Palace Church Street (FKA Dendy Brighton) — Restaurant in Melbourne

If you want to avoid the busy cinemas like village and hoyts in the CBD and main shopping complexes then you can't go wrong with the Palace Dendy in Church Street Brighton. It's a smaller, boutique cinema but don't let that put you off as the service is great, the seating is really comfortable, and it offers a good mix of continental and art-house as well as mainstream and blockbuster movies. It has a wine bar with a good selection of food, including cakes and beverages, and other than during kids movies, you can even take a wine, bubbles or beer in with you.

Tip: There is basement car parking available at Dendy Plaza, entry via St Andrews Street but it's not cheap. But have no fear, as you can often get a park at the back of the cinemas via Well Street. Another tip, if you join the Palace Movie Club you get complimentary tickets, a birthday voucher for food and beverage, exclusive offers such as cafe & bar combos and discounts, and access to special events. All these things aside, if you ask me the real benefit of the club is that if you don't like the film you are watching and let them know within 30 minutes of the session starting, they will give you a free pass to your next movie session. Now how...

The Palace Cinema at Dendy Brighton is awesome. There's something about it that just feels more... chilled... than say a Village cinema. It might be the casual seating area, the fact that it's separated from the small shopping centre, or the fact that you can buy a glass of wine or a beer to take into the cinema with you (except kids movies), but it just feels comfortable. The seats are comfortable and clean, cushioned boosters are available for children (rather than the hard plastic things that Village provides). The only downside is parking can be a bit more of a nuisance, with most areas during the day being 2 hour parks. There is parking in the basement of the cinema (and you can get your ticket validated at the cinema), but that's not cheap as far as I can remember. We generally park in Well street out the back. We almost always choose this one over...

Dilapidated, dated complex which looks and feels ready for the bulldozer. Cinema 4 has the ugliest most distracting ceiling like an ugly office with bits sagging and reflecting the screen. Staff few and far between. Signs as you go in say "Absolutely no outside food or groceries! We will check your bag!", and they ask you at the candy bar if you would like to order some food, well, it doesn't feel like a request but an order, in a most accusing tone. In a huge empty cinema why do these places not do daytime session specials or something just to get people in? Candy bar prices are ridiculous, it did not look clean, no wonder ppl have to smuggle in their own food. Mens bathroom had water all over the floor and out of 3 sinks only one had taps. Ive no doubt the entire place is being eyed by developers and in this case it would...