Guidebook for Pasadena
Entertainment & Activities
$28 for movie ticket?!?! iPic is an experience, not a movie theatre. Take a romantic stroll to Miller Alley in the evening and enjoy a fabulous cocktail in the iPic bar. Then find your fully reclining jumbo seat and enjoy the blanket, in-seat food and beverage service, and free popcorn. This is *the* way to see a film.
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IPIC - Pasadena
42 Miller Alley$28 for movie ticket?!?! iPic is an experience, not a movie theatre. Take a romantic stroll to Miller Alley in the evening and enjoy a fabulous cocktail in the iPic bar. Then find your fully reclining jumbo seat and enjoy the blanket, in-seat food and beverage service, and free popcorn. This is *the* way to see a film.
For concerts, festivals and the iconic Rose Bowl. For many events, you cannot drive to the Rose Bowl. You can take public transportation, or call an Uber or Lyft to get you there quickly. For the public option, take a north bound Gold Line train from the Del Mar station just one stop north. From there you can either hop on the shuttle bus to head to the Rose Bowl ($5 per person), or walk through the beautiful neighborhood (about 20 minutes, slightly uphill). Plan to get there VERY early for big events, as security has slowed entrance down to a crawl before events start.
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Estadio Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl DrFor concerts, festivals and the iconic Rose Bowl. For many events, you cannot drive to the Rose Bowl. You can take public transportation, or call an Uber or Lyft to get you there quickly. For the public option, take a north bound Gold Line train from the Del Mar station just one stop north. From there you can either hop on the shuttle bus to head to the Rose Bowl ($5 per person), or walk through the beautiful neighborhood (about 20 minutes, slightly uphill). Plan to get there VERY early for big events, as security has slowed entrance down to a crawl before events start.
Food Scene
My absolute favorite Pasadena coffee shop, and it's only 2 blocks away! Part of the LA coffee scene. These baristas take their coffee *very* seriously. Mochas are made with ganache made on-site from single-source chocolate. They also have excellent organic bread, made fresh every morning on site. Try one of the open-faced sandwiches or even just the toast for breakfast.
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Copa Vida
70 S Raymond AveMy absolute favorite Pasadena coffee shop, and it's only 2 blocks away! Part of the LA coffee scene. These baristas take their coffee *very* seriously. Mochas are made with ganache made on-site from single-source chocolate. They also have excellent organic bread, made fresh every morning on site. Try one of the open-faced sandwiches or even just the toast for breakfast.
La Grande Orange building is the original Pasadena train station. The building also includes The Luggage Room for amazing California-style pizza, and the Otis Bar.
Weekend brunch is amazing. Try the delicious Key Lime Pie for dessert after dinner!
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La Grande Orange Cafe
260 S Raymond AveLa Grande Orange building is the original Pasadena train station. The building also includes The Luggage Room for amazing California-style pizza, and the Otis Bar.
Weekend brunch is amazing. Try the delicious Key Lime Pie for dessert after dinner!
This local café is open all day, but I recommend breakfast (especially if you were out late and need a "recovery" meal in the morning). You can go through the metro station and cross the park. You can get a hearty and affordable American breakfast here in a quaint, old building. The food isn't really anything to write home about, but the restaurant has a local, comforting and friendly vibe.
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Central Grille
801 N Central AveThis local café is open all day, but I recommend breakfast (especially if you were out late and need a "recovery" meal in the morning). You can go through the metro station and cross the park. You can get a hearty and affordable American breakfast here in a quaint, old building. The food isn't really anything to write home about, but the restaurant has a local, comforting and friendly vibe.
Reserve a table on the open-air balcony for excellent California-Mediterranean faire. The sautéed (not fried!) calamari appetizer is delicious. The wine list usually includes my favorite Sancerre (Paul et Jean-Marc Pastou ‘La Côte de Sury’). Service is top notch.
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Cafe Santorini
64 W Union StReserve a table on the open-air balcony for excellent California-Mediterranean faire. The sautéed (not fried!) calamari appetizer is delicious. The wine list usually includes my favorite Sancerre (Paul et Jean-Marc Pastou ‘La Côte de Sury’). Service is top notch.
It's called They Raymond 1886, but it's on Fair Oaks. From the street you'd think... meh? But don't be fooled! This restaurant is my favorite hidden gem in Pasadena. The house, built in 1886, was a hotel caretaker's cottage. Vintage interior, wonderful covered patio, bar with delicious plates (the onion rings!). Can be a bit pricey. If you are budget conscious, hit up the bar during happy hour.
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The Raymond Restaurant
1250 South Fair Oaks AvenueIt's called They Raymond 1886, but it's on Fair Oaks. From the street you'd think... meh? But don't be fooled! This restaurant is my favorite hidden gem in Pasadena. The house, built in 1886, was a hotel caretaker's cottage. Vintage interior, wonderful covered patio, bar with delicious plates (the onion rings!). Can be a bit pricey. If you are budget conscious, hit up the bar during happy hour.
Best boba tea (aka bubble tea) in Pasadena, right in our building! Oh My Pan serves up boba tea blends made with real fruit juice – no artificial ingredients. My favorite is the Blueberry Pomegranate green tea with boba, quarter-sweet. They also offer delicate pastries and desserts, and locally made macaroons.
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Oh My Pan Bakery & Tea
801 E Valley BlvdBest boba tea (aka bubble tea) in Pasadena, right in our building! Oh My Pan serves up boba tea blends made with real fruit juice – no artificial ingredients. My favorite is the Blueberry Pomegranate green tea with boba, quarter-sweet. They also offer delicate pastries and desserts, and locally made macaroons.
Essentials
This two story Whole Foods is everything you would expect: sparkling and packed with fresh, organic foods. This location has a juice bar, café, deli, pizza bar, noodle bar, the usual salad bar, and a large eating area. There is also a great little wine bar with a decent food menu. You can buy any bottle of wine available in the store, and they will open it and serve it to you in the wine bar. As usual, Whole Foods is on the pricey end. Don't forget your reusable shopping bags.
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Whole Foods Market
465 S Arroyo PkwyThis two story Whole Foods is everything you would expect: sparkling and packed with fresh, organic foods. This location has a juice bar, café, deli, pizza bar, noodle bar, the usual salad bar, and a large eating area. There is also a great little wine bar with a decent food menu. You can buy any bottle of wine available in the store, and they will open it and serve it to you in the wine bar. As usual, Whole Foods is on the pricey end. Don't forget your reusable shopping bags.
This is it, the classic, the VERY FIRST Trader Joe's ever built! If you are not familiar with Trader Joe's you may wonder what all he fuss is about. TJ's (as it is known) is a tiki themed grocery store chain that carries its own products, treats its employees well, is very affordable and is actually fun to visit. Don't forget to take reusable shopping bags!
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Trader Joe's
1566 Colorado BlvdThis is it, the classic, the VERY FIRST Trader Joe's ever built! If you are not familiar with Trader Joe's you may wonder what all he fuss is about. TJ's (as it is known) is a tiki themed grocery store chain that carries its own products, treats its employees well, is very affordable and is actually fun to visit. Don't forget to take reusable shopping bags!
Sightseeing
Have you seen the city hall in Parks & Rec? Well that's actually our local City Hall! It's a beautiful example of 1920s California architecture.
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City of Pasadena City Hall
300 S Raymond AveHave you seen the city hall in Parks & Rec? Well that's actually our local City Hall! It's a beautiful example of 1920s California architecture.
Drinks & Nightlife
Just across the street at the Del Mar metro stop, the Stone Brewery Company Store serves dozens of the brews from San Diego's Stone Brewery. You can get a 4 oz pour so you can try many brews, which is great because they are constantly changing.
Take the 40 oz growler (jug) from the loft kitchen with you and fill it for $7 - $9, depending on your selection. Please be sure to return my growler to the kitchen though!
Note that you can order pizza from The Luggage Room next door and have it delivered to Stone so you can enjoy it with your beer selection!
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Stone Brewing Tap Room - Pasadena
220 S Raymond AveJust across the street at the Del Mar metro stop, the Stone Brewery Company Store serves dozens of the brews from San Diego's Stone Brewery. You can get a 4 oz pour so you can try many brews, which is great because they are constantly changing.
Take the 40 oz growler (jug) from the loft kitchen with you and fill it for $7 - $9, depending on your selection. Please be sure to return my growler to the kitchen though!
Note that you can order pizza from The Luggage Room next door and have it delivered to Stone so you can enjoy it with your beer selection!
Getting Around
Metro stop, right across the street from the loft! Use the TAP card from the loft to catch the Gold Line to Union Station transfer to the Red line for Hollywood & Universal City, or the Expo line to the 'West Side' – all the way to Santa Monica.
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Del Mar Station
Metro stop, right across the street from the loft! Use the TAP card from the loft to catch the Gold Line to Union Station transfer to the Red line for Hollywood & Universal City, or the Expo line to the 'West Side' – all the way to Santa Monica.
Arts & Culture
If you love architecture, the 1-hour Arts & Crafts 'Gamble House' tour is a must. The house is a work of Craftsman art, has been virtually unchanged since it was built to exquisite standards in 1908. You'll get a dose of California history, with breathtaking views of Arroyo from the back garden.
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The Gamble House
4 Westmoreland PlIf you love architecture, the 1-hour Arts & Crafts 'Gamble House' tour is a must. The house is a work of Craftsman art, has been virtually unchanged since it was built to exquisite standards in 1908. You'll get a dose of California history, with breathtaking views of Arroyo from the back garden.