bar and grab some snacks for a fun evening out.
Its kind of like Alamo but they dont bring you the beer. You have to leave the theater and order from the bar in the lobby. I ate there once a while back and remember it being pretty tasty. I cant remember what I ordered, if that says anything to ya.
We absolutely love coming to this theater. They have great food and drinks. The staff is very friendly and helpful. There is a parking garage attached. The seats are comfortable (wish they reclined).
Upscale movie theater close to downtown. The theaters themselves are small compared to other cinemas, which gives it a nice, cozy atmosphere. The decor is very modern and the seats are really comfortable! Theres more than your typical soda and popcorn here, you can order specialty cocktails, burgers, and other appetizers while you watch your movie.
Its a nice, smaller theater in downtown. They show primarily art house fare, so dont expect huge summer blockbusters. The seating is really comfortable, though I wouldnt advise showing up if youre tired because its comfortable enough that you may fall asleep. The sound from the other theaters can bleed through the wall sometimes, so thats a little distracting if your movie has quieter moments. All in all, its an alright theater. Clean, friendly staff, and parking in the garage is free if you get your ticket validated.
Great independent cinema with its own vibe.It is a good idea to book online as a few times we have missed out on our intended movie by showing up, only to find the show fully booked.They have an interesting array of delicious food and drinks available and prices are reasonable.Parking is available in the station attached to the cinema.
I cant believe I hadnt written a review for my favorite movie theater of all time! I love how quaint this theater is. I love sitting in the front room and laying down in the comfy seats. I love the food. I love the drinks. I seriously try to only see movies in this theater instead at other theaters in town. They have a really good selection of Independent films and popular films period.
This is a great theater! It is the go to spot for Indie films and documentaries. The theater sells gourmet food and craft beer which is something you will not get anywhere else. The place is not very big and they have about six screens. Each theater is very small and only has about 20 seats making your movie watching experience very intimate. The sound quality is great, the seats are comfortable, the staff is great, there is not one bad thing about this place. The best thing is that the movie prices are only $11! Just about the same price for something youd go see at AMC. Since it is Austin, the movies do not stay too long as there are tons of Indie movies to be seen. Youll find a good selection here!
My favorite theater in Austin - they often show the films that dont make it to other Austin cinemas. Be aware they dont seat until 5 minutes before the movie starts. But dont worry, you can grab a drink or bite to eat at the lovely bar. Take food into the movie with you if you like. Also! Dont be afraid of the front row - you get an ottoman and reclining chair with every front-row seat!
This place is 2/2 so far for me. Its a GREAT bar and a GREAT cinema. Ive yet to try the food, but perhaps soon.First, for the cinema, its particularly awesome since they show films that may be hard to find elsewhere, but also often at least one major name film, which is a nice variety to have at a small cozy cinema like this. Also, the popcorn they sell isnt the usual movie theatre popcorn - its of the same style, but of much higher quality. That is to say, it was DELICIOUS.Second, for the bar, the bartenders themselves give off a certain distant vibe, which is interesting since they are still friendly but in a professional way. Ive had a few different drinks there, both super high caliber, but my favorite has to be the sissie lynn, particularly because Ive been with people who have tried it who usually hate bourbon/whiskey but they loved this one.Overall, awesome place, and Ill probably try the food sometime soon.
Saw hereditary here, the screens are small but very clear and they have excellent sound. Only downside over Alamo is that they have a 2 drink limit and they wont serve you inside the theater. Drink up and eat before your movie!
The movie was good. I like that parking was validated, but the entire set up for getting food was weird, inefficient, and distracting from the whole theater experience.Here was how my movie watching experience occurred: Arrived 15 min early, ordered food, got buzzer, sat down to watch the movie, buzzer goes off, go get food, have to show attendant ticket while juggling dishes. Try to get seat tray pulled out with one hand while guy sitting next to me looks on. Watch movie while others around me get buzzed and get up to pick up food. The drink holders are in the armrest, but if you use the student desk tray tables then you cant use the drink holders because it is now blocked by the tray?!Movie ends. Juggle dishes, purse, jacket while trying to put tray away. Put dishes on a giant pile of dirty dishes that all slide to the floor.This was my first (and last!) experience at this theater. For the same ticket price, I could have a real table, my food brought to me, and roomier aisles.
Excellent place to watch a move and enjoy an evening on 2nd street. They offer free parking right next to the theater and you can get great drinks. Each theater is small and since you can reserve seats you are always able to find a good seat. I recommend!
I LOVE this theater. Moved here from Brooklyn and missed a good FILM FORUM or SUNSHINE theater a few subway stops from our Park Slope home. So going to the ARBOR was a pain for us who live on S. 4th. Now we go to this great theater, free parking, great conversations with David, the manager and Happy Hour drink prices are great. No problem with seating. Plenty of room to come and go without disturbing others in your row. LOVE the selection of independent films. So happy they opened this theater.
This is an obviously older theater, but the small bar is wonderfully appointed. The prices will run you similarly to going to Alamo, but with smaller theaters you get a much more intimate atmosphere. The sound system in the theater I was in was great, but unfortunately their seating is fairly basic and cant compete with the comfortable seating in other places.
A Hidden Gem in downtown Austin. Food was excellent. Prices are reasonable. Intimate small theaters with great sound. And they validate your parking. As long as you park in their garage. This is not a scene for the hip fast paced impatient crowd. When you go here you need to be a little more laid back and relaxed.
Great atmosphere. I showed up just as a movie was starting and was able to get good seats. The pay on your own system seems to work well. Theres no seats right up against the screen so nobody ends up having to look straight up to watch.
I love the fact that you get to pick your seat when you buy your tickets! The seats are so comfortable too! Although they do not have in theater service for food and drinks, but you can order it then bring it in with you. They have great food and reasonable prices.
This is hands down one of my favorite places to watch films. Great beer selection, decent food options, including cake balls and cupcakes from a local bakery. The seats are quite comfy and include cupholders and fold out tables at each seat to accommodate your popcorn or other food (like those cake balls that I mentioned). The first row is also made up of lounge chairs if youre looking for an even cozier viewing option. If youre looking for a great place to watch independent films in Austin, you cant really beat the Violet Crown. Heck, Im from Houston and whenever we come to Austin we make it a point to catch a film at the Crown.
Violet Crown is a nice alternative to corporate movies theaters. They do have drinks, but theyre somewhat pricey and if its busy the bar is always backed up. The theaters themselves are small, but their concessions are great and they have alternative events that make them unique.
Nice place- a bit more upscale than most (all?) movie theatres in ATX but has a full bar, nice environment and shows a nice handful of films. Always enjoyed my time here and need to go more often.
This theatre is great if youre downtown. The beer list and food was quite good would highly recommend. I caught the late show and literally had the theatre to myself. It was awesome.
Eat before you go into the theater as the seats arent designed for eating. The theater tables are more like high school auditorium chairs with folding tables than real tables Im Alamo Drafthouse. If you want artsy movies this is your place.
Seriously I dont understand these reviews. Yes, there is a need for a theater that shows independent films and yes you can drink beer, but thats where the good ends. First and foremost, the theater structure is crap. There is only one entrance to the theater that is opposite the staircase. This means in order to get to your seat, you need to cross over all of the seats and walk across in front of the screen. Now if you plan on never getting up from your seat, this is fine, however, if you want another drink figure you will have to ask everyone to move out of your way for you to get out. This brings us to another issue, the seat trays. If youve ever sat in an exit or bulkhead row on an airplane, youve now experienced the Violet Crown seating system. There are no cupholders, only trays that reside in the seat. This means whenever you want to get up (or ask the person next to you to move so you can get out) you have to take everything off of your tray, and put it away. This is awful, but once again if you never plan on moving it works great.So basically the theater is great, if you never plan on getting out of your seat. Since you need to get up to go to the bar or the bathroom, figure a comfortable 1 drink max in the theater (or before hand).Now I may be a minority that would like 2 glasses of wine during a 2 and a half hour movie, or maybe just someone who actually uses restrooms, but if not this place just doesnt do it for me.
If Austin knows how to do anything it knows how to make upscale movie theaters. It includes reclinable leather seats and endless popcorn. The front area is a full bar and lounge, its nice to come before the movie hang out, eat dinner, and watch a limited release film in the middle of downtown Austin.
Classy and cool at the same time. Good vibe.I like going to the movies if there. The seats are comfortable and the food and drinks are reasonably priced and pretty good.It is almost always fully booked, so getting tickets early is a good idea.
Was not at all what I expected. Called to ask if the front seats were too close since they are the only one that are reclining( it’s an ottoman and a reclined chair) they said they were not close to the screen like other theatres (it was a lie too close to watch the movie comfortable)Not worth the money ... and had no lids forMy drink they ran out. Movie house eatery or draft house are waaay better don’t waste your money ..:
Wow! Where to start?This theatre and the crew working here never cease to help me feel welcomed and appreciated.I’ve been a loyal Violet Crowner for the last 60 weeks, I’ve watched a film of some sort every week sometimes 2 in 7 days!This spot has great options for indie films, Sundance and some of the classics as well as and more recently Netflix collabs.I’m happy to come here the front row seats are the best and no where in downtown can you beat a 4 hour validated parking option.He manager Tim is a super rad individual and Eric is also very friendly and helpful.I recently had to miss a movie that I had purchased seats for and when I called the theatre to ask if I had an option they cancelled my seat and gave me rain check tickets, so convenient and accommodating! My friend has had food here before and really enjoyed it.They offer local baked good and snacks as well as Austin’s Buddha Brew kombucha. Love that it’s sourced from within our community.Thank you to everyone at VC
Love this place. great seating and atmosphere. it was my first time going and i was very impressed the the amount and quality of vegan options there. there’s a parking deck which is validated by the violet crown cinema for up to 4 hours. plenty of staff there and places to order from which cuts down on the waiting and standing in a long line. also would like to point out that it’s kept quite tidy and clean. all these things are a plus in my book. i’ll most definitely be back. don’t really have any complaints for VCC at all. :)
This intimate upscale movie house (it is almost going to a private screening) has a varied menu of food and drinks. I have yet to have anything that wasnt pallatable. You will need to make reservations by purchasing your tickets in advance online, to be sure you have a seat but none of them are bad. The films tend to be mostly indies, or foriegn films with few out of the mainstream offerings thrown in. It is always clean, and has a relaxed, laid back Austin vibe.
Hands down my favorite place in Austin (or anywhere, really) to watch a movie. Small, intimate theaters and they take a lot of pride in the movies that are shown. An art house selection in a very comfy setting.Oh, and unlimited popcorn refills! You cant beat it.(If you are picking your tix, sit in the front row. They are large cushioned chairs with ottomans for you feet and theyre awesome.)
Great theater in downtown that shows more indie/art films than big blockbusters. Food is really good compared to stuff youre served at other dining theaters. They also validate parking.
This is by far my favorite place to catch a movie. Unlike a lot of the other eight and cinemas in the city the food is actually very good and the drinks are definitely top-notch. Highly recommend great place to unwind and it’s a fun walk before and after.
Excellent way to see a movie. Good food nice beer selection. Comfy seating except the tables to hold your food while you are watching the movie are pretty small.
Great place. Would get 5 stars if food served in theater and my seat reclined. Alamo gets the extra star for that. Love the intimate theaters to see older movies. Yummy food and loose tea.
One of my favorite theaters here in Austin. Small theaters, great films, full bar and light dining fare and free parking in the garage!Go early have a drink, order some food and bring what you want into the theater or eat in the bar/dining area.
This place is super nice. The chairs are leather and they even include a tray to swing out over your lap. However, the leather of the seating squeaks and the size of the chair isnt that comfortable for small bodies.Im glad this theater exists to bring us films that Drafthouse doesnt offer.
As far as specialty theatres go, the Violet crown is one of the better locations in Austin. The food is pretty good but a little overpriced in my opinion. I like that they typically play more indie/documentary films also. This is a good theatre to go to every so often for semi special occasions but not good for a regular cinema venue.
I love the concept of a good theater allowing adults to order a glass of wine outside and enjoy it during the film, but I assumed wrongly that the clients would know what kind of film To the Wonder is and think again. Viewers brought in the big buckets of popcorn, for starters, but when the film began, a waiter walked in front of my seat three times to deliver dinner to a couple of insensitive boobs next to me. The man chomped on his nachos during silent, poetic film cinematography, and somebody else dropped a glass bottle that rolled down the concrete floor. I was a nervous wreck thirty minutes into a very long film. Please know what kind of movie you are signing up for and order your snacks in accordance with common decency.
Im biased, but i absolutely adore the theatre. the amount of people who come in regularly speaks volumes, and the energy of positivity in the building is an experience in itself.
Once I figured out how things work, great experience at an uncrowded time. Food was good, and the theater was comfortable. You can select your own seats. Staff was a little on the less friendly side, but got the job done.
Love this Austin arthouse cinema. No restaurant service inside the theater, but you can order food and drinks to take in with you. Great movies, and lots of tasty small plates to choose from, including your regular movie type fare - popcorn, candy, etc. Best feature - all seats are reserved.
Would highly recommend a visit. This theater was clearly a passion project for the owner. The place was small but intimate and though I didnt eat there the food looked divine. Absolutely beautiful theater.
Violet Crown isnt Alamo, but Ive had great movie and dining experiences there. The theaters here are smaller, but with great screens and comfy seats. They even do 3D. Unlike Alamo cinemas, the Violet Crown serves food and drinks in the lobby instead of having servers in the theatre. There are flip-out tables at the seats so you can bring food in for the show, but Ive found that its not ideal. Just arrive a little early and have a drink and bite before going in. The food is pretty good, with the best french fries Ive had in Austin. Beer selection is also good with several local craft brews on tap including Adelberts Tripel B.Violet Crown tends to show movies you wont find in other theaters around town, so its good to keep your eyes on their schedule even when all the mainstream flicks are uninteresting.
Favorite theater in Austin. Great movies, great service, comfortable seats. Beautiful outside seating and great drinks. They support non profits in the community too. Highly recommended.
This was a great place to catch a movie. I also saw a movie that was on limited release. This place is clean and well taken care of by the staff. The food is good and it is great to get a cocktail while I watch a movie. I started off with a pizza and I loved it.
Well kept downtown theater that has movies that cater to adults.
Love this theater, so much fun. Nice amenities and small.However, the smell of Brussel Sprouts is overpowering every time I go, and I think needs to be taken off menu. Other than that- its the best in Austin.
Awesome spot to catch a movie. Love the seating. Would give 5 stars but their menu was too fancy for me. My friend has a more open mind about food and he loves it. So that depends on your taste.
Edit: It happened again in 2019–a couple refused to move, even though they were warned when they bought their tickets they would have to move if those seats were needed. VC wouldn’t help. We cannot navigate any stairs anymore, so SOL. They gave us a refund, but it’s really hard to leave the house as it’s a lot of work. A lot of work for being rejected due to Parkinson’s_________I love this place for my disabled friend to comfortably watch a movie without the normal dangers of... well, most other theaters. The fact that you can reserve an accessible space (or have an able-bodied person move) is special. If only the concierge were more aware of this. There have been two instances where it was quite an ordeal to get him up the stairs, I think because the concierge was too timid to ask the obviously young and spritely couple to maybe offer their seats to someone elderly, who is endangered by walking up stairs. A simple, we need someone who is not disabled to help accommodate this gentleman and his helper might have sufficed.Weve been here about 10-15 times or so... so 80% success rate is not... terrible.Word of advice, if you decline to give us an accessible seat, DO NOT DECLINE A RETURN. Its discriminatory, close-minded, and the opposite of compassionate. I hope you fix this problem. Im assuming this is a staff or training issue, so you havent lost my business. I hope this is constructive because I plan to continue to be a costumer. Just fix this... please. Its important... maybe legally important... Im not a lawyer or litigious... but one of your disabled patrons might be. Also, only one (or two?) handicapped parking space by the theater is also a considerable obstacle for us, depending on how well he is doing on a particular day. Even if you are completely compliant, consider adding spaces.I would love to change my review. Please work harder to accommodate the disabled.If youd like to ask any questions, feel free to contact me, though I would suggest contacting someone who knows more about living as a disabled person with ambulatory or mental obstacles. Im a friend helping another friend. Im probably too ignorant about living with a disability to write more.This problem continued to happen throughout 2018, so Im lowering the review by a star. I hate to do that, but its the honest thing to do.
The seats are uncomfortable and the snacks are priced really high. I would go if there is a movie playing there that I really want to see and I cant see it anywhere else. They play movies that no other theater is showing so its nice to have somewhat of an access into this space, despite the prices being steep.
Excellent cocktails in an A++ location in downtown. . Great place to catch a movie after sampling any of the fine restaurants onn Second Street. They validate parking. A favorite place to experience when in Austin.
Extremely comfortable place. You walk in, theres a screen for you to pick your movie and buy the ticket. Bar straight ahead with happy hour and friendly bartender. Overall experience was awesome!
Tasty food, nice service and comfortable intimate cinemas. Just an FYI - only the first row is recliners/lounge chairs, but all rows are comfortable. Make sure to try the fries, theyre great.
I am just coming back from watching Nocturnal Animals at Violet Crown. I have never had an experience half as disturbing as sitting at this movie theater. For some reason commotion in and out of the theater throughout the movie was completely allowed. Some would decide to go get food on big metal trays in the middle of the movie and keep in mind this movie theater does not have enough space between the rows like Alamo, so imagine 45 min into a movie and still needing to squeeze your knees in, in order to let people in and out of the rows... quite distracting to the movie.
Great theater, very clean. The food is good, but portions are small. Very little meat on the sandwich. I wont be purchasing it again but do enjoy the movies offered
A downtown gem! Intimate screening room feel. Parking included in ticket price. Definitely worth a visit.Great cocktails along with a well curated craft bier selection.
If you enjoy indie films, youll love this cinema. Small screening rooms, comfy chairs, and tiered seating mean theres not a bad seat in the house. Better yet, you can select your seats when you book your tickets, so you have a guaranteed seat when you arrive in the theater. The cinemas bar and cafe have some tempting offerings, though I have to admit I havent tried them (yet). I did purchase popcorn and a soft drink from the snack bar; both come with free refills. However, you have to return to the snack bar for refills; they arent delivered tableside, as they are at Alamo -- so youll miss a bit of the film if you decide to replenish partway through. And be forewarned, the popcorn is nowhere near as good as Alamos -- Violet Crown offers the same bland popcorn youll find at traditional cinemas, complete with optional faux-butter topping. On the upside, the self-serve fountain beverage machine offers some rather unique choices, including Cheerwine and Maine Root varieties. But lets face it, you dont come to a movie theater for the snacks; you come for big-screen entertainment. And if its a choice between Violet Crown and some giant multiplex, Ill choose Violet Crown every time.
I LOOOOOOOVE MOVIES and i love violet crown! you def have to buy tickets in advance but any seat is a good seat - even the very front row (b/c you can recline).they offer refillable sodas and popcorn (yeah!) and their hummus was pretty good. i have yet to try any other there other menu items.the last film i saw there had a glitch and when i complained about it, the manager gave me free passes. great customer service!parking is compd if you park in the garage.
Best. Movie. Theater. Ever. Period.Other than the fact you can order an amazing cocktail with your movie in a well designed theater, this place is great because it actually comes out to be quite the deal when you factor in the validated parking with your ticket.
Free valet parking for 4 hours. The food is good. I had the PLT with tahini sauce and I would get it again. I could eat 3 trays of the brussel sprouts with bacon. Only downside of dining was they forgot to bring silverware/plates with the food and it took awhile to get their attention. The smaller theater rooms make the movie experience more intimate but the seating is average. A friend had told me there were recliners but apparently thats only the front row.
I love going here! The intimate seating is a nice change of pace from the megaplexes. Great food/drinks and right in the middle of downtown if you want to go out after or have dinner before. Parking is also free in the garage if you get it validated at the ticketing desk.
Very cool place to see a movie. Great menu with interesting cocktails and lots of vegetarian options. My only complaint is that the upholstery on the seats is a bit noisy when people shift around during movies.
Joel and staff were super friendly and accommodating for our work outing. Theaters are cozy and the food is tasty. There is also free 4 hour parking in the garage.
Love this place. Especially with the general decline of the Alamo Drafthouse. Great film. Cozy, comfortable seating. Pretty decent food options. And validated parking.
Try a whiskey Synecdoche for a literary buzz. Excellent film selection. Tea, coffee, dining, and cafe tables and chairs. Add ticket validation for four-hour free parking in the garage with an entrance on San Antonio.
Violet Crown is my favorite cinema in Austin by far. They have a small but well-selected variety of indie, foreign and first-run movies. They also have one of the best cocktail bars in the entire city, which is open whether you are there to see a movie or not. Tickets sell out all the time, so I recommend getting them online in advance, and before noon on Fridays and weekends if possible.
Great overall experience. Its not Alamo and that can be a good thing. I liked the reserved seats especially, but the theater was clean and the staff friendly. Free valet parking is a nice bonus as well.
I really hate to give this place a negative review because the pros about the theater really make it sound like a great place:-movie starts on time without previews-reasonably priced theater considering no previews ($13 a ticket)-smaller, intimate theaters-comfortable seats with tray table for meals-bar with reasonably priced drinks (less than $10 for a mixed drink)-varied food menu with traditional move snacks and made to order food itemsUnfortunately, the set up causes way too many headaches mainly due to the food menu. Unlike iPic or Alamo Drafthouse, you order your food before entering the theater and you pick up the food outside of the theater. We learned the first time we saw a movie here that it takes a good 20+ minutes for food to be prepared. This time, we arrived at 7:10 pm for a 7:30 pm movie and finished ordering at 7:12 pm. The 2 out of 3 items were ready just after 7:30 pm and sat under a heat lamp until 7:42 when the last item was ready. I walked in to the theater for the first time almost 15 minutes after the movie started. And to top it off, since my pizza had been sitting under the heat lamp 10+ minutes, it was only marginally warm by the time I ate it.After I sat down, 5 other parties got up during next 25 minutes of the movie to get their meals. This would not be a huge deal but the buzzers to alert you that food is ready is incredibly loud and distracting. Additionally, if those individuals arent sitting on the end, everyone in the row has to move their legs so people can get their food (and again when they return). And since there isnt a good place to put the trays when you are done eating, some people get up to remove their trays causing even more of a distraction. The first 45 minutes of any movie is basically musical chairs.The kitchen should not take 30 minutes to prepare meals for a movie. After the first time I visited this theater, I learned to show up early and even 20 minutes early was not enough. I get that the kitchen is a made from scratch kitchen (at least I hope it is) but they need to hire more cooks, prep food ahead of time and learn to multi-task. Or maybe just scratch the kitchen all together and focus on popcorn and other movie snacks.
Downtown theatre with fairly comfortable bucket seats and food aroma. there is a nice lounge area. imagine 4 hour validated parking contributes to its survival.
My husband and I have an agreement to try or do something weve never done on our anniversaries. Yesterday was no different! As we arrived I headed to the bar while my husband got the tickets. There was only one bartender and it did take a while to recieve our drinks. My go to drink is a moscow mule which was good, but not in a copper mug. My husband got a theater size sissy and it was also tasteful and well prepared. I was a bit suprised in the lack of food choices and we opted out of any snacks. We are used to going to Moviehouse Eatery and were excited to see the leather seats although the seating position of those things is awkward. I probably wont go back to this theater.
So Ive lived in Austin for 5 years and never visited Violet Crown. Ive driven by it but never had a reason to go seeing as how I live in north Austin. A last minute decision to see a movie with friends on a Monday night landed me at VC. I didnt know what to expect. I knew that we had reserved seats on the front row (which I was against as I was thinking this was a traditional theater) and there was free parking.Upon arrival, after parking for the free in the attached garage, I entered the bright and open space of VC. Directly in front of me was the bar, a snack bar, and the lounge. To the left was what I later found out was the ticket counter but the signage was lacking nor was anyone stationed there.I sat at the bar in the lounge area to wait for friends. I browsed the menu as I was pretty hungry at this point. It started to get busy while I was sitting there so no one came to me right away which was fine. I was busy on my phone and deciding what to get.My friend arrived so we went to the snack bar counter to have our parking validated (this ensures that it is free up to 4 hours of parking) and to order food. I ended up ordering the chicken tahini wrap along with the crown fries (aka truffle fries). It was kind of pricey. $15 bucks for a wrap and fries and then I got a $4 soda. $20 later for a meal at a movie theater. Good thing I decided against having an adult beverage.The chicken wrap wasnt too bad. It seemed like a healthier option so I was good with it. The tahini sauce came on the side which I liked so I could monitor how much I used and it was pretty delicious. The truffle fries were amazing!!! Totally threw the healthiness out the window with these (moderation right?!).So our movie was in theater 3 and we had row A (front row) seats. These seats are handicap accessible but lucky for us there were only 3 others in the theater so we didnt have to give up the seats. The front row seats recline back and have an ottoman to prop your feet up. All I needed was a blanket. I was pretty darn comfortable. The screen was at an angle and the seat reclined at an angle so the combination of that made for good viewing pleasure.I liked that the movie started at 6:15pm with some previews and no crazy pre-show stuff and the actual movie was on an playing at 6:23pm. They were not playing around.It was somewhat annoying to have to order food at the counters outside, go back into the theater, and wait for the pager to go off. Once the pager went off you had to get up and go get your food which disrupts the experience for not only the person getting food but for others. Also, I didnt realize there were trays tucked into the seat which seem difficult to get out.Overall Id probably only come here if invited by friends, on a weeknight, and for a not new movie. I couldnt imagine enjoying the small theater if it was a full house. It just doesnt seem like a good viewing experience. Luckily it is priced the same as other theaters so I dont feel like I wasted any money but I was able to try a new place.
I never go to this place unless Alamo is sold out for a show I want to see. Alamo Drafthouse good is SO MUCH BETTER. I went recently to see LaLa Land at VC and remembered all the reasons I dislike this place. The 2 stars I gave it are solely for the downtown location and the films they show. The service at Violet Crown is AWFUL. I used to think it was bad hiring, but this last trip, as I was chasing g down a drink Id ordered, I heard a waiter telling an unserved couple at the bar that although he was just standing there, he couldnt take their orders unless they left the bar and walked two steps to a table. It seems like management is the problem. I also HATE that you have to leave the theater to get food and drinks.
Of course the Alamo Drafthouse is an Austin institution through and through, but some times I like to hit up this little 2nd street district gem. It has reserved theatre seating, a decent coffee/espresso bar as well as a bar-bar with tables. Theres also food, but Ive never tried any. One major plus is that the theatre is quite small and the front row is set quite a ways back, so really there isnt a bad seat in the house--no neck craning whatsoever. I think its basically a more grown up, polished version of alamo that people of certain generations might prefer over the austin weirdness.
Now dont get me wrong, I love the alamo draft house, but the violet crown makes movie going ritzy. Drinks and food are amazing. Screen quality is very good. Outside patio and lounge are effin awesome
Nice small cinema. Love the fact that there are no waiters going running around to serve tables. Personally prefer their list of movies. And the hot cider is to die for. Will definitely be going again.
We live in a time where the South Lamar Alamo Drafthouse is currently closed for months of renovations, leaving the Ritz as the only conveniently downtown location. Fortunately, this gives the Violet Crown Cinema an opportunity to shine against its much-loved competition.Situated next door to the legendary ACL Live Moody Theater, Violet Crown offers 4 screens of movie viewing. However, unlike the Alamo Drafthouse, this venue sports a modern design, fantastic stadium seating, and extra-comfy reclining chairs. While it lacks the in-theater waiter service, there is a full-fledged bar ready to handle all requests before, after, and during the movie. Tickets can easily be purchased online with reserved seating. And unlike the Alamo chain, Violet Crown allows seating after the movie has started.Ive only been here once but I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be considering Violet Crown Cinema alongside Alamo Drafthouses for future movie-going.
I hate to be so plebeian, but i love the hot dogs (and the brats) here -- and where else in town can you get ginger beer at the movies? parking is free, the seats are comfy, the films first-rate, the staff pleasant and courteous -- whats not to like? no, as a movie-going experience, whats not to love?!
Austins first art house cinema. The food and drinks are good and available to take with you to enjoy during your film. They also have a decent happy hour. Sit in the front and you get a comfy foot stool.
Perfect location if you want to start your date night with movies and then go to some bars or clubs downtown. They dont have every movie out at the time so check up with they website for times. They do have leather seats so keep that in mind if you tend to move a lot. Arrive early to get some food and drink which you can take in to the theatre.
Awesome. Clean, spacious, great sound, convenient location.
Great addition to the movie theater scene in Austin. When they first opened they didnt have a sign, so it was hard to find, but maybe its more fun that way... an adventure. Validated parking in the AMLI lot, happy hour, and you can pick your seats when buying tix - features that make for a stress-free way to see a movie on Friday or Saturday nights.
Great vibe, feels like someones living room, great staff, comfy seats, love their cocktails, and they validate your parking!
The way cinema is supposed to be. Small theaters, great food and a good selection of wines and craft beers to go with the cocktail list.Can be a little pricey when but still the best movie place in town.
Velvet crown is a beautiful time. Going there to see movies feels like a different class. I don’t go to see big budget movies or the ones you can see at AMC. I go when I need something different. Something unknown. It’s wonderful.
Overall a good experience yet there has been a noticeable shift in patrons that go to Violet Crown that will text and talk during the movie. Also interesting that items in at least the mens restroom are in disrepair.
One of the coolest movie theatres Ive been to! Love the free parking, reserved seats, iced coffee, and popcorn refills. Plus they only show the best films, including documentaries and foreign flicks.
Beautiful arthouse theatre with a full bar and food. You bring your food in with you and all the seats are reserved. The front row even has la-z-boy type armchairs for maximum comfort.
We saw Mr Holmes, great movie. Loved the theatre proper, we sat in the handicap section fantastic. My only complaint was staff less than willing to help me carry food as I held cane in one hand. The space was disabled accessible staff NOT helpful.
Nice theater. i like that you can eat and have drinks there at the bar/lounge area. it was a little difficult for me to find the location and i definitely couldnt locate the parking garage. i do however like that the let service industry workers in for free monday nights after 9 with a pay stub.
The Violet Crown Cinema is a gem glistening against the dull drone of garbage. Their choices in film are always top-notch. Not enough can be said about the atmosphere theyve created, the food is solid, and their drinks (though a bit pricey) are excellent. I respect a woman tending bar who wont put up with bullshit and moreover I appreciate whatever the hell that Violet Beauregarde drink was made out of. Each ingredient was like a mouth-gasm. If you have someone to take on a date and want to put them to the test of weird art-house films to see if theyre worth keeping around, this is the place to find exactly what you need. As a bonus, you can also put them to the test of whether they can hang with you cocktail for cocktail.
Great date spot. Theres a bar/lounge to grab a drink before the movie. Its basically like Alamo Drafthouse only not as cool, a more limited menu, and its fancier.
This theater is a great indie place! With the reserved seats you have time to hang out in the lobby and get some food. Free refills on popcorn too! Check out the cake ball selection as well!
Favorite place in Austin. A+ in every way.
The best cinema-going experience Ive had. Small cinemas with luxurious seats for a cheap price. Great bar and restaurant within the complex and a small, but niche selection of films.
I bought a $200 Gift Card and have been unable to use it and will likely never be able to use it the way it was promised. VC refuses to refund which means when they file bankruptcy I will be one of the their creditors who gets screwed. Had to leave 6 messages to get someone to respond and write several emails. Bad Management and practices.
Such a fabulous theater! Its a very hip, upstairs lounge area that leads to a handful of small theaters with comfy, power recliner seats.
I like to go here just for lunch sometimes to get away from the office. Its never crowded and the service is fast. The pizza is delicious and they have these sautéed Brussels that are soooo tasty. Try them with bacon if you want an extra treat. The usual bartender is super friendly too!
Downtown cinema with 4 hours parking included in ticket price, just remember to have garage ticket validated. Small screening rooms with recliners. Consistantly has films offered at few venues in Austin.
The small theaters are intimate and the seating is comfortable. Great vegetarian and vegan options to bring into the theater with you. I liked the vegan chilli dog a lot.
My favorite theatre in Austin! They show amazing movies that you cant find anywhere else. The service is top notch, and the food is amazing, dont forget to try the Brussel sprouts.
Ive seen many a film at this theater. the owner is a local austinite and is very rich. i hope that he does good things with his profit. its a good alternative cinema to the Arbor in north austin.
Beware of their cancellation policy if you need to cancel same day reservations. Violet Crown instituted a new policy recently that they will not refund your money on the day of the show. Instead, they issue you Rain Check tickets and then hold them in a drawer at the Theatre until you ask for them to be redeemed. Customers are not able to book those Rain Check tickets for seats online but rather, you have to call them directly to book your seats. In addition, Violet Crown refuses to mail the Rain Check tickets to me at my home address. While I will miss their original programming, I will no longer patronize the Violet Crown. Perhaps, they should take a cue from the Alamo Cinema Drafthouse, which actually works with their patrons to resolve issues and either refunds you the $$ paid or sends the Rain Check tickets in the mail.
First time I came here, and I came to see The Big Sick. I think my bartenders name was Cole, but he was kickass from beer recommendations down to suggesting the suprisingly good brussel sprouts. Loved the movie and the venue, but it will definitely be the staff that brings me back.
Enjoyed our experience at the VC but for first timers, it was a bit of a puzzle to figure out how things work. Will definitely go back.
Definitely the best movie theater downtown. I really like seeing both mainstream and independent movies here. Their tickets include free parking (for 4 hours) and their food and drinks are always top notch.
The seating for the price is reasonable. The screen was great. Has a night atmosphere. However, the sound... To be blunt, its garbage. Still, was a nice experience. --3.75 stars
VC is so easy. Print your ticket, park in the garage--free when you get your validation at the register--settle in at a comfortable spot for whatever high-quality sustenance you need, from dinner to cocktail, wine to gelato, and wait for the call. Youve reserved your seat, so its a civilized line to the film, goodies in hand if you havent scarfed them down. Then, sit back and enjoy.
Lovely little upstairs theater, great snacks and drinks, good choice of shows to see
So this was just a Sunday of disappointment...First time coming to Violet Crown and gotta say...again, I just dont get it...maybe I just have different standards, but why is this place rated as highly as it is?When we got there I thought it was going to be an Alamo DHouse sitch, but to my surprise, you order your food at the bar and get a pager to notify you when its ready? Again, might just be me, but if you are going to serve food at a movie theater, either limit that food consumption to your lounge area (the outdoor lounge balcony overlooking 2nd St is actually quite nice w/a gorgeous view) or have servers a la Alamo, but this pick up your food at the bar and carry it in yourself business is just awkward, inconvenient, and just downright perplexing! Seriously, carrying in a tray like 5mins before the start of a movie and trying to reach for my pre-purchased movie tix (which u pick up at a different counter) for the guy guarding the theater door, is just a pain in the ass.And the classroom style pullout quasi-tables are super intrusive since you pull them from the armrest of the person to your right, so if you have a beer and a banh-mi sandwich like I did, it is a feat fit for a Cirque du Soleil contortionist to try and get the table up and your stuff on it w/o spilling and/or dropping it! The other annoying part of the self-serve set up here is the absolutely annoyance and frustration of the buzzers of latecomers who are getting up to fetch their food orders and coming back, not only obstructing the screen each time they do so, but also either bumping the back of your seat or almost toppling your flimsy semi-table in the process!Adding insult to injury is the bussing of your plates/glass after the screening! Why there is even a tip section on the receipt at the bar is a complete mystery to me since you, rather than the staff here, are working hard for the money!Seriously, after losing half of my bahn-mi sandwich to the floor due to the non-stop onslaught of table and seat bumps, sitting w/the uncomfortable college style table out for the entire movie of 12yrs a Slave was an annoyance along w/being able to hear the garbled vibrations of the theater next to us while trying to not burst into sobs over the emotional turmoil onscreen and off; the whole experience at Violet Crown left me feeling much like Mr. Solomon Northup: wandering what I did to deserve such punishment and why me?Sadly, I do not see myself returning here. For the pricepoint I will endure the subpar food of Alamo than the Do it Yourself set up here.
Really great bar and lounge in the lobby area. You cant order from your seat like you can with Alamo Drafthouse, but you can at least bring your food and drinks inside.
Really enjoyed the food and cocktails. Comfy theatre seats and super clean. Great place for date night or to catch a movie by yourself 😊
Have you ever had a server deliberately avoid even making eye contact with you, let alone serving you? If youd like to have that experience, I highly recommend this place. Its a pain to get to, the screen isnt that great and the chairs really are not that comfortable. I cant comment on the food since I couldnt even put in an order. Everything else you can find at other places for better prices and service.
Nice bar drinks and theatre environment. Didnt try the food as we had dinner beforehand. Theatre has spacious and very comfortable seating.
What parking validation? I watched a movie presented the ticket for validation the machine kept saying error on my way out. I paid for my parking which was supposed to be free for 4 hours and I was there 2 1/2 . Please don’t advertise what you don’t honor.
Nice, almost private sitting. Good food. we go here to see movies that are not going to be played at big theaters. We enjoy it!
The Violet Crown is very nice; the theatre is high quality and the select shows are also great. The dine-in aspect of the theatre is a great addition to the already amazing movie experience.
Great place to go for a chill night watching movies. The pizza is good and the pricing is excellent. Overall very impressed with our movie experience
Great food and bar. Highly recommend the beet sliders.Good drink selection! Gelato is on point!Good theater experience, too.
Comfortable seats, small theater with big screen, and parking is validated. +tasty beer selection and good popcorn
Great theater! Great selection of indies. Staff is awesome and you cant beat the bottomless popcorn. Free parking too.
So much nicer than Alamo Drafthouse. Better food, better experience, and slightly better programming of first run flicks. Parking a snap.
I like going here to see a movie. Its a different style than alamo drafthouse, but it works for them. Its cool to hang out and have a drink before the movie starts. I worried about parking too, but they have a parking garage and they validate.
Excellent projection and sound. Very friendly staff. Will definitely return! Keep it up!
Great theater downtown. Good drinks. Good chairs and bathrooms. Wonderful straws and space between rows.
Nice theater, good selections of indie films and the food selection is nice too. the big comfy seats are my fav.
Recalls a much fancier version of Austin old art house movie theater at the Dobie Mall. Much better food and drinks though than the Dobie Mall Theater (with prices that are commensurate with New Austin).
Great spot with full bar, some craft beer, full menu and theater snacks. Nice seats in the theater.
Very comfortable seating in the theater, Excellent beer, wine and cocktail selection, delicious food and helpful staff.
Small room and screen. Leather seats, so its kind of noisy when someone is moving. Otherwise its a nice small theatre for drama or romance movies.
Great cinema for independent or art house films. Small auditoriums. Nice cocktail & food selection. Free popcorn refills.
This is a beautiful little cinema in downtown Austin that plays many off-beat, indie, and non-English movies. Food is good, too.
Fun! It just sucks that you have to pre pay the food and drinks and your beer might get warm in the meantime. Small theatre which is great!
The theater is comfortable; the food is tasty; and the beverage choices are better than at home.
Ever wanted to watch a movie when the theater is 82 degrees and they wont turn on the AC? Come see a show here and your wishes will be fulfilled like a vile genie.
Beautiful theater, great drinks, comfortable seats.
I just love it. The concept is amazing - Its like watching a movie at your friends living room, that owns a big screen home cinema with great food, bar and coffee.
It was a pretty cool place; It just needed to be cleaned up a bit; then I would have given 4 stars. Worth going for the downtown vibe.
Fake leather seats with sticky soft drink residue stains and wet cup holders. Friendly cashier. Bathroom acceptable.
Nice roomy stadium seating. Food and alcoholic beverages are available. Comfortable seats with headrests. Highly recommend.
Great place to see a movie. Friendly, clean, and good food.
Total reviews rating 4.5
199 Reviews for Violet Crown Cinema 2023:
Review №1
2021-12-28I was lucky to find parking (downtown Austin). Of course, that expense was not included in my movie plans, but well worth it. The place was charming. A mix of nostalgia and contemporary. Concession and bar employees were courteous and cheerful which is rare these days. Josh was particularly helpful. The seats were cushy and comfortable. The theater itself is small giving you the feel of attending a private screening. Logged onto Fandango and listed these theater as my favorite.
Review №2
2022-01-23Great indie film selection; right now half their films are indies that the big chains dont show, but which are so good that they will surely win awards. I didnt realize they validate parking for 4 hours; they should highlight that more on their website. Seats and tray tables are smaller than the recliners that other dining theaters have, but plenty comfy.
Review №3
2022-03-29First time here was during SXSW. I love this venue! Its so quaint and the staff is just wonderful! I loved the smaller theater vibe and will definitely be looking to attend more movies here. If it wasnt for the festival I probably wouldnt know this beautiful spot existed. Please GO here, support this theater, youll be glad you did.
Review №4
2022-02-23This place is so laid back. I love the ambiance. It has become my favorite theater. It’s very sensory friendly. Drinks and food and very delicious. Will be coming back again and again
Review №5
2021-08-21This was my first time at Violet Crown and watched Black Widow. The space was clean and well lit. Loved the vanilla iced coffee and got plenty of snacks. Theater is a lot smaller than an AMC which I enjoyed.$24 - 2 candies, 2 coffees, 2 waters$32 for 2 tickets.Parking validated for Amli on 2nd if you drive
Review №6
2022-03-28I saw The Batman recently, walked in, and ambled around like a lost John Travolta. Nobody was checking tickets, two people were serving popcorn at concessions, and then a bartender looked at me with a very, very confused look on his face and asked, “Do you need a drink?” I said sure, “I’ll have an Irish Whiskey.” Without asking for an ID, he pours me a shot of whiskey in a travel SOLO cup and said, “The coffee pot is over there.” Not an Irish whiskey, but OK. The SOLO cup kept leaking so the staff had to search a few cabinets for a proper mug. All in all, watching a darker, grittier Batman movie at Violet Crown felt just right. FIVE STARS!
Review №7
2022-06-22Very nice place. The food is good the service is great but they have a certain tequila there that is EXCELLENT! Its just a great place to watch a movie. I know I will be going back.
Review №8
2022-04-19I hope fannypack bartender gets 3/4 drinks at every bar she goes to for the rest of her life. I didnt want to make a big deal out of it, but if a 3 inch head on a beer is the pour at the violet crown, perhaps some bar training is in need. She wouldnt make eye contact, seemed bothered, made comments about finishing up our order like we were bothering her to other customers. Spent over $100 at that bar, and tipped 20%+ on two transactions, one credit, one cash. I swear, Alamo drafthouse has better customer service, and thats where Ill be going from now on.
Review №9
2022-06-29Lovely small arthouse-esque cinema. Great food and drinks that you can take into the theaters, which are perfectly sized for any event (friends, family, or especially a date).
Review №10
2022-05-08Just awful. Whole row of people in front of us texting and staring at bright phones the whole movie, squeaky leather chairs that are extremely distracting, barely any ac, low volume on the movie, and to top it all off, it’s more expensive than most theaters in Austin.