Guidebook for Pasadena
Food Scene
Very Tasty! Beautiful decor and good service too. About 1/2 mile walk.
24 locals recommend
Mint Leaf Indian
2535 E Washington BlvdVery Tasty! Beautiful decor and good service too. About 1/2 mile walk.
Great Mediterranean food just a block away at 1717 E Washington Blvd. Family run and reasonably priced.
1717 E Washington Blvd
1717 East Washington BoulevardGreat Mediterranean food just a block away at 1717 E Washington Blvd. Family run and reasonably priced.
A charming, modest restaurant that offers very tasty food and large portions at a reasonable price. Note: parking is in the rear.
La Caravana Salvadorian Restaurant
1306 N Lake AveA charming, modest restaurant that offers very tasty food and large portions at a reasonable price. Note: parking is in the rear.
A national chain which offers good sandwiches and salads made-to-order at a reasonable price
11 locals recommend
Subway
5805 N Figueroa StA national chain which offers good sandwiches and salads made-to-order at a reasonable price
Vast variety of fresh salads and interesting hot foods. Large portions make this a place for reasonable meals — especially if you share!
516 locals recommend
Lemonade
1661 Abbot Kinney BlvdVast variety of fresh salads and interesting hot foods. Large portions make this a place for reasonable meals — especially if you share!
Great build-it-yourself burgers. You can even have your burger served on top of a salad instead of a bun! Good prices for fresh food.
128 locals recommend
The Counter
5779 Wilshire BlvdGreat build-it-yourself burgers. You can even have your burger served on top of a salad instead of a bun! Good prices for fresh food.
If you like beef, this is a good place for it. Medium price range, with good service and relaxed atmosphere.
24 locals recommend
Malbec Argentinean Cuisine
1001 E Green StIf you like beef, this is a good place for it. Medium price range, with good service and relaxed atmosphere.
A very elegant (and pricey) place for a special dining experience. The food and service are wonderful. It can be a bit noisy (this, unfortunately, is the fashion in restaurants). The food's worth it!
32 locals recommend
Arroyo Chop House
536 S Arroyo PkwyA very elegant (and pricey) place for a special dining experience. The food and service are wonderful. It can be a bit noisy (this, unfortunately, is the fashion in restaurants). The food's worth it!
Arts & Culture
This historic home is an amazing example of fine woodworking and beautiful stained glass.
157 locals recommend
The Gamble House
4 Westmoreland PlThis historic home is an amazing example of fine woodworking and beautiful stained glass.
Historic landmark building, traditional theatrical selections, always well produced and acted. Mid- to high-price tickets.
137 locals recommend
The Pasadena Playhouse
39 S El Molino AveHistoric landmark building, traditional theatrical selections, always well produced and acted. Mid- to high-price tickets.
New, comfortable theater that presents an eclectic contemporary productions of plays and music. Some low-price and free events.
Boston Court Pasadena
70 N Mentor AveNew, comfortable theater that presents an eclectic contemporary productions of plays and music. Some low-price and free events.
Top-notch movie theater with superb projection and sound that shows first-run movies (some in 3D). Online seat reservations. A little pricier than other theaters.
110 locals recommend
ArcLight Cinemas - Pasadena
300 E Colorado BlvdTop-notch movie theater with superb projection and sound that shows first-run movies (some in 3D). Online seat reservations. A little pricier than other theaters.
Presents many independent films. Next door to Vroman’s Bookstore.
81 locals recommend
Laemmle's Playhouse 7
673 E Colorado BlvdPresents many independent films. Next door to Vroman’s Bookstore.
Great prices for movies — $3.00!!! The theater is a bit worn around the edges.
44 locals recommend
Regency Academy Cinemas
1003 E Colorado BlvdGreat prices for movies — $3.00!!! The theater is a bit worn around the edges.
Wonderful old building, great place to relax, small cafe in the courtyard
20 locals recommend
Pasadena Public Library
285 E Walnut StWonderful old building, great place to relax, small cafe in the courtyard
World-class art collection, amazing gardens, fabulous collection of rare books. This is a must for any visit to Pasadena/Los Angeles. Ask about Lia’s grandfather's connection to this museum!
999 locals recommend
Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford RdWorld-class art collection, amazing gardens, fabulous collection of rare books. This is a must for any visit to Pasadena/Los Angeles. Ask about Lia’s grandfather's connection to this museum!
Norton Simon Museum
411 W Colorado BlvdLovely sculpture garden and art collection.
Everything Else
Visit Pasadena
300 E Green StMany meetings are held here — maybe yours?
Shopping
Mission Wine & Spirits
1785 E Washington BlvdGood selection + wine tastings
This is the oldest independent bookstore on the west coast — more than 100 years old — with a great selection and very helpful staff. Be sure to see the tile mosaics in the rear patio.
65 locals recommend
Vroman's Bookstore
695 E Colorado BlvdThis is the oldest independent bookstore on the west coast — more than 100 years old — with a great selection and very helpful staff. Be sure to see the tile mosaics in the rear patio.
Aladdin NutHouse
1647 E Washington BlvdWonderful variety of nuts + dried fruits and candies made of them.
Sightseeing
Metro Gold Line Station — your portal to car-free Pasadena and Los Angeles via Metro Rail. Ask us to help you design your tour.
25 locals recommend
Allen station
Metro Gold Line Station — your portal to car-free Pasadena and Los Angeles via Metro Rail. Ask us to help you design your tour.
City of Pasadena City Hall
300 S Raymond AveBeautiful architecture
This is a great place for hiking and seeing California native plants. It give you an idea of California's pioneer days. There is a small museum/nature education center which sells wildflower seeds.
167 locals recommend
Eaton Canyon
1801-1945 Veranada AveThis is a great place for hiking and seeing California native plants. It give you an idea of California's pioneer days. There is a small museum/nature education center which sells wildflower seeds.
Essentials
This is a standard supermarket where you can get groceries, etc. Nothing special, just convenient.
1390 Allen Ave
1390 Allen AvenueThis is a standard supermarket where you can get groceries, etc. Nothing special, just convenient.
Vrej Pastry
1074 Allen AveGreat pastries and cookies.
This small Armenian market has better prices on produce than the Vons supermarket. It also has a very interesting selection of Middle Eastern foods and a nice selection of cheeses (7 kinds of feta!).
Good Food Market
1864 E Washington BlvdThis small Armenian market has better prices on produce than the Vons supermarket. It also has a very interesting selection of Middle Eastern foods and a nice selection of cheeses (7 kinds of feta!).
This small Armenian bakery draws customers from across LA. We love their spinach pies (spinach boreg) made from fresh spinach with some garlic. They also have meat + cheese boreg.
Panos Bakery
1649 E Washington BlvdThis small Armenian bakery draws customers from across LA. We love their spinach pies (spinach boreg) made from fresh spinach with some garlic. They also have meat + cheese boreg.
This place has great croissants — which we provide for breakfast. They also have very delicious pastries and more than a half dozen types of baklava.
8 locals recommend
Sarkis Pastry
1776 E Washington BlvdThis place has great croissants — which we provide for breakfast. They also have very delicious pastries and more than a half dozen types of baklava.