Alamo Drafthouse -- Ritz
Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, aka Alamo Ritz, is one of three Alamo theaters owned by Tim and Karrie League. The downtown theater is a renovation of the old Ritz Theater, built in 1929. The theater has two screens and shows a combination of first-run movies, arthouse films, and the interestingly obscure. The smaller theater seats about 90; the larger one, close to 200, depending on how the balcony is used.
Pros: The location is ideal for downtown-based film festivals like SXSW and AFF -- maybe too ideal, since it's often hard to get in. The seats are comfy except in the balcony, but the view from there can be pretty cool and makes up for whatever temporary seating they've arranged up there. There really are no "bad seats" in the larger theater. If you're in the smaller theater, see if you can score a spot on the couches in the back row.
Cons: The front row of the smaller theater is a challenging angle for watching movies, although honestly not as bad as it looks. Wireless is spotty at best. And frankly, we wish the theaters were larger, especially during film fests. When you sit down at an Alamo theater, don't try to put an empty seat between yourself and the people next to you -- the waitstaff will ask you to move so seats can be consolidated if (when) the theater fills up.
Parking: No Alamo Ritz-specific parking; park on the street or find a downtown lot/garage. The St. David's parking garage is a good bet. If you're seeing a midnight movie and parking in a garage, make sure it will still be open after the movie ends.
Bus routes: All downtown routes.
Distance: Only three blocks from Congress Ave. You can walk to the Paramount and The Hideout, and to a number of hotels and restaurants.
On-site food and beverages: Alamo Ritz offers a full menu for lunch and dinner, including an extensive beer menu and full bar. They also have weekend brunch options. If you've never been to an Alamo theater before, ordering instructions are on the menu, and waitstaff can help. (Please don't forget to tip if you order anything.) You also can get standard movie-theater fare like popcorn and candy.
Nearby dining options: Iron Cactus next door has Tex-Mex. The Driskill Hotel's 1886 Cafe is good for lunch. Sixth Street has lots of food and most of it's not so hot. If you have time on your hands and want one of the best burgers in Austin, walk a few blocks down Sixth towards I-35 to Casino El Camino. If price is not a primary consideration, splurge on some small plates or even a full meal at Parkside, about a block away.
Wireless: The Ritz has wireless in the lobby but the theater walls are so thick that it doesn't penetrate there very well. Sixth Street tends to have bars rather than coffeehouses -- walk over to The Hideout or try Halcyon on Fourth Street.