Winter in Auckland calls for a great excuse to stay inside, and these cinemas, from boutique dine-in luxury to century-old picture palaces, are exactly that.<\/p>\n
\n Movie cinemas aren\u2019t what they used to be. Gone are the days of a semi-comfortable seat and a cup holder wedged into the armrest \u2013
\n these days, going to the movies means La-Z-Boy-style recliners, gourmet meals, and a drinks list longer than your arm. When the weather is doing its worst, there\u2019s no better excuse to disappear into a plush seat with a glass of something good and the big screen.\n <\/p>\n
From boutique dine-in cinemas serving restaurant-quality food to heritage picture palaces with cult followings, these are Auckland\u2019s best, most interesting theatres to wait out winter.<\/p>\n
The Hollywood <\/p>\n
Auckland\u2019s most characterful cinema occupies a beautifully restored Art Deco theatre dating from 1915. Alongside new releases, expect cult classics, film festivals and live events. Reputedly the oldest cinema site in the country, its claim to fame was a visit from film-maker Quentin Tarantino, who dubbed it the \u201cbest cinema in New Zealand\u201d. You can even pick up some Hollywood merch on the way out.<\/p>\n
20 St Georges Rd, Avondale<\/p>\n
The Library at Event Cinemas<\/p>\n
The Library, at Newmarket’s Event Cinemas. Photo \/ Event Cinemas<\/p>\n
The Library is one of Auckland\u2019s most luxurious \u2013 and Instagrammable \u2013 cinema experiences, pairing oversized recliners and arty decor with an in-seat food and beverage service. Before your screening, enjoy the private lounge before settling in when the lights go down for blockbuster premieres to arthouse releases. Tucked inside Event Cinemas Newmarket, The Library is on an intimate scale and feels more private members\u2019 club than it does movie theatre. Peruse the Boutiqueeats menu (think prawn skewers, sliders, Moroccan lamb pizza) and pair it with a glass of something from the extensive drinks list. <\/p>\n
Westfield Newmarket, 309 Broadway, Newmarket<\/p>\n
Silky Otter Cinemas<\/p>\n
Silky Otter Ponsonby.<\/p>\n
With multiple locations across Auckland, Silky Otter has become a favourite for its deep leather recliners, generous legroom and an elevated food-and-drink offering that goes well beyond popcorn. The boutique chain also offers wine, signature cocktails and premium snacks \u2013 think truffle-and-parmesan fries and a glass of Champagne. A Silky Otter Club membership unlocks benefits such as discounted Monday tickets, bottomless popcorn and birthday bonuses. The brand has six cinemas nationwide, with three of them here in Auckland (\u014cr\u0101kei, Ponsonby and Takanini), plus outposts in Christchurch, Queenstown and Nelson. <\/p>\n
\u014cr\u0101kei Bay Village, 228 Orakei Rd; Ponsonby Central, 11 Richmond Rd; and Takanini Town Centre, Derby Square<\/p>\n
Capitol Cinema<\/p>\n
The Capitol Cinema in Balmoral. Photo \/ Dean Purcell<\/p>\n
Beloved by film buffs, Capitol specialises in independent, international and documentary films that often don\u2019t make it to more mainstream cinemas. An Auckland heritage icon, Capitol has been screening films since 1923 and still wears its neo-Greek grandeur well. You might not find a gourmet dinner menu here, but you will find stunning interiors, a sense of history and a dedication to arthouse films and cult classics you won\u2019t find elsewhere. Plus, there\u2019s Dominion Rd\u2019s epic dining strip just steps away for pre or post-film feasting.<\/p>\n
610 Dominion Rd, Balmoral<\/p>\n
Bridgeway Cinema<\/p>\n
The Bridgeway Cinema in Northcote.<\/p>\n
Cross the Harbour Bridge, and you\u2019ll find the Bridgeway, housed in a 1920s building brimming with old-school character. Mainstream releases sit alongside documentaries, foreign-language films and special screenings, including the upcoming International Film Festival. Don\u2019t miss the cinema\u2019s Films and Fizz nights, where you can celebrate the opening night of a film with a glass of bubbles included in your ticket. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it as much a meeting place as a movie theatre for Northcote locals. <\/p>\n
122 Queen St, Northcote Point<\/p>\n
Hoyts Lux<\/p>\n
Hoyts Lux elevates movie night with fully reclining leather seats, a dedicated lounge, gourmet dining and cocktails delivered to your seat. Favouring luxury over capacity, the space allows you room to spread out and offers privacy, too. Sink into your extra-comfy premium recliner, order from the menu and have it delivered to your seat. With package options including tasting plates, a \u201cdinner for two\u201d, or a grazing board, Hoyts Lux is an easy choice for date nights.<\/p>\n
Sylvia Park Shopping Centre, Mount Wellington<\/p>\n
The Victoria, Devonport<\/p>\n
The Victoria Theatre, Devonport. Photo \/ Sarah Ivey<\/p>\n
Another North Shore institution is The Victoria, the oldest purpose-built cinema in the Southern Hemisphere, screening films continuously since 1912. This beautifully restored Edwardian theatre in the heart of Devonport pairs the latest releases and curated arthouse titles with live performances and special events, all enjoyed with a glass of wine, the \u201cbest choc tops in town\u201d and fresh gelato. The Vic also offers membership specials and Cheap Tuesdays. If Devonport is a little out of your way, make a day of it with a wander down Victoria Rd beforehand, or take a stroll along the waterfront after the credits roll.<\/p>\n
48 Victoria Rd, Devonport<\/p>\n
Matakana Cinemas<\/p>\n
One of Matakana Cinema’s three theatres boasts an 800kg chandelier. <\/p>\n
A little further afield, north of Auckland, this trio of cinemas is worth the drive. In the heart of Matakana Village, they screen new releases, documentaries, festival favourites and special events in a relaxed village setting that\u2019s ideal for combining with lunch or a weekend escape \u2013 and if you\u2019re going to make the trip, you might as well visit some wineries along the way. Don\u2019t miss Flicks and Sips, the Wednesday-night deal that bundles a movie ticket with a wine, beer or dish from The Vintry next door.<\/p>\n
2 Matakana Valley Rd, Matakana<\/p>\n
More on Auckland<\/p>\n
Things to do and see in the city<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Winter in Auckland calls for a great excuse to stay inside, and these cinemas, from boutique dine-in luxury…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":564313,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[51,3952,15892,115,39195,13182,15901,277670,156,22857,8493,29393,71,16773,8993,2944,116400,206,111,139,69,44193,1319,243415,2069,1361,37168,24359,61,23644],"class_list":["post-564312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-auckland","tag-aucklands","tag-boutique","tag-calls","tag-centuryold","tag-cinemas","tag-coolest","tag-dinein","tag-entertainment","tag-escape","tag-exactly","tag-excuse","tag-from","tag-great","tag-heritage","tag-inside","tag-luxe","tag-luxury","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-palaces","tag-picture","tag-recliners","tag-stay","tag-that","tag-theatres","tag-these","tag-to","tag-winter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=564312"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564312\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/564313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=564312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=564312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=564312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}