Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
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What can I say about Alamo Drafthouse that hasn't already been said? It's a great theatre chain! One of the reasons I was most excited to move to Arlington was to be in proximity to not one but two Alamo Drafthouses -- one of which was in Pentagon City! It's right by a metro stop but normally I drive to the theatre since parking is validated by the theatre. If you're arriving at the theatre early and you wanna kill some time, depending on what day you go they do Trivia at the bar which is great! Everytime I'm at a Alamo Drafthouse I feel like a VIP. The food is great especially the milkshakes -- never in my life did I think a movie theatre milkshake was great but here we are! The interior is extremely clean and the entire business looks and feels like an upscale movie theatre. You truly get a great cinematic experience when you come to the Alamo Drafthouse.
Pretty good food and cinema experience!! They have a good system set up haha definitely will be watching movies here from now on. But the food and drink price (I got a Coke Zero) is expensive!!
So this is my local theater. I go here weekly and it's usually always an enjoyable experience. I've rarely had problems here. The seats are really soft, so if I know a movie is gonna be LONG, I come here. The waiters and front desk are usually very nice and attentive (unless it's a sold out film and they're running around trying to get everyone). The food options here are pretty good! Don't expect Gordon Ramsay food, but it's better food than what you'd get at AMC. I do love how every Alamo is decorated in the fashion of their area. Because we're near DCA, our theater is an airport theme. It's really cute. I do have two qualms: Sometimes they turn off the escalators and if you're handicapped like me, there's no way to get up to the next level. They don't usually like customers using the elevators, but what can you do? Also they have big talk about kicking people out in their phones, but when you complain about someone, the waiters are too afraid to do anything. I saw The Apartment here and there was a guy literally talking on the phone. Three other customers complained about the guy and the waiters did nothing. I had to go over and yell at the guy myself. My BEST TIP for you: if you're hungry and want your food and drinks fast, get to your showtime 15 mins early. You'll have your stuff before the movie starts. If you come on time, you won't see any of that food until the 30 mins into the movie.
Had an amazing time at their Happy Hour after a long day of work; they allowed us to bring our unfinished glass into the movie theatres. My friends and I watched Wicked: For Good and of course it was amazing. The reclining chairs were, of course, amazing. They offer seat side service, with a call button when you need your server to come by. My friends and I ordered buttered popcorn which was UNLIMITED; so yes, that too, was amazing. The only downside is their parking garage is very confusing and nothing is labelled. I somehow ended up walking out of the garage at Whole Foods and had to walk half a block over to the Cinema. After the movie, I tried walking back the way I came and all the doors there were locked. Luckily the hotel next door allowed me to use their elevators to get to the garage but I had no idea where I was! Hopefully the landlords/ management team can add some signage or make it clearer where we're going!
Really awesome location with a respectable restaurant. Many of these places only serve slightly elevated theatre food; here, we got an amazing Caesar salad, a Beyond burger that my husband stated sad very well done and had a good level of fixings- but Beyond is bland so if they seasoned it, that would be even better (7/10- the fries added a point), and I got a hot dog. Don't judge me!!! They post the calories on the menu and I just couldn't lol. It was a darn good half smoke (8/10 cuz the bun was basic and a little cold lol) and while I couldn't finish it, I definitely ate the Caesar which was crisp and had the perfect amount of dressing. 9/10 The movie theatre popcorns are bottomless, though you probably won't take advantage of that as they give you so much. We tried the churro and the truffle parm. I love truffle oil and everything truffle but it was a disappointment. It didn't taste like truffle at all, was cold, and the flavor of Parmesan popcorn did not have the level of salt or umami that we were going for 4/10. The churro was awesome. Not too sweet, still the perfect amount of saltiness and lots of cinnamon crunch bits evenly disbursed to make the experience very churro/like 7/10 - only because there were so many seeds!!! Otherwise it would be a 9/10. The service was prompt and efficient both in the restaurant and in the theatre. 10/10. This place is great for date nights and we will be back.
I enjoy having an Alamo Drafthouse nearby - you could also look into their different tiered memberships if you tend to be a more avid movie-goer. We came here for a screening for one of our favorites, and it didn't disappoint - the sound system was pretty good, and the chairs were comfortable. They do have a menu, including various seasoned popcorn, apps, salads, wraps, hot dogs, burgers, wings, pizza, desserts, and drinks. There's a button located on your swing table, attached to your chair, to call for service - an individual assigned to your section will come to take your order on their tablet - for any additional orders or refills, you'll just to the same process, throughout your moving watching experience. We tried the Truffle Parm and the Spicy Ranch popcorn, and while the Truffle Parm was not edible for us, the Spicy Ranch sort of made up for it - you could also ask for extra clarified butter, if that's your thing. Note that the popcorn comes in a large stainless 'mixing' bowl, which is more than enough for 2 people; I just wished it came out warm. The drink orders do take a while, which was a bit weird - there was quite some lag to it, and we had to wave down other runners to see if they forgot our orders... The Alamo Drafthouse seems to have a hard rule for no talking and use of cellphone, with the consequence of being kicked out after a warning - however, there were people who were having side conversations, and you'll hear other movie attendees putting their orders in throughout the movie. Restrooms could be better attended to, as they were filthy. Garage parking is available in the area. +cold popcorn +slow drink orders +avoid the restrooms +garage parking available
Such a cool space. I frequent the Brentwood location often but I think imma have to go out to crystal city more. Definitely will be back to check out the bar.
What a great way to see the movies! Along Crystal Drive surrounded by many restaurants and shops, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema focuses on the customer. Walk inside and find a fancier movie theater with comfortable large seats that recline. On top of that, you can order food and drinks from a diverse menu throughout the movie. I enjoyed a hard cider, pizza, and warm chocolate chip cookies with milk as I watched Zootopia 2 with my wife and eight-year-old daughter. When you buy your tickets, you pick your seat too! There's a parking garage with free parking after 4pm and on weekends.
Good food. Good films. Good prices (mainly on Tuesdays despite the price recently being raised). This still a great place to spend an afternoon in the middle of the week. It's also the spot for happy hour. It gets packed at the bar. It's nice to wind down the day with a good beer and then a film and an amazing sandwich while you watch. Alamo will always be my favorite.
25th July 2026 Crystal City Arlington, VA Whilst attending our conference in Crystal City Arlington VA, we took Saturday afternoon break to go see the Christopher Nolan film, the ODYSSEY with a totally ripped Matt Damon (55) starring in the role of Odysseus on his treacherous journey home to Ithaca. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Crystal City is a 49,000 sq foot, 9 screen modern cinema, with the luxury of food and drink service at your reclining plush leather seat. To place your food order, use the QR code for the menu, make your choices and press the convenient built-in server call button to summon the server to take care of your order preference. For food, I prefer to stick to plain popcorn to consume in the dark, anything else would be distracting. A big plus is their enforced strict policy against talking or texting during films. I wish more cinemas would have the same warning given at the start of every film. The Alamo Drafthouse has a premium auditorium featuring an enormous 66 foot wide screen laser projection with immersive Dolby Atmos 52 speaker surround sound which really packs a punch. Thankfully, we wore our earbuds, or would have experienced some hearing stress or loss. ***Do arrive 30 minutes early to get your food and drinks orders in, thus to avoid being interrupted during the movie** Enjoy! read more
Bbq chicken pizza was fine. The crust was a bit hard. Strawberry milkshake was divine and refreshing. I liked that you could eliminate items that you didnt want on your pizza. We also tried the Sweet and Cheesy popcorn which consisted of Buffalo white cheddar and caramel. There was barely any caramel popcorn. I think i had a total of three kernels of the caramel. The entirety of the bowl was the cheese flavored which had so much of the pepper that I could not stop sneezing! No food has ever made me sneeze when it was being chewed. We really didn't like it and asked for the Bottomless butter popcorn which was classic. Totally disappointed that the food arrived one hour after we placed the order. The order was placed half an hour before the show started. read more
What can I say about Alamo Drafthouse that hasn't already been said? It's a great theatre chain! One of the reasons I was most excited to move to Arlington was to be in proximity to not one but two Alamo Drafthouses -- one of which was in Pentagon City! It's right by a metro stop but normally I drive to the theatre since parking is validated by the theatre. If you're arriving at the theatre early and you wanna kill some time, depending on what day you go they do Trivia at the bar which is great! Everytime I'm at a Alamo Drafthouse I feel like a VIP. The food is great especially the milkshakes -- never in my life did I think a movie theatre milkshake was great but here we are! The interior is extremely clean and the entire business looks and feels like an upscale movie theatre. You truly get a great cinematic experience when you come to the Alamo Drafthouse. read more
4 months ago
So this is my local theater. I go here weekly and it's usually always an enjoyable experience. I've rarely had problems here. The seats are really soft, so if I know a movie is gonna be LONG, I come here. The waiters and front desk are usually very nice and attentive (unless it's a sold out film and they're running around trying to get everyone). The food options here are pretty good! Don't expect Gordon Ramsay food, but it's better food than what you'd get at AMC. I do love how every Alamo is decorated in the fashion of their area. Because we're near DCA, our theater is an airport theme. It's really cute. I do have two qualms: Sometimes they turn off the escalators and if you're handicapped like me, there's no way to get up to the next level. They don't usually like customers using the elevators, but what can you do? Also they have big talk about kicking people out in their phones, but when you complain about someone, the waiters are too afraid to do anything. I saw The Apartment here and there was a guy literally talking on the phone. Three other customers complained about the guy and the waiters did nothing. I had to go over and yell at the guy myself. My BEST TIP for you: if you're hungry and want your food and drinks fast, get to your showtime 15 mins early. You'll have your stuff before the movie starts. If you come on time, you won't see any of that food until the 30 mins into the movie. read more
Had an amazing time at their Happy Hour after a long day of work; they allowed us to bring our unfinished glass into the movie theatres. My friends and I watched Wicked: For Good and of course it was amazing. The reclining chairs were, of course, amazing. They offer seat side service, with a call button when you need your server to come by. My friends and I ordered buttered popcorn which was UNLIMITED; so yes, that too, was amazing. The only downside is their parking garage is very confusing and nothing is labelled. I somehow ended up walking out of the garage at Whole Foods and had to walk half a block over to the Cinema. After the movie, I tried walking back the way I came and all the doors there were locked. Luckily the hotel next door allowed me to use their elevators to get to the garage but I had no idea where I was! Hopefully the landlords/ management team can add some signage or make it clearer where we're going! read more
Business owner information
Digital M.
Hi Ellen D.,…
Really awesome location with a respectable restaurant. Many of these places only serve slightly elevated theatre food; here, we got an amazing Caesar salad, a Beyond burger that my husband stated sad very well done and had a good level of fixings- but Beyond is bland so if they seasoned it, that would be even better (7/10- the fries added a point), and I got a hot dog. Don't judge me!!! They post the calories on the menu and I just couldn't lol. It was a darn good half smoke (8/10 cuz the bun was basic and a little cold lol) and while I couldn't finish it, I definitely ate the Caesar which was crisp and had the perfect amount of dressing. 9/10 The movie theatre popcorns are bottomless, though you probably won't take advantage of that as they give you so much. We tried the churro and the truffle parm. I love truffle oil and everything truffle but it was a disappointment. It didn't taste like truffle at all, was cold, and the flavor of Parmesan popcorn did not have the level of salt or umami that we were going for 4/10. The churro was awesome. Not too sweet, still the perfect amount of saltiness and lots of cinnamon crunch bits evenly disbursed to make the experience very churro/like 7/10 - only because there were so many seeds!!! Otherwise it would be a 9/10. The service was prompt and efficient both in the restaurant and in the theatre. 10/10. This place is great for date nights and we will be back. read more
Business owner information
Digital M.
Hi Naomi C.,…
I enjoy having an Alamo Drafthouse nearby - you could also look into their different tiered memberships if you tend to be a more avid movie-goer. We came here for a screening for one of our favorites, and it didn't disappoint - the sound system was pretty good, and the chairs were comfortable. They do have a menu, including various seasoned popcorn, apps, salads, wraps, hot dogs, burgers, wings, pizza, desserts, and drinks. There's a button located on your swing table, attached to your chair, to call for service - an individual assigned to your section will come to take your order on their tablet - for any additional orders or refills, you'll just to the same process, throughout your moving watching experience. We tried the Truffle Parm and the Spicy Ranch popcorn, and while the Truffle Parm was not edible for us, the Spicy Ranch sort of made up for it - you could also ask for extra clarified butter, if that's your thing. Note that the popcorn comes in a large stainless 'mixing' bowl, which is more than enough for 2 people; I just wished it came out warm. The drink orders do take a while, which was a bit weird - there was quite some lag to it, and we had to wave down other runners to see if they forgot our orders... The Alamo Drafthouse seems to have a hard rule for no talking and use of cellphone, with the consequence of being kicked out after a warning - however, there were people who were having side conversations, and you'll hear other movie attendees putting their orders in throughout the movie. Restrooms could be better attended to, as they were filthy. Garage parking is available in the area. +cold popcorn +slow drink orders +avoid the restrooms +garage parking available read more
2 months ago
What a great way to see the movies! Along Crystal Drive surrounded by many restaurants and shops, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema focuses on the customer. Walk inside and find a fancier movie theater with comfortable large seats that recline. On top of that, you can order food and drinks from a diverse menu throughout the movie. I enjoyed a hard cider, pizza, and warm chocolate chip cookies with milk as I watched Zootopia 2 with my wife and eight-year-old daughter. When you buy your tickets, you pick your seat too! There's a parking garage with free parking after 4pm and on weekends. read more
Good food. Good films. Good prices (mainly on Tuesdays despite the price recently being raised). This still a great place to spend an afternoon in the middle of the week. It's also the spot for happy hour. It gets packed at the bar. It's nice to wind down the day with a good beer and then a film and an amazing sandwich while you watch. Alamo will always be my favorite. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Digital M.
Hi Phillip Z.,…
5 months ago
Caught a Friday night flick (Thunderbolts) with a homie, and Alamo Drafthouse did not disappoint. Parked in the garage, grabbed a validation ticket--turns out it wasn't even needed. Parking is free after 5 PM. Bonus! Walking in, I was hit with the sheer size of the place--it's massive. Movie posters old and new line the walls like a cinematic hall of fame. There's a gift shop for the film nerds, and a bar for the pre-show sip and after show fiesta. Service? On point. The theater itself? Pure luxury. Recliner seats that rival my living room La-Z-Boy--wide, plush, and spaced out enough to give you your own little kingdom. I spotted the server station on the way in, and sure enough, they were hustling quietly and efficiently throughout the film. At your seat: a menu, a notepad, and a service button that brings the magic. The menu is stacked--apps, entrees, cocktails, desserts--you name it. I went with a crispy chicken sandwich, fries, and a margarita to wash it all down. Delivered on a sleek little tray setup with a swivel table and cupholder--everything short of silver service. And the sandwich? Chic-fil-A, who? This one's the new MVP. The view? Immaculate. No heads in your way, no sugar-crazed kids kicking your seat, no distractions. Just you, the screen, and your feast. This isn't just going to the movies--it's a religious experience. Alamo Drafthouse for movie night IS THE WAY. read more
The Alamo drafthouse in Crystal City is a delightful experience. Easy to access with plenty of popcorn options to choose from, you know you'll be sitting comfortably for your movie as the serving staff takes great care of you. I do want to mention it's been a minute since I've gone to an Alamo, and I was caught off guard by the lights for the menu being as bright as they were, a little distracting during the film. The seats and sound quality were excellent though! And the price was really responsible. read more
I enjoyed the movie viewing experience. The reclining chairs are awesome. I like the swiveling table with under lights. There were no movie previews shown for Sinners. I particularly enjoyed that. Why waste time with previews for crappy movies? I appreciate the extensive menu beyond the typical movie fare. I ordered an Old Fashioned which was particularly well made and strong. We crushed the bottomless popcorn! Now onto the food... I specifically ordered the VEGAN cheese pizza. They had the nerve to bring out a Goat Cheese and Broccoli pizza. How do you explain that for someone who may be allergic to dairy? read more
Business owner information
Digital M.
Hi Andrew E.,…
1 year ago
The Crystal City Alamo is a treasured venue. I saw The Accountant 2 today, on a muggy and hot Northern Virginia Friday afternoon; all was cool and clean inside. Got a White Claw from the bar ($8.25 + tip) and brought it into the theater. An attendant promptly met me at my seat and after checking to confirm that I was in the right seat he took my order (a side of fries with extra ketchup) and was back in a flash with my order and a cup of water. I've made Alamo a go-to for a couple of years now. What makes it special for me is the presentation of archived film clips they show in the 30 minutes before the coming attractions. For today, in keeping with the tie in with the FBI in the movie, the clips were from ancient FBI training films, and a great short film called Good Cop Baby Cop. You might not see stuff like this anywhere else. You can reach the theater by taking the Blue or Yellow Metro trains to Cyrstal City and walking through the deserted mall; there's also a Metroway Bus stop across the street, which you can take from the Braddock Road Metro station. read more
Business owner information
Digital M.
Hi Christopher M.,…
Elmo had the extended release of the Frankenstein movie which was super fun to see. Their popcorn deal is pretty good, $12 for unlimited popcorn and you just need to use your card at your seat to have it delivered right to you, which was super convenient so that I didn't miss any of the movie. I was able to go to a matinee and it was very empty, which was nice but even though I had someone once eat over from me, because the seats are so big, I didn't notice at all. Being able to lean back and have my feet up was a nice Burke. They also validate parking at the parking garage right next to this entrance so I didn't have to fight for street parking or pay 20 bucks for parking in addition to my movie ticket. read more
2 months ago
1 month ago
I enjoyed the experience very much. The theater was clean. The food, drinks, and popcorn we had were good. The speakers are a tad bit too loud. I really appreciate the theater's noise rules announced before the movie. One downside: There was a lady seating 2 seats away who kept coughing out actually her child did the same. I guess some folks forgot about COVID a few years back and coughing in your elbow. This was not the theater's fault though. read more
If you haven't been to the Alamo Drafthouse in Crystal City, what are you doing with your life? This place is the cinematic equivalent of a warm hug from a movie-loving, popcorn eating, giant. From the moment you step inside, you know you're in for a treat... not just for your eyes and ears, but for your taste buds too. Let's talk about the presentation: state of the art doesn't even begin to cover it. The screens are massive, crisp, and bright enough that you'll feel like you're living in the movie. The sound system? Let's just say, you'll hear things in that theater you never knew existed (hello, surround sound "BOOM"!). It's like watching a movie in a high-def cocoon, and your senses will never forgive you if you go anywhere else again. Which is why ADC is typically my 1st choice when possible. Then there's the menu. Yes, it's a movie theater, but it's also a restaurant. It's like a drive-in but sit down movie theater. Where else can you chow down on a truffle fries platter while watching the latest blockbuster, as you await the new year? Seriously, the food here is so good, you might be tempted to sneak a few bites between every action scene. Cold drinks of your choice... I'm a Coke Zero guy til I die! But, I believe beer and cocktails are available. Now, onto comfort: these seats are the stuff dreams are made of. Imagine if your couch and a luxury recliner had a baby, and that baby was gifted with perfect lumbar support. I swear, if I could sleep in one of these seats, I would. Plus, they're spaced out enough that you don't have to worry about getting an elbow in your ribs during that pivotal scene. And as for cleanliness--this place is spotless. Every time I've been, I'm amazed by how pristine the theater is. It's like a movie theater with the soul of a five-star hotel. Don't hold me to that one. I could just be lucky in this regard, but the bathrooms were pretty clean as well. All in all, Alamo Drafthouse in Crystal City is the kind of place where you go for a movie and end up with a whole experience. It's not just a theater; it's a destination. Recommendation level: 10/10, would get comfy and eat popcorn again. read more
1 year ago
I always enjoy coming to Alamo! Even though I have to travel into the city, the experience is always worth the drive. The atmosphere, service, and vibe make it a go-to spot. The food was decent on this visit--next time, I'll be sticking with the chicken sandwich meal, which has never let me down! read more
First and foremost, Deadpool was AMAZING!! Alamo is a different type of movie experience. The chairs are comfortable as hell and makes you fight the urge to sleep. The food is flavorful and pocket friendly. I had the nachos, buffalo wings, and carnivore pizza. I love the location and parking was free. What I enjoy most is not having to move from my seat for beverages, adult juice, and food. It's a wonderful experience. Check it out. #EatGoodAndBeHappy read more
Pretty cool theater. It's designed as a retro cinema but it's also modern with large theater spaces. The theaters are spacious and have plenty of seating, and the reclining seats are pretty comfortable. The staff is always helpful, the seats are super comfy and the theatres have been well-maintained. The food options are so yummy. Tuesdays are the best time to visit because tickets are 7 dollars, which means you can enjoy their amazing food options with less guilt. In all, perfect ambience for enjoy the movie, perfect place to hangout especially for Film Lovers! Great service, great food, the food is more pricey than other movie theater but worth it. Alamo Drafthouse is by far one of my favorite spots to check out a movie and I highly recommend this location. I've always had a very good experience here and will be returning. read more
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1660 Crystal Dr
Arlington, VA 22202
Pentagon City
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(571) 814-3776
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https://drafthouse.com
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Free parking on weeknights and weekends without validation. Free validated parking at other times. Just bring your ticket to the front desk.
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