Plan Your Visit

Whether you are coming to Pasadena for an afternoon, a day, a weekend or longer, there is plenty to engage,

entertain and amuse you. You can find every sort of accommodation at every price range, as well as restaurants of every caliber, a variety of museums, entertaining activities and more for the whole family.

An afternoon of fun

Enjoy a mid-day meal at a/k/a an American Bistro in the heart of Old Pasadena, then take a leisurely stroll toward the Pasadena Civic Center to see our amazing City Hall. Walk through the Plaza las Fuentes to Pacific

Asia Museum along Los Robles Avenue where you can spend a couple of hours enjoying the finest of the art and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands in the Historic Grace Nicholson mansion. End your day with a Yucatan flavored dinner at El Portal Restaurant, one of Pasadena’s dining gems. If the kids are along, spend the afternoon at Kidspace’s inventive play and learning areas in the Arroyo Seco, walk to the nearby Rose Bowl for a close up look at college football’s most storied venue before heading to Beckham Grill and Crown Pub for a meal in a fun British-themed restaurant. Look for the London cab and English call box outside.

An overnight stay

Book yourself into The Sheraton in downtown Pasadena then head to Old Pasadena for some shopping. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Bar Celona in between shopping at Eileen Fisher, Tiffany and Company, Lula Mae or any of the unique shopping venues in Old Pasadena. Treat yourself to drinks, dinner and a movie at Gold Class Cinemas in the heart of Old Pasadena before heading back to your hotel. Don’t feel like a movie? Enjoy dinner at Japon Bistro on Colorado Boulevard then walk around the corner for a night of laughs at the Ice House Comedy Club. The first comedy club in the U.S. has hosted Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Robin Williams and almost every comedy star of the last 50 years.

If you’ve got the kids along, take some time for play at Pasadena’s Central Park then head for a Mexican dinner at El Cholo in Paseo Colorado before taking in a show at Arclight Cinemas.

The next day, enjoy breakfast at Soleil in your hotel then head to Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens for a stroll through their lush gardens and views of the amazing art collections and other exhibits. Make sure you see Gainsborough’s “Blue Boy” and Laurence’s “Pinkie” in the Huntington Galleries and the amazing collection of American art in the Steele Galleries. The Library displays printed works including a Gutenburg Bible, a manuscript of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”, and original letters of some of history’s greatest people.

Enjoy lunch at Toro Sushi, a wonderful new culinary addition to East Colorado Boulevard (at San Gabriel), before you do a little antiquing along Pasadena’s Lamanda Park Antique Row. Don’t miss the estate jewelry and antiques at Novotny’s before you head back to your hotel to check out.

A Weekend Get-away

On Friday afternoon, check into The Westin in downtown Pasadena and enjoy a nice stroll through Pasadena’s Civic Center, taking time to visit City Hall and the Pasadena Central Library, before having drinks and dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House along Colorado Boulevard. If the kids are along, try California Pizza Kitchen and a nice walk through Paseo Colorado to window shop and enjoy the playful fountain.

On Saturday morning, start with an al fresco breakfast at Mi Piace in Old Pasadena for sidewalk dining and

people-watching. Then stroll around Old Pasadena for some window shopping or to make a few purchases. If the kids are along, take a leisurely walk through the Caltech campus and absorb 100 years of architectural history where Einstein, Feynman and Hawking lectured and 31 Nobel Prize winners taught and researched. Make sure the kids get a chance to check out the fish and frog ponds and run under the olive trees. Take in a late lunch at Robin’s Wood Fire BBQ and Grill then burn off the calories with an afternoon of bowling at 300 Pasadena, our upscale, high-energy lanes in East Pasadena. Don’t want to bowl? Head over to Santa Anita Park in nearby Arcadia for horse racing at its best (seasonal) or enjoy a massage for two at Massage Envy in East Pasadena.

When you’ve knocked down enough pins or picked enough winners and are in mood to relax with some Jazz and a great meal, head to Colombo’s Italian Steakhouse in nearby Eagle Rock for drinks, good food and music seven nights a week. Jazz not your thing? Check out an evening of cutting-edge theater at The Theatre @ Boston Court or more traditional works in repertory at A Noise Within. If you want to give the kids a fun treat, dine at Burger Continental on South Lake Avenue and experience some traditional Middle Eastern music and entertainment — including G-rated belly dancers — as you enjoy American and Armenian cuisine.

Sunday morning, you can worship in All Saints Episcopal Church’s historic chapel, First Lutheran Church on Los Robles or one of dozens of churches representing many denominations in the area. After that, take in brunch at The Raymond, a converted bungalow cottage, or on the terrace at Café Santorini before you hop into Pasadena Tour Company’s bus for a two-hour architectural and historic tour of Pasadena. Before heading out of town, enjoy a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres at Vertical Wine Bistro or take the kids to CREPEstudio, for a taste delight you will not forget.

Staying Longer?

Check in at any one of our fine hotels. Looking for luxury, try the Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa. The Sheraton Pasadena, Westin, Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton or Vagabond Inn Executive each provide excellent accommodations within walking distance of downtown Pasadena. On a budget, consider the Holiday Inn Express, Days Inn, Best Western or even the Comfort Inn near Old Pasadena in adjacent Eagle Rock.

Monday: Arrive in time for check-in at your hotel then have lunch at The Counter on South Lake Avenue. After lunch, Pasadena Tour Company can give a nice historical overview of the city in a luxurious motor coach to get you oriented. You can get even more insight into the people who built Pasadena and its institutions at the Pasadena Historical Museum where you can tour the Fenyes Mansion and browse exhibits about Pasadena’s bygone days. Cross Orange Grove Boulevard and tour the Gamble House, one of the most fabulous of the Greene and Greene bungalows before finishing up with dinner on the patio at Il Fornaio and a nice walk back to your hotel along Pasadena’s beautiful downtown streets. While in Old Pasadena, see the historic Braley Building on Raymond Avenue, which was recently renovated by the Church of Scientology, and stop by to check out Tiffany and Company or eclectic gift emporium Lula Mae.

Tuesday: Start your day off with breakfast at Brookside Golf Club, then play 18 holes at the historic course. Not into golf? Take a leisurely walk past the Rose Bowl Stadium, along the natural Arroyo Seco, under the Colorado Street Bridge and along the lower Arroyo. View the Vista del Arroyo Hotel and glimpse the inspiration for

Pasadena’s plein air painters. Catch lunch at a Pasadena favorite, Pie ‘n Burger and stroll along South Lake Avenue. Later, enjoy a glass of wine at Malbec Argentinian Restaurant and stick around to order a most memorable dinner before a leisurely, romantic walk along beautiful tree-lined Green Street.

Wednesday: After breakfast at your hotel, head for the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens where you can enjoy artworks spanning the Old Masters to 20^th Century American artisans and artists and the kids can burn off energy in the lush gardens. Spend a morning, an afternoon or an entire day at the Huntington Library but be sure to visit the Chinese Garden. Enjoy lunch in the Tea Room and imagine what it must have been like to live on the estate 100 years ago as you wander through sculpture gardens, the horticulture exhibits and renowned art and artifact collections in the former home of railroad tycoon Henry Huntington. Then have fine Italian cuisine, elegantly served, at Celestino Ristorante on Lake Avenue.

Thursday: Visit Magical Playground with the little ones for supervised play in a fun, safe environment. (Magical Playground also provides affordable evening babysitting services.) Left the kids with Grandma? Drive up to Art Center College of Design and check out what’s showing in the Williamson Gallery where art, technology, commerce and design often intersect in thought-provoking and entertaining ways. While at the Lida Street campus, enjoy the view of the Rose Bowl, Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco and Devil’s Gate Dam. Get lunch at 1810 Argentinean Cafe or A/K/A an American Bistro in Old Pasadena Thursday evening, have drinks, dinner and a movie at Gold Class Cinemas for a most luxurious experience.

Friday: Get breakfast at Mi Piace in Old Pasadena and watch the world go by from your sidewalk table. Then, if

it’s racing season, head out to Santa Anita Park for the thoroughbred racing at one of the finest venues in the world. Post time is usually about 12:30, but get there a little early to walk around the track and take in the mountain views. Be sure to see the Seabiscuit statue. Later on, head for Clearman’s Northwoods Inn for dinner at a local favorite.

If horse racing is not your thing (or if the horses aren’t running), browse the shelves at Vroman’s Bookstore, the best independent bookstore in the west (according to Publisher’s Weekly). Then walk along Colorado Boulevard to Pacific Asia Museum where the art and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands is displayed in one of Pasadena’s architectural gems.

Take lunch at McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant across Los Robles Avenue in the Plaza Las Fuentes, then walk past the fountain and through the rotunda at Pasadena City Hall before you walk down Garfield Avenue to Paseo Colorado, one of the country’s first outdoor shopping experiences. Browse the shops, take in a movie at the Arclight Cinemas or just let the kids play in the whimsical fountain before you look for dinner in Old Pasadena. Looking for something a little exotic? Try All India Café on Fair Oaks Avenue, or enjoy Mexican food at Ix-Tapa or fine cuisine and an unmatched wine list at Vertical Wine Bistro. King’s Row Gastropub offers the latest in pub cuisine and ambience. Looking for the perfect gift for that foodie friend or relative? Stop in at Beyond the Olive to find a gift set to suit any gourmet’s taste.

Finish the evening off with dancing at Villa Sorriso, drinks in casual comfort at Magnolia on Lake or take the kids to Cherry on Top for dessert.

Saturday: Have coffee and pastries at Intelligentsia Coffee then, if it’s fall and UCLA is playing at home, head for the Rose Bowl to experience football in the best college stadium in the world. For the price of the tickets, you can enjoy college football in the game’s most historic venue.

If it’s not football season, you can still visit the Rose Bowl Stadium. Take your picture in front of college football’s most iconic venue then, if you brought them along, take the little ones to burn some energy while

they learn at Kidspace Museum’s experiential learning and play environment nearby in the historic Arroyo Seco. No kids? Consider a spa day at the luxurious Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa. Enjoy a day of pampering amid the charm, elegance and history of the last of Pasadena’s resort hotels.

Follow it up with an early gourmet dinner at The Dining Room or The Terrace restaurant at the hotel before you head to the Theatre @ Boston Court for some cutting-edge performing arts or A Noise Within for award-winning classical repertory theater. Not in the mood for theater? Stop by the ice house, America’s first comedy club and experience live comedy at the stage that has hosted Jay Leno, Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld and the legends of stand-up.

Sunday: Take in services at one of Pasadena’s many churches. You can mix architectural history with worship at All Saints Episcopal Church or St. Andrew Catholic Church in downtown or at Historic First Lutheran Church on North Los Robles Avenue. After services, enjoy brunch at Kathleen’s Restaurant on North Lake Avenue before immersing yourself in outdoor Pasadena with a hike up Eaton Canyon to the base of the falls. The leisurely walk will take a couple of hours and affords a close-up view of the beauty and power of the San Gabriel Mountains. After that, head to Old Pasadena for some window-shopping, people watching and an early dinner at The Melting Pot fondue restaurant before you check out of your hotel and head for home.