I came to this magical little place with my girl friends to celebrate a birthday. Only the three of…read moreus but we wanted a drink to end the night with a vibe. Boy did we win the jackpot! We came in around 6:30. They had just opened but the atmosphere was ready! Dark and moody with candles on the table, it was the perfect spot to grab a drink and catch up. Jeremy was our bartender and he was fantastic. Super chill and friendly and made us some amazing drinks based on a few preferences. Our "bartenders choice" drinks were amazing, so much so that our "drink to end the night" turned into two drinks and some appetizers. We ordered taquitos and mozzarella sticks. Overall all three of us ladies loved this place! We definitely plan to be back! Let Jeremy make you a drink - you won't regret it. He makes them custom for you and he definitely knows what he is doing. *they do ask for a password which you can request on their website... but I would do that 24-48 hours before you plan to visit. We didn't have that days password and simply asked the front door.

The Speakeasy is a hidden cocktail bar located in Old Town Pasadena. To get here, look for the "New…read moreYork Deli" sign and you'll likely see a person standing out front. You will need to reach out to the bar via email to get the password, but you can also get a hint from the person at the front. We got our hint and successfully guessed it, gaining entry. The interior has dark lounge lighting with tables throughout. I got the gotham standard manhattan ($16) which was strong and spirit forward. We came right when they opened so it was very empty, but the bartender mentioned it gets really packed and lively on weekends. If I came back and was able to guess the password I'd stop by when it's more energetic for a different vibe.

A very fun (for me fun = great selection of different things to try) and elegant spirits / cocktail…read morebar affiliated or at least (physically) connected to Alexander's steakhouse. The vibe here fit the steakhouse very well. The service and selection here are great. I think there is some membership program here as well, but don't know the details. I was meeting some friends for dinner at the steakhouse, but came a little early so I grabbed a drink here. It was on a weekday so the place wasn't very busy. Fun looking cocktails, but there is such a great selection of spirits, so ended up just getting a sipping rum. Was only early enough to have one drink by myself, but definitely would come back to try different drinks here. Especially if I was gonna eat at the restaurant again.

This spot has much of the stuff you are looking for and little of the stuff you are not looking…read morefor. Great cocktails and equally great food. The ONLY place that can make a proper Jack rose cocktail. Without question. Hot liquor and steaming libations. Full food menu. If you want higher end service, come Here. Springbank malts 10 deep. It's difficult to find Cambeltown malts like this.

We came here for a casual dinner on a Sunday night and the Blind Donkey did not disappoint. We sat…read moreoutside because we brought our dog and there was no one else out there! The menu was scanned via QR code and it was easy enough to access. We both got burgers, mine was a beyond patty and my fiancé got a beef one. The food came so quickly and the French fries were DELICIOUS. I've been looking for a new favorite fry since Pizza of Venice was lost in the Eaton Fire and I think these may be it! Funny that we didn't try the drinks or spend time inside at the bar but from sitting outside on a cold winter night, I can only imagine the inside is even more fun!

I've been to this bar multiple times and have always had a good experience, which is why what…read morehappened yesterday around 5 PM was so surprising and upsetting. When we walked in, there was a tall, bald male bartender and a blonde female bartender working--neither of whom I've seen here before. We ordered two drinks, but the service from the male bartender was inattentive from the start. At one point, my friend tried to get someone's attention to ask for a lime and wasn't acknowledged. She ended up grabbing a lime herself from the garnish tray--which I understand isn't ideal--but the response we got was completely out of line. The male bartender became immediately hostile and started aggressively cursing at my friend. When I calmly asked the female bartender if this was normal behavior, he inserted himself into the conversation and said, "she put her fucking hand in the fucking jar," in a very confrontational tone. I tried to de-escalate the situation and respectfully explained that there was no reason to speak to us that way, but he continued the hostility and ultimately told us to "get the fuck out." At that point, I paid for our drinks and we left. What made this especially disappointing is that this has never been our experience here before. We've always enjoyed this bar and have had positive interactions with the regular staff. If this had been my first visit, I would not come back. I understand that what my friend did wasn't appropriate, but it absolutely did not justify being yelled at and cursed out. I hope management addresses this, because this kind of behavior is not reflective of the bar I've come to know.

recently went with my husband for date night and the service was so good! our server took the time…read moreto explain each dish, and constitute odd in on us. the ambience is 10/10. such a beautiful view and the entire restaurant was such a luxe experience. also prices on food was so good for the quality you get. YOU MUST GET THE MEATBALLS FOR AN APPETIZER. JUST TRUST ME AND THANK ME LATER. all in all, an amazing experience and I will forsure be back!

Stayed at the hotel and ended up eating here during my trip. Honestly, the food was so good we kept…read moreordering more dishes just to try everything on the menu. The burger was great, the tuna tartare was super fresh, the salmon crudo was excellent, and pretty much everything we tried was a hit. You can tell a lot of thought went into both the flavors and presentation. I booked reservations right around 6:30 PM specifically to catch the sunset views from the rooftop, and it was absolutely worth it. The atmosphere up there during golden hour is really nice, especially overlooking Pasadena with a drink and good food. Definitely feels upscale and stylish without trying too hard. Service was friendly and the overall vibe made it easy to relax and enjoy the evening. The only part of the experience that felt a little unusual was the payment process when charging the meal to my hotel room. I was asked to provide ID despite already being a registered guest at the property. I've been staying at Marriott hotels for well over a decade, including higher-end brands and resorts, and this was honestly the first time I've encountered that. I even asked about it and was told it was because sometimes people "forget they aren't guests at the hotel" when trying to charge meals to rooms. The staff member was polite, but the explanation honestly felt a bit odd and made the interaction feel slightly uncomfortable compared to what I'm used to at Marriott properties. That aside, I'd definitely come back. Great rooftop spot for dinner, drinks, sunset views, and a really solid date night atmosphere in Pasadena.

10 1/4 is a hidden cocktail bar located underneath Freddie's 35er, a popular Dodgers bar. To get…read morehere, not only do you have to go to the back of The 35er and go down the stairs, you ignore the tiki bar in front of you and make an immediately right U-turn. You reach a phone booth, pick up the phone, and wait for someone to buzz you in. This bar is different from the other two bars as it's smaller, more intimate, and focused on craft cocktails. On nights and weekends though, it can still get busy. We ordered a variety of drinks and liked the menta milk punch ($18), last word ($18), and queen's park swizzle ($16). This was my first time here and I would be interested in coming back and also check out the tiki bar too. This is a cool place to go as part of your bar hopping in Old Town Pasadena.

We went here on a Wednesday night which I can imagine is much quieter than on a weekend…read more I heard about 35er from a coworker but when I saw they have a speakeasy downstairs, we had to check it out. When you enter the 35er, you take the stairs (closer to the back door) and there's a phone booth. Pick up the phone and the bartender will ask how many in your party before letting you in. The space is small. Some reviews mentioned tiki bar and this is not a tiki bar, it's a speakeasy. They have a cocktail menu and a full bar for well/cocktails. Great place for a small group.

Great wine selection. We went on a Saturday around 5:30 p.m. before the evening rush and ordered a…read morecheese and fruit charcuterie board along with several glasses of wine. We ended up staying until about 9:30 p.m. and never felt rushed or pressured to order more. The staff was very friendly and made excellent recommendations, especially considering we were a bit picky -- one vegetarian, one pescatarian, and the other only likes dessert wines!! Definitely coming back with less picky people

Waiter Manuel. This…read moreis a review reflected on you, solely. Being kind is the moral of the story, from the beginning you were passive agressive with your comments and tone. Being in a party of 4 girls coming from high tea, we were dressed in elegant dresses, first comment was asking if we were coming from church, followed by eye flutters, short "okay" with an upward inflation to a joke about the day, an impatient comment about hurrying up and trying the wine while we were talking, asked for water when we were out, were left to pour the rest of our wine, didn't ask how the food was all the while was attentive to the table behind us, the cherry on top comment was when we were discussing the bill at the end, he was hovering at the table behind ours, then when we were ready, we asked to split the bill into 2, my portion on mine and the rest on another card, he then said "this isn't like a drive through, we can't do it that way" so I asked him to explain his comment, cause it was passive agressive and rude. After he wasnt able to becuase he wasnt expecting me to call out his rude comment, I had to then break it down and specify what I had ordered, he then sold "okayyyy....so how much, cause we don't itemize?" I had to again express for him to specify how they do it cause he has still yet to explain where his attitude is coming from and explain how they do their check splits, from my understanding it just felt like he wanted to play dumb and make me to the math, one I did he was like "ohh, okay" should have asked for the manager but we paid and left, I hasnt had this experience before being a returning customer, but he needs an attitude adjustment as his attitude was completely out of pocket. Do better Manuel, you alone got your place of work a 1 star. The rest of the staff was kind, facility beautiful and food and wine was good. This restaurant is not reflected in the 1 star.

If you love books, wine, and that cozy intellectual vibe, 1894 is an absolute must-visit in…read morePasadena. This bar is tucked inside Vroman's Bookstore (already one of the most charming and iconic bookstores in the area) so the entire experience feels like stepping into a warm, literary universe. You can browse for a new book, take in the bookstore's atmosphere, and then walk straight into the bar. Honestly, it's the perfect outing. What makes 1894 truly special is how intentionally it celebrates literature. Everything in the bar pays homage to the bookstore. The drink menu is full of clever, book-inspired names. You'll find cocktails like Pride and PearJudice Pride, Fifty Shades of Earl Grey, and other fun literary twists. Every drink feels like a little wink to readers, writers, and book lovers, and it adds such a unique charm to the experience. The vibe is super quaint and warm, dim lighting, and a creative atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours. The wine is on the pricier side ($19-$21 per glass), but the quality delivers. Customer service was excellent. One of the bartenders spent time chatting with us. He pointed out a chalk artwork behind the bar a dramatic portrait he drew himself featuring expressive, literary-style faces, like Edgar Allan Poe, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, etc. It fits perfectly with the creative, bookish aesthetic of the bar. If you're into books, wine, and unique experiences, 1894 is a spot you absolutely can't miss. Perfect for a date, a solo unwind-with-a-book moment, or a fun night with friends who appreciate a good story and a great drink.

Cute little place inside Vroman's to get a glass of wine and read! I saw that they have live jazz…read moremusic on Thursdays sometimes so I hope to check that out. Good ambiance!

If you come here expect to spend quite a bit more than you would at a standard cocktail bar, and be…read moreprepared to spend at least a couple hours. We made a later reservation and would have stayed longer but didn't know just how much of an experience it would be. Vibes here are dark and moody, and it would be a great place for a unique date, just maybe not the first one. We got the beef tartare and spicy tuna crispy rice to munch on. The spicy tuna crispy rice was worth it, the beef tartare not so much. Also decided to do the drink omakase because they make the single drink prices so expensive it still feels more worth it to do the omakase so you end up getting that instead. You tell the server what you do and don't like or are looking for in your drinks and the bartenders will make them for you. Some might be already on the menu, some may not. If there is something you really don't like and you tell the servers, they will be kind enough to replace it for you with something you do. Overall they did a good job with making mine but didn't quite hit it for my friend. The omakase is at least 3 drinks, so be prepared to have transportation after, you may be a little drunk Overall would come back or bring other people here just for the unique experience, but it is pricier than just grabbing a cocktail at a normal bar.

Great ambience! Creative presentation of cocktails…read more A bit pricey- but I look forward to coming back with friends :)

We had a tea reservation for 3:15, we got there on time and we're our food came promptly. Our…read moreserver. Her name was Taylor. She was wonderful and food and tea were all very good.

walked in after a Christmas party & the owner was behind the bar, she was out of control yelling at…read morethe customers & refused to serve my friend! It's too bad because we live in the neighborhood & have been great patrons. People should not treat people the way she treated her customers!

The 35er is an Old Town Pasadena institution. This lively dive bar has been family owned and…read moreoperated since 1963. It's a popular place to watch sports and shoot some pool. There's also a cool little speakeasy in the basement. At the entrance you'll find a display case filled with Dodgers bobbleheads. They have an extensive beer list (about 20 on draft), specialty cocktails, and free freshly popped popcorn to snack on. The walls are lined with sports memorabilia and there's a juke box for entertainment between games. I had many fun nights here when I was younger. My friend and I were in the area and stopped in for a drink. Tony was behind the bar and he was an absolute doll. He's one of those friendly neighborhood bartenders that you would reveal your deepest secrets to. My friend had a beer and since it was Cinco de Mayo, I ordered a margarita with Tromba Tequila. It was tasty. My friend and I munched on popcorn while watching the Dodgers game. It was a relaxing evening and a reminder that I should visit the 35er again soon. *Adjacent parking garage (90 mins free) or metered street parking.

The bar itself was fun and had a good atmosphere, but I'm leaving this review because my group was…read moredisappointed with how security handled a situation during our visit. A friend in our group felt uncomfortable and was harassed after an interaction with another guest, and we personally felt our concerns were not taken seriously when reported. I hope management works on improving guest safety and response to concerns in the future. Women visiting should stay aware of their surroundings and go with trusted friends.