Fancy and cute looking place. They are friendly and helpful. The redrum sangria was pretty and strong. The theater was small and nice. Ticket was $9. They also validate read more

Violet Crown Austin - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

I often attend movies at the Violet Crown that I have never heard of and no one I know has seen. Their curation is so spectacular , the film is almost always excellent, entertaining and thought provoking . The intimidate theatre, great food and bar selections make it a terrific choice. You usually must buy your tickets at home on their website as the theatre is so small, it will likely be sold out. read more

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Wow, why have I never been here before? Awesome craft cocktails, particularly the Corpse Bride with genever and plethora of other liqueurs and herbs. Others have commented that the drinks are expensive, but I think they are on par with craft cocktails at other high end bars in downtown ($9-$12). They also offer super sized cocktails to last through the movie LOL. For food, we ordered watermelon salad, Brussel sprouts, and a Mediterranean plate. The sprouts are worth a trip here alone. Crunchy, bitter, sweet, salty, nutty. Mmmmmm. Definitely get the bacon if you eat meat. Watermelon salad is perfect for a hot Austin summer evening, bright flavors, slightly sweet and a tad salty from the cheese. Mediterranean plate was a solid dish of baba ganoush, hummous, falafel and veggies. Great, intimate film experience. Highly recommended. read more

Violet Crown Austin - Bar - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

Oh man this place is great! I didn't even know we had a luxury cinema in Downtown until someone told me about it. It's so hidden you would never even know it's there, and to me that's part of the appeal. They validate parking which is obviously a must in Downtown. Special shoutout to Cole at the bar for being awesome! read more

I'm almost embarrassed to admit this was my first visit to Violet Crown. But I'll gladly tell you that it won't be my last. We attended the showing of the 2020 Oscar-nominated Animated Shorts last night and had a great time. The theatre has a full bar as well as an assortment of eats and soft beverages. There isn't table service, so go early enough to grab your goodies and bring them to your seats. We grabbed a bite next door at Numero 28 so did not get to sample the food at VC but the bar drinks were tasty. There are, I think, 4 separate theatres/screens and each viewing room is comfortable and cozy with cush seating - our theatre sat about 30 people. Reserved seating is readily available through the VC website. The thing I liked best about VC was the staff. Everyone was professional, friendly, and sweet. They are happy to be working there and it shows. One of our party had to cancel last minute and VC did not hesitate to give me a rain check for that ticket. Nice touch. VC just has a good vibe and a great location on 2nd street. And in addition to the big commercial hits, they also show good movies that you might not find elsewhere. Go check them out! read more

As a diehard Alamo fan, I've always had a special place in my heart for Violet Crown. It feels like a luxury at-home cinema instead of a movie theater. It's a completely different experience and shouldn't be compared to other theaters in town. We arrived about an hour before our movie, so we could enjoy food and drinks at the bar. The food was phenomenal. I had the Chicago dog, which included an all-beef sausage with pickles, tomatoes and peppers. I rarely crave hotdogs, but this one will be a go-to when I'm coming down with the desire. I upgraded my fries to a truffle, parm order and they were delightful. The truffle was aromatic and they weren't too heavy handed on the Parmesan. The upcharge is totally worth it. As for the theater itself, there are no bad seats. The stadium-style seating is staggered in the perfect way that allows the shortest people a full view of the screen. Since the rows are short, you're pretty much in the middle wherever you sit - which is where I wanna be! Pro-tip: try the front row for a great view and a footrest! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Chicago dog - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My favorite Austin theater! Yes, even more than the Drafhouse. Small theaters, great movies, good food, great beer and cocktail options. It's basically heaven for a cinephile like me! And - since this is often a problem in downtown - they validate parking for three hours if you park in the AMLI's parking lot! read more

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This is not your traditional movie theater - meaning it's not like a traditional big name theater. Violet Crown is smaller and has a bit of an upscale flair to it. They offer parking validation for up to 4 hours in the garage, which has easy access to the theater. You'll likely want to arrive early or stay late as there's a comfortable lounge and bar area in the lobby. You'll wait here until seating begins for your movie - an easy way to grab a drink or snack before it starts. I don't think there is a bad seat in the theater - they are small, but the seat space is ample and comfortable. They offer a handful of movies at any given time, so always check the schedule before you plan to go in case there is something you really want to see - and then, be sure to book your seats online so you don't miss out. read more

Why is everyone so lame? Reading some of these one star reviews gave me a headache. THIS ISNT ALAMO. Just because it's a cinema that you can order food at doesn't make it fucking Alamo. If you can't handle a "smallish" portion of pricey food and a $10 ticket, don't come. Youre on 2nd street in downtown Austin to watch an awesome movie AND they give you free parking. Who else does that downtown? ....Uncomfortable seats? Rude service? I've never had an issue and I've been here a dozen times. Idiots read more

I didn't have the best experience at Violet Crown. Unfortunately my movie experience was tainted as we could hear the sounds from the movie theatre next to us. (Probably didn't help that the film I was watching was a serious drama with very serious scenes)- but you would have thought the movie next to us was another Die Hard movie from what we could hear in our theatre. The plus side is that there is 4 hour parking validation Also bring a jacket! It was very cold read more

I've read all the reviews and scratched my head at some of the comments. First this is a small, 4 screen artsy theater. You aren't likely to find, big blockbuster films here. They specialize in artsy, independent and documentaries. They sell out often, so buying your reserved tickets online, is strongly encouraged! Upon entering you'll see the bar directly ahead, and to the left of the bar, you'll find the snack counter, where you often purchase your tickets, and get your parking stub validated. Across from the snack counter, you'll see a free standing counter and cash register, where you can purchase tickets and get your parking validated, if open. The lobby isn't that large on the left, but if you look to the right of the bar there's a lot more seating. I've always found, everyone in a good mood and helpful. All the employees, are more than anxious to help. You do have to ask, though... I've been attending for years, and love going! Since I've had back surgery, I do sit on the front row in their large chairs with ottomans. If you plan on eating a meal, you should eat in the bar. It would be difficult to juggle multiple items. Give them a try, I'm sure if you've read my review, it's an accurate description of what you'll find. Enjoy! read more

I went in on a Saturday noon and the movie theater was almost empty which was great for me and my friend. We both enjoyed great drinks from their bar and took them with us to watch our movie. This theater is clean and has a nice Interior design to it. You can also get your parking validated for 4 hours so you don't pay for parking. I will be back for sure to keep watching other movies! read more

This place is a complete disgrace. My girlfriend and I had a customer service issue at the theatre in August, 2018. In addition, the place is a complete cluster. When you walk in, it's utter chaos. You'd think you were walking into a Pentagon building and not a customer-friendly movie theatre - it's so confusing. As we believe in second chances we decided to give it another shot. Due to a malfunctioning website, we called the theatre to reserve tickets for a 2:15 showing on 12/26/18. The associate we spoke with on the phone informed us that our tickets would be waiting for us at the door upon arrival. Upon arrival at the theatre on 12/26, the theatre made an error and reserved the tickets for the following day, 12/27. As the show was sold out, we weren't able to attend the showing. While mistakes certainly happen, selling movie tickets is their core business, so screw ups are unacceptable. Furthermore, the arrogance and condescending tone in which we were spoken to by the venue's General Manager was rude and inappropriate. When I told him his mistake was unacceptable, he escorted us out of the venue like we were criminals. Hell will freeze over before I step foot in this place again - and if hell ever does freeze over and I choose to do so, there is no guarantee our tickets will actually be reserved. read more

Perfect projection. Perfect sound. Perfect seating. If that was all that Violet Crown did, period, they would have succeeded in changing the way films are shown in Austin. But add in intriguing film programming, reserved seating, amazingly comfy chairs, a full bar with tasty food and a snack bar and you've really got a theater. Free 4-hour validated parking was conveniently located underneath, with specific directions on the website (enter on San Antonio, between 2nd and 3rd) for no hassle if you can read. I arrived about 40 minutes before showtime because I wanted to check the place out. The screening room hallway is a weirdly soothing futuristic high-tech looking space, in soft white and chrome, interesting but not too jarring. I kept thinking of set of 2001 or Solaris. Nice. The bar is a bit more contemporary with wood stools, tables in two areas and interesting lighting accenting the stained concrete finishes. It is spacious and comfy, and features a nice local draught beer selection. I had some shrimp spring rolls and a beer, then brought a cheese plate in with me to the theater. The spring rolls were large and a bit awkward to handle (you get three) but they were tasty as was the peanut sauce provided. The cheese plate could have used either toasted bread rounds or crackers. The bread provided was OK, just not crispy enough. The theaters are small, very steeply raked and feature high-backed chairs with great support and an extra deep seat pitch. 6 footers will have plenty of leg and knee room. All seats are good, from a sightline and sound perspective. (This is no Dobie) The front row features an upward tilted floor with big recliners for better viewing and includes wheelchair space and companion seating, a nice touch. All seats are reserved, so if you are going with friends, buy your tickets at the same time. Each seat has a pop up tray table on the side for your food or drink. The theater could be a bit darker (aisle lights are distracting if you are on the aisle), but the projected image is amazingly sharp and bright, and Klipsch speakers all over make for an immersive theater experience. Also, I do love ordering from my seat as is the practice at Alamo, but that is not the case here. Snacking or dining while viewing here takes a bit more advance planning and consideration of plate size versus tray table size at the seat. I'd suggest eating in the bar, then bringing a light/small snack and a drink inside. (Side Note: I saw "In A Better World," HIGHLY recommended) Best $11 movie ticket I've bought in a long time. read more

Violet Crown Austin - 5 taps from Real Ale, 3 from Live Oak, and one each from Circle Brewing and Jester King. Not bad! - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

I admittedly have never had the "art house cinema" experience, but with that said I do embrace new things, people and places. So despite never hitting up the Dobie before it closed I was intrigued when I heard Violet Crown Cinema was opening on 2nd Street. The first big plus is the free parking. If catching a movie at VCC, park in the AMLI on San Antonio between 2nd & 3rd street right by How Do you Roll?, bring in your parking ticket and VCC with validate it so you don't have to pay (good for up to 4 hours). The second plus is they have a reasonably priced menu with lots of beer, wine and mixed drink options. The food menu is somewhat small and the only item over $10 is the Antonelli's cheese plate. I loved the cheese plate which had bread, honey, pistachios, and a generous portion of 3 types of cheeses. The mister had a pizza which was OK and on the small side. The movies do not have previews. It was nice to go watch a movie without the corporates forcing you to watch 15 minutes of trailers. The Australian made seats are comfy and they have the old school table trays that pull out from the side. The one down fall is it is hard to find room for a plate of food and a drink. Speaking of food and drinks, you order outside the cinema in the lounge/bar area and carry it in yourself (although staff offered to help us carry it in). Bad seat? One does not exist at VCC. Sitting in the front row will not put a crook in your neck but instead you get the lazy boy of the cinema chairs. I adore this place and will be back. read more

Violet Crown Austin - Antonelli's cheese plate - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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So this was just a Sunday of disappointment... First time coming to Violet Crown and gotta say...again, I just don't get it...maybe I just have different standards, but why is this place rated as highly as it is? When we got there I thought it was going to be an Alamo DHouse sitch, but to my surprise, you order your food at the bar and get a pager to notify you when it's ready? Again, might just be me, but if you are going to serve food at a movie theater, either limit that food consumption to your lounge area (the outdoor lounge balcony overlooking 2nd St is actually quite nice w/a gorgeous view) or have servers a la Alamo, but this "pick up your food at the bar and carry it in yourself" business is just awkward, inconvenient, and just downright perplexing! Seriously, carrying in a tray like 5mins before the start of a movie and trying to reach for my pre-purchased movie tix (which u pick up at a different counter) for the guy guarding the theater door, is just a pain in the ass. And the classroom style pullout quasi-tables are super intrusive since you pull them from the armrest of the person to your right, so if you have a beer and a banh-mi sandwich like I did, it is a feat fit for a Cirque du Soleil contortionist to try and get the table up and your stuff on it w/o spilling and/or dropping it! The other annoying part of the "self-serve" set up here is the absolutely annoyance and frustration of the buzzers of latecomers who are getting up to fetch their food orders and coming back, not only obstructing the screen each time they do so, but also either bumping the back of your seat or almost toppling your flimsy semi-table in the process! Adding insult to injury is the bussing of your plates/glass after the screening! Why there is even a tip section on the receipt at the bar is a complete mystery to me since you, rather than the staff here, are working hard for the money! Seriously, after losing half of my bahn-mi sandwich to the floor due to the non-stop onslaught of table and seat bumps, sitting w/the uncomfortable college style table out for the entire movie of 12yrs a Slave was an annoyance along w/being able to hear the garbled vibrations of the theater next to us while trying to not burst into sobs over the emotional turmoil onscreen and off; the whole experience at Violet Crown left me feeling much like Mr. Solomon Northup: wondering what I did to deserve such punishment and why me? Sadly, I do not see myself returning here. For the pricepoint I will endure the subpar food of Alamo than the "Do it Yourself" set up here. read more

This was fun place!! I definitely would have given more stars but our cheese plate was a little sad for the price, the movie theater did not have tables to place your food you got at the lounge or bistro, and the chairs didn't recline (which for 36 week pregnant me, sucked). However the staff was super friendly, the view is very fun and the crowd was respectful during the movie. I loved being able to walk out after the movie and pop into Toy Joy and Lambert's. I DEFINITELY loved that they showed the Peanut Butter Falcon...thank you for that!!! SUCH a cute movie! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Little skimpy for a high price. - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I walk by Violet Crown Cinema almost every day and have recently noticed a sandwich board outside, notating lunch specials starting at $7. Lunch at a movie theatre? That sounds like dinner at a bowling alley. Intrigued, I finally made it in today and was pleasantly surprised by the quiet, almost library-like ambiance. The theatre is to the left as you walk in, with the kiosk where you pay for your seats. To the right is the bar for ordering lunch and further right, two seating areas with various tables, benches, and stools, well-decorated and nicely lit from the windows facing 2nd street. They were not kidding about the lunch specials starting at $7. In fact, I was not feeling too hungry, so I just got a side salad ($4) but next time I will round it out with a cup of potato soup ($3) or, get a sandwich or calzone ($9) that comes with your choice of soup, salad, or fries. These are very reasonable prices considering the ambiance, quality of the food, and the location. We are in the 2nd street district after all where most places are pricey, and chaotic, with varying levels of food quality. The lunch specials run from 11-3PM, just on the weekdays I think but I am not sure. I wish they would post this information on their website. I had not gone in yet, since I had not found any accomplices fearless enough to go with me and I happened to be feeling fearless enough today. And to think I almost went to Leaf. So The Avocado Lightening was delicious (see photo) and was definitely well-portioned and priced. Basically three handfuls of field greens, half an avocado, diced tomatoes, crushed tortilla chips, some onions, and some jalapenos (just enough for kick, not overwhelming and no seeds). The salad was very lightly dressed and served with more peppercorn ranch on the side. I appreciate that they didn't fully dress it, as it was not necessary with so much avocado, but it was as if the chef was saying, "I understand if you don't want to put a whole 2 ounces of dressing on your salad, but you need at least this much to get the impression I want you to get of the salad." And it was. My first bite was actually really nostalgic and it took me a minute identify it: my grandmother's taco salad. She makes hers with ground beef, iceberg lettuce, olives, Doritos, and Green Goddess dressing. The VC version is obviously a little more high-brow but plays on the powerful trifecta of greens, chips, and dressing just as grandma's version does. It is a shame that there was no need for more of the ranch since it was drinkably-delicious. Next time (ahem, tomorrow, anyone?), I definitely want to try the potato soup that boasts parmesan, prosciutto, cream, and chives, and possibly the PLT sandwich(prosciutto, lettuce, tomatoes). The menu is small and slightly repetitive (potato, avocado, prosciutto, pepperoni, and smoked pork show up in almost all of the menu categories, in slightly different forms) but, if they are combining them and re-combining them in tasty ways at reasonable prices, who cares? And maybe someday, I will actually see a movie here. read more

Violet Crown Austin - Avocado Lightening - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Violet Crown is a cross between Arclight in Los Angeles and Alamo Drafthouse. I really like this place and I can't help compare it to the Alamo Drafthouse. They each have their pros and cons. The reserved seating at Violet Crown is a major plus. For popular movies, you don't have to show up an hour before the movie if you want a good seat. I wish Alamo would switch to reserved seating. The food at Violet Crown is very good. I had the Chicago dog and it was delicious and large for $5. I also had Iced Tea ($4) and popcorn ($6). My boyfriend had a ginger caipirinha ($8) that was strong and tasty. They only have one size for popcorn and it comes with free refills. I wish they would offer a cheaper small because I don't leave the movie theater unless I really have to use the restroom. Same for the soda. Although I enjoy getting served while watching a movie, it can be a distraction, especially when a server asks if he can get you anything else. At the Violet Crown, you buy your food and drinks and just bring them in with you. No servers to take away from your viewing experience. I live in central Austin and I'm glad I don't have to drive all the way up north to see an independent film. The food and drinks are great, there is free parking, and the seats are very comfortable. However, they should be more strict about the no talking policy during the movie. The person sitting next to my boyfriend chatted throughout the entire movie. I look forward to seeing another movie here. read more

Violet Crown Austin - Many beers on tap - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Disgusted with Violet Crown Cinema. Sicario was an incredible and disturbing movie - it is rated R for good reason. The only thing more unsettling than the movie itself was having to sit next to a four or five year old child throughout the violence and bloodshed of the 8:45pm showing. (Yes, his parents brought him and that's a whole issue in itself.) Why do you not have a policy of not letting young children into rated R movies? @drafthouse does. And then the manager, Tim, says it "isn't your (@violetcrowncinemas) problem" while the bartender adds that "Violet Crown's policy is also to serve alcohol to young kids when the parents want them to, even if we think it's weird." Awesome. (That's sarcastic. NOT cool.) Which was weird and an unnecessary addition to the situation. Truly, WTF. You've lost long-time, loyal customers. Gross. read more

Want to know what a baby of an Indie film festival and the Lakeline Alamo Drafthouse looks like? Visit the Violet Crown! I love the amazing cozy lounge and bar area. Also, a great view from the 2nd terrace with some cozy seats outside. Great service, and the food all looked good, I only had the chips as a snack which were great. You could just come here to enjoy a drink and bite to eat with a friend. If you don't finish you can bring the food in with you. The seats have slide out tables and cup holders. In a hurry and don't have time to order something in the lounge, that's fine, because there was a great selection of upscale movie snacks to purchase at a separate counter and bring in with you as they don't serve food inside like Alamo. Be sure to wait for your movie to be called on the loudspeaker, that means they have opened the theatre and you can go get your pre-assigned seat. They usually seat about 5 minutes before the show time. I would recommend reserving the tickets on-line as the theatres are small, and filled up fast. The print out is your movie ticket. Also, if you park in their parking garage or use their free valet service bring in the stub to get it validated. The theatre itself was comfortable, the seats were great, I didn't have issues with leg room, and the sound and video quality were fine. I would definitely come back to see an Indie movie in style. read more

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The front row seats are definitely the way to go!!! Unless you are seeing a 3D movie don't sit in the front row, according to the theater staff I spoke with. Just went here for the first time (5/26) to see the new Will Ferrell movie "Everything Must Go" (which I recommend seeing and it's only currently showing at this theater in Austin). I won't go over anything that has already been covered in previous reviews but I am an Alamo Drafthouse snob and was very impressed with this theater. It's super clean and a really nice modern layout in the lobby with the concession stand, bar, with a little restaurant/lounge area. Parking is free (up to 4 hours) at the garage which you enter on San Antonio (corner of 2nd). Be sure to bring your card with you to get the validation stamp and get it when you get your tickets printed or else you will forget once you are already in the garage after the movie -just as my friend did and had to walk back. They have a really cool selection of fountain sodas which are $4 with free refills. I also really love that the fountain machine is right in the lobby so you can help yourself throughout the movie and don't have to wait in line like you do at every other American theater concession stand. Another cool thing about the fountain sodas is the selection. They have your standard Coke, diet Coke, Sprite, but they also have "Dublin Dr. Pepper" with pure cane sugar! I've never had this stuff before but there must be crack in it because I kept going back for 2 additional refills. That real cane sugar is addictive! They also have a few different Maine root beer selections (Black cherry and their Pink Drink) -I took a photo of the fountain machine and posted it here because I was so impressed with it and their placement of it right in the theater hallway. Popcorn was good. To me, it's a little pricey at $6 and the size of the bag it comes in would be considered a small at any theater chain concession stand. You do get unlimited refills of popcorn which is nice and I took advantage of that as well but it would be cool if it was served in a metal bowl (like they do at the drafthouse) or at lease in a bigger bag. After reading other reviews about the front row seats being so comfortable we went on-line and selected seats in the 1st row, One big plus about this theater that they get major points for is they don't have any service/convenience fee (per ticket) on their website. For 3D performances according to the site they do charge a $1 service fee but I probably would never see something in 3D here. Every other theater I know including the Drafthouse charges at least a buck per ticket for buying tickets on their website. We went before 6 since it's only $9 compared to $11 after 6pm. Front row is awesome. They are reclined leather seats with a separate leather ottoman to kick up your feet. I didn't feel too close to the screen or felt I strained my neck. The theaters are small but they are all reserved seating so you don't need to get there early and line up. I would say the screen is much smaller than the traditional movie theater screen but they have made the best out of the available space. ON A RANDOM PEOPLE WATCHING NOTE: I saw actor and Austin resident, Turk Pipkin in the lobby. I best remember him from a couple episodes of The Sopranos. He played the Evangelical songwriting and narcoleptic boyfriend of Janice Soprano -you know, the one who kept falling asleep at the dinner table! Will definitely return and highly recommend to anyone that wants to go to a movie in downtown Austin! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Awesome assortment of fountain sodas! (and free refills!) - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

I don't think I am hipster enough for this place. I don't get why people like it. The concept of eating while watching a movie is pretty much the norm in this city after Alamo. And instead of going to a good, fairly priced place, people go here. The theater is so small you feel like you are in a closet. There is no in-theater wait staff, so you have to go get your concessions yourself. And there isn't really anything special about the place, unless you think being overpriced is something to be excited about. They do have movies that not a lot of other places are showing, but I guess I am not artsy enough for that either. The free parking is nice, but other than that, it's just your average theater. read more

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Excellent food and drinks; though, the popcorn may be the worst tasting popcorn I have had in my life from any cinema. Fair seating except the front row which is superior. Difficult to eat in the theater as you have to bring your plate in the theater thru very tight isles. I go for the unique excellent movies. I wish Austin's theater was remotely close to their theater in Santa Fe NM. If the seating is not corrected soon, I see the competition putting Violet Crown out of business. No calendar online. e.g. ical No app to show the movie ticket. Improvements are needed in all avenues. Disappointing for a cinema downtown. read more

Great place to come and pee really nice people :) very comfortable, good vibe. vegan ice cream also !

Very clean,intimate setting with friendly service in a nice environment.Recommend for date nights. Only negative is that the seats do not recline. read more

The food is not very good. I recommend going to dinner first and then seeing a movie here. Drinks are good, screen size is fine, but the seating is a bit awkward. The location is convenient and it's nice to have an alternative to the Alamo Drafthouse. Also, they validate parking - so don't forget your ticket in the car. read more

Violet Crown Austin - VC Lounge - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We went to see a movie here after comparing times at Alamo Drafthouse and deciding this would be more convenient. It was a great decision! We arrived early enough to get a drink and sit on the patio outdoors (after a string of storms, the evening was perfect). The Violet Beauregarde was a delicious choice and perfect to enjoy right before seeing a movie. The patio itself was great too - there weren't too many chairs, so I could understand how it might get crowded, but we must have just picked the perfect night. The staff were all amazing! The bartender, though very very busy, was never abrupt or rude to anyone I saw. He was working to make multiple drinks and take orders/credit cards nonstop, and waiting in line for a minute or two was almost fun, as I could watch different drinks being made. The other staff, from the snack stand crew to the ticket takers, were all cheerful and ready to explain anything confusing to people inside (you pick up preordered tickets from the snack stand...odd). The theater itself was fantastic. The building is a little hard to find at first, as it's tucked away and on the second story, and I got the same feeling from the screening rooms. They're small (another review described them as 'intimate,' which I agree with) and the people checking tickets tell you exactly where to sit and will be able to recognize you if you reenter. The chairs were comfortable and spacious, although the tray setup seemed odd (we didn't get any food and so didn't use them). It was definitely a new experience seeing a movie here! I'm used to giant theaters (and whining children), so this was a fantastic way to enjoy a great movie. It's almost five stars, but I did see a couple women in heels almost fall into the cracks between rows of seats, and it could be hard to navigate the theater (or the stairs up to it, although there is an elevator) if you aren't young or sober. I'm looking forward to going back! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Enjoying the beautiful evening before our movie! - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

Is this real life? This may have been the best movie experience ever. Who'd have thought I'd have so much fun for a Thursday afternoon Wes Anderson featured matinee? Stellar service compliments of Oden. He was running his butt off between the bar area and the snack bar and managed it like a champ. It was a slow time of day, but it was still busy for one person to manage, but he did it with a smile and awesome suggestion in his back pocket. The food, though. That's the amazing part. The boyfriend claims it was the best Chicago Dog he's ever had in his life. I had a bite. It near changed mine. I had the veggie pizza. Also amazing, but I wish I could have enjoyed a whole Chicago Dog for myself. I was impressed because their ticket prices mirror those of the regular cinemas and the drink/food menu is fair. Its no different than getting dinner a drinks before the movie, though you're all in the same place. The decor is also adorable. I noted the clever purple under mount lighting in the bar to tie in the Violet part. Everything's in the details! Though Alamo DH is closer to us, we will happily take the longer walk to Violet Crown every time to see a movie. read more

The BEST movie theater I have ever been to! There is a balcony overlooking the city square below, free parking, a spacious area to eat and relax, craft cocktails, very good food, excellent (!!) staff, and the chairs are huge and they recline! Plan your trip in advance as tickets sell out and the theaters are small! There is also assigned seating - at least for the theater I was it! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Why yes, I would love a cocktail! - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great central location (2nd and Guadalupe) for an indie theater with small, cozy screening rooms, comfy chairs (with fold-out tables), and food and booze options. We tried the Mediterranean plate, which at $10 is a little steep (although concessions is how these places make a buck, in fairness) but really quite good. Unlike the Alamo, there's no wait staff (that's not a bad thing, though). Very few trailers, no-hassle lines, very clean, new, and nice, all for about $2 more than you'd pay at a conventional Regal 8. If an intimate movie experience with optional dinner and drinks is what you're looking for, there's not much more that you could ask from them. read more

I really hate to give this place a negative review because the "pros" about the theater really make it sound like a great place: -movie starts on time without previews -reasonably priced theater considering no previews ($13 a ticket) -smaller, intimate theaters -comfortable seats with tray table for meals -bar with reasonably priced drinks (less than $10 for a mixed drink) -varied food menu with traditional move snacks and made to order food items Unfortunately, the set up causes way too many headaches mainly due to the food menu. Unlike iPic or Alamo Drafthouse, you order your food before entering the theater and you pick up the food outside of the theater. We learned the first time we saw a movie here that it takes a good 20+ minutes for food to be prepared. This time, we arrived at 7:10 pm for a 7:30 pm movie and finished ordering at 7:12 pm. The 2 out of 3 items were ready just after 7:30 pm and sat under a heat lamp until 7:42 when the last item was ready. I walked in to the theater for the first time almost 15 minutes after the movie started. And to top it off, since my pizza had been sitting under the heat lamp 10+ minutes, it was only marginally warm by the time I ate it. After I sat down, 5 other parties got up during next 25 minutes of the movie to get their meals. This would not be a huge deal but the buzzers to alert you that food is ready is incredibly loud and distracting. Additionally, if those individuals aren't sitting on the end, everyone in the row has to move their legs so people can get their food (and again when they return). And since there isn't a good place to put the trays when you are done eating, some people get up to remove their trays causing even more of a distraction. The first 45 minutes of any movie is basically musical chairs. The kitchen should not take 30 minutes to prepare meals for a movie. After the first time I visited this theater, I learned to show up early and even 20 minutes early was not enough. I get that the kitchen is a made from scratch kitchen (at least I hope it is) but they need to hire more cooks, prep food ahead of time and learn to multi-task. Or maybe just scratch the kitchen all together and focus on popcorn and other movie snacks. read more

I really like the cinema scene in Austin. I've been to Violet Crown a few times now and it's unique from other theaters like Alamo Drafthouse or iPic. They have a cool cafe with seating area and a full bar where you can order adult beverages. My only issue is they don't have service in the theater but you can bring food and drinks from their cafe into the theater. Part of their uniqueness is that they show a lot of indie films with limited release. They also validate parking up to four hours in the garage behind the theater. It's definitely worth checking out if you haven't been. read more

Thanks Andy for being a great help. You're a gentleman. A quaint theater complex with unique films. Cool environment, intimate. Great seating. All reserved. Buy early! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Thanks Andy for the pic! You're a good man. - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas

I recommend not going to Violet Crown Austin. After enjoying a movie, my date and I approached the counter to get our parking tickets validated. The employee behind the counter immediately dismissed us with "I'm not a bartender," instead of something more customer servicey and professional like, "how may I help you/what can I do for you?" Umm.......lol OK. My date then nicely asked him where we can get our parking tickets validated. To which he pretty much sighed, "I can get that for you" and grabbed my date's ticket with a poorly subdued eye roll while I was looking in my purse for mine. When he came back, I politely asked him if he could validate mine also. To which he AGAIN rolled his eyes, took my ticket and GROANED, came back and gave it to me with another extremely bothered look, as if I asked him to wipe my butt for me. Whatever. Not gonna let a rude employee ruin my night. Fast-forward to me inserting my "validated" ticket in the booth, and it asks me to pay $13. Confused, I texted my date if he had to pay for his parking. He replied, "mine worked. Just slipped it in the machine and pulled forward." So, Violet Crown, it looks like greasy haired pony-tail guy lied when he "validated" my parking ticket and conned me $13. Now, I can take a page from another Austinite's book and sue for the $13 as well as the ultimately bad experience. But I'm just gonna vent in social media. And here's a great business idea: Maybe you should have your employees Google the definition of "customer service". Or maybe don't advertise free validated parking on your website if your employees are going to have a bad attitude about honoring it. Because what just happened IS false advertising. Thanks for a lovely night. read more

I saw my first movie there this weekend. The food was quite good. We shared a bratwurst and some pork tapas.The seating is comfortable and I thought the surround sound was excellent. I wasn't crazy about the movie we saw "Beasts of the Southern Wild", however I've seen worse. With movie, dinner, drinks and a snack it came to over $50, but was a nice afternoon experience. read more

Violet Crown Cinema is awesome, if you're an indy film fan. Basically a step above an Alamo Drafthouse, but below a Gold Class Cinema, while having its own personality. They *only* show independent and artsy films here. You won't find summer blockbusters shown here. Which is kind of cool, you get to see movies you otherwise would never have heard of. The place itself is really swanky, located on the second level, overlooking 2nd Street. It's on the other side of the W Hotel, accessible by stairs or an elevator. There's a bar and a lounge area for you to chill at while you wait for your movie. I ordered the "Corpse Reviver," a strong mix of Beefeater gin, Cointreau and Lillet mixed with lemon juice and served with an orange peel. It cost $10 and was really good. They had a bunch of other cinema-themed cocktails on the menu, ranging from $8-12. Yes, it's a little on the expensive side, but it's a cool atmosphere. Tickets were $11 apiece, and they have assigned seating (common in Europe and slowly catching on in the US). I counted four theaters, but I don't know if they have more. The theaters are small, seating maybe 100 people max. There are no funny trailers like in the Alamo Drafthouses; Violet Crown Cinema is more serious, but not pretentious or anything. Nor are there any long tables or waiter service in the theater, but you can order drinks and food at the bar and bring them into the theater with you; all the seats have fold-out tray tables. I thought the service was pretty good. I went here with my parents, originally to see Killer Joe. I didn't know anything about the movie, I just went along for the ride. On the drive down there, I checked out Killer Joe on my phone, and found that it was NC-17 for all kinds of crap; that didn't bother me, but my mom was definitely not gonna see it. Being as we had already bought tickets online, we called the place up and asked if we could switch the tickets out for another movie. They did, and were very courteous about it. Also, the bartender and cashier were both very attentive. It's good to have a solid arthouse theater in town, and I will be coming back again in the future. read more

Buy tickets beforehand. The theaters are tiny so if you are not at your perfect weight you might feel big in the chair. I will try again. Great bar staff! read more

Everything here is a mess. Sweet employees but they need a little more training especially the bartenders. The whole visit was chaotic. Newbies to VC forming random lines bc they don't know where to go or stand- arguing about who was first and blah blah blah. Waited 20 minutes to order cocktails and they were terrible. The martini was made with just vermouth and no vodka. Bartenders were so slow, didn't care to put a little pep in their step. We arrived early to order food and get situated and still our food took over 45 mins. I missed the first 20 minutes of the movie waiting for food and it was cold. Kitchen was behind on orders.. had a dude who sat in front of me receive his food 15 mins before film ended. Due to slow kitchen orders the theatre had people constantly getting up going in and out of the theatre. It was never quiet and did not get to enjoy the film. I know VC recently opened back up but why open up shop if everyone isn't ready to run the show. read more

Awesome movie theater. Very unique vibe; great thing to do in Austin. BOOK ONLINE AHEAD OF TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR SEATS. This was my smartest move of my Austin trip. I highly recommend sitting in the front row to get an ottoman; it is handicapped priority seating. So, if someone needs that row you will have to move to their seats. But that is probably pretty unlikely. At our movie we sat in the front along with another lady and the other two front row seats were left unclaimed. I usually shun the front row, but these are far enough back that they are still a great view of the screen. I appreciated the courtesy cups and lemons for lemon water that they provide near the soda fountain! Screen clarity is definitely pretty sharp. A few cons (sort of): the theaters are pretty small and the set-up is somewhat old fashioned (but in a cool way). PARKING: Also, parking was $7.50 in the garage connected to the theater. I think you can get parking validated? But we did not know this was possible until we were pulling out of the garage. Not sure how this is done. Be sure to check into that while you are in the theater! read more

Violet Crown Austin - Front row seats have foot rest ottomans!!! - Cinema Near Me - Austin, Texas