Cinemas in Moore Park

Moore Park's two cinemas sit in the same Entertainment Quarter, which the precinct's own listing describes as home to restaurants, bars, go-karting and a bi-weekly grower's market. Its things-to-do page places the two side by side, Hoyts for mainstream movies and Palace for arthouse, so the decision is less about where you go and more about what your kids will actually watch.

HOYTS Entertainment Quarter is the bigger operation. Time Out includes it among its best cinemas in Sydney, citing huge screens and stadium seating, and also mentions an IMAX screen and a LUX upgrade where a large meal is brought to your seat. Reviewers keep returning to recliner seats, Dolby Atmos sound and cleanliness between sessions, and several advise booking online because candy bar queues slow at changeover, with Saturday evening the peak. Our verdict: it suits families with older children who want the reclining-seat experience, while the outdoor playground in the precinct gives younger ones somewhere to burn energy before or after the film.

Palace Cinemas Moore Park is the former Palace Verona, which both the Entertainment Quarter and Flicks note relocated here from Paddington after many years. Its own page describes 4K laser projection, licensed auditoria and curated wine lists, and reviewers mention foreign films, comfortable seating and easy parking. The program skews strongly arthouse and international, and City of Sydney lists it as host of the Irish Film Festival in October, so check what's showing before promising anyone a superhero movie. We'd point families with children aged eight and up here, particularly parents who find multiplexes overwhelming. Reviewers also flag that there is no mobile reception inside the cinemas.