We're still fans of Monopole and visit regularly, especially before a show at The Pasadena Playhouse or when they host a special wine tasting event. Our experiences have always been good. It's a quaint wine shop with a nice selection of varietals, blends, and even a few craft beers. There's a small tasting bar in the back which usually features a flight of whites and reds, along with several other selections by the glass, as well as charcuterie boards, olives, nuts, and truffle popcorn. Lucy (owner), Pattie, Nina, and the rest of the staff are friendly and accommodating, making you feel like family. On occasion, they'll also have live music. We really enjoy Monopole and recommend you check them out when you're in the area. read more

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This Latina owned boutique wine shop is in the Playhouse District. In the back you'll find a wine bar where you can enjoy a glass or a flight along with cheese & charcuterie. They carry a curated selection of small production Old World & New World offerings and even feature wine from Mexico. Wines are categorized by regions and the layout makes it easy to browse. The staff here are friendly and will happily make suggestions. There's an upstairs area for private gatherings. They also host blind tastings on Fridays and have special meet the winemaker events. read more

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My family and I have been visiting Monopole for years. It is a boutique wine shop in the heart of Pasadena with a huge personality. The shop has a very nice selection of wines from all over the world, including an extensive list of wines from Mexico. They have a bar in the back of the shop where you can enjoy tasting flights that are updated every week. They also offer nice charcuterie boards to go with the delicious wine. Lucy, Patty and Nina are always welcoming, helpful and fun! We try to stop by everything we go to the Pasadena Playhouse since it is next door. Monopole also hosts many Meet the Winemaker events with Baja Wine Buzz, showcasing wines from Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, Mexico. Whenever we are at Monopole we feel like we're family. You should visit as well and enjoy a nice glass of wine and friendly conversation in a cozy and relaxing environment. read more

Super cute place. Great wine. I ended up buying a bottle of the chaos theory. Very bold blend. Delish. Patricia and Rae very welcoming. Come and enjoy!! read more

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I love coming to the bar at the back of the wine shop on a Sunday afternoon. The vibe is friendly and the wine is good. It feels like a neighborhood spot to me. Love it. read more

I found this place after the fires. I really needed to be with my community and walked in to have a glass of wine. I made friends with the people at the bar. It was truly comforting to be around others going through the harsh realities. I have to say, the owners are like family. I've been coming here since and started a membership. Now I'm fully stocked and know 1000 more facts about international wines. I enjoy all the live music and artists that come by. It's always a pleasure to visit. Best part about being a member are the tasting parties. You get to hang out on the mezzanine. read more

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If you're looking for an unpretentious atmosphere to enjoy some good wine, Monopole is the perfect place to visit. Every staff member we have met has been kind and knowledgeable. Even when the place is super busy, they never make you feel rushed or like you're interrupting them by asking a question, asking for another pour, or submitting your answers for the blind tasting. We've been here twice on the Blind Tasting nights and we were very nervous the first time but they provide a good guide and let you discover the wine yourself with your group. In addition to fun events, they also have a wide variety of delicious and unique wine! I would highly recommend a visit to Monopole and expect it to be very casual, chill, and fun! read more

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Monopole is an incredible establishment where you can find fine wine and hospitable service. Owner Lucy is warm, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable regarding wines from all over the world and domestic. Monopole has frequent, fun wine events and the vibe is chill without any pretentiousness. They can help you if you are new to wine or an experienced connaseuer. Highly recommend this Pasadena gem. read more

I finally discovered a wine bar that is close to my place. This place was amazing and great selection of wine. I had the pleasure of going to one of the wine tasting event. The crowd was amazing, Nina and the other owner were exceptional and very welcoming for my first time there. Definitely would be back and this is gonna be one of my favorite wine bar in Pasadena. read more

Very relaxing atmosphere with a nice wine selection and a few snack options. Very friendly service.

It was such a great surprise to visit Monopole. It had only recently been in my bookmarks via yelp, but i'm happy I took a chance and had a great time for the bit of time I spent there. Arrived during the day at around 2pm on 4th of July and surprisingly they were open with limited hours so i took advantage of the holiday and headed in. I took a seat at the bar and hung out with the bartender and other patrons (who were already having a GREAT time). Everyone was super friendly and was even offered a glass of champagne by a couple who had bought a bottle. This place definitely has a Cheers -esque vibe. People mentioned that they come on a normal basis and I can totally understand why. Totally chill and comfortable vibe. I had a little orange wine (very different for me, as Im a red wine girl, but it was hot + I wanted to try something new) totally delicious and refreshing. Super cute little hour spent at Monopole! One of these days, I want to head in and experience the fun all over again. read more

Monopole by WineRx - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is a great place to have a few glasses of wine, or pick up some bottles (or do both). Patricia is amazing! She's super knowledgeable and has never steered us wrong with her wine recommendations. This is a gem in the neighborhood. Visit for good wine, good people, and some good laughs. read more

Small local wine shop with a bar top area in the back of the shop. They do fun events (food and wine pairings) read more

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Phenomenal place right next to the Pasadena Playhouse! The owner and employees are SO WELCOMING! If you want a low key place to grab a glass and try some wine, this is a great place to visit. The inside is so comfy and the wine selection is good! No name brand, holier-than-thou nonsense going on here with either the wine brands nor the people who work here. You can also rent this place out. Ask the owner how! It's reasonable and a fantastic value! read more

Monopole by WineRx - Great wine. The owners and staff are AMAZING! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Pasadena, California

Very cute local wine bar with great selection of wine. We had a few glasses of wine and enjoyed the ambience.

Wow, must be new owners? Very friendly and great wines, great AC made for a nice place to chill and have a chilled Rose or a Sauvignon Blanc! read more

Monopole by WineRx - Wines from all over the world! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came here on a Friday night after a few friends told us about the wine guessing game. Basically, you have a tasting of four mystery wines - if you can guess all four of the varietals correctly, then your tasting is free! It was fun, but harder than it looks. However, I was not impressed by the selection of glasses that you can get at the bar. In other words, probably not the destination if your goal is tasting. It is a great place to purchase wine if you know what you want though! read more

The people here are nice and accommodating, including for those who aren't wine connoisseurs. Overall a fun and comfortable place to have some wine. I would come again. read more

Great place for a casual drink, great for groups and even for events! I hosted my friend's bachelorette party at Monopole and sisters Lucy and Patricia ensured that we had a successful event! Anytime I visit I receive great service and have a great time. They have very tasty drinks and you can bring in your own food, but they do also have snacks on their menu. read more

Really fun wine bar right next to the Pasadena Playhouse. They have a blind tasting every Friday where if you guess the four grape profiles of the four wines correctly you get the tastings for free and your name on their "hall of fame". All the wines I tried were fantastic and the owners are the nicest people. Service is fantastic and the place is impeccably clean. I would definitely recommend here for a date spot or to have a nice glass of wine to wind down. read more

I stopped by just to look around but I ended up staying to have an aperol spritz and a grilled cheese with prosciutto. YUMMERS!! Sally was super welcoming and very knowledgeable on the different types of wine. She answered any and all questions I had and gave great recommendations. I love how it's not JUST a wine shop. There's a bar and food too. And I love how the menu is constantly changing. read more

Monopole by WineRx - Aperol Spritz - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My old high school buddy and his jazz trio did a live performance here last week. Didn't realize what I have been missing by not frequenting wine bars. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Would definitely come back for wine tastings and purchases. read more

Good wines at a good price, great service, quiet, usually not crowded and you can tell owner really cares. 5/5 strongly recommend

This place was fun! The bartenders were outgoing and so enthusiastic which made the wine tasting more fun! They don't have that many seating areas but if you get a chance to sit at the bar or the few tables they have, it'll be a cool experience. I left trying out some of the best wines and now I'm shopping for those! read more

We went Friday night to have a glass of wine, was a great atmosphere. If it looks empty, it's because the bar is all the way in the back, so get back there. I tried the Italian flight (was the current premium flight) and they were all AMAZING, an orange wine and two red wines. One was from Sardinia and was a kind of grape I had never heard of, so they explained it was very close to a grenach, which I have at least heard of :p ... Felt like a great place to go as an intermediate wine-o to learn some more. Very accessible prices for how esoteric and delicious the wines are! Apparently for a $5 corkage fee you can buy a bottle and drink it there, which is an amazing deal given their selection and already solid prices. And the abundance of wine enthusiasm and info from the staff. Hoping to make this a regular spot to bring friends. read more

Great atmosphere, we went there after dinner on Thursday for a glass of wine. They have a private room that can be rented for parties. I also got a bottle of champagne for a really good price. read more

A lovely little wine bar located in Pasadena near lots of restaurants and bars. The owner was wonderful and helpful in our selections. We ended up doing the flights which were explained in detail before we chose. It's a quaint little place that is lovely to stop in before or after dinner or a show. This was my first time in Pasadena and I really enjoyed our visit to Monopole! We even saw Ron Pearlman on our way out! read more

Monopole by WineRx - Table inside - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Pasadena, California

Love this place and the staff. Very fun and great at advising on even the most discerning palette. We scored on amazing Argentinian and French varietals here, at prices that actually surprised us. Here we are spending $100 on certain bottles that lack some of the flavor we so crave. Come to Find out this little joint in Pasadena has better shit. read more

Free glass of wine (if you check in on Yelp app) to entice me to stop by was definitely a plus. While enjoying my Pinot Noir from Chile, I browse the store and bought a beautiful bottle of cab. The price of wine here is not unreasonable. Both the store and the wine bar at the end of the room are so quaint. It feels so European. There are little nooks with people gathering and sitting around socializing over a glass of wine. Love! Love! Love!!! I think the owner and spouse are French. Live music too!! Yay!!! You should visit this place when you are in the area. Stop by before or after if you are here for a play at the playhouse. read more

Monopole by WineRx - So European! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had a group of 17 people there for a custom wine tasting. Wendy took on an incredible 5-wine journey of Italian wines. They had a lovely charcuterie set up for us, as well. On top of that, they were able to do separate checks for everyone, which was in my opinion going above and beyond! Sally was amazing to work with getting the event set up and Wendy is an encyclopedia of wine knowledge. The wine shop has selections from all over the world for any budget and any wine style you are looking for. I can't wait to go back there again! read more

A cute wine bar in the back, also selling bottles. It's such a charming mom and pops in the playhouse district. Have a glass of wine before heading over to the playhouse next door or Laemmle 7 for indie movies or regency academy a few blocks away. There are small bites such as grilled cheese sandwich (and I wasn't hungry so I didn't pay attention). The place is small so not good for big groups. It's really for the wine enthusiast. I had a white flight of French wines plus a red. I loved them all. That's rare to have 4 out of 4 be good. Sally is very knowledgeable about wines. The stock includes cote du Rhône reds. I will definitely be back. Plenty of street parking on green or south of green. Many paid lots $3-5. read more

Amazing finds of varieties from all over the world! Latina owned and operated; strictly high class with a little bit of sass! Great place for fun and a little bit of education about many varieties from all over the world! read more

Awesome place! I'm biased because they carry a wine I love but difficult to find. They have a nice boutique, have wine tastings, and again they carry my wine. Well not anymore, because I bought the last three bottles they had left of it. Also, the lady that checked me out was super sweet and laid back. read more

Found this hidden gem in Pasadena today and had a great time. Tried wines from Italy, France and Mexico. Listened to great music while eating chartreuse, truffle popcorn etc. Their wines are a must try if you are in the area and really good prices on wine. Ended up taking 2 bottles home. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

My friend and I stumbled upon this gem since we arrived early to the Pasadena Play House. We meant to walk around in Old Town Pasadena, but we were immediately distracted when we saw the "wine tasting" sign in the front. We were immediately greeted by Hiro and he asked us if he could help us with anything. At this time we told him that we were interested in wine tasting. The had 3 options: night flight (3 for $10), blind flight, and themed flight (changes theme from time to time). We got the night flight. which includes 3 oz of the: - 2009 Richter Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling, Germany - 2008 Omaka Springs Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand - 2007 Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina The first one is a white wine, and also the one that I enjoyed the most. I did not like the second two, due to my dislike of red wines. But the third was definitely better than the second. Hiro was very nice. My friend, who is not a wine fanatic, was not accustomed to wine did not like the 2nd or the 3rd, so Hiro gave him more of the 1st one. However, I didn't like the idea of going from a red back to a white. Overall I would definitely come back and tell my friends about this place. I heard that they have food trucks here on thursdays :) food truck + wine = love read more

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Fun little spot in Pasadena. We did the blind tasting and it was a fun game that they do on fridays! Go check out their wine

I've only been there twice, once for a tasting with Wendy and once to select wines for a private Spanish wine tasting event I was hosting. Both experiences were great. Wendy did an ideal customized tasting for a friend and me. She asked us what we liked and picked two bottles to open. After trying both she talked about them with us at length as well as some others she had and opened a third bottle for us. We paid by the glass for some really nice French wines. Their selection may not be the largest but what they carry are excellent. Most recent visit at the tail end of this pandemic as things are beginning to reopen was just to pick up a few bottles of Spanish wines to round out my private hosted tasting. Again, I found the selections to be on target. A Verdejo from Rueda, young tempranillo from Ribera, and a Reserva from Rioja. I was pouring for a sommelier that had initially trained me and he was also very impressed with the selections. I would highly recommend Monopole for a glass alone, with friends, or to host a wine event. The venue is very nice and the wines are fantastic! read more

Nice wine shop in Pasadena! Came here for both sake and wine tasting and ended up being my favorite place to go for wine! Our very first visit was welcomed by the two owners Hiro and Peter. The minute we stepped foot into this wine shop, Hiro personally guided us to the back of the shop where we were presented with wine tasting options. They have tastings from 5-10pm and a special blind tasting every Fridays where if you guess the type of grape for each wine, your tasting is free. They recommend this really good bottle of Reisling which became my favorite. Too bad it cost almost $80 and isn't something I can buy a case every month. You'll find very good quality wines here from all different regions of the world. The owners are very helpful and will select wines that will best suit your taste and budget! read more

Monopole by WineRx - Sake tasting event - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Had such a good time here with friends (and several bottles) that I left my purse at closing! Thankfully, the nice folks here helped me to find it. Nice selections of wine!! read more

One of the best family owned and operated wine shops in Pasadena. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable and will answer all of your questions when it comes to your go to daily or pairings with a delicious meal. They offer a large variety of reds, whites , and mixed. Enjoy a glass in the shop with its cozy feel at home environment and take a bottle to go. read more