Moving to Pasadena next month, please share all your recs! But please no greater LA recs, I want to know what’s amazing specifically in Pasadena :)

Question

Allison Doherty · Answer

Altadena Beverage & Market: Very cute shop with not only wine liquor beer, but great specialty food items. Pop ups on the weekends. Just a great place!

Oleg K · Answer

Book Alley: A fantastic used bookstore that's been around for many years. And next door is Blue Rooster Art Supplies (complete with a store cat named Lizard).

Phuong Mejia · Answer

Little Gems: There are some great spots to eat in Pasadena. Miopane is a bakery that has delicious cream cheese stuffed bagels. The garlic is my go to favorite. For cute stationery, there’s Mt. Fo’rest. They have a huge selection of pens and stickers. And the employees are so nice!

Martha Tesema · Answer

Remainders Creative Use: If you’re a crafty person, this is a great spot for recycled/low cost supplies!

Martha Tesema · Answer

Rose City Barbell: Greatest gym.

Anniebraves · Answer

Vroman's : Oldest Book Store in California

Jackie Clarke · Answer

Book Alley: Sure I love Vromans, I’m not a monster. But the vibes at this new and used store are impeccable. Type of place to browse and lose an afternoon.

Maliea Croy · Answer

Green Street Café Mediterranean Food: Quick/casual lunch is hard to find in Pasadena and this is a crucial low key but yummy spot. Also Mary’s Market in Sierra Madre + a hike is a super cute morning.

chio · Answer

burger and pie pasadena

Sabina Vafina · Answer

stone coyote pottery studio!: as someone who has been in pasadena for 6+ years, this is one of the most exciting additions! this new pottery studio is so so sweet, and has really fun classes!

Babuji · Answer

Pie 'N Burger - Iconic Pasadena Diner: The best old fashioned diner food in Pasadena. I usually line up with several hundred people before Thanksgiving for the pies, but you can get them by the slice after lunch. I recommend the pecan.

Soleil · Answer

Thursday night latin and flamenco music at Griffins: this is technically South Pasadena, but close enough! Thursday night dinner at the south pas farmer’s market and then live Latin and Flamenco music performed by a 10(maybe 12?) member band at Griffins of Kinsale. The brothers who run the bar are so friendly and welcoming. I always meet interesting people here! Music from 9pm - 12am.

Soleil · Answer

Rose Bowl Aquatics Center: The rosebowl aquatic center! In addition to lanes for lap swimming, they have a $2 recreational swim hour and a variety of workout classes. My ideal Pasadena day includes a swim here, then going to erewhon for a smoothie and using their hair and body oil samples to recover from the chlorine

rory · Answer

Switzer Falls: truly such a close-by hike that makes you feel like you've left the city entirely, im from norcal and this is the closest thing i can get to a walk in the redwoods

rory · Answer

Vroman's Bookstore: goodness how could i forget, wine bar inside

Sarah Cooney · Answer

Tacos Ensenada: Ok this is in Sierra Madre but it borders Pasadena so I’m including. BEST tacos for literally nothing. Enjoy!! We love Pasadena!

Steven Weill · Answer

It's Doctor HQ: Doctor's appointments while living in LA can be a hell of a task. For whatever reason, the best doctors (and I'm not just talking GPs here — specialists, dentists, therapists, dermatologists etc) all seem to be concentrated around Beverly Hills and one other place... glorious Pasadena. Unbelievably convenient. I find myself bragging about this and I'm not even in Pasadena, just over the border in Eagle Rock.

Space Camp · Answer

Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, CA: For any kids in your life - it's a delight! The production design is excellent (lol) and they're always swapping out things seasonally.

Steven Weill · Answer

Victory Park Farmer's Market: It is not trendy, it is not scene-y. What it is however is the best farmers market around for people who are actually going to the farmers market to shop for ingredients, prepared foods and plants.

Steven Weill · Answer

Pasadena Architectural Salvage : Incredibly knowledgeable and kind sellers of the most beautiful reclaimed home salvage you've ever seen. Doors, windows, stained glass, colorful sinks, toilets, bathtubs & lighting made from the 1880s to 1950s.

Steven Weill · Answer

South Lake Erewhon: EASILY the best location of LA's iconic grocer. Not even close from where I'm standing. Best outdoor options, least picked over selection, chillest energy, zero typical Erwehon bullshit.

Steven Weill · Answer

Raymond & Union : God shines his light upon Pasadena. The city is my special interest but just as a starting rec the intersection of Union St and Raymond Ave is stacked beyond any reasonable measure.

Osawa - classic, extremely consistent sushi
Bone Kettle - delicious, upscale Indonesian 
Union - best pasta east of the 101 imho
Blind Donkey - exceptional whiskey specializing pub
Thaim - fun, new school Thai
Paper Rice - like Chipotle for Vietnamese rice rolls. Incredible.
Tibet Nepal House - unreal Nepalese 
Delight Pastry - extremely underrated pastry shop
dos besos - top five Spanish in the LA area if not higher

THIS IS A SINGLE INTERSECTION

Leslie · Answer

Frances Bakery: a perfect little Japanese French bakery in a strip mall in south pas. get the strawberry napoleon or st honore

rory · Answer

Regal Paseo on Colorado: cheaper than amc and they program classic movies almost every night…… empty theaters it’s such a golden ticket

i only go after 7pm because street parking is free and wide open GOD I LOVE PASADENA

rory · Answer

Friday Nights at the Gamble House with West Altadena Wine: jazz and pizza at the gamble house lawn, very family home-town summer vibes

rory · Answer

Norton Simon Museum - Pasadena: free admission first Friday of the month :)

rory · Answer

Huntington Gardens Yearly Membership:

$175 for unlimited access and additional guest passes, lectures and exhibits!

also perfect for friends & family visiting town, or day-date

rory · Answer

Remainders Creative Reuse - Pasadena: community craft store in pasadena where locals donate unused fabrics, thread, yard, stamps, envelopes, and $30 classes on sewing & screen printing