Editor Pick
A Different Kind of Movie Viewing Experience
- February 22, 2009
- Rated 3 of 5 by
lo7la from Elmhurst, Illinois
Rooftop Cinema is, well, on the roof. Connected to Cookie and the Toff in Town, Rooftop joins the collection of growing Melbourne balcony and rooftop bars. Primarily a bar during the summer staff set up 185 beach lounge seats to face a smaller cinema screen. Fake green astroturf at your feet and a glass of bubbly or bottle of beer in your hand and your ready to watch the nightly viewing.
Most movies shown are not first run, new out movies. Most are older and you can find some great classics and great cult classics being shown here. The night we went we saw the directors cut of Donnie Darko. We arrived an hour early and were glad we did as the show sold out. Ticket prices area bit more than regular cinema full rates at $18 a ticket. Concession is $15 and you can buy your tickets online.
The night was a bit cool so we rented a velour blanket for $5 and that luckily covered the two of us.
The venue is also a bar and they are licenced until 1am. Doors open at 8pm and the flick usually starts when it gets dark. The view is down onto Swanston street and of the surrounding buildings is spectacular. I would encourge you to stay around after the film and share a drink on the bar side oposite the cinema side. They have gas burners lit if it's a cool night and you can smoke on the bar side. They have a range of beers, wines and cocktails. Prices are starting on the sightly more expensive side with a bottle of beer ranging around $8 and cocktails are averagely priced at around $15 to $20. Staff is slightly up themselves but the atmosphere and views are good enough to excuse that.
Movies shown Tues-Sundays, Nov-March.
From journal Exploring Melbourne