Arcata Theater Lounge

This is such a great venue! I’ve been here as a guest for shows like Beats Antique, Random Acts of Comedy, and to watch movies.
They host funky and fun events all the time. They have a kitchen with fairly quick service and a full bar. Bar service can vary. Larger shows have more people working the bar, but smaller events (especially all ages) can have slow service. It’s cash only and the drinks are about the same as the Arcata Bars.

Nothing like Wednesday night Sci-​Fi night. Goofy movies, door prizes, Fun, funny and great food and hanging out with friends. Fabulous place, glad they restored it.

Cash only, which is why I took a star away.
I’ve never been disappointed in a show I’ve gone to there. The annual Serenity Shindig is my favorite! I enjoy the not traditional theater seating.
Food is solid — the garlic fries are excellent!

Love this place. Always a good time. I highly recommend Sci-​Fi Night. Good, affordable fun. I have had lots of fun here.

Sunday night features a family movie for $ 5 and is the best deal in town. Also, they feature comfort foods like nachos, pizza and burgers. Bring your kids, have a great time.

Fun & affordable place to go on a date with your husband/​boyfriend, your best friend or your preteen/​teen as I did. The pizza was only edible but the brownies were yummy! The thing about this place is that you don’t come here bc the food is the best in town & you don’t come here bc the movie that’s playing has been getting great reviews, you come here for the experience of getting to watch a cool flick you haven’t seen in a long time on a real silver screen while drinking a good local beer. It’s the whole experience you’re coming in for, get it? And personally I think it’s a pretty cool experience they’re giving you for not a lot of $. And probably an experience you’re not gonna find anywhere else. I’m kicking myself for not coming here sooner & I definitely plan on coming back!

Extra bad food especially the burgers. The wait for food is crazy! 1 ½ hours for burger. No joking! It tasted bad/​old so we didn’t eat it. Disappointed that such a potentially great venue does not consider the local vibe for good real food. Get with it ATL. Second bad food experience.

This place rocks! I’ve seen two fantastic Music performances here and several movies. Wednesday Sci-​Fi Pizza and Pint night, as well as plenty of quality films. Full service bar and other great food.

So glad this building is back in use! I used to go to the 99 cent movies here as a kid and was super sad when they closed down. They did a great job making it fun inside and offer something different to do in HumCo. I’ve only ever gone here when there is a blast from the past movie that I haven’t seen forever (never been for comedy/​music/​sports nights). Love what they play before the feature presentation in place of previews! It’s always some quirky vintage commercials like a Cold War era how to duck and cover your head into a sidewalk curb in case of a nuclear bomb. Hard to believe these commercials were the real deal!
There are a couple of reasons why I didn’t give 5 stars. One, the food leaves much to be desired. I love the concept of this place, dinner and a movie in one, but I’ve made the mistake of buying the food. I feel like a theater should have good popcorn, at the very least, but their popcorn honestly tastes like packing peanuts. I would gladly pay more for the food if it was decent and I think lack luster food is probably holding them back a bit. Two, I wish the chairs were more comfortable, I always feel stiff when I leave. Three, the movies play too early. They have usually been playing for ½ an hour before I even get off of work.

This is a great venue for concerts. I saw Bassnectar and Moguai here and the ATL was a great place… intimate and cozy. I also like coming here to watch football/​basketball. I love that they bring your food to your table. Their food is pretty good. They have good selection of beer on tap.

Arcata Theater lounge definitely books the best shows in town. The woman at the door checking IDs and stamping wrists is super awesome!!! She definitely adds to the ambiance and being greeted by her incredibly friendly smile and energy is a real blessing… That said, the owner is a seriously unfriendly and non– smiling nazi who has embarrassingly yelled at performers on stage for lighting a doobie… and the fools who work there cleaning up and locking people out after shows are exactly that… FOOLS!!! They have a mop in one hand a keys in another and all of a sudden want to demean and condescend their patrons as we leave the club… it’s kinda sad that just a tiny speck of authority makes people treat each other like a piece of sh*t they picked up off the bottom of their shoe. Not to mention they do a HORRIBLE job cleaning and the floor is ALWAYS sticky in there making it very hard to dance.

The ATL is one of the most fun new places to go in Arcata. You sit down at a table and order food and watch movies. They have a very diverse set of events, my favorite being the sci-​fi and pizza nights.
Nothing beats buying $ 5+ of food and getting to watch old cheesy sci fi movies. NOTHING. The movies range from hilarious laugh-​out-​loud to «this is sort of bizarre but I’m getting bored.» I usually only stayed for the first previews/​short films, the first movie, and then the start of the second. By then I’d be pretty bored and also my butt would hurt from the uncomfortable chairs. But up until then it’s great fun.
During sci-​fi night they also have raffle that you automatically get a ticket to when you pay for your food. They have anywhere from 5 – 10 prizes. These usually include weird books, stickers, action figures, and tickets to their other shows.
Their other movies are usually older movies that are still awesome that maybe you never got the chance to see on the big screen. I’ve gone to several favorites that were released before I was of movie-​going age, and always been excited to see them big and loud. Some of the movies are cheesy campy movies that you don’t really want to see but you end up going for some reason. Who cares, it’s cheap and something to do.
The food is ok sometimes, and other times it borders on a little gross. I hate the burgers; they always taste weird to me. I like the fries. The pizzas are generic but edible. There’s also a full bar in the back so I think you’re supposed to be drunk by the time you get your food, because it takes a while. But it’s hard to hate the food when technically you get dinner AND a movie for cheaper than going to one of the other theaters in town. That makes the deal super awesome and helps you ignore the so-​so quality of the eats.

Great place to see a show or catch a major sporting event. They have decent snacking options and a nice selection of beer and wine. They also show random classic movies for 5 $ on their one screen. Fun times are had here. This place is a step back in time with modern improvements that spice it up and raise the level of enjoyment. I am happy to have this place in my life. Best venue around to see a concert.

Three words: Oh hell yeah!
An old theater that has been closed and re-​opened again. $ 5 admission at the door for movies. Other events do occur there, and I don’t know if the price varies, but for a movie, this beats the hell out of the $ 11 and change that they charge at cinema chains.
In the lobby, there is more than a concession stand, there’s actually a counter where you can get snacks or you can order full-​on pub fare that will be brought to your table.
That’s right, I said table. Instead of the usual rows of chairs, the place is redone so that there are rows of tables with a couple of chairs each. There are multiple levels to sit at as well, all of which provide a decent view of the screen.
At the back of the theater room, there’s a full bar. A decent pint ran about $ 3 and change. That’s a good movie and a beer for less than the cost of some craptastic summer blockbuster at the big name theaters.
And of course, there are the movies themselves. While they only have one screen, meaning one feature at a time, they’re always playing something unique/​nostalgic. I went this past Friday and saw Full Metal Jacket.
Why do dinner and a movie when you can do dinner AT the movies? Really, there is something awesome about being able to sit down, stretch your legs, sip on a pint and enjoy a burger in front of the big screen. A unique and pleasurable experience.
–update–
So I’m still digging this place just as much, and since it seems like people are reading this review I thought I’d add some more detail. They occasionally have music shows (which are a bit more expensive of course) but there are also other seasonal monthly events like an improv comedy night. In addition, they’ve got one of my personal weekly favorites, sci-​fi pint and pizza night, where they show movies like old-​skool obscure b-​movies, cult classics, etc. A really cool thing about SFPP night is that your admission is to buy $ 5 worth of food/​drinks, meaning specifically that the cost of admission goes entirely towards your food. Just check their website calendar at
for details about what’s going on each month. Sporting events like football are also occasionally featured, and this is where I watched the superbowl.
Lastly, know that if you just want a warm place to hang, eat, and chat for a while and you’re not really into what’s being featured, they’ve got free wifi.

This place is lovely! A classic, vintage theatre that has been revamped. All sorts of interesting and unique events are held here. I saw a showing of Jim Hensen’s «The Dark Crystal», Also, the Druid Underground Film Festival, and The Glitch Mob!
They have a nice selection of food and snacks. They serve alcohol… It’s so nice to sit at a cozy table and have food and drinks brought to you while watching movies. Definitely a jewel in Humboldt county, worth checking out.

The ATL is one of my favorite places in Arcata.
Not only is this a great venue for concerts, such as The Marching Lumberjacks Concert that happened in April, but is also a great venue for movies.
I always check the website to find out what movies are going to be coming up soon. The movies are pick and choose: I don’t go sometimes because they don’t always show the best movies, but when I do, it’s so worth it.
$ 5 gets you into the theater: Choose your seats: Whether it’s at the bar, or
at a table, it’s up to you. I always get there 20 min. or so before the movie starts. That way, you can save a table for your friends, order your food and drinks before the movie starts.
They have a full menu, so whether you just get a basket of fries, or a full meal, you have that option. They also have a full bar, with beers on tap, shots and more.

I love the seating at this place, its like a bar layout, but in a huge-room.with tables and tiers of places to sit/​stand & watch/​listen from.
Bartenders and Box office employees were excellent.
Staff at the snack counter and front door don’t seem to have their wits about them.
But get past the annoying security girls at the front door and enjoy show!
Food is theater/​bar food, not worth the $$.
But it is the only place you can drink alcohol and watch old movies on the big screen, like Fargo, Ghostbusters, Fight Club, etc., that’s fun! Glad to have this other venue in Arcata.

What a great resource. Have a pint and a pizza (or a glass of wine and an order of sweet potato fries, or a cocktail and some samosas, or whatever) and take in a double bill of grade-​Z ‘50s sci-​fi movies, or a classic like Jaws or The Big Lebowski. Lousy sound system, but no big deal — people talking and laughing and cheering, coming and going with food and drinks, everyone having a good time. Every town should have a place like this — reminds me of the late, lamented Parkway in Oakland. Could use some couches up front in addition to the tables, though!

Okay I’ve only been here once but I really liked the layout.
I guess they have movies as well as concerts. I wanna check out some of their cheesy old movies!

Ok, I officially have a favorite new place when I’m down in Arcata! I remember back in the day when this was simply the Arcata Theater… a big hangar of a venue for watching movies — equipped with the most uncomfortable chairs known to man. But they did have midnight & $ 1 movies! I remember seeing Pulp Fiction here for the first time.
…and then they shut it down. It was closed for years.
But in the last few months, like a fiery phoenix, the Arcata Theater is back! My sis and bro in law have gone a few times, and told me about it, and I was envious. Stories of food service, a bar in the theater, a lounge-​y place to chill, and cool movies??? I was intrigued, and then…
I experienced it for myself.
The Arcata Theater Lounge is the BOMB. We walked in and then I ordered a hot dog, and some fries. We then walked into the theater – it was dark… and it was silent movie night.
Oh wait, we first went to the bar (Mmmm hmm, dat’s right). They had several local microbrews to choose from. I believe I had an Anderson Valley Brewing Co. ale. The bartender was very cool, and I recognized her. She’s from Renata’s Creperie (
). She was even wearing her cool apron (which she makes/​sells).
With beverages in hand, we went to our table and started watching some flicks. So, for Silent Movie Nights, they have a huge list of silent films and you can watch as many as you want (they ranged from a few minutes long to one which was over an hour). The movies were cool and accompanied by an organ (not live). I remember Snow White was one of the movies we watched.
The fries and sausage were tasty. What a perfect way to enjoy a meal in good olé Arcata. Oh, and they have free wifi, too! Man, I can’t wait until I can check it out again!