Guidebook for Pasadena

Laura
Guidebook for Pasadena

Food Scene

The very best ever. A must go. It is in the neighboring city but worth it – just a couple of extra miles westward on Colorado Blvd. They serve everything, not just pizza – but the pizza is the bes
62 locals recommend
Casa Bianca Pizza Pie
1650 Colorado Blvd
62 locals recommend
The very best ever. A must go. It is in the neighboring city but worth it – just a couple of extra miles westward on Colorado Blvd. They serve everything, not just pizza – but the pizza is the bes
Steak - Expensive
32 locals recommend
Arroyo Chop House
536 S Arroyo Pkwy
32 locals recommend
Steak - Expensive
Mediterranean, Mid-level pricing
28 locals recommend
Cafe Santorini
64 W Union St
28 locals recommend
Mediterranean, Mid-level pricing
Italian - my daughter's favorite. Tightly situated tables and louder but delicious.
15 locals recommend
Celestino Ristorante & Bar
141 S Lake Ave
15 locals recommend
Italian - my daughter's favorite. Tightly situated tables and louder but delicious.
California Cuisine and great salads
14 locals recommend
Green Street Restaurant
146 Shoppers Ln
14 locals recommend
California Cuisine and great salads
Italian. Delicious and in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. There is always a crowd, so make a reservation.
52 locals recommend
Mi Piace
25 E Colorado Blvd
52 locals recommend
Italian. Delicious and in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. There is always a crowd, so make a reservation.
Special occasion dining. In the same Smith Bros. dining group as Arroyo Chop House.
25 locals recommend
Parkway Grill
510 S Arroyo Pkwy
25 locals recommend
Special occasion dining. In the same Smith Bros. dining group as Arroyo Chop House.
Thai - outside the main drag of Pasadena
22 locals recommend
President Thai Restaurant
498 S Rosemead Blvd
22 locals recommend
Thai - outside the main drag of Pasadena
Soul Food and the best waffles ever
33 locals recommend
Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles - Pasadena
830 N Lake Ave
33 locals recommend
Soul Food and the best waffles ever
Delicious Thai. It's sister restaurant next door is Saladang Song and they specialize in seafood items.
23 locals recommend
Saladang
363 S Fair Oaks Ave
23 locals recommend
Delicious Thai. It's sister restaurant next door is Saladang Song and they specialize in seafood items.
Expensive sushi. In the heart of Old Town Pasadena.
16 locals recommend
Sushi Roku Pasadena
33 Miller Alley
16 locals recommend
Expensive sushi. In the heart of Old Town Pasadena.
High End Seasonal CA version of Northern Italian. Reservations required in advance!
41 locals recommend
Union Restaurant
37 Union St
41 locals recommend
High End Seasonal CA version of Northern Italian. Reservations required in advance!
Everything you could ever want in a casual setting. Very eclectic place and has lots of TVs. Good sports bar.
33 locals recommend
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
179 E Colorado Blvd
33 locals recommend
Everything you could ever want in a casual setting. Very eclectic place and has lots of TVs. Good sports bar.
Italian. In the heart of Old Town Pasadena. Chain.
22 locals recommend
Il Fornaio
24 W Union St
22 locals recommend
Italian. In the heart of Old Town Pasadena. Chain.
Steaks and generally great ambiance. Chain restaurant.
63 locals recommend
Houston's
1550 Rosecrans Ave
63 locals recommend
Steaks and generally great ambiance. Chain restaurant.
Organic Coffee/Tea with great healthy food and delicious desserts. Long lines most of the time. The coffee is marvelous!
288 locals recommend
Urth Caffé
459 S Hewitt St
288 locals recommend
Organic Coffee/Tea with great healthy food and delicious desserts. Long lines most of the time. The coffee is marvelous!
Chain – big menu – Famous from "The Big Bang Theory"
494 locals recommend
The Cheesecake Factory
4142 Vía Marina
494 locals recommend
Chain – big menu – Famous from "The Big Bang Theory"
Armenian/Mediterranean Food – Fast Food – Delicious! Very casual.
121 locals recommend
Zankou Chicken
5065 Sunset Blvd
121 locals recommend
Armenian/Mediterranean Food – Fast Food – Delicious! Very casual.
A Pasadena MUST EAT HERE. Their burgers, many daily pies, fresh milk shakes, salads, potato salad, etc. are all fabulous. Do not miss the pie!
14 locals recommend
Pie'n Burger
913 E California Blvd
14 locals recommend
A Pasadena MUST EAT HERE. Their burgers, many daily pies, fresh milk shakes, salads, potato salad, etc. are all fabulous. Do not miss the pie!
Local Chain Burgers, Fries, Shakes (and that’s it) Famously fresh and delicious. Be ready for a long line both inside and drive-through at all hours of the day – typically 20-30 minutes.
54 locals recommend
In-N-Out Burger
1210 N Atlantic Blvd
54 locals recommend
Local Chain Burgers, Fries, Shakes (and that’s it) Famously fresh and delicious. Be ready for a long line both inside and drive-through at all hours of the day – typically 20-30 minutes.
Individual Pizzas made to your specifications and quick fired, and salads.
84 locals recommend
Blaze Pizza
667 E Colorado Blvd
84 locals recommend
Individual Pizzas made to your specifications and quick fired, and salads.
Famous Burger’s and Breakfast Burritos (yum.) My son’s favorite! Original location with indoor and outdoor seating.
21 locals recommend
Lucky Boy
640 S Arroyo Pkwy
21 locals recommend
Famous Burger’s and Breakfast Burritos (yum.) My son’s favorite! Original location with indoor and outdoor seating.
Best Pastrami Sandwich! American. Everything is served large here.
22 locals recommend
The Hat
491 N Lake Ave
22 locals recommend
Best Pastrami Sandwich! American. Everything is served large here.
Breakfast & Lunch – Higher End. Wonderful eggs benedict and French toast.
23 locals recommend
Marston's Restaurant
151 E Walnut St
23 locals recommend
Breakfast & Lunch – Higher End. Wonderful eggs benedict and French toast.
Breakfast and Lunch – American Style. Very busy for weekend breakfast! In the heart of Old Town Pasadena.
25 locals recommend
Russell's
30 N Fair Oaks Ave
25 locals recommend
Breakfast and Lunch – American Style. Very busy for weekend breakfast! In the heart of Old Town Pasadena.
Breakfast! Sandwiches and Soups also for the rest of the day.
12 locals recommend
Corner Bakery
103 W Imperial Hwy
12 locals recommend
Breakfast! Sandwiches and Soups also for the rest of the day.
Fresh Salads, Soups, and Meals made to order in a casual setting. Very nutritious.
432 locals recommend
Tender Greens
6290 Sunset Blvd
432 locals recommend
Fresh Salads, Soups, and Meals made to order in a casual setting. Very nutritious.
Dessert: Out of the way but delicious authentic Gelato.
16 locals recommend
Bulgarini Gelato Artigianale
749 E Altadena Dr
16 locals recommend
Dessert: Out of the way but delicious authentic Gelato.
Dessert: Ice Cream. Unbelievably delicious and unique flavors. The buttermilk is so rich that it leaves a film in your mouth. Do not miss!
47 locals recommend
Carmela Ice Cream
2495 E Washington Blvd
47 locals recommend
Dessert: Ice Cream. Unbelievably delicious and unique flavors. The buttermilk is so rich that it leaves a film in your mouth. Do not miss!
Pie, also in the same complex is coffee and ice cream at separate stands. In the heart of Old Town Pasadena.
118 locals recommend
The Pie Hole
714 Traction Ave
118 locals recommend
Pie, also in the same complex is coffee and ice cream at separate stands. In the heart of Old Town Pasadena.
Great Vegan and Vegetarian food!
13 locals recommend
Sage Plant Based Bistro Pasadena
41 Hugus Alley
13 locals recommend
Great Vegan and Vegetarian food!
Delicious and inexpensive vegan food. The parking lot is awful but the place is great.
6 locals recommend
My Vegan Restaurant
633 S Arroyo Pkwy
6 locals recommend
Delicious and inexpensive vegan food. The parking lot is awful but the place is great.
Cafeteria style, healthy AND delicious food. Cool vibe to sit outside. High end cafeteria!
35 locals recommend
Urban Plates
12746-3 W Jefferson Blvd
35 locals recommend
Cafeteria style, healthy AND delicious food. Cool vibe to sit outside. High end cafeteria!

Everything Else

One of the many Gold Line metro stations around Pasadena which take you to downtown Los Angeles.
14 locals recommend
Memorial Park Station
14 locals recommend
One of the many Gold Line metro stations around Pasadena which take you to downtown Los Angeles.

Drinks & Nightlife

British Pub and Café
19 locals recommend
Lucky Baldwin's Pub
17 S Raymond Ave
19 locals recommend
British Pub and Café

Essentials

General Grocery Store
51 locals recommend
Ralphs
160 N Lake Ave
51 locals recommend
General Grocery Store
Smaller General Store, Great Deals on Liquor and Local Grown Items. Not great meat. Location on Arroyo Parkway (near Whole Foods).
238 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1566 Colorado Blvd
238 locals recommend
Smaller General Store, Great Deals on Liquor and Local Grown Items. Not great meat. Location on Arroyo Parkway (near Whole Foods).
Organic, natural, many locally grown, and health foods. Very expensive but fabulous quality – especially produce. Often referred to as "Whole Paycheck" due to prices.
306 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
465 S Arroyo Pkwy
306 locals recommend
Organic, natural, many locally grown, and health foods. Very expensive but fabulous quality – especially produce. Often referred to as "Whole Paycheck" due to prices.

Shopping

Discount everything store. Especially good for personal care products, but has everything including electronics.
20 locals recommend
CVS Pharmacy
777 E Colorado Blvd
20 locals recommend
Discount everything store. Especially good for personal care products, but has everything including electronics.
Pharmacy, personal care items, and some general items. (Just a few blocks away.)
238 locals recommend
CVS
4414 York Blvd
238 locals recommend
Pharmacy, personal care items, and some general items. (Just a few blocks away.)
Large, wonderful locally owned bookstore. Coffee shop and magazine seller attached. Next to Laemmle theatre.
65 locals recommend
Vroman's Bookstore
695 E Colorado Blvd
65 locals recommend
Large, wonderful locally owned bookstore. Coffee shop and magazine seller attached. Next to Laemmle theatre.

Sightseeing

A must see of gardens and art collection. People often go back for more than one day to truly appreciate it all.
999 locals recommend
Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Rd
999 locals recommend
A must see of gardens and art collection. People often go back for more than one day to truly appreciate it all.
Terrific art museum. It actually houses more art and sculptures than the Getty. Great impressionist collection.
485 locals recommend
Norton Simon Museum
411 W Colorado Blvd
485 locals recommend
Terrific art museum. It actually houses more art and sculptures than the Getty. Great impressionist collection.
NASA. They offer tours and have special events. Sign up well in advance!
74 locals recommend
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Dr
74 locals recommend
NASA. They offer tours and have special events. Sign up well in advance!
Beautifully lit at night. Take a walk around or through and enjoy.
91 locals recommend
City of Pasadena City Hall
300 S Raymond Ave
91 locals recommend
Beautifully lit at night. Take a walk around or through and enjoy.
Beautiful views! A don’t miss. There are a lot of free exhibits and a paid planetarium show. Difficult parking!
8 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 East Observatory Road
8 locals recommend
Beautiful views! A don’t miss. There are a lot of free exhibits and a paid planetarium show. Difficult parking!