(Attended 07/24/25 TH @ 2:00pm and once before): This theatre was more inland than along any riviera! I returned from an overnight getaway in nearby Solvang when I decided to catch a film at the SBIFF Riviera Theatre. I became aware of the theatre during the recent Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), and thought this stop would be a nice relaxing break before I got back to L.A.. Originally, the theatre was an auditorium building designed by architect Alfred Eichler in 1926 as part of the University of California, Santa Barbara's Mesa Campus. It opened as the Riviera Theatre on May 12, 1964 with Ludmla Tcherna in "The Lovers of Teruel". ​​In June 2016, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival entered a new era with the acquisition of this beloved theatre. After a $5 million dollar capital campaign and renovation, the theatre was now SBIFF's new state-of-the-art, 360+ seat capacity, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. The theatre was now an irreplaceable resource for the community and a representation of Santa Barbara's rich history. Would this theatre be on my radar the next time I was in the area!? PURCHASE Ticket - General Admission ($12.50): I watched the international film, "Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight" https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=229mdFVeyJEvIkH3f7ecUA because this was the only option, which surprisingly held my interest throughout. This seemed to be a bargain as I felt standard non-matinee promotion prices were upwards of $15.00 or more... but I could be wrong. Tejava The Unsweetened Tea Peach Black Tea 16.9floz Bottle ($5.50): I wasn't in the mood for beer or soda, so this was the next best healthier option - not bad. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=cR_MOZMMlHwt90VdThv5ig Large Buttered Popcorn ($8.25): Fluffy and buttery, this was one of life's simple pleasures. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=tpiIOBQsf4ta4Dm70IUWgw SERVICE From the onsite ticket purchase to the concessions, everything was a breeze - thank you! PARKING (FREE): They had their own multi-tiered spacious private lot - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE An older exterior with the ticket window https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=48&select=-hLfv9vvbxacXONMzZ4nhQ just outside the entrance door, you entered into an open lobby area with a small concession stand https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=6ooIHZ51UkHBLRthQhNUxA to your left and the restrooms on your right, respectively, before you entered https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=ME05hVwbTLw7z7vXOVbzPA into the single-screen theatre. Enter a cleaner https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=0m-xsOpcXOJktGs1-iI18A more glamorous modern cinema ambience, with larger, plush seats, equipped with the all-important cup holders. Most importantly, the theater was rigged with a stunning new projector and sound system comprising a Dolby Vision laser projector and the expansively spatial Dolby Atmos audio system, which took the output from four to some 50 speakers around the room. The Riviera was now one of only 26 theaters in the U.S. with such technology and the only nonprofit so equipped in the country and possibly the world. Natural lighting only existed in the lobby through the doors/windows while the electric house and stage lighting filled in the rest. There weren't any monitors or background music. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=s-VR-koXfa89fAeeUxHdSg ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I had a fun afternoon at The SBIFF Riviera Theatre and would definitely return the next time I was in the area if not during the next film festival. I loved the old-time appeal, and of course the surrounding area was beautiful. I loved everything about the theatre itself, the concession drinks (no alcohol) https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=tSCzN1yDJCO-1MC-k9L7qg and food https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=0&select=FY8rbodociQn9r0jnImGvg prices seemed very reasonable, and the service was straightforward. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $26.00 BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS read more

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This was at the 900 State new theaters that was so fantastic. Very well done and elegant read more

This is definitely my fave movie theater in Santa Barbara by far! It's quaint and cozy and has the digital Dolby sound which is so good. It's clean and comfortable regular seats in a smaller theater so definitely worth a visit to watch movies with fellow moviegoers. Also there is a snack bar so popcorn is available! It was also very fresh and seemed like better quality and cleaner than the mainstream movie theater popcorn. read more

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I went here for the first time to see a screening of the film The Apprentice with a Q&A following with actor Jeremy Strong. Wow that drive and location and view? I've been going to SB for years and never been up in the hills what have I been MISSING. The theater was great! Beautiful historic outside and the theater is intimate but comfortable. I was one of the last people let in because SBIFF members were allowed in first and I still managed to get a great seat! Audience was super respectful throughout the film. The Q&A was awesome and the gentleman, Roger, who moderated was FANTASTIC. I see so many Q&As in Los Angeles and Roger asked some of the best questions I've experienced. Bring him to LA!! Seeing Jeremy Strong speak about his acting craft in person was such a dream!! read more

SBIFF Riviera Theatre - View from the Riviera Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Easy to get tickets online and in-person. Their online help team is very responsive. Their on-site staff are also very helpful. Great movie-watching experience and reasonably priced tickets. The theatre is clean and well-maintained. Parking lot available with plenty of spots. Arrive early to snag a good spot. The drive to the theatre is a little windy. Restrooms are separate for men and women. Clean and well-maintained. read more

I love visiting Santa Barbara over Christmas and enjoying movies at the Riviera. I don't see a schedule on the SBIFF website for 12/28-12/31/25, our vacation time read more

I really enjoyed the French Wave festival. I was able to see three films. I really love the ambience of this theatre. The courtyard next to this place is incredible as it was supposed to be Santa Barbara State college before UCSB was built. The view of Santa Barbara is also great up here. read more

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Great small theater that offers the non Box-Office hits! Went for a showing and it possibly had less than 30 guest. The place was extremely clean and the staff was very kind. I live 38 miles from here but I do see myself coming more often now that I know they're showing Indie films. read more

Beautiful renovated theatre with friendly staff. The sound system is great too. We are lucky to have this beautiful theatre in Santa Barbara overlooking the city :) read more

An extremely frustrating experience. I need to express my frustration and disappointment with your festival. After driving an hour from Ojai to Santa Barbara, and following google maps to the address 2044 Alameda Padre Serra, Santa Barbara, CA 93203; Google maps indicated I had arrived, but there was a blank wall where the theatre was said to be. I spent the next hour and a half driving up and down the windy streets in the foothills, and eventually back to State Street to ask directions at the theatres there. No one there had heard of the theatre. Then driving back up into the hills only to find that the navigation was simply incorrect. I called both numbers listed for SBIFF. Neither number provided a means to talk to an actual person. Neither one listed the address, nor offered directions. I was finally able to leave a message, but no one returned my call. SBIFF needs to do a better job than this. Starting with providing the street address and a map on your website. read more

Beautiful theatre in a beautiful spot next to the El Encanto at the top of the Riviera in Santa Barbara. The theatre is newly renovated and the seats are superb. Sound system is top notch. Parking is steps from front door. Eat before you come, as food is limited to snacks, popcorn, and limited drinks. The experience is in the great theatre. read more

This is one of the strangest theaters I've ever been to, strangely tucked away and hard to find, with a parking lot that's strangely dark and empty. That said, it's a pretty cool place, with one screen and a tiny concession booth and decor that's evocative of an old mission without being particularly self-conscious. I saw a Monday night showing of "Broken Embraces" and my boyfriend and I were the youngest people in the theater by about thirty years. Maybe the seniors were enticed by the disgusting graphic sex between Penelope Cruz and a shriveled septuagenarian - otherwise, I guess this place just attracts an older crowd, at least on Mondays. read more

Though now closed for renovations (THANK GOD!), the Rivera was my go to place to see the best in Art House movies in SB. Off the top of my head, i saw Aldomovar's Broken Embraces and Bad Education here as well as the magical The Fence though of course there were many more. We used to go to the old (before remodeling) El Encanto after a film and sit outside and drink Martinis and eat appetizers. Ahhh- the good old days. The seats were disturbingly uncomfortable and so close to your neighbor that your butts rubbed against each other. Sometimes a good thing but mostly not. (one review here states that Americans are now a lot fatter than they were when this theater was first built. yes, true but Americans are also a lot taller and more muscular than our forefathers from 1919. The snack bar was funny as it was tucked into a wedge of space but still managed to sell fresh popped corn and good candies at a cut rate price. The drinks were always flat so we usually brought our own. The actual physical plant was marble filled and the bathrooms likewise and uncommonly clean. Once you got used to the circuitous manner in which to find the Riviera it was cool. But before that the way up the hill was weird and the parking was likewise. But you got used to all of this and eventually just put up with it in order to view the best films out there. I guess the fill in place to see these films for now is the Copa de Oro on Hitchcock (now called the Hitchcock, btw after a renovation which for a while placed the bathrooms outside!). This space was the first campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara in the early 1900's. I also just read that the riv will re-open next month with brand new seats and air-conditioning and most importantly sound and movie showing projection. I am a little concerned that the renovation will chip away from the slightly beat up charm of the Riviera but hopefully it won't though i know it will. I look forward to the Riv opening up once again. read more

SBIFF Riviera Theatre - memories like the corners of my mind - Cinema Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Best theater seats in Santa Barbara by far. They also have the best popcorn (made with Olive oil and sea salt) The sound system is amazing too! What I don't like though is the slow rotation of films. Certain films come and go in one day, and others stay for weeks. This theater was praised for being the "movie lovers theater" which I can see...but if you keep the same movies for so long, what's a movie lover to do? More showtimes/rotation than just two movies at any time I say. read more

What a shame! This movie house has been renovated and unfortunately, they missed doing it for the customers satisfaction! First - what's good: The heating and air conditioning are great. In fact, they tend to set the air on super chill, so take boots and socks to keep warm. The projection and sound systems are state of the art and wonderful. And then the good news stops. The seats, while bigger than the previous ones, are still aligned, so you can't see over the head of the person in front of you! Why, oh why, couldn't they offset the seats so everyone could see? Then there is the problem of the first seven rows... for some curious reason, these rows are more elevated than those behind them. Which means that anyone sitting in rows 8-12 cannot see at all!!!!! My question is this... why didn't they just increase the slope and make it so everyone could see the screen? The screen has been raised quite a lot, so you would think everyone could see, but it's still a problem. And, since this theater is all about the interviews with celebrities, why, oh why, didn't they put in a platform so we could see them during the Q&A's? No one but the first couple of rows can see the interview because the celebrities are seated so low... And, the promised improvements to the snack bar area are nowhere to be seen. It's still too small; in the way of entry to the cinema and sells crap snack foods. Gosh - they moved the popcorn to the opposite side... is this supposed to be an improvement?! I think not. And the air-popped popcorn is just as awful as the previous stuff. What a shame, is all I can say. They spent millions of $'s on this reno, and it has not improved things at all. read more

Great old school vibe. I really like this place. The location is brilliant, up on a hill in a residential district. The smell of popcorn was fantastic, as it should be at a theatre. The seats are like low riders. Not the best, but plenty comforable read more

This review concerns not so much The Riviera Theatre, which I enjoy when attending, but rather the SBIFF ticketing software, which apparently is buggy, for which customers should be forewarned. Yesterday, after reserving tickets for one film and receiving a confirmation email, I later tried reserving tickets for another. I got an error page stating that my attempt could not be completed, and I should back up and try again. Thinking that perhaps that time was sold out, I tried reserving for another time, also to no avail; I received the same Sorry message. On a hunch, I then tried entering the same reservation using a different credit card, and it was accepted, and I received a second e-mail confirmation. This morning, when I looked online at my account for the first credit card, there were multiple charges for each attempt I made to make a reservation, even though I receiving only a single confirmation. I called my VISA credit card bank to reject all but the first pending charge but was told that they may or may not all be posted, depending on subsequent actions by the vendor. However, to reach the SBIFF at the Riviera, I must call their box office, which is only open half an hour before a film showing begins and, presumably, for some time thereafter. BTW, in a separate action, when I click on the submenus SBIFF/Purchase 2019 passes or SBIFF/Purchase 2019 tickets, I get an error page at the associated links at givebox.com: "Error 1020....Access denied.... This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks." However, I was using a secure link: (https://). The service being used is cloudflare.com, which intercepts suspicious links before passing on to the server. Later, I used my office IP instead of my Cox IP connection, but the result was the same. Sorry to say, despite my appreciation for SBIFF and the Riviera, this software does not seem to be even up to beta-version standards. read more

The Riviera Theater seems to be Santa Barbara's only true Art House Movie Theater. It always has great independent films or non-mainstream features that you definitely won't find at the local megaplex and it's never packed, but over the years I've noticed a few minor problems with the theater itself. There isn't a lot of parking so in the rare cases where it is full, you'll probably had a hard time finding a spot but more important the sound system at this theater is very poor. The last movie I saw there was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound and I had a hard time hearing it... Now I don't know if this was an isolated incident and the next time something I want to see if playing there I will test this but it seems to me sound is a very important part of the film watching process. Aside from these problems the theater is still interesting to attend, it's got an old movie house feel to it and the view when you exit is a sight to behold. It's located right next to what used to be Santa Barbara City College before it moved to the Mesa area. No mater what, if you're looking for that film that was really well received at Sundance but you can't find it somewhere check The Riviera, chance are they'll have it! read more

What a great remodel this theater has had. I was recently reminded that this theater has been reopened. The sound quality and new chairs are great. This is the place I used to come to see foreign films with my family as I grew up. I'm grateful I now remember this is an option again. Also, the views from this building, day or night, are fantastic!! Tonight was both foggy and misty, which was nice as well. Really pretty setting... Glad that I can find meaningful films here as well... read more

This theatre is in the most wonderful location with a spectacular view of the SB coast. It's been around a while and doest seem to have been renovated in quite some time so the seats are very uncomfortable so if you're not one to sit for very long, this is not ideal for you. Sound and screen is wonderful though. They have a kid's pack for $5 that comes with popcorn, drink and a candy. I order this as an adult every time, it's a great deal and really all you need. read more

I have fond memories of this place. Always liked it, loved the films I saw, and there is a thick cloud of MEANING that hovers over everything and everybody here, which I actually like. If I still went to movie theaters I would go back, but people just talk too much and are too rude. I'd rather stay home with my home theater screening room and enjoy the film by myself. I did have a strange experience one time: there was this young Japanese couple sitting in front of us ("us" being me and my boss at the time, who I was also in love with but it was never returned although she thought of me as a friend, Liz Kelleher), and from the first moments of the film this mook kept up a running monologue (in JAPANESE) expalning IN A VERY VERY LOUD OBNOXIOUS VOICE, accompanied by constant flamboyant hand gestures, what was going on in the movie. When I finally asked him to please quiet down and stop talking, he turned to me and in a furious voice said "I NO QUIET!! I TEACH YOU RESSON!! I TEACH YOU RESSON" all the while threatening me with his closed fist. Ah, I miss the Riviera. read more

FOUR STARS for the Riviera? What on earth are people smoking here? I'm not a pot person. I'm not at all against it or its legalization but my personality and the properties of pot just don't go together. I would much rather drink wine or whiskey or both! But SB is a big place for pot of course and the rep of SB as yoga crunchy vegan surfer people, just better looking and with more money than some of the hippie beach towns up north and a truly fine food scene is entirely justified. I can only conclude the people who give this place 4 or 5 stars are from the middle of nowhere (sorry) or have no standards whatever when it comes to an "art house." This is no Aero (RIP the Aero on Montana in SM, by the way, though they do screen revival shows now). Sara H admits "It's been around a while and doesn't seem to have been renovated in quite some time so the seats are very uncomfortable; if you're not one to sit for very long, this is not ideal." "Not renovated in quite some time" is very charitable. I joke that the seats date back to the Carter Administration. Sometimes for effect, I say Nixon or LBJ, and note that if you like being poked in the a** with a coil and your skin enjoys scratchy cloth against it, this is the theater for you. The concessions are a joke but now I am spoiled by Landmark Cinema in LA and that relatively dumpy Lincoln Plaza Cinemas which served a good low-fat ricotta cheesecake the two times I was there in October. Maybe they have upgraded the sound and screen because there was nothing wonderful--quite average in fact-- about either a year or two ago when I saw something here. Actually, the last film I saw was Morning Glory and I LOVED the film and must rent it soon. So it's been two years but that review was 9/2011 and I was there sometimes in 2011 so I doubt it's much different. My friend now in Oregon had an argument with someone there over senior citizen discounts but the prices are the same at all Metropolitan Theaters and they are not out of line with normal movie theaters. NYC theaters are just outrageous but it is what it is. With the time I spend in LA and NYC, I would never come to this theater again. My boyfriend is not a huge moviegoer. Together, we see maybe three or four films a year and I've never been here with him. I would rather go to the large screens at the dumpy , senior citizen theater on Hitchcock Way by Natural Cafe (Plaza de Oro). At least there, you aren't sitting on seats Santa Barbarans sat on when gas rationing was in place and we had hostages in Iran. It's old and frequented by old people because of Monterey Pines and retirement villas nearby. But Woody Allen movies generally come here after their first run either at Paseo Nuevo or Riviera and I have no objections to seeing a movie at Plaza De Oro. It's not a second-run house precisely but if you miss the movie you want to see at Paseo or Metro 4, this is your last chance before Netflix. Now, I will say, the Riviera is nestled among 2 million dollar and up houses so if you think of the moviegoing experience as a real estate tour (of houses you'll likely never be able to afford in this lifetime), then it might be worth it. The views are very nice so if you see a matinee, you will have a nice scenic experience. P.S. A good friend read this on Facebook and said it is unpredictable what I will lash out at (because on FB I'm not always so lovey dovey, whereas on Yelp I only review places I really like, as you can see from the rating distribution) after a bad night of sleep. I have intermittent kitty allergies and last night I wheezed for over an hour. read more

Noticeably, most reviews on this place are from out of towners. From a local perspective-This theatre generally will have the off the beaten path movies and are worth seeing, if you like watching movies incognito solo, this is your bag too. Parking is tight here, grab a spot in the regular places but if not, don't be lazy get out of your car and walk 5ft- it's a nice place. They have all the same things as other theaters, the difference is: it's off the grid, the butter on your popcorn tastes way better for whatever reason, and it has a beautiful view of the city. read more

Now this is a unique place with a fascinating history. Placed on the Santa Barbara Riviera above the Queen of the Missions, the Riviera Theater is located in the auditorium of what was once California State University later known as UC Santa Barbara. My Grandparents first met there while attending college before WW2. You will find mostly art house films being played there, which makes for a nostalgic if not classic evening of fun. Plan a nice meal at one of Santa Barbara's many fabulous restaurants and nestle in for a show at the Riviera Theater. Take special notice of the movie offerings during the annual Santa Barbara Film Festival which runs in January. read more

I just wish they showed movies I want to see not independent films. I would love to see the new avengers end game film here with Dolby atmos sound and state of the art picture. Stepped down seating would have been good too like the previous reviewer stated as well. But I haven't even been to the theater since they remodeled it because they never show movies I want to see. They used play normal new released movies on Christmas but this year they didn't. Only improvement I could think of was if they made this theater 4d read more

Really like the NEW Riviera, BUT is there a reason why they decided not to stagger the seats? It makes it difficult for the height challenged!! read more

The building itself is amazing. One really could simply go here to meditate on the architecture without seeing the movie and call it a night. Of course, I thank God for SBIFF, because, to my taste, Hollywood produces not many films worth seeing and thus we, who are not into Marvel comics or vapid fascist and patriarchal themes, must look elsewhere for cinematic inspiration. One of the trends which ruined Hollywood was the slicing and dicing of the big screen, first into duplexes, then quad-plexes, then into eight-plexes, sixteen-plexes, thirty two plexes. I call this phenomenon, Norma Desmond's Prophecy. The pictures did get smaller, along with the average film-goer. While the big screen here is not as big as that of the Arlington, it suffices. read more

This is one of the true old gems in SB. Hidden up above the mission they sneak in many movie treasures in this place. I will always have great memories as when I saw this little know movie called Resivor Dogs premier there. If you get up to SB it's just a short walk up from the ElEncanto hotel. read more

Well I have some fond memories here. Back in the early 80s I went to Brooks Institute of Photograpy here and got my BA in this theatre. But it does not look like they have touched it since. Seats are super uncomfortable. Not stadium seats. Popcorn is good and they show interesting movies here. But can't give it any more stars until they put some money into this place. read more

I happen to really APPRECIATE the fact that they show films other than the typical HOLLYWOOD films that most other theaters show. Some of the BEST movies I have ever seen in my life, I have seen at the Riviera. Yes, the seats are smaller...older movie theaters were built this way when Americans weren't so FAT. Sorry, no disrespect meant here, but it's the truth. Before high fructose corn syrup, people were able to fit in the seats with no problem!! IT's not a weird theatre, its a great theatre that shows films that reflect FILMS AS AN ART FORM, not just a 1.5 hour long commercial to sell merchandise to a money spending demographic. read more

This is kind of a weird theater, I mean it is in a great location but it only plays obscure strange films so I have only been here twice, once to watch some French movie and the other time to watch bowling for Columbine. A little hard to find but not a problem for GPS. The seats are really small and I'm a big guy so I was uncomfortable but if you are a small person who likes weird movies this is your spot so I ain't mad at ya! read more

This is a charming, tiny, very "Santa Barbara", theater tucked away in the Riviera portion of Santa Barbara. The "arty" new releases are typically shown here. Nice night view of the city and harbor from the parking lot. There is a little fountain nearby. Good place for a first date, if the right movie is showing. read more

Great to have an INDEPENDENT film house in town! We missed the Aero after leaving Santa Monica. Loved the Ojai Playhouse - but it has been CLOSED for several years. (Reopening "soon"...?) You can see all the latest dreck from Hollywood in every Mall... but different, foreign, and documentaries are not so easy to find. We got tickets online, no problem. The Riviera theater shows great stuff and is comfortable, clean and available at convenient times... what more do you want? read more

I love this old theater because it doesn't cater to the commonplace. The Riviera shows artsy, eclectic movies that are Interesting and Entertaining. Since the Victoria Street Theater closed years ago, this is the only theater that gives "obscure" a viewing. I love the small seats and the old funkiness of it. I will continue to go and take my friends if it reopens. read more

Though the projection improved significantly with the transition to digital, this theatre is woefully lacking in basic amenities and has dreadfully uncomfortable seating and awful sound. it's stuck somewhere in the 1970's and needs a complete remodel. The staff is also less and accommodating to simple requests. I will not be returning again. read more

In the 1990's the 'Riv' was lost in the rush to multiplexes . . . the late and sorely missed Terry Boyle brought the Riv back to life as an Art House unafraid to show Remains of the Day and follow it with Pulp Fiction. Terry was one of a kind, and his audiences came to trust his judgment, and know him as he greeted them at the door before running to get the projector going himself. It is good to see that the Riv has survived. But we miss you, Terry! read more

I will never walk into this theatre again.The MOST HIDEOUS smell of buttered popcorn you can ever imagine without any a/c. The only folks that tolerate it are the senior crowd bc their senses are dulled. Netflix all the way. read more