Cancel

Open app

Search

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

4.4 (108 reviews)

Avalon Atmospheric Theater Photos

AVALON ATMOSPHERIC THEATER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Avalon Atmospheric Theater

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Faith B.

I was here recently for a film festival event. Great atmosphere, as hinted to in the name. The bar is a nice touch as is the food service, which we did not try. The chairs are comfortable and the sliding TV trays are very convenient. The sound though - man, it's bad! This was extremely evident in a program of short films. Poor quality, uneven and overall just bad. Too bad, since this is such a cool, classic theater.

Buffalo wings
Jennifer Q.

The Avalon Atmospheric Theater is my FAVORITE movie theater!! If there's a movie that I'd like to watch, I check their website to see if they are playing it. This place will always be my first choice to go watch a movie! The atmospheric room has lights on the ceiling, giving off a night sky effect. The Back Stage room is hidden in the back & is smaller, but gives off a cozy feel (just like the whole place). They have a concession stand with your typical items like: popcorn, candy, nachos, etc. & a few meal items. I got some buffalo wings & french fries this time. I definitely recommend coming here before considering a franchise movie theater.

Nic D.

I love Avalon theater! I recently saw Late Night with the Devil during Milwaukee Film Fest. The seats have trays connected to them with QR codes to order food and drink. They offer a wide selection of both, but the popcorn is all you need. Honestly, I think it's the best popcorn I have ever had!! The theater itself is gorgeous and the screens are large. The film festival is such a fun time of the year for movies and I'm glad I got to be a part of it.

Theater
Emily D.

Have been wanting to try The Avalon Theater for awhile after hearing some great reviews from friends, and it lived up to the hype! The theater it self is a really good mixture of classic and modern. The architecture and overall atmosphere makes you feel like you are in a good old fashion theater. However, the theater also has nice, comfortable seats, trays for food, and a food menu that you can order from the comfort of you seat and without leaving the movie. The popcorn was very good and it tasted like they used real butter. I will definitely be visit The Avalon again soon, and highly suggest it!

Amber K.

Tl;dr great popcorn and sparkly ceiling! I always love my time at the Avalon. Being a small business, I always try and support them when I wanna see a flick on the big screen. I will say it does mean they have a somewhat limited variety of movies (as they have two screens) but they are usually always playing the popular choices. When I was most recently there it was the newest Ghostbuster movie (heart warming cameos!) and Gucci (haven't seen it but I've heard good things) The architecture and ornamental features of the main theater are stunning and beautiful. The ceiling is lit up with a "starry display" that has a shooting star every once in a while! The popcorn is always fresh and delicious and perfectly salted - they also have candies and other snacks and alcoholic beverages (woo!) all seats include a nice little swivel table to make your movie watching experience just a little bit easier. I live in the Bayview area and will continue to support this small business for all my movie-watching needs!

Avalon Theater logo.
Christy D. W.

The Avalon Atmospheric Theater is a gorgeous movie palace founded May 1st, 1929! The Avalon and the Oriental are the only remaining movie palaces in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Avalon architect was Russ Williamson who was a former draftsman for famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. There is beatiful Spanish, Moorish, and Mediterranean architectural design. The Avalon Lounge especially has luxurious architectural design. The Bay View Avalon was extensively renovated and reopened in January 2015, after being closed since 2001. The Avalon shows both classic and first run movies. The atmospheric theater has very comfortable seats, fresh concessions, and fresh buttered popcorn. Also, the Avalon features double screens, the main atmospheric theater and the backstage theater. l love the unique atmospheric night sky ceiling lit up with starry lights! The Milwaukee Avalon is one of a select few atmospheric theaters still operating in the world today!

Star ceiling
Jenna E.

This place is great. You order food and drinks to your seat and they have quick service. The stars on the ceiling make you feel like you're in a dream. I highly recommend coming here for a movie and an old fashioned.

Ceiling in the theater!

See all

19 hours ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

The ceiling in this theater is completely magical. They also have the best popcorn ever! Go. See a movie here and experience Bay View.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sue L.
30
5
0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kyle H.
1426
2107
7892

6 years ago

Helpful 11
Thanks 0
Love this 13
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 13
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 12
Thanks 0
Love this 8
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Rachel F.
1577
1066
2397

11 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 0
Photo of Paul V.
543
476
1080

8 years ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 0
Love this 8
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Rohan D.
381
3657
10792

11 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 1
Love this 6
Oh no 0
Photo of Dave S.
105
286
1778

10 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 3

Ask the Community - Avalon Atmospheric Theater

What's the difference between the backstage theater and the atmospheric theater?

The Avalon features double screens. The atmospheric theater is the main theater with the star studded night sky ceiling! There is a long hallway the leads to the smaller backstage theater.

Is there any discounts for seniors or people with disabilities?

They have a senior discount for 60+ and military. Never heard of a theater offering discounts for disabilities.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Avalon Atmospheric Theater

The Avalon Theater is hands down my favorite venue to see a movie on the big screen these days.

Mentioned in 14 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Cinema 1,626 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

The Tin Widow - Tin Window

The Tin Widow

4.7(107 reviews)
1.8 miWalker's Point
$$

We stopped in on a whim after dinner out in the deer district. Driving home when I saw the holiday…read moreinflatables and I thought if I can find a parking spot, we are going in. I had heard about the Tin Widow's holiday pop up being one of the best area, the hype was not wrong. From the entrance to the ceiling and walks, this place is the definition of deck the halls. Unless you get here right when they open it early in the holiday season, I would expect a crowd. The drink menu is so fun with holiday themed drinks served in matching glassware. You can even purchase the glass/mug for an additional fee. A lot of the cocktails looked to be batched cocktails which help with the bartender's efficiency. Highly recommend making this place a holiday stop. I'm also curious to stop in after the holidays to experience it without all the holiday decor.

Stopped in for their Miracle on 2nd St holiday pop-up. We only had to wait about 5-10min for a…read moretable, but it does get busy fast, especially on weekends. They had several seasonal cocktails in special festive cups, which you could also buy to take home. I got the Cheery Cherry Chocosaurus, which was good, but pricey for what it was. Almost all the seasonal drinks were $15 each and didn't seem too big. The venue itself is medium sized, but feels crammed quickly. There's more people let in at a time than there is seating, so you have to move fast to get a seat. I'll likely come back during the summer to try something else.

Photos
The Tin Widow - Interior

Interior

The Tin Widow
The Tin Widow

See all

Boone and Crockett - Negroni + Manhattan

Boone and Crockett

4.3(223 reviews)
1.6 miHarbor View
$$

Still a big fan of Boone and Crocket…read more I love the masterful mix of taxidermy and chandeliers. I love that they do game nights in style with a big screen and lots of energy. I love that I can slip into a dimly lit booth with my date and enjoy a exquisitely mixed cocktail and maybe even a game of cribbage by candlelight. I truly love it all. I love that they've expanded the food truck offerings and have a small food truck park on their property. You can order from Taco Moto (and maybe others as well, we're just partial to Taco Moto) right from a QR code at your table or booth and they'll text you when your food is ready (which you're welcome to enjoy in Boone & Crocket). It's truly a magical bar on the lakefront with, have I mentioned? Plenty of parking to boot. Get to it!

Just visited for the first time with a friend for a few drinks on a Friday night. We were there…read morerelatively early so it wasn't crowded yet. I can see the appeal of the place. There are plenty of little nooks and corners to hang out in small or larger groups. I'm sure it's extra good in the warmer months. They have a big patio area. The cocktails on tap were excellent - well balanced and tasty. I tried the Manhattan and the Negroni. They were also pretty reasonable. Service was good. I could really do without all the dead creatures hung everywhere though. It's just not that cool in 2026, even in Wisconsin. Maybe show some respect for animals.

Photos
Boone and Crockett - Indoor bar

Indoor bar

Boone and Crockett
Boone and Crockett - Indoor bar

See all

Indoor bar

The Yard - Chicken Katsu Sandwich

The Yard

4.0(52 reviews)
2.1 miWalker's Point
$$

I randomly stopped for lunch at The Yard a few weeks ago, an outdoor spot tucked right inside…read more(&outside) The Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee. I ordered the turkey BLT and loved that it came on a buttery, flaky croissant--such a great touch that took the sandwich to the next level. That said, I tried the chicken katsu sandwich and it was seriously one of the best sandwiches I've ever had--perfectly cooked chicken, the flavors were on point, and the mayo? Everything. I came across a "new menu" on Google & was a little bummed to see it's no longer on the updated menu. I really hope they bring it back or I looked at an "old" or outdated new menu The ambiance was great--I sat in the front near the hotel, but the outdoor lounge area looked super cozy and inviting. I'd love to come back at night, when the string lights and fire towers are lit up I feel like the area would be even cozier and cuter The service was okay; I'm not sure if it's because we were sitting outside but it felt like we didn't get much service at all. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and the vibe, and I'll definitely be returning.

Finally tried the Iron Horse's; The Yard outdoor restaurant now that the weather is warm and it did…read morenot disappoint! They have happy hour from 4-6pm and it is a first come first serve basis, no reservations. The outdoor patio is very spacious with chairs, tables and couches which includes table service and great music vibes. Our waitress was very kind and tentative the entire night. They offer a seasonal cocktail menu in addition to appetizers, handheld soup, and salad and mains. They have a simple specialty cocktail list to choose from which I felt like, overall, was pretty basic compared to others i've seen in the city. Didn't love the cocktails we tried overall. However, we tried out the wings which were 10/10 very flavorful and affordable! You can get them buffalo or dry rubbed. We also got the beer battered cheese curds which are made with white cheddar cheese- they were amazing! (This is coming from a Wisconsinite too). The patio itself has a great overall ambience, especially on a nice evening. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for a quaint, semi- hidden outdoor patio in the Walkers Point/Milwaukee area!

Photos
The Yard
The Yard - Turkey BLT

Turkey BLT

The Yard

See all

Barnacle Bud's - Relish tray

Barnacle Bud's

3.8(317 reviews)
0.7 miBay View
$$

Three friends and I booked a reservation two months in advance for Barnacle Bud's Pop-Up Supper…read moreClub. The only reservation we could get was 4:30PM but we were excited we were able to get in at any time. Because of the timing, the sun was setting over the water, which was really pretty to see. I got a little confused with where to enter the building and I guess I went in the wrong way because I walked down the dock and entered the back of the restaurant by the restrooms, lol. Barnacle Bud's had a cool decor vibe and moody lighting. Our waitress was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and you could tell she was very excited about the menu and the pop-up experience. She provided exceptional customer service- she went over the menu thoroughly, came back to check on us multiple times, and always refilled our water, which I always appreciate! To start, we ordered wine and the relish tray. Everything on the relish tray was a little too vinegary for me but most of the table enjoyed it. However, the four of us didn't finish it. It was pretty powerful with vinegar flavor. For an entree, I had the salmon with veggies and my friends ordered the lamb chops, carbonara, and a vegetarian friend ordered a plate of Bud's potatoes and veggies. The food was good but I thought mine was very salty. And I'm glad I ordered my sauce on the side. For dessert, the four of us shared the mousse, which had good flavor and texture. Also to note, there were up-charges for veggies, sauce was $3 extra, etc., so just pay attention to pricing if that's a concern for you. Overall, it was a unique experience and worth checking out.

We got a reservation for Gene's Supper Club on the River & had zero regrets about braving the cold…read morefor this experience! The food was so fun! I was expecting "standard" supper club dishes, which are awesome & was fully excited for, but what we got was a twist on the traditional! Every bit had so much flavor & the portion sizes were plentiful. 4 of us shared 2 apps, 1 salad, 3 entrees (with add-ons) & dessert. Plus a lovely bottle of wine & some pre-dinner cocktails. The restaurant was decked out for the holidays inside & out. It felt cozy & festive. The service was beyond...from the moment we walked thru the door, we felt welcomed & even appreciated for being there. The staff is amazing! If you have the chance to go...do not waiver!

Photos
Barnacle Bud's - 2023 seafood boil

2023 seafood boil

Barnacle Bud's - Mushroom tostadas from their Autumn/seasonal specials during their popup supper club

Mushroom tostadas from their Autumn/seasonal specials during their popup supper club

Barnacle Bud's - Chocolate mousse

See all

Chocolate mousse

Avalon Atmospheric Theater - movietheaters - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...