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 in Old Pasadena at Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery or The Kitchen. For vegan or vegetarian options try Sage Vegan Bistro or True Food Kitchen. If you want a beer with your burger in a sports bar atmosphere, try Barney's Beanery. Then take a leisurely stroll toward the Pasadena Civic Center to see our amazing City Hall. Walk through the Plaza las Fuentes to USC/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 California Pizza Kitchen for a fam ily friendly meal. Look for the London cab and English call box outside.
An overnight stay
Book yourself into The Hilton in downtown Pasadena then head to Old Pasadena for some shopping. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Sorriso/Bar Celona or Il Fornaio in between shopping at any of the unique venues in Old Pasadena. Treat yourself to drinks, dinner and a movie at iPic Theaters in the heart of Old Pasadena before heading back to your hotel. Don’t feel like a movie? Enjoy dinner at Bistro 45 on Mentor Avenue then walk up the street 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 nearby Landmark Theaters.
The next day, enjoy breakfast n your hotel then head to Descanso Gardens for a stroll through their lush gardens and art exhibits.
Enjoy lunch at Tardino Bros. Italian Kitchen or Hummus Labs, before you check out. If you're driving, make sure you cross the Colorado Street Bridge at the western end of Pasadena.
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 lower Arroyo on Pasadena's west side to see a restored riparian wilderness. (If it's Saturday morning, the Pasadena Roving Archers may be giving free archery lesson for kids.) 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 Maria's italian Kitchen or Margarita's Mexican Restaurant then burn off the calories with an afternoon cheering on the horses at Santa Anita Park in nearby Arcadia for horse racing at its best (seasonal). If you want pampering, the Chuan Spa experience at the Langham Huntington Pasadena is unmatched.
When 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 theater at A Noise Within. If you want to give the kids a fun treat, walk through the campus of Caltech and see the fish and turtle ponds among the buildings where scientific breakthroughs are a daily occurrance.
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 Dena, Westin, Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton, Marriott residence Inn or Hyatt Place each provide excellent accommodations within walking distance of downtown Pasadena.
Monday: Arrive in time for check-in at your hotel then have lunch at Urbane Cafe 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 before crossing orange Grove Boulevard to tour the Greene and Greene architectural masterpice The Gamble House. Finish up with dinner on the patio at Il Fornaio and a nice walk back to your hotel along Pasadena’s beautiful downtown streets.
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 Madeline Garden Bistro or Bistro 45 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 Descanso Gardens for a cool, shaded walk in the beautiful gardens. Then have fine Italian cuisine, elegantly served, at Celestino Ristorante on Lake Avenue.
Thursday: 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 Sushi Roku or a/k/a Bistro in Old Pasadena. Thursday evening, have drinks, dinner and a movie at iPic Theatres for a luxurious viewing experience.
Friday: Get breakfast at Float Coffee just off Lake Avenue and enjoy Pasadena's beautiful weather at a patio 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 USC 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 El Cholo Cafe in Paseo Colorado and browse the shops there, then walk past the fountain and through the rotunda at Pasadena City Hall. Browse the shops and 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 a Michellin-rated meal at Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery or fine French cuisine at Entre Nous, a local favorite. 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 We Olive.
Saturday: Have coffee and pastries at neighborhood gem Lavender and Honey in north Central Pasadena 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 for a tour. 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 Royce Wood-Fired Steak House or The Terrace restaurant at the hotel before you head to the Thratre @ Boston Court for cutting edge new plays plays 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 Sushi Roku Japanese restaurant or a gourmet burger at Jake's Trustworthy Burgers and Beer before you check out of your hotel and head for home.