Ritzy Cinema and Cafe

Classic Charm with Modern Indie Movie Selection

At the Ritzy, a charming and iconic outpost in the cacophony of Brixton, one is greeted by the alluring aroma of nostalgia intermingled with faint echoes of times gone by. A stone’s throw from Brixton Tube Station, this characterful venue boldly maintains its grit amidst a rapidly evolving neighborhood landscape. As you settle into one of the lovingly worn seats, you may find yourself distracted from the Bollywood large-screen explosions by the equally rambunctious crescendos from a live jazz band reverberating through the walls like exuberant poltergeists. Just consider this part of the Ritzy experience—a multiplex masquerading as a symphony hall.

The adjacency of a bar like Ritzy's to each screening room means that intermissions can feel less cinematic dystopia and more robust cafe culture, with decent food options ranging from vegetarian wraps (admittedly a microwave may help them arrive faster) to guilty pleasures like Little Moons mochi ice cream. Speak kindly to the patient staff and they might just save the day, all while you grasp a frothy latte. It's essential to mention the feet-on-worn-path feel of the delightful rooftop—it's both a remedy to those BBC weather afternoons and a threat if your knees or nights out aren’t as flexible as they ought to be. Temperamental acoustics paired with a uniquely rundown charm keeps Ritzy on the lips of locals and critics alike—due confession time: where else would one hear, ponder, and ultimately internalize the philosophical rantings of dereliction so eloquently juxtaposed with such architectural grandeur? Only at the Ritzy. — Penelope Savory