The Avalon Theater

This theater is beautiful. Seeing a movie in the big room with the little lights on the ceiling is a really fun experience. The food is also very good and I like being able to order alcohol there. Staff is very friendly and I’ve never had any problems.
They have fun events as well. A few months ago they had Miyazaki month and played movies like Howls Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke… it was a blast. If you plan on seeing a movie during one of their events like this get tickets in advance and go early! There was a massive line to get seated for the Miyazaki movies, even though we already had tickets.
The two things I don’t love… I don’t like how the seats are on the same level. I get it, it isn’t a massive theater… but I’m short and if anyone sits in front of me they will be blocking part of the screen. And I wish they didn’t play mostly big budget films. They do have events but they are few and far in between. I would be going to this theater more often if maybe once a week they played a throwback movie, or something.
Overall though a nice movie theater that is more of an experience. Few kids too. which is a plus.

Loved this place! I came mainly to see the theater itself (and to have a violet gin gimlet). I’d already seen the new Captain America, so my husband & I got tickets to Jungle Book (because I didn’t tell him). But once we got to the «backstage theater» in which JB was showing, I noticed there were no stars in that ceiling. We’re only in town for 2 days (& tomorrow night is for the Oriental Theater), so it was important to fix this. Thankfully, a helpful, pleasant passing employee told us they would definitely exchange our tickets for Captain America (read: starry ceiling), while advising that it would be $ 2 more per ticket, because of the 3D. No problem. Tickets exchanged, saw movie in theater with starry ceiling, BLISSED. Cocktails? Awesome prices & delicious. Margherita pizza good, easy to share (cut into many small pieces, & waitress brought 2 paper plates.) Nice bathrooms. I read popcorn is amazing, but forgot to have it. Only downside. Oh, & the stars really did make it feel more romantic, despite the continual (very possibly continuous) talking of the two guys behind us. I imagine if anyone complained, it would’ve been addressed, but none of us bothered. Comfy seats (they lean back, but not so they stay reclined, but still nice), built-​in cupholders in arms of chairs, most leg room in any theater ever, plenty of space for food. Just gorgeous. Highly recommend. Oh, also, bc we weren’t really there for film, we asked for our bill early, & were promptly accommodated. We were then able to pay & duck out early (to hit more Milwaukee spots on our visit) — which thankfully is easy enough because of all the space between rows (er, columns?) of seats.

Wanna go back in time? But take advantage of modern convenience?
This place fits the bill. Beautiful old theatre up scaled with food service at your seats. Nice big chairs with school like wrap around trays. Went to see Jungle Book in 3D and technology is top notch here. Great sound quality and visual experiences.
We ordered the spicy meatballs which were delicious along with little pita toast points to sop up the sauce. Obligatory popcorn and soda also delivered to your seat and alcohol as well.
If your still hungry you can hang out just for food at the Avalon café off the main entrance to the right.
Finally I don’t usually mention the ladies room in reviews but this one is not only clean and modern but has a «little girl’s» stall with appropriately sized toilet. Very unique to see out in public places unless you are at a daycare center or school. Nice touch for families visiting.

Prior to moving to Milwaukee I was lucky enough to live in a city with a chain of amazing full-​service movie theaters. Since coming to Milwaukee I have been in search of a great theater that provides a cold beer and a good meal in-​theater. I think I have finally found a theater that meets the standard that has been set for me, and it is the Avalon.
The key to successful in-​theater service is to make sure that the wait staff do not interrupt the movie, but still provide a friendly, efficient service. The Avalon staff toe this line perfectly. Additionally, the drink list and menu are the perfect size, offering enough options, but not overwhelming. Lastly, the prices are very reasonable and the seats extremely comfortable.
The Avalon will definitely be my MKE theater of choice from now on.

Wow. I can’t believe I haven’t seen a movie here before. I am a YUGE fan of movies. And super fantastic bonus is seeing a movie in a classic movie house. This place has been beautifully restored and the seating is perfect. Drink and food service? Heck yeah. Plenty of room? Jah. Great neighborhood? Double jah. Cool seats with built in tray tables? You becha.
Can’t wait to come back to see another flick.
Didn’t hurt that I saw deadpool here as the movie was freaking amazing.

The theater has comfortable seating. I love that they have waitstaff. I wish they would play more movies I want to see, they seem play a lot of action movies, not super interested in them. When I do go I LOVE the pretzel sticks. Get them, they are delicious. If they played movies I wanted to see, dramas or comedies, documentaries, historical films or independants & served me these pretzels, this would be a 5 star place.

I had been to many a movie at the Avalon as a child, and was really looking forward to returning to see what it currently looks like. I was not disappointed at all. It is by far the most beautiful movie theater I have ever been to. The stars on the ceiling of the theater were a wonderful surprise.
It cost me $ 10 per adult versus $ 13.25 per adult at Marcus theater’s to see Deadpool. Winning! The popcorn was to die for, they actually have full service while in the theater of food, beverage, and alcohol. It just does not get any better then this!
I know the theater only plays 2 movies, but this place is a local gem, and needs to be checked out for those of us who want that old time feeling of service with a smile.

I’ve heard this theater was really cool, but I was still floored when I walked in to go and see Deadpool last night. The theater was very ornate, the ceiling was dressed as a starry night, and the décor made it look like you were in something like an old mexican village, watching an outdoor flick.
The seats were super comfy too. And don’t even worry about leg room. There’s plenty, and THEN some. The seats are also decked with tray tables so you can get food and drinks served to you during your movie. No stadium seating (there was a balcony, but it was closed while I was there), but you can see the screen from anywhere.
Tickets seem to be going at $ 10 a piece, which is pretty standard these days, but you get so much more in terms of atmosphere by going to the Avalon. I plan on going to the Avalon as much as possible in the future if I’m going out to see the movie. Love this place!

The Avalon is definitely the most BEAUTIFUL theater I have ever been to. The main theater has an amazing star lit ceiling with an occasional shooting star which makes it extremely magical. Comfy chairs plus good beer and the ability to order food! WOW!
But alas I can only give it three stars… the sound was atrocious. I could not hear anything that was being said in the movie since it was much too echoey. Apparently the sound system was outfitted for a full audience, so if your theater is not full you won’t have a satisfactory time. I will definitely be going again, but maybe to a start time that isn’t so late in order for their to be more people there!

I am just too frugal for the Avalon. Back in the day it was an affordable theater with reasonably priced concessions. The movie experience was great. Good sound and great view. Add 3D, add more bucks to the price. Two small sodas were $ 8.00. We had a coupon for half off a pizza we won at the Avengers but we not impressed with the «bar» food last time. So it’s a trade off to keep entertainment in the hood or pay less at South Shore. Or be totally frugal and bring in your own snacks. There was also no choice between 3 D or regular. I am giving it a 4 for movie experience but think the prices are way too high. $ 17 for a frozen pizza is too much!

If I lived in Bay View, I’d be here all the time. Because I love it.
I love Fox Bay Cinema Grill for its food service and I love the Oriental for the atmosphere, and the Avalon is the best of both places all combined into one. Because what’s better than sitting under a starry night sky, eating pizza, and watching a movie? Movie tickets are $ 10, keeping it pretty comparable with other theatres. The food menu includes pizzas, paninis, and standard bar appetizers (nachos, fries, mozz sticks) with prices averaging $ 7 – 15. You can order at concessions or wait for servers to come around in the theater. Bonus points for being a Milwaukee Film Festival theater! Definitely worth it for a great date night or an evening out with friends.

I visited the Avalon Theater last night for the first time in at least a decade. It was remodeled within the past year and I haven’t had a chance to see the changes made by Ascend Design.
The Milwaukee Film Festival is in progress, so I went to see a film that a friend has a role in regarding homelessness in Milwaukee, called «30 Seconds Away: Breaking the Cycle.» The film was enlightening, but also confirmed some notions I already had about homelessness. It was a great film, but that’s not what this review is about.
The theater looks brand new, but with a classic look. There are red curtains and arched walkways and balconies, the whole works.
I like how the seats have been changed to big chairs that have trays to hold your food and a cup holder for your drink. I could also recline my back rest a bit.
The seats aren’t set up in stadium seating, but they are slightly raised over the seat in front and each chair faces the screen, so I didn’t have to turn my head, not even a little.
They remodeled the ceiling so the stars are more brilliant without distracting from the screen and apparently there are shooting stars, but I did not stare up long enough to see one.
The Avalon offers a concession stand, but a server also takes your food and drink orders at your seat, form a menu that includes wine, beer, cocktails and food items, such as house made thin crust pizza, nachos, meatballs marinara, and panini.
The screen is huge and the sound system is great. I will definitely be back to see movies in the future!

When I moved from the East Side to Bay View, I was bummed that I would no longer be within walking distance of the Oriental. And then I went to the Avalon.
Don’t get me wrong, the Oriental is an institution, but the Avalon gives it a run for it’s money. I had never been in the theater pre-​renovation, but I can tell you that its current state is beyond lovely. After seeing several films here and spending numerous hours volunteering for the Milwaukee Film Festival, I’ve gotten to bask in its glory for longer than the average patron.
Obviously, the main theater ceiling is gorgeous. You’ve seen the pictures. It does not disappoint. There are SHOOTING STARS. I thought my eyes were freaking out for concentrating on a movie for so long, but then I saw it again. Super rad.
My favorite part is the seating. Huge comfy seats with swivel trays that are of an adequate size for whatever food and drink you’ve purchased. They’re also spaced out. Like, really spaced out. You know when you have to pee in the middle of the movie and everyone in your row has to awkwardly crunch their knees up to their chest and you’re obviously ruining the experience for them because you decided to chug your diet coke during the previews before the film even started? That doesn’t happen anymore. There’s an abundance of doors to exit, several aisles, and enough space for two people to walk side-​by-​side between the rows.
Tip to get the most for your money out of the concessions? $ 6 can of O-​Gii. High ABV, same price as a lot of other beers they have.
What a frickin’ gem. Kudos, Avalon.

Good food and a nice bar, especially for a movie theater. I’m grateful our neighborhood theater is restored from the original and yet shows the latest films, even in 3D. Would always prefer this over the megaplex.

What a fantastic addition to the Bay View neighborhood! I wish I would have gone sooner!
Even though I live only 2 blocks away, I hadn’t gone to the Avalon till this weekend, when I finally saw Jurassic World in 3D.
What sets the Avalon apart:
–CLEAN! I was really impressed with how tidy it was!
–Great service! Everyone we talked to (waitress, bartender, ticket taker) were all very friendly and service was fast!
–The food and beer were great! Good selection of beer, and the food was solid, a step above the usual fare.
–The seats, so comfy! Nothing worse than an uncomfy seat during a 2 hour movie.
Great theater, great location! If you get the chance, don’t hesitate to catch a flick here!

I absolutely love this place. The management & concession staff is the friendliest and they take care of you. The vintage opera décor adds the element of being somewhere classy, and it makes you marvel at the artistry of the theater. The seats are very comfortable and there’s a good seat almost everywhere inside. No kid noise, no rif-​rafs aka thugs, just pure peace inside. I love that the wait staff is very attentive and helpful. You pay for what you get, very intimate and inviting, it makes the anticipation on watching a good movie that much better. My family and I agree, it’s one of the best theaters in Milwaukee. 5 stars people, 5 stars!

This place is just downright charming. I’m a major fan after just one visit!
… and that’s saying something, because truth be told, I’m not much of a movie-​goer. I have a terribly short attention span, and generally speaking, there are many number of ways I’d rather spend my time than sitting still and watching a movie. Don’t get me wrong, I like movies, but I’m no buff and movie theaters really aren’t my thing, I guess.
The Avalon is right by my house, so when our small and beyond-​stoked about seeing Jurassic World group was trying to make the super-​serious decision as to where to see the flick, the Avalon came up as a possible location. They don’t necessarily announce their «next-​ups» in super-​timely manner, so I called the week before to confirm that they’d be showing it. They were, so the Avalon it was!
And the Avalon, you guys… an atmospheric theater indeed! Starlights on the ceiling, supercool old architecture, a lovely little bar/​lounge serving food and drinks, servers rocking it during the film that will bring you food and drinks, old-​timey adverts prior to the movies… charming charming charming charming charming. Charming.
This spot will definitely be my spot for movie-​going and watching.

This historic gem has been seeing generations of my bay view relatives over the years… and I couldn’t help but hop back in time and imagine what it must’ve been like. My dad tells me again and again — that they waited in line (around the block) to see Mary Poppins!
See — this is just it. The theater has so many stories to tell! Everyone seems to have a memory of coming to the Avalon. For this — I love it so.
They offer a small menu — paninis, pizzas and the like. The panini was ok. The pretzel sticks were great. But I couldn’t help but look over at the couple next to us eating a pizza. Next time.
The main theater is quite large. The chairs with tables are ok. I liked that they were leather from a cleanliness standpoint, but they weren’t exactly the dream loungers that other theater chains brag about. The other thing I noticed about the main theater was the sound. Was it a bit echo-​y? I think due to the non-​carpted floor, and the vastness of the space, the sound just kinda bounced around.
I also saw a film in the smaller back theater. It’s very small. And I couldn’t help but notice that I believe that back of the theater was slightly lower than the front. What’s up with that? Shouldn’t it be the other way?
Anyway — Overall, I’m so glad to have a local theater in my neighborhood. They offer a decent selection of drinks and snacks, and play the popular first run films.

I will start this off by saying that I am completely biased because I do live in Bay View and have been waiting years for the Avalon to reopen. However, let me tell you it was worth the wait!
We went on one of the last preview days before it was open to the public. Granted if given my choice I would not have picked the last Hobbit movie but that was what they had available. They were interviewing a lady who was at the original opening in 1929. I thought it was great that they were documenting the history of this great theater.
We got there early and were able to sit in the side lounge and order some nachos and beers. The nachos and all the other food they brought out was surprisingly better than I expected. Also, I expected to get taken to the cleaners on prices but I actually thought they were very reasonable.
We saw the theater years ago before the renovation started. The amount of work to get the Avalon back to it’s original quality was incredible. I love that they moved the bathrooms to the lower level but kept them in a similar style as the original. They kept the place as original as possible but made sure that it was updated with the newest equipment (sound, screen, etc.)
The theater is very comfortable and has seats with swing out tables for eating. We didn’t eat in the theater but you definitely can get food and drinks during the movie. They have attendants who come by and will take your orders. Next time we will order some food before the movie and stare up at the beautiful stars that adorn the ceiling.

Milwaukee has become one of the best cities in the Midwest to see a movie. This location was the first theater in the city to show «talkies» when they opened back during Prohibition. Today you can get a drink in their beautiful little lounge, totally legally. Back in the early 20^th century, most Americans didn’t travel far from where they lived, and instead imagined the rest of the world fancifully via movies. Movie theaters evoked the stereotyped fantasies of exotic distant places and we can travel back to those times at places like the Oriental and now here. The theme of this beautifully restored movie theater is Spain at night, in the main theater you sit beneath a twinkling roof of stars. They’ve got some kinks to iron out, we went during the most recent polar vortex and their furnace was out, but right on entry they promised that if it was too cold, we could come back out front and get free passes to come back. Since we were watching the last of the Hobbit movies (takes place on cold hill tops) it was actually fitting to watch the movie in our winter coats, and since we went to a weekday afternoon showing, there were only four of us total so I kept my winter hat (and gloves) on without blocking anyone’s view. The heat wasn’t working, but the multichannel sound system was calibrated perfectly (important with a special effects movie with lots of violence).
The movie and concessions prices aren’t higher than the usual soul-​less chain mulitplex places, the dinner choices like pizza aren’t bad considering you’re at a movie theater. The seats aren’t retro, they are non-​porous (no chance of bed bug infestation) synthetic pseudo-​leather, very comfortable big recliners with sliding food trays and cup holders. It’s full service, you can get popcorn with real butter at concessions, or get wait service at your seat. They’ve made going to the movies a classy date setting all over again. This is even better than our previous favorite full service movie theater, the Rosebud, which is under the same ownership. Growing up in Chicago, I used to go to a theater like this on the far North Side that went from old and decrepit, to wrecked and replaced by an ugly modern development in a seeming blink of an eye. Change isn’t always progress, and progress isn’t always good. If you’re visiting from out of town, this theater is an easy trip from downtown, you don’t need a cab, take the bus or if it’s not polar vortex weather, rent a couple of bicycles. If you are on a date, before or after the movie, stop off at the chocolate shop across the street.