Lido Cinema, movies and a little night music.

Let yourself be transported. Leave behind the plain, white arcade, the sounds of cars and the city rushing by. Walk up a bright red stairwell, to lime green booths with lemon yellow and chrome tables. Mirrors cut in geometric patterns line the wall. Fluorescents scatter the midnight blue above you like zaps of light from the opening of the first Star Wars movie. Music twangs from invisible speakers, full of nostalgia, and from a different time. A projection on the floor directs you to the bathrooms, to the bar, to your seat.

It’s The Jetsons meets Battlestar Galactica, and it’s right in the heart of Hawthorn.

Lido Cinema sits majestically on Glenferrie Road above the Troubadour Arcade and is the third acquisition from Eddie Tamir, owner of the Classic Cinema in Elsternwick and the Cameo in Belgrave.

Tamir has always been immersed in Melbourne’s colourful cinema culture. His love of cinemas began at a young age, as he recalls visits to the Art Deco Rivoli cinema in Hawthorn East as a child. “It was very special, to go there, it was always like an event”, he says. 

As a teen, Tamir would go to the cult-cinema Valhalla on Victoria Street in Richmond. “It was an amazing experience,” he says with awe. “It was new and quirky, with all the movie posters and the people…” While the original building no longer stands, the Valhalla was the stuff cinema and film love is made of. Their cult-film screenings, 24 hour movie marathons, themed weekly screenings, Rocky Horror and Blues Brothers participation screenings remain legendary (and has been recently revived under the Valhalla Social Cinema.)

Having opened its doors in June, Lido never intended to be like every other renewed, 'old style' cinema.

“One of the challenges with the cinema is that it’s recorded media, it’s controlled.” Tamir tells me, “So I wanted to have kind of a live element in the cinema.” And thus the Lido Jazz Room was born. Every Friday and Saturday night, the Jazz Room hosts jazz trios and quartets to play live for a maximum of 40 people.

The Jazz Room is intimate, situated under one of the cinemas, with small, round tables and chairs (about six in total) and a small platform stage to fill the room. A small bar, just large enough to hold your drink or rest your arm, and row of stools line the back wall.

The lighting is low, and it makes the room feel cool and secretive. A waiter dressed in black stands in the corner waiting at your beck and call. It’s a tight squeeze as I pull my legs in from my perch on a stool, allowing for a waiter to walk past, a large box of popcorn, poised on a tray extended on one hand. All the while, the music envelopes you in warmth and sound. Patrons either talk softly to each other, or prefer to sit in silence, content to listen and applaud after each song.

The Jazz Room is a dream come to life for Tamir, “It’s always been an ambition of mine.” Its exclusivity and intimacy has the power to transport you to another place. A windowless alcove, it’s hard to believe you’re only across the road from Glenferrie station, a McDonalds and a Starbucks. You forget you’re really in Melbourne at all.

I tell Tamir this, “Yeah, kind of like Paris.” He agrees. I laugh nervously, I’ve never travelled out of Australia. But this is the beauty of it: whether you’ve been to Paris or not, right in Melbourne, the Lido Jazz room will give you the experience of transportation.

But the Jazz Room is only one unique aspect of this “futuristic 60s” cinema. Lido is also gearing up for the opening of their Rooftop Cinema, boasting 360 degree views of the city skyline, Hawthorn and surrounding suburbs, 100 seats and something no other rooftop cinema has done, showing new releases on its screen.

If jazz just isn’t your thing or you’re afraid of heights, Lido has eight different screens, showing a variety of new releases, as well as hosting special events. Sink into their plush, red velvet seats and take in a film. Not ready to go home? Gather your friends in their lime-green booths, and stay for a drink or browse their menu for a bite to eat (I will admit, their coconut oil popcorn is phenomenal).

Lido Cinema is more than just a cinema, it’s a place to stay a while, and get lost.

- Claire 

Lido Cinema is open 7 days a week, at 675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

The Jazz Room is open 9pm-11pm every Friday and Saturday night. 

Tickets & info available at www.lidocinemas.com.au/Page/Lido-Jazz-Room

* Mosaik does not take credit for the images used in this article