I really wanted to like this place. It seemed like it would be a cozier, less stressful Alamo, and to an extent it was. But it left much to be desired. The good: - I like the quick seating right before the movie starts. - Bringing food into the theater is nice. - The seats are pretty comfortable, and the little side table is convenient. - 4 hour parking validation is great. - Small, cozy theaters are nice. The not so good: - The food wasn't great -- not bad, but not what I would call good either. It was OK, slightly overpriced, but that's to be expected at the movies. - Our server seemed very irritated to be there serving us, which was uncomfortable. The bad: - The overhead lights were never turned off during the showing. I've only been here once, and I'm not sure if this is true for every showing or just a fluke, but it was really distracting to me. - I could hear the movie pretty clearly in the neighboring theater, as well as dishes clanking, some people talking, etc. That really sucked. Overall, I'll give it 3 stars because I think I'd still prefer this experience to going to a big box theater. Though I'm more likely to endure the slight stress of finding parking and waiting in line at Alamo for the better movie experience and better food/service. read more

This isn't some dinner-first, movie-second craptacular cinephile experience. Violet Crown is a fantastic theatre made all the better with a solid lounge and dinner menu. Hell of a gin selection to boot. My first choice in ATX! read more

Elegant. Free parking. Food smells good. (Didn't eat.) Craft cocktails (!) Intimate theatres. Quality independent films. Yessssss......it makes a movie a "Real Date." read more

The Violet Crown is perhaps the best place to view movies in Austin. Aside from some patrons who don't know when to turn their phones off -- the experience I had was really worth it! The food could use a little makeover, but I liked the beer selection, and the bathrooms were really clean. They get a bonus star for offering free parking to their customers! read more

Cozy little theater + ice cream floats + free parking in downtown Austin? Yes please! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

Whereas Alamo Drafthouse can be best described as "Dinner and a Movie," Violet Crown is designed to be a one-stop shop for "Dinner and THEN a movie." When buying tickets ($13 each/$9 matinee), there's a casual note at the bottom of the ticket stub advising the buyer to arrive an hour early to "enjoy the menu and some cocktails." My girlfriend and I arrived about 15 minutes before our movie (our bad), and were worried about not being able to get any food. But we zeroed in pretty quickly and the service was quick. We were told it was OK to bring our food and cocktails into the theater. When in the theater, there were no tables to set our plates on. Because it was unclear what we were supposed to do with our finished plates, we noticed a lot of viewers just putting their plates under their seats. I carried ours until we found a bus tub. The food was all right, with high price points. I enjoyed my pork tapas, while my girlfriend's tiny chicken tahini pizza was two-dimensionally bacon-y. We would have liked water halfway through the movie, but didn't want to leave to get it. I think the idea and design is nice. The space is super slick, but our expectations weren't clearly laid out by VC. We didn't know what to expect and because of it, the experience suffered a bit. Part of it was our fault, but I just don't think the concept is great. I prefer the Alamo model, and I think most people would. read more

Classy yet unpretentious. I like going to the movies if there is one I want to see, but this place makes me love going to the movies. The seats are comfortable, they are selective about the films they show, and the food and drinks are reasonably priced (as far as movie theatre food goes) and pretty good. Love the overall vibe. If you can, buy the tickets online as the theatres are small and they remain busy even on weekdays and movies that have been out for weeks. read more

Lovely place, nice food and seats are super comfortable. Will come back, such a cozy place.

I really like VCC! We discovered it on a whim after we ran inside to escape one of those short but intense Texas summer rain showers. It's a cool smaller boutique theatre that shows a curated set of movies. They have a bar and food area that serves a variety of creative cocktails and snacks like spring rolls, roasted brussel sprouts, etc. that you can carry into the theatre. The theatre itself is clean and the seats are comfortable. We saw Hereditary here and I got the spring rolls which were vegetarian friendly and filled with avocado and rice noodles with a tasty dipping sauce, fries with ketchup and aioli and tasty brussel sprouts. Highly recommend and glad we stumbled upon it! read more

Remember when the Dobie was considered the "art house" cinema in town? Ahhh, those were the days. I digress. The Violet Crown is worlds away from the Dobie, and is worlds away from the other art house/independent movie theater in town (Regal Arbor). Alcohol is served and it looks like the W Hotel interior designers did this place too. You can get regular movie snacks or fancier things like Cake Ball (!). Stabilize everything you order on the little desk tables that fold over your seat like they did in college. But the best thing, besides the movies they show, is that you're right in the middle of downtown and there are million things to do before or after your movie. The only downside about the Violet Crown is parking. The garage they use (on San Antonio between 2nd and 3rd) can get full. They made us park on the ramp last time. Just be weary of this if going on a Friday or Saturday night. However, I didn't get a parking ticket thing so I could have left my car there all night instead of just the 4 hour max. read more

Great downtown venue, convenient parking and comfortable seating. Somewhere here it says not good for kids, and maybe that's true because the lobby is bar like in character. But me and my 10 year old sat over by the window in the comfortable lounge chairs while we waited and it was fine. They had the Dublin Dr Pepper and it was amazing. And the seats were made out of leather so they were really comfy. But we're going to get the front row seats next time. read more

We went to have some food and drinks here yesterday afternoon. The decor is very cool - interesting mixed media display on the walls. The food was surprisingly good. I have pretty low expectations for movie theater food but the spring rolls and hummus plate tasted great. My mother, who generally does not like anything, commented on how much she liked those spring rolls. Service was quick and the prices were reasonable. $12 for spring rolls and $8 for hummus. I would definitely come back for lunch or a snack. read more

In how many cities can you go to a movie, have a cocktail, and eat a quasi-gourmet meal at the same time? We Austinites are truly spoiled by the Violet Crown, Alamo, and iPix. Violet Crown is a bit more pretentious and exclusive than Alamo Drafthouse. Whereas Alamo has mainstream movies and themed events to old favorites, Violet Crown often is the first in town to debut features from SXSW. The food is fairly comparable- pizzas, appetizers, beer, and cocktails. I've had pizza both places and didn't find one more impressive than the other- it is move theater pizza afterall albeit the upscale version. On my most recent visit, I tried a pizza with peach slices, goat cheese, and kale. It was scant on the kale although I suppose not everyone wants a salad on their pizza. It came out in about four minutes leading me to believe that everything is prepped well in advance. The crust was thinner and not tasteless, but just not great. Prices for tickets and food are as expected (expect for the kombucha which goes for $7 a bottle!) Beyond the food, I appreciate the smaller theater seating and casual dining area. Plus with free parking, it's a great place to hang out any night of the week. read more

Violet Crown Austin - Pizza with peaches, goat cheese, and kale - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is an excellent theatre to catch a movie at in Austin. It's small and intimate, and they have a fastastic cocktail list, and even better beer list with lots of great local brews. They are perfectly ok with you bringing your drink/beer into the theatre, so take advantage! We saw American Hustle. I won't let that effect the star rating. (It sucked.) (Ok fine it didn't 'suck,' but it certainly didn't live up to the hype.) (I mean, it never really got going, you know? It was just ... slow. Like come on, something happen!) (Oh man here we go Robert DeNiro just came on the screen. I call him Bobby D.) (Hmmmmm I should change that. What if he's in a movie with Robert Duvall?) (Kinda crazy I made this connection since they were both in Godfather II, right?) (Though never on the screen together. Different time periods.) (Ahhh damnit where's Bobby D. going?) (DeNiro, not Duvall.) (Ugh this movie is slow again.) (But you know what ... Christian Bale put on, like, 40 pounds for the role. Hats off to him. That hasn't been done since Bobby D.) (Bobby D. being DeNiro in Raging Bull. Whoa. I just made another connection.) (Hey wasn't this a review about a theatre?) 10/365 read more

Love this place! Sure, there's the drafthouses all around, but I like the Violet Crown because I never feel pressured to eat if I'm not hungry. You order outside and bring the food in, so people aren't walking in front of you and paying for the bill the entire show. The seats are kooshy and comfy and the theaters are small and intimate. The best part is that they are willing to play the Indie films that the drafthouses don't always carry. It's a great time for Oscar watching. Food-wise, the menu isn't extensive, but it's better than beers and burgers. Plus they have a great drink menu and theatre sizes for a couple dollars more so you won't have to go and refill-- granted, that doesn't account for how many times you have to go to the bathroom instead. One note/tip: If your movie has a silent score and soundtrack (foxcatcher), do your best not to order the hummus plate. Carrots and celery sticks have never crunched so loud in a silent theater. read more

I had a fab time going to see "Isn't it romantic" I went with my lover on valentines day and it was nice to be able to have a bite to eat and relax while watching the movie. It was the first time I had gone in, but it won't be my last! read more

When you go to Violet, it's almost like going to a really fancy and good home theater at your tasteful, rich, urban college roommate's pad. As far as a theater goes, the seats are comfortable and the viewing is impeccable. The colors and contrast are amazing and the sound is good. I'd guess that it is hard to get that wrong on a small screen. But they do a great job. It was a bit amusing, however, when they started the WRONG MOVIE. We went to see American Hustle and got to see the first minute of Nebraska as a bonus. Do not confuse this place with the theater that serves you while you watch. No, you order your rather limited selection of small plates and drinks in the attractive lobby and then bring whatever you want into the theater. The waitstaff is friendly. And it's great that parking is validated. A nice way to watch. read more

Last time I went to Violet Crown Cinema I complained about an annoying carpark wait. I really appreciated that a manager read my review and apologised for the inconvenience and explained that my experience was a one-off (someone had crashed into the boom gate or something???) Anyhow, second visit to VCC was a great success! No parking issues, which was really the only thing that detracted from my previous experience. VCC is great for date night - a cute cinema, a nice, cozy bar, and a snack bar that serves pretty decent espresso coffee. So my message to the masses is - go! But, make sure you pre-book your tickets online because sessions sell out, especially on Friday nights and weekends. read more

Found this little gem while vacationing in Austin on a rainy day. Loved the experience! The food was great, the drinks were fantastic and service was 5 star! The cocktail menu is super fun- can you really pass up a Ginger Rogers Rabbit, a Trainwreck or a Pineapple Express Margarita? And that popcorn, its a thing of amazement. So delicious. The organization of the place was a bit odd and confusing: when we walked in, we were not sure where to go or how to order (you can go directly to the bar to order food, get your tickets and drinks). Finally, I wish I had known about the front row seating with large recliners before we booked our seats- those look like prime theater real estate. Only criticism: wishing the seats had bigger tables/more area to put food. read more

Great atmosphere, and a great selection of foreign and art house films. I came here to see the new Juliette Binoche film "Certified Copy". I enjoyed my experience so much that I came back the next day to see another film, in spite of only having 3 days to spend in Austin. The drinks and snacks are top-notch. I had never before in my life had a "cake ball", but with flavors like coconut curry, chocolate chipotle, and strawberry-lemon-basil, I just had to give them to try. They were delicious, and the perfect little bite-sized bonbon for a movie snack. I also can't argue with a movie theatre that serves Sazeracs and Caipirinhas! I will seek out this venue from now on every time I come to Austin. read more

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This is a really nice theater/bar/lounge without any attitude. I really enjoy coming to see new, indie flicks here, grabbing a delicious cocktail or beer, and kicking back on the extremely comfy seats to take it in. It's an intimate setting, there's no people running around delivering food during the movie, and the validated downtown parking can't be beat. My only complaint is that some of the new releases come and go too quickly, before I get a chance to see them at VC! read more

So I went here to see a Woody Allen movie (and I can't decide if I'm ashamed or proud of that), and I was pleasantly surprised. The place is classy, with a nice full bar that seems to dabble in mixology a bit. The beer selection is small, but passable. We went to a later show, and there didn't seem to be any kind of food that wasn't a snack, despite the full menu online. The theaters are small, and seat no more than 30 people, but the seats are big and plush and comfortable with individual armrests and fold-out "tables" like those folding desks you used in high school (if you're over 25 and under 45, anyway). I liked that the tables folded away, but found them to be smaller than I would like; had the theater been full, I'd've had popcorn in my lap instead of being able to use the adjacent seat's table. For those used to the Alamo Drafthouse, there's one, big, HUGE, difference. THERE ARE NO WAITERS AND NO TABLE SERVICE. If you want a drink refill, you have to get up and get it. That was VERY disappointing to me. I guess I had the "Alamo" experience in mind, and this is not it. This is more for people who want to have their "dinner and movie" in the same place, but not at the same time. Classy, polite employees, upscale. With that in mind, it was well executed. read more

Few things are more relieving than stepping into a movie theatre on a punishingly hot day. If that theatre happens to be the Violet Crown you are in for a real treat. The film selection is always fantastic. Indie, artsy, no blockbuster titles . The auditoriums are cozy, classy and aim to please in every way you can imagine. Leather seats, your own personal table, enough leg room to make even the tallest members of the NBA happy. You will not find yourself sitting next to a squirmy toddler, in fact you can assure that you and your date will be holding hands side by side due to their reserved seating policy. The menu is fancy but not over priced. May I suggest a glass of presecco with your popcorn? Rarely do things go together so well. Arrive early for perfect seating and hang out late in their bar, the staff is real nice. read more

I never go to move theaters. Like maybe twice a year. But this is the type of place I can get behind. There's something cool about the fact that it's a bar/lounge/theater that's all cohesive. I like that I can drink a cocktail at the bar and then bring it into the theater if I don't finish it on time. I like ordering my food and being able to eat a meal in front of the screen. I will admit, the tables could be a bit easier to use and it would be nice if someone bussed your plates and glasses out of the way when you're done. But hey, nothing is perfect! The seats are comfortable, video and sound quality is fine and I can't wait to sit in the front row on the lounge chairs! The Mediterranean plate was nice to share and the pulled pork sliders were quite tasty, although not what I expected. Now , the Bloody Mary with a shot if fernet on top... That's something you will have to come and try yourself. read more

This place is absolutely incredible! Movies? Check (duh). Bar? Check. The ability to order a cheese plate to eat while watching a movie? Check. I'm pretty sure this is what love at first sight feels like. read more

I love the location. And I love that you can reserve seats here. It means not having to show up super early to make sure your group gets seats together. That said, the projection quality and sound are good. The seats are moderately comfortable. They could be better. And using your smart phone as tickets is nice. I didn't try any of the food, or the bar, which is a nice touch. Really, the whole act of waiting in the lobby instead of in the theater resembles a theater experience, which I prefer. read more

I've become a fan of Violet Crown over Alamo Drafthouse and here's why: *Violet Crown has an air of class that at least some of the Alamos are missing. *The food I've tried has been first rate. Not having servers darting through the theater (and strangely forgetting my food more than once) is a relief. *The seats are super comfy inside smaller theaters with big screens. *The proximity to the rail station at the Convention Center means I don't have to drive there. *They show great films and are located near lots of good restaurants (not that you need them) and shops. Fun time all around! read more

First off I want to say , beautiful building , cool view , great graphic design. I like modern things and this is trying to be a modern theatre . It executes it fairly well . Secondly , first row is best row . You get to put your feet up , you have a great view of the screen . Thirdly, and this is the reason for only 4 stars. The theatre experience itself is fairly normal , chairs aren't that comfy, screen quality was great but sound was a little lacking. Finally, I didn't try any of the food or drinks so I can't judge it based on that however the staff was very friendly and helpful . read more

I found this movie theatre quite impressive. The modern aesthetic and cafe seating overlooking 2nd is pretty cool. We went to a late screening so, take that into account. The bartender made the drinks strong but wasn't too friendly. It was 10 PM so, she was prolly tired. She made the drinks slowly. The cashier girls are friendly and always had a smile. Ticket purchase was easy and reserved seating made things alot easier. Next time, I'll grab front rows where there are recliners. They don't serve food or drinks in the actual theatre (which can go either way) and they close the bar down 15 minutes after the last movie starts. My only complaint is why not keep the bar open until 15 minutes after the last movie ENDS? That way, everyone can hang out in the lobby space after a movie. My only complaints were not being served in the theatre (I'm actually 50/50 on that) and the fact that the bar closes before the last movie even ends. It almost feels like you're rushed out. read more

The Violet Crown Cinema is great! I rarely want to go to movies (always afraid of wasting my time on a dud - thank you Anchorman 2, ugh!) but with the very select movie offerings here, chances are, you won't waste your time. Of course, not every movie here is amazing, but generally, they offer quality movies and avoid the ridiculous comedies. In particular, my husband and I stopped in to watch the documentary, Blackfish last year. This is one of only a few theaters in Texas that offered this documentary when it was released. We had a wonderful date night and truly enjoyed the cinemas. The bar and lounge were fun, although a bit overpriced. We opted to stay for the movie then head out for drinks after vs hanging around the lounge. Inside the theater rooms, you will find comfy seats and an intimate setting. Most of the theaters are quite small, so be sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time! read more

Just saw American Hustle here...first time in the theater---it was really nice. I loved the size of the theater--screen 4--super cozy. Chairs were comfy--I felt like there was plenty of room and it was like sitting at home w/friends. One of my friends had a cocktail and said it was awful---I actually didn't have anything there, but they have free refills on the popcorn, which was tasty. Also, if you save your movie ticket, you can park in the parking lot for free for up to 4 hours!!! That totally rocks! I would definitely come here again---not too often since I'm in Pville---but I would definitely not say no. read more

Always love the "member's only" feel you get here. Bar has amazing specialty drinks, seats are ok, IPIC has better chairs but the bar and space make up for it. read more

Violet Crown Austin - Long Island bartender, I def recommend the Long Islands. - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My favorite place to see a movie. I always book the front row those chairs are so comfy. Just be aware if you book a handicapped seat in the front row you could be asked to move if they need it. The free parking here is the big perk for me. I can leave my house 15 minutes before the movie starts knowing I have an assigned seat and a place to park. I usually never eat here the food is way to expensive and not really that good, although the brussell sprouts are quite tasty. I do find it quite irritating that you have to bus your glasses and plates yourself. For what they charge I think they can afford to hire someone. This place is becoming quite popular so if you are dying to go book ahead they sell out a lot. read more

After I left the review, the owner of the cinema emailed us inviting us to come back to visit his theatre and apologizing for the bad service. We went back over the weekend and had a great time. We will be returning in the future. read more

I just don't like this place very much. Last time we went, we got there thirty minutes early, since you can't order food in the theater. Isn't it fun to have to reserve seats ahead of time AND still have to get there thirty minutes in advance? Awesome! So we sit down at one of the tables, but the waitress never comes by. After about fifteen minutes we finally have to flag her down, and she explains that the fact that we sat down when the last table's check was still on the table confused her. If that confuses you, you need a new job. It's harsh but true. We're sitting around looking at menus, not to mention we are, you know, NOT THE SAME PEOPLE, so you need to be able to at least ask us if we've been served. So now it's fifteen minutes until the movie - we order two hot dogs, nachos, and a pizza. Then we wait. And wait. And wait. Our movie's starting - the waitress comes up and tells us we can continue to wait or they can give us a buzzer, because nothing says "fun, non-distracting movie experience" like leaving five minutes into the movie to get your food. We continue to wait for another ten minutes, and finally ask for the buzzer. We begin walking into the theater, and I look over, and what should I see but two hot dogs, nachos, and a pizza sitting under a heat lamp in the kitchen area. I walk up to the lady in the kitchen and ask if that's our food. She looks at our buzzer and says, "No, that's a different buzzer number." I argue for a bit and she finally realizes that they gave us the wrong buzzer. Starting to get the picture? We had already paid for our food, and if we had walked into the theater, we would have NEVER gotten it. The way this place works is just bizarre. I have literally never had a good experience here - this was just the worst of them. The theaters are nice - I particularly like the college-lecture-hall-style desks, much more convenient for eating drippy food than the Drafthouse's tables. There's not a bad seat in the house. The projectors and sound system are fine. But I just can't see giving this any more than three stars - quite frankly, I think maybe that's being generous. I mean, yeah, it's a theater that serves alcohol and food, but since they don't serve it in the theater, and since it takes an inordinate amount of time to get your food, they end up being WORSE than your regular old-school theater! In short, forget this place unless you want to see some super-artsy movie that isn't going to be at the Drafthouse - and even then I'd suggest just going to the Arbor anyway. read more

Are you looking for something more than just a 'cinema'? Something where the seats are as comfortable as your couch and there are not tents of other people chewing their popcorn noisily? And do you actually want to eat really GOOD and high quality popcorn and drink a bottle of wine while you're in the movies? ...and are you looking for employees who are not only super friendly and perfect at their job but who are also absolutely professional? Then Violet Crown Cinema is the place YOU want to go! It's not a movie theater, it's your private living-room cinema for the same price as a normal movie theater! read more

I really love this place. Watching a movie somewhere else just wouldn't be the same. First of all, I love that I can easily purchase tickets through their app - extremely convenient. Their food options are great and there's a lot of variety depending on what you're in the mood for. The best part is their cocktails. Love everything they have on the menu. AND the service has always been wonderful. Our best experience was with Bastion - absolutely fantastic waiter. read more

This is my favorite theater in town. If it is showing here, I will go without a question. If it isn't at Violet Crown, I will head to Alamo Drafthouse. Before I went the first time I was worried about the parking but I was stoked to learn that they validate parking in the garage by the theater. read more

This and and Arbor cinema up north are the best places to catch indie and art house movies. When the budget is a little bigger and I have some money to burn, I come here. Brussel sprouts appetizer is amazing. Also have great bar service and specialty non alcoholic drinks like coffee. enjoy getting tickets early and sitting in comfortable recliners as well. don't forget to get some cake balls too. they are geeat! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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At Violet Crown for the first time. Parking was easy and the place looked inviting. I made a mistake and sat at the section directly facing the bar to wait for my friend. A gentlemen showed up and I ordered a shot of Frangelico. He didn't know what it was or if they have it so he went back. I went up to him to spare him walking all the way back to me (second mistake). There were 2 ppl sitting at the bar and just me). He goes, "oh now you're changing your seat"? I said I'm just waiting for my friend and wanted to order a drink, we might not stick around much...(didn't realize I was supposed to stay still) my friend arrived full of smiles just then and she ordered a drink as well and we ordered popcorn to take for the movie-we remained in the same area. He continued to lack enthusiasm in serving us (maybe he didn't like us or didn't want to be there /or having a bad day) but please, at least pretend bc you are not representing Violet Crown, you are making it look bad. I don't know why I gave him a good tip after the attitude but after ordering beer from a lady after the movie, I realized they might not be used to brown ppl there? My friend ordered a drink (I let her go first) and I guess the lady assumed I wasn't going to drink? I'm standing there waiting to order. She had this look like she wasn't going to understand me the minute I open my mouth. Well I ordered a beer. I have been living in Austin for 22 years and have an American accent or at least an accent that is not hard to understand. I'm just brown. Didn't feel like I was welcome there. My girl friend is Caucasian. I had a good time with her. All I'm saying is, please treat everyone with respect and kindness and show them you are welcome there. If something needs to be a certain way, let me know. I don't think I've ever given a two star review but I'm sorry, y'all have to improve on customer service. read more