Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – Gourmet snacks and wine, not stiff seats and long queues, await well-heeled patrons at Indonesia's first luxury cinema, which opened at a glitzy mall two weeks ago.

The Premiere, which is located in the city's Plaza Senayan mall, opened for business on Valentine's Day, and has been drawing in steady crowds ever since.

Several more such cinemas selling comfort and luxury are set to open later this month. The country's major Cineplex chain, The 21 Cineplex, converted one of its smaller theatres at the Plaza Senayan into The Premiere. The theatre's 141 seats were cut down to 38, making it much more spacious.

For 75,000 rupiah (S$14), more than twice the ticket price at the Plaza Senayan's other theatres, moviegoers get to stretch out at The Premiere's reclining Lazy Boy seats. A table is paired with every two seats for convenience. Waiters and waitresses serve the patrons with food and beverages which can be ordered from a private lounge designated for the theatre's audience.

Said Tommy, a young man in his 20s who went with his girlfriend to see Arnold Schwarzenegger's new film, Collateral Damage: "The privacy and comfort we get is worth the price we paid."

Those wanting to celebrate birthdays or other important occasions or company executives wanting to entertain clients can book the whole theatre for themselves for the length of a movie. And, unlike other cinemas, the audience can book tickets a day in advance.

The company's marketing and promotion manager, Ms Ambiary, told The Straits Times: "We see a market because many people go to the cinema not just to see a movie but as part of their social lives. For these people, we provide a good ambience," she said.

The Premiere will soon be joined by other theatres offering a deluxe movie experience. In the queue is Multiplex Media, a consortium of several businessmen. It will start operating the Multiplex Grande Pasaraya later this month at the Pasaraya department store in South Jakarta's Blok M shopping complex. The consortium involves television mini-series producer Raam Punjabi, Pasaraya owner Abdul Latief and restaurateur Adiguna Sutowo.

Multiplex Grande will offer more choices for the moviegoers in the form of six theatres divided into three categories – the gold, diamond and VVIP classes. These will have seating capacities of 253, 53 and 24 respectively, which is about half the average size of the theatres here. Tickets will range between 75,000 and 100,000 rupiah, a source said.

Company spokesman Dhamoo Punjabi refused to elaborate on the new theatres but stressed that they would offer "service with a smile". "They will be part of an integrated entertainment centre coming up in the buildings of Pasaraya," he said.

The centre will include a bowling alley, a health club and a music lounge. Mr Punjabi added: "We are optimistic that the new theatres would be profitable."