Great size venue, good bars, good sound system and no bad seats. They get large acts for a small size venue, which used to be a theater. Lots of character. read more

Going to the show tonight, got there at 6:30 with a handicapped friend and they would not let us in the lobby to wait! It's 36 degrees outside right now! The security guy was rude and disrespectful. Asked to talk to the manager and the security guy came back and said the manager said no can't let you in! Will NEVER go back to this theater! read more

Incredible venue to see live music, very modern, very clean, great sound system. It has to be the absolute best small music then you to see an act in the Bay Area. read more

From entry to exit, what an amazing experience! The sound is out of this world. Has ins and outs with stamp. Convenient Bix Office. No food has refillable water station. Cool space! read more

Came here to watch Eight Grade because it was the only theatre on the day that I wanted to watch a movie with MoviePass that was showing anything but SlenderMan. It was a surprise to find out that the movie theatre only had 1 screen, so I guess it's an old fashioned theatre. It's interesting because even after you purchase the movie tickets, they had us wait outside (we were watching the movie at 9:45 PM) until 10 min before the showing. ~~~Parking It's behind the plaza and there's poor lighting at night. ~~~Sound For some reason the sound was only coming from the front of the theatre. I'm someone who likes to sit in the back of the theatre to get a good view of the whole screen and it wasn't hard hearing anything, but I saw that they had speakers in the back and just wondered why those never turned on. ~~~Snacks & Beverages I wasn't sure if the popcorn would be fresh based off of how it looked like it was sitting there from the previous showing, but it was great! I would just recommend watching the amount of butter that they put, mine had just a smudge too much, but it was good! read more

If you want to take a trip down memory lane, travel back to the past and have the old movie going experience heres the place to go! So they have one movie showing a night, you buy your ticket outside and then wait in line for them to open the doors to the theatre, everyone waiting in line is there to see the same movie. You present your receipt and they rip it and give you the other half. As soon as you walk in , to the left are the restrooms and to the right is the concession stand and directly in front of you will be the doors to enter the theatre room, and thats it! One theatre room, bathrooms, and a concession stand. Sit wherever you'd like and enjoy the retro movie seeing experience, even the previews before the showing are pretty dated with trivia questions and upcoming indie films. Before the movie starts an attendant comes to the front and tells everyone where the exits are and that you may ask to adjust the volume and even the temperature. After that the lights dim the movie begins! Now if you get popcorn from here don't underestimate their butter! They use real butter people! And I found most people skipping the thing altogether but I went for it and ended up feeling pretty heavy afterwards but dam was the popcorn good! read more

Old vintage feeling single theatre cinema that shows indie films that you wouldn't be able to watch at major movie theatre companies. I am a fan that they show indie films which makes this place very special! I'm from San Jose and this was the closest theatre showing the film me and my friends wanted to see. So that's quite the drive for a movie! There's only one theatre here meaning only one film is showing at a time. Parking was very difficult, pretty sure I ended up parking at not the right location that was about a 7min walk away from the theatre itself. Located in downtown Menlo Park on a busy street, you can't miss the theatre. Now the cons of this place. Inside the theatre it is hot! I'm use to a theatre being cold that you'd have to bring a sweater even if its 90+ degrees outside. It was even hotter inside the theater than outside. So glad we came at 7pm when it was cooler outside. I can't imagine how it is in there during the afternoon, but I know to stay away at that time now. Also the film they are playing is played at a much quieter volume than any other movie theaters I have been to. Sure the film I saw with my friends was A Ghost Story, which is arguably already a really quiet film in itself. But the employees right outside had their tv going that we could hear the sports louder than the film itself. Another patron sitting in the back in front of us complained and the volume of the movie was increased and they shut off their tv. read more

Only at a Rocky Horror Picture Show can you bust out a friend for being a "virgin" and have a man dressed in fish nets, heels and a corset take red lipstick and draw a penis with testicles and a giant 'V' across your friend's face and forehead. I love how retro this theatre is. Yes, its a bit run down but it adds to its authenticity. Check it out on the first and third Saturday of every month for a campy good time. read more

Guild Theatre - Rocky Horror "Virgin" - Cinema Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Oh wow I finally found a theater that shows "Rocky Horror Picture Show." Shhhh! But I was a Virgin! I had a blast and loved this theater. It is a real treasure to the Peninsula. It makes me really happy when small theaters are still open. Not an expensive place to see a film. Love they they show films that are not in all theaters. I used to go to the Cameras in San Jose that showed indie films. Here they have the moving curtain before the flick. Beautiful wall art deco and stained color lamps. A for sure that I'll be going back here in the future. read more

Nice and cozy old theater! I went to this theater to see a movie called Wild. The movie is not available at most major places, but it can be seen here. I am a backpacker, so I needed to see it. This theater is small but easily found on El Camino near Menlo Park downtown. Before the movie started, the staff told customers to turn off/silent phones. Quite old fashioned but love it. After the movie, my friend and I kept talking at the seats about the movie, and staffs started cleaning. We asked him if we had to leave but he said okay. They were very friendly and kind. I like this cozy place. If I find an interesting movie again, definitely I'll come back. read more

Although it's a very old building, it's super clean!! The staff are very friendly and the theater was pretty empty when I got in. The interior design is vintage and antique. I felt like I was inside one of the romantic movie sets haha. It was an awesome experience and I'll definitely be back! read more

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Aw, snap! The Guild was closed awhile ago for renovations, but is back up and running in Menlo Park. I'm a huge fan of the Aquarius, their sister theatre and am happy to report that this location is just as great, if not better. Though it's only a one-screen theatre, it does fine on its own. No squeaky seats and a wonderfully crisp projector. Seriously the nicest DLP screen and sound in the Peninsula. Just checked out their website and it used to be a burlesque theater, which explains the decor and small stage in front. And I totally understand why they host Rocky Horror on the regular. They keep the snacks nice and simple: popcorn, sodas, a small variety of candy (M&M's, Red Vines) but nothing too crazy. Jr size popcorn and small soda will run you about $7-8, not too bad considering what other theaters charge. I like the small shaker of salt on the counter so you can add however much you want, vs. taking little packets into your pocket. Might I also add that both Aquarius and Guild have their staff walk to the front of house at the beginning of the movie and make a special "Thanks for coming, please turn off your phones" speech? Love it! Adds a personal touch that you don't always get at the movies. Support your local theater, go to the Guild! read more

Went here on a Saturday night to watch the midnight viewing of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" with one of my best girfriends. It was my first time to one of these and I had a blast. The ticket stand is located outside of the theater, so when you purchase your tickets to this movie, you have to wait outside until they let you in to the theater. I didn't mind, since there was a lot of good people watching to keep us entertained. I would recommend bringing a jacket. While waiting in line, we were welcomed by all the "Rocky Horror Cult fans". Everyone was dressed up as their favorite character from the movie. Most men were dressed in lingerie complete with fish net thigh high stockings, garter belt and see through bras and caked on trashy makeup! If you are a virgin (first-time to a midnight showing), they mark you with red lipstick on your face. They drew three V's on my face (forehead and on my cheek bones) so everyone else knew it was my first time. They let us in the theater at 11:50pm and I was excited to pop my "Rocky Horror Cherry". The Guild theater is your average old school theater with red velvet curtains, a stage, large silver screen and old school red velvet seats. It smelled like stale popcorn inside. We sat in the middle of the rows and everyone stood up and started dancing! They had a live DJ playing "YMCA" and "Call Me Maybe"....then a drag queen came out and started giving lap dances! Not kidding! It was hilarious! They had a live cast of actors mimicking the characters during the whole movie. They did a very good job ! I belive the cast was called "The Bawdy Cast". I really enjoyed my Saturday evening at the Guild theater. I think we are going to dress up next time and take a virgin with us! read more

Do movie theaters even believe in student discounts anymore?? For those on a budget and still carry around their former student IDs (like myself), the Guild is a student-friendly theater with just $8 a ticket! I came here with the bf to watch "Revolutionary Road" and there was plenty of seating available. Granted, there's only one movie screen and that space in itself is quite intimate (small), but I feel like I'm part of the crowd instead of being swallowed in a large auditorium. The red curtains drawing back as the film rolls and large, worn golden wings on either side of the screen gives the place a nostalgic and classic look. This theater was built in 1926 - a true landmark in the Bay Area. I appreciate supporting these old venues, especially when they focus primarily on the quality of films and work distributed to the public. This is a movie-going experience that's old school and done right. read more

I have never seen so many people buying a ticket for one. I'm a habitual solo moviegoer, but I rarely see like-minded people in the theaters. But that's not why I like this place. Neither was it because they play only one movie at a time, or within 5 minute walk from my apartment. I like it because it offers a unique movie-going experience. It's never crowded, and it has a personal feel to it. The kid at the box office would come into the theater and make a brief announcement, and the audience would applaud when he's done. Not a big deal, but it's reminiscent of a bygone era, a time when a show actually implies a certain interaction between the entertainer and the entertained. It also helps that because of limited capacity, they are careful when it comes to what to show - an important factor for singletons like me, who considers movies an important quality time with myself and a venue to fencing off the perpetual boredom. read more

Typical.. you live somewhere your whole life and never know the gem's that are right around the corner, which in my case was the Guild Theater. The theater only has one screen so there aren't many film choices but if you like smaller artistic movies this is an awesome place. Tickets were $10, a little bit less than most theaters, and the price of concessions was basically the same. The staff was kind and the seats were comfortable. The theater is old and slightly outdated in a sense but it was a great experience and I'll be back in the future. read more

This is NOT a fancy chain movie theater with stadium seating, high tech digital surround sound, at least 3 popcorn stands at your convenience, or huge giant wide screens. This is a very old outdated small theater with a small screen, crappy sounds and extremely corny decors. The bathroom layout was so poorly designed that it's so crowded and you can barely move around in that little tiny room. Yet, they still charge you regular expensive ticket price at $9.50 per head just like everyone else. So, why am i giving this place 5 stars? Just because the manager came out to thank us for coming to their theater. Just because they really need helps to get more business to survive. Just because they provide viewers like you and me the chances to watch arthouse/independent/foreign films without having to go to SF or Berkeley. Most importantly, just because even though you might not enjoy those artsy films, but they offer the opportunities/options for you to come watch and decide for yourself even if the films never hit nationwide. To me, that is priceless. Oh yeah, $2.50 for all you can drink refillable coffee and tea during a 3 hour long movie? Also priceless! read more

I'm not in absolute love with this theatre, but I don't think it is THAT cruddy, either. On the positive side: the seats are pretty comfortable, the snacks are OK, and the movie selection (which is to say the movie that they've selected to play there -- this is a one-screener) is usually good. I've seen some great movies here over the years (and a clunker or two, but that's on me; shoulda listened to my gut). On the negative... it feels old, and not in the ooh-this-is-fancy, classic Stanford Theatre experience. For some reason this doesn't bug me as much at the Aquarius; perhaps I've just always expected that to be "funky." And the parking... because this is smack dab on El Camino, you'll generally have to park a few blocks away. Not so much of a problem during matinees, but in the evenings it can get a little tricky. I generally try to avoid yelping the clients/customers of a place, but I'll say that I have had the worst experiences here with people carrying on conversations during the movie. Bleh. People, you paid to watch a movie! read more

I love this little theater. The posters out front often show what is playing at the Aquarius (in Palo Alto) which also is an old-timey sort of theater. The staff is friendly and they manage a decent refreshment stand. I like the fact that they have an excellent tea offering. The parking isn't a problem for me since I live within walking distance. After some of the films they do promotions with local businesses, such as taking your ticket stub to get a discount on a pizza. When I went and saw "Midnight in Paris" (the only film I've seen with lines for tickets here!) the stub got a free glass of wine at the nice bistro downtown. I only wish the ticket prices felt as old-fashioned as the façade! read more

This theatre is in shameful condition of disrepair. The reviewers that I see here must be out of their minds to give 5 or 4 stars to this piece of junk. I posted here a totally gross photo of their men's bathroom sink because other fixtures would turn your stomach. Its sister theatre was worse but has been recently totally overdone is now one of the best in the area. As long as Yelpers give this decrepit facility 4 or 5 stars what would be the motivation to fix it. The health department should intervene and red tag it! read more

Guild Theatre - The Guild in Menlo Park needs a complete remodel. The tickets are not any cheaper than other theaters but the facilities are shameful! - Cinema Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Easily the oldest and funkiest single theatre cinema in the Peninsula. Small, creaky old seats, and some funky art deco doodads on the walls. Great indie selection of films, mixed parking reviews -- parking can be easy or difficult depending on the time/day you go to the cinema. All in all, a great place to watch a new film. Wish they would consider doing rep movies, I'd think they would have a good crowd for this if it doesn't try to compete with The Stanford. ~Ms. Ali read more

After passing this Theather every day on my way home I finally decided to go and watch my first film on my own. This place is quite small so the intimate setting helped me feel comfortable on my own. I believe there is only one room to view the films they show but the room itself is not that small but not too big. Watched Lady Bird and enjoyed it very much. I plan on visiting more often (: read more

Guild Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Funkaaaay The seats are just barely sittable for 90 minutes, so only go here for short movies. The movie selection is really special, limited release art projects. Very art deco. There's this hilarious guy (manager?) who comes out and introduces the movie and tells you to turn off your cell. Parking is really tough. The theater says there's a guy who owns one of the businesses around the corner who loves to have people towed away. read more

1 star * because this place actually still shows movies. This theater was build in 1926...now what does that say? Lemme tell you, it tells it all. Old musty, antiquated, old @$$ single screen funky @$$ movie theater. Ticket booth & concession stand are one single combined small 5'x15' area. Three people working in this area bumpin booties the entire time they are working there. Snack bar only offers soft drinks, popcorn & a few select candies. Above the snack bar area are 3 film reels with a few disgusting black birds. Must of been placed there when Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' came out in the 60's. All dusty and gross looking. Bathroom is atrocious! Oh yeah, before the movie started one of the snack bar workers made his way to the stage area to make an announcement about no cell phone etc. How lame and lacking technology was that? Interesting how this old, musty, crusty, technology-less theater charges $9.75 for a movie in their disgusting old crusty, dusty, rusty, theater. Wow, I doubt I will go back there again. read more

We saw "There Will Be Blood" here and it was pretty danged awesome (both the film and the theater). This is not the Century Max 100 (or whatever it is nowawdays), this is a throw back to the era of independent, small theaters. If you don't mind sitting in a huge colosseum and having commercials played to you while you wait for the next Hollywood bomb to drop on your eyes then you will easily find fault with this place. That being said, this place is small and funky and has its share of ... foibles. If you can look past those quirks to see the beauty in them and then watch a film you will not be displeased with this place. read more

Old theater, so you're missing some of the modern amenities--stadium seating being one. But what you get in return is a neighborhood feel where they will start to know your face and are super friendly. That, plus the fact that this place is usually showing something that isn't playing elsewhere makes it something I want to stick around. We've been here multiple times now and it has been great. As Oscar season approaches, we are often hunting for the smaller movies that won't be at the megaplexes for a few weeks/months. This place delivers. read more

The best place to see a movie in the Menlo Park area. Their movie selection is great, although they tend to show their movies for quite some time, especially is it is a popular movie, I love their popcorn, and the medium size is huge and reasonably priced. They also have free refills for large soda, popcorn and tea. I love the fact that one of their employees comes out in the theatre before every movie and wishes everyone a great time, makes you feel special. read more

I like that they play non-Hollywood movies and of course Rocky Horror Picture Show! However, I wished they would ventilate this place! It smells like they exhaust the popcorn maker into the theater. read more

ATMOSPHERE: Super quaint, charming theatre! One screen theatre. Red curtains open the stage up. I'd say this is a great date place. read more

It is a movie theatre. No duh eh? I am only emphasizing that there is nothing special about it, except that it is quieter then some others. The whole reason I came here was to escape from the San Mateo kiddie social theatre, to find that it is the absolute antithesis....Old coughing people On the Breezy scale, old people theatre weighs in better. It is small and sticky. There is much within walking distance outside of it though, making it a good place for a night out. read more

This theatre super vintage and tiny which makes it feel so much more personal than multiplexes. I had fun and would definitely come back. Here are a few things I enjoyed/appreciate about this theatre: - They have a person going up to the front to announce when the movie is about to start and s/he usually reminds everyone about the actors that are starring in it, general theatre etiquette, etc. All of this adds to the personal feel I was referring to. - I didn't try the popcorn but God does it smell heavenly in here!? - They only do one movie a week (typically) with four shows a day and new movies start every Friday. This pretty much means that you can come back every weekend to a new movie. Not bad at all. - I'm not senior, but if you are, there's a nice 20% discount on the ticket. The face value otherwise is currently $10 which isn't too bad either. - Easily accessible by Caltrain. - Great selection of movies ranging from the indie ones you've probably not heard of too much to movies from across the pond based out of UK and Ireland. I'll definitely be returning soon. read more

*Sigh*... I think I'm in love. And why, you ask, would I give my new object of affection a measly four stars? I think the Guild Theater is one of those places that is perfect for me because of its imperfections. Still don't know what I'm talking about? Well then, read on... or watch Good Will Hunting. The Guild reminds me so much of the theaters in Santa Cruz I miss so much... the Del Mar, the Nick... kitschy little theaters with the original art deco light fixtures and velvet curtain framing the modest screen. I love that they show mostly independent/foreign movies and that their seats aren't those irritating captain's chairs, so you don't feel like you are about to boldly go where no man has gone before. Please... I came here to watch a movie, thanks. That being said, the seats are quite comfy... a rarity in these older buildings! They also serve all-you-can-drink coffee and Mighty Leaf Tea! Holy Moly! If you haven't had Mightly Leaf tea, be advised that it is definitely worth missing a minute of a film to get a refill on maybe a few minutes before the climax of the movie. I also love that one of the theater attendants comes out before the film to say that they appreciate our business and to shut up, silence our phones... and enjoy the film! I haven't tried out the Aquarius yet, but I look forward to making these old gems my new favorite spots in the Peninsula! read more

Quaint theater that shows independent or "art-house' films. Basically, no blockbusters here, just good stories and popcorn with real butter (at least it tastes that way). Very unassuming spot with friendly service. Come early and find a nice seat to sink into. read more

We watched the mid-night showing of the Rockie Horror Picture Show. Cute little theatre, don't know much about it otherwise. Limited street parking read more

Came to see Death of Stalin here. Beautiful theatre, very historic just a few blocks from the heart of downtown Menlo Park. Parking is easy (may need to walk a few blocks). Inexpensive tickets compared to mainstream theatres. Comfy seats. I noticed a few people complaining about the theatre being on the warmer side, which I actually loved!! I usually have to bundle up to sit through a movie at any other theatre. They also served really good popcorn with plenty of butter upon request :) There's only 2 stalls in the women's bathroom so plan accordingly. read more

We finally came back after many years of not being able to go to this lovely old theater with amazing old Art Deco art and lamps etc. and the beautiful outside neon sign, and we had a wonderful time again! After a very nice & helpful guy at the service desk set us up with everything & additional information about the theater, and yummy treats, we watched a great movie ("Beast") and had a lovely evening! Thank you again so much! I hope this theater will never close!! read more

Guild Theatre is a relatively old theater from its appearance and age. We first came to this theater due to some of the more esoteric selection of movies that are not necessarily the blockbuster style being played at AMC. That movie was "Beast" in case you were wondering, and I do highly recommend it for a suspense, thriller, and internal psych combination film. Although Guild Theatre is old, the inside of the theater is very clean. Sure, you can see some dilapidation happening such as the broken ceiling light and older walls and floors. The inside decor actually almost makes this theater feel a bit haunted even. However, the seats and overall comfort of the theater is no less than that of AMC. The only thing is this theater is relatively far from Saratoga, and the drive is about 30 minutes one way. Depending on the film, given Moviepass's flexibility, I may visit again. Enjoy! read more

Employees were very friendly but the theatre was very hot and uncomfortable. I was close to walking out of he movie. At no time during the movie did i feel The AC turn on. Don't know if i will be back to this theatre during the summer. read more

Based on the reviews here, it appears we're in the minority -- but this theater is pretty awful. Yes, it has "personality" (i.e., the seats haven't been replaced or reupholstered since the 1940's). Yes, it has a friendly staff who tell you their first names. Yes, they feel all homey and neighborhoody when they explain before the show that the audio system has issues, that lately the projector has been adding a lot of noise to the picture, and that the heating system has issues as well. The problem is we don't care about any of that. We came to see a movie, not become friends with the people selling us overpriced candy. I might be able to understand the small screen, bad audio, ratty seats with stains, and very prevalent musky odor if they really committed to the old-timey theater vibe; but they charge $10 for tickets like all the up-to-date theaters, have overpriced candy/drinks just the same, and showed 4 commercials and 9 previews before the show started. (We started keeping count because there was such a ridiculous number of them.) Sorry, Guild fans, but this place just doesn't hold up to your high ratings. read more

Great movie selection, helpful and courteous staff, comfortable seats and the best popcorn on the Peninsula. A wonderful cinema experience with vintage service and modern amenities. read more