The best dine-in movie theater options in Los Angeles
Upgrade your stale popcorn and flat fountain drinks for a gourmet cinematic experience at a dine-in movie theater in L.A.
Dinner and a movie is a tradition as old as the cinema itself. Then one day some genius somewhere cut the middleman and combined the two. Voila! The dine-in movie theater was born. Sure, it’s not like Los Angeles is lacking places to see a movie—there are plenty of traditional theaters as well as outdoor movie spots—but sometimes you just want a little more of an experience than paying $15 to sit in a dark, dingy room for two hours. Most dine-in theaters are more expensive (tickets alone usually run in the $25 range) but the theaters like to throw in added perks like reclining seats and free popcorn. So check out one of these dine-in theater spots and up your movie-going experience forever.
Dine-in theater options in L.A.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
If you’ve never been to an Alamo Drafthouse location, here’s the gist: The theater screens first-run flicks along with repertory picks (for example, Terror Tuesday, with deep-cut horror films, and Weird Wednesday, with all sorts of dusted-off oddities) all within plush cinemas with in-theater food and drink service (including booze) and a hardline no talking, no texting policy.
iPic Theaters Westwood
With two L.A. locations in Westwood and Pasadena, iPic theaters set the standard for a dine-in movie-going experience. The price of admission allows access to food and beverage service, as well as a pillow and blanket at each of the theater’s plush, reclining seats. The theaters are clean and the perks are a treat, but expect to shell out for the chance to watch a film in luxury—tickets for non-members run at about $25.
Cinepolis Westlake Village
This spot offers everything you would expect at a dine-in theater: seats that recline all the way back, waiter service at the touch of a button and, unfortunately, exorbitant prices. If you can get past spending more than $5 for water, you can enjoy—as the name suggests—the full, luxury experience. The menu features items including sliders, tacos, paninis and lobster rolls. Tickets for the movie only, are about $22 for adults.
Cinemark Reserve at Playa Vista
Perfect for a movie following a long day soaking up the sun at the beach, this theater (which opened in March of 2015) is a newer addition to the L.A. theater canon. It’s located just a short drive away from, and serves as direct competition for, the AMC Dine-in Theatres Marina 6 in Marina Del Rey. Unlike the AMC, you won’t find seat-side service here, but you will find a full restaurant and cocktail menu, which you order at the concession stand and bring over to your seat. Tickets here will range from $14 for a child to $20 for adults.
AMC Dine-in Theatres Marina 6
Don’t let the fear of this being any old AMC theater deter you from paying a little extra for a luxury experience—tickets here will cost you between $17–$20. This theater has been around for about a decade, so while it may not be quite as spiffy as its neighboring Cinemark spot, it is a tried and true location to dine and view. The reclining seats are comfortable, and their 21-plus age restriction keeps the theater adult-only.