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    Nostalgic Cafe

    4.0 (111 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Nostalgic Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    NOSTALGIC CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Nostalgic Cafe

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    Kristine H.

    Cafe: A good spot to grab a coffee and take a walk around the neighborhood. The space is uniquely decorated and has a nice vibe. Parking: Metered parking is available, and there was also a sign pointing to additional parking in the alley. Food: Continental breakfast-style options. Nothing particularly outstanding, but decent for a light bite. Coffee: It was my first time trying a milk tea latte. The flavor actually grew on me the more I drank it.

    Madison W.

    Cool vibe, but pricey. $50 for a coffee, tea, bagel sandwich, and avo toast. The staff weren't very friendly. They just say what you ordered over the sound of the espresso machine and get annoyed when you can't hear them. They seemed more interested in a photographer than paying guests. The food was good, but my wife's avocado "toast" wasn't even toasted, so it became soggy. Again, cool vibe but that's all this place has going for it... at least during our visit on a chill Sunday morning. Side note: the Wi-Fi password listed is incorrect.

    Exterior
    Peter D.

    This is a cute place in the Old Town Pasadena area. There's not too much seating indoors, but there's a mix of couches/chairs with some tables. I walked in and was impressed by the variety of drinks offered. I personally got the Matcha Rose Latte. It was a little more expensive than I expected, but I still enjoyed the taste of my drink. The service was also pretty fast, and I got my drink within 5 minutes of ordering. I would come back and try more of their drinks. I can also easily imagine myself working from here one day.

    BLT not worth $18...
    Rana R.

    Overpriced is the first word that comes to mind. Let's start with the positives as there were some... the cafe was aesthetically pleasing. Cute decor all around. Great use of the space & quirky little knick knacks can be found all around. Onto the not so positive issues. The guy greeted us while making drinks but didn't offer any help until we asked for it. Only then did he say "I'll be right with you, just making some drinks." Yes, clearly... Ordered the BLT sandwich which came out to about $18. DEFINITELY not worth that much. It was the plainest BLT I've ever had. They did nothing to make it worth the price and the "salad" it came with were a few pieces of arugula with 2 pcs of cucumber. Not much of a salad. I understand that BLT in itself is a plain sandwich, so price it as such OR if you're gonna charge almost $20 bucks for it, make it worth it. Not very nostalgic with that price point.

    Matcha Ube latte
    Thuy Dan T.

    I was walking past and decided to stop in to get a ube latte after a morning workout. It was a great pick me up! The space inside is so cozy and the old library feel. It's curated really well! The Ube latte came out pretty fast and the colors are stunning. Ube on the bottom and matcha on the top. The drink was smooth and had a strong flavor. On the sweeter side and very tasty overall!

    Dave H.

    Cute cozy and comfortable coffee and tea cafe with sandwiches, bagels, toasts and pastries. Great coffee including a Thai tea latte that I must try next time! Free WiFi. Super clean and cozy interiors. One of the cutest cafes in the area and lovely owners. Food and coffee is delish! Lots of cold and hot coffee and tea drink offerings. Please support LGBTQ+ friendly businesses too! Nearby public parking structure is first 90mins free. Couple of Outdoor tables for furry friends too!

    Inside
    Helen L.

    Cute little coffee shop in old town Pasadena with beautiful interior decor and furniture. They have caffeinated and non caffeinated beverages, pastries, breakfast items, and bottled beverages. I absolutely adore the decor and can see myself enjoying a drink and getting some work done here.

    Welcome to Nostagic Cafe. #pasadena #hollyst
    Carl N.

    Nostalgic Cafe is a quaint vintage-style coffee shop tucked away in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. This cafe creates an atmosphere reminiscent of the past as evidence by its light fixtures, aged wood furnitures and art decor. I think it is a blooming new addition to the Pasadena coffee scene, providing customers with a cozy space, a moment of peace and a delicious menu of coffee, breakfast, pastries, bagels and more! One can posit that the owners did due diligence on the decorations and layout of the coffee shop. We ventured to check-out this new cafe; we were perfunctorily greeted by a middle aged grey bearded male staff on the counter. I perused their modest menu. And I decided to procure a French toast x berries and a hot Levander Latte. The food was fresh, warm and delightful. Similarly, the hot latte was perfectly made to my liking. Service was on point. Staff were professional and competent. Atmosphere was relaxing. Indoor and outdoor seats were limited. Free wifi. Finding street Parking in the area is always challenging but plenty of parking lots. Overall, I enjoyed their latte and F/T breakfast. I will definitely come back and try other stuff. And I recommend this nostalgic cafe.

    Crystal L.

    A very cute coffee place with some good food choices. I don't think the seating is necessarily conducive for getting work done and it's really better suited to catching up with friends as opposed to a business meeting given the smallish inside and "living room" vibe and furnishings. Found street parking easily (get rid of your coins at those old Pasadena meters!). One small size for to go coffee that is pretty good. Definitely a neighborhood find.

    Brown sugar cafe latte (very good!) and a hot chocolate
    Flo M.

    Very excited to try this cafe out, conveniently located next to the Courtyard Marriot in Pasadena and just a 5min walk from the center of Old Town Pasadena and a great stop when visiting the Armory Center of Arts right around the corner. The ambiance inside is very relaxing and cozy, lots of little spots to sit and have great conversations. Lots of great flavors for their drinks available including their Taro latte and the brown sugar latte was very good. Lots of people having brunch on a Sunday so will have to come back again to try. This shop is Asian owned and fits with a lot of the diverse small businesses in the area- love to support local when we can.

    Rebecca G.

    I want to bring everyone I know here now. Definitely worth searching parking for! Got the cold brew with a splash of oat milk while catching up on some work. Great, quiet spot to catch up with a friend, read, or do some work/homework. Service was great. Fun and comfy seating spots. Will come again!

    The environment is very small, and the living conditions are a little old and beautiful. It is suitable for leisure. The boss is very nice. The location is very good. Turn around the subway and turn around the Courtyard Hotel.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Nostalgic Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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    Danbi Coffee

    4.3
    (392 reviews)
    1.5 mi
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    I stopped by this spot after a local recommended it as having one of the best matchas in Pasadena,…read moreand it definitely got me in the spirit to watch the new Minions and Monsters movie tomorrow! The Build: I ordered the banana cream matcha, which features a rich matcha base with standard oat milk, topped with a heavenly layer of banana cream and tiny, mysterious crunchy pieces. The Flavor Profile: Taste-wise, the drink was absolutely heavenly. The matcha itself was wonderfully rich, and mixing in the banana cream took it to the next level, while the crunchy toppings added a really nice occasional texture. The only real letdown was the size, the cup was just so tiny for an $8 price tag. Even though the flavors were incredible, it felt a bit hard to justify the steep cost for such a small portion. The Verdict: While the major price tag means this won't be an everyday habit, the solid flavors and super fast, friendly service make it a perfect spot for a little treat every once in a while. The staff had my drink out almost instantly around 10 AM on a Tuesday, and since I live so close, I'll definitely be back occasionally when I want to spoil myself.

    Heard about this place on tiktok but it was very underwhelming. Came here on a Sunday around 12 pm…read moreand stood in a short line. We got the mango matcha rain, banana cream matcha, and banana latte. For $7-8 per drink, you get a very SMALL sized cup, I believe it's a 12 oz. Although oat milk is the standard for the matcha drinks, the price for such a small cup was not worth it. For the drinks itself, not sure what kind of matcha powder they are using but it doesn't seem to be grade quality. The banana latte also tasted like milk. Interior wise, plenty of tables & seating. Great for a study spot with ample street parking. Overall, for the price, quality, and sizes, I unfortunately will not be returning.

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    Copa Vida

    Copa Vida

    4.1
    (2.2k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I met with a friend here on Thursday morning and enjoyed the food! Upon arrival, you order and take…read morea seat with an assigned number. The girl taking our order was very sweet, but I must have missed the part when she said the drinks are picked up at the counter. When we received our food, we asked about the beverages - the waiter mentioned those are picked up at the counter. The barista was kind enough to remake the espresso shot for my friend since it had been sitting out for over 10+ minutes :) The food is tasty! We sat outside (perfect weather - overcast) and we shared an order of the avocado toast and the French toast plate. Good coffee, great portions with aligned price points. The inside is quite large, but it felt like something was missing... warmth/ decoration. Aside from that, Definitely recommend stopping by - I'm surprised I hadn't popped in sooner!

    I was so lucky to find this place after searching relentlessly for a coffee shop with Wi-Fi in…read morePasadena. I went to the Starbucks on fair Oaks (only outdoor seating, no outlets), that really fun one on Raymond, and I walked around for about an hour before I found Copa Vida in downtown. They had amazing coffee, outlets, Wi-Fi, and really wonderful personalities. I loved their service and I definitely had to give them a shout out. Their patrons are just as friendly. I would come back here anytime, it's like a family with really good quality, service and food

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    Dash Coffee Bar

    Dash Coffee Bar

    4.3
    (684 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$
    Grab-and-go
    Outdoor seating

    I tried the matcha einspanner here and I was originally worried it'd be overly sweet, but the cream…read morewas lightly sweetened and provided a really nice silky mouthfeel to the drink. I also tried a sip of my friend's strawberry matcha and that was also pretty good. Nothing against the business, but the parking situation can be really awful. I lucked out with a spot in the corner but also had to wait for a trash truck to back out. Due to the parking situation, I'm not sure if I'd want to come here to study or anything, but I'd happily come back if someone else drove lol

    Iced Creme brulee latte has a really deliciously flavored cream top, not overly sweet. I ordered my…read moredrink half sweet and it's perfect for me! I tried my partner's full sweet one and I do prefer the half sweet, altho the full sweet is totally drinkable. They have cookies and brownies that look and an assortment of Asian flavored potato chips. This is a small shop, so when there are a lot of to go orders it gets chaotic to wait in. Service was kind and knowledgeable. The seats inside are comfy and inviting. They have a whole patio area set up and extending into the parking lot, as well. Its a little bare bones, but perfectly serviceable. Music inside is maybe too loud for studying or work without earbuds, but ymmv. There is a small lot that they share with the Thai place next door, and there is sometimes also street parking.

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    Urth Caffé-Pasadena

    Urth Caffé-Pasadena

    3.6
    (4.3k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    I recently visited Urth Caffé for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The restaurant was…read morequite busy, and there was a line to order, but it moved fairly quickly. The restaurant offered indoor and patio dining options. However. It was seat yourself so we had to find our own table. I ordered the Vegan Portabella Panini, which featured grilled portabella mushrooms, roasted peppers, wild arugula, grilled artichokes, and a pesto-almond cheese spread. The sandwich had the perfect panini crunch and was packed with flavor. I especially appreciated the fresh, healthy balance of ingredients and it was satisfying without feeling heavy. The panini was served with a side salad that was equally fresh and tasty, making for a well rounded meal. Overall, a delicious and enjoyable dining experience, and I would definitely order it again.

    Urth Caffe Pasadena is a classic. Good location, parking lot nearby that you have to pay for and…read morestreet parking is all paid. The vibes are great here and there are lots of seating. I enjoy the sunrise pizza but my favorite drink by far is the Blended Green Tea Boba. I came recently on a Sunday around 4pm and ordered a blended green tea boba to go. My order took 15 minutes to get. What surprised me the most is that the drink is now a whopping $10.50 and it used to be $8.75 a year ago. Not only has the price increased by 20% but the drink has also gotten smaller. The flavor is still consistent from what it used to be but $10.50 for this drink is insane. I'd rather just get a real matcha drink from a legit coffee/matcha spot.

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    Behind the counter
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    Artisanal Goods by CAR

    Artisanal Goods by CAR

    4.6
    (820 reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Scrum-diddly-umptious almond & chocolate croissants! The ambiance is a perfect mashup of a working…read morebakery and cozy coffee shop. Service is natural, comfortable and prompt. Brew is also on point! Big downside: they are usually out of many options later in the day. But croissants are real and serious, so willing to forgive that bit. This one is a no brainer if you like your croissants.

    I honestly don't understand the hype. My experience here was disappointing from start to finish…read more The staff came across as cold, dismissive, and completely uninterested in providing good customer service. Instead of feeling welcomed, I felt like I was inconveniencing them just by ordering. A friendly attitude goes a long way, and that was completely missing. The coffee was even more disappointing. It had almost no flavor and tasted watered down, especially for the price. I expected a quality drink, but it was bland and absolutely not worth what I paid. To make matters worse, we were told to leave the patio an hour before the shop was even closing. If the patio has different hours, that should be clearly communicated instead of asking paying customers to leave early. Overall, this was a frustrating experience. Between the unfriendly service, flavorless coffee, and being asked to leave well before closing, I won't be coming back. There are plenty of other cafés in Pasadena that offer much better coffee and treat their customers with respect.

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    Berry, Chocolate (left), Almond Maple, Almond (right)
    Berry, Chocolate (left), Almond Maple, Almond (right)
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    Callisto Tea House

    Callisto Tea House

    4.9
    (137 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    This place is so much more than a tea house. It's a reset, a tiny retreat that gently reminds you…read morelife doesn't have to be lived at 100 mph. I just finished a hike in Altadena, found Callisto on Yelp, and wandered in looking for a quiet post-trail moment. Instead, I was met with such a genuine warmth that made me feel like a guest instead of a transaction. The owner herself took my afternoon in a much softer direction. I ordered the afternoon tea service and fell into my book. This is the kind of place that invites you to read, write, and decompress. My tea of choice: Yellow Brick Road with osmanthus flowers blended with Darjeeling black tea. It tasted like sweet blossoms dipped in honey. The service also comes with three mini savory toasts, a scone with mascarpone cream and marmalade, and dessert. I chose the chocolate peanut butter cupcake which sent me into a blissful chocolate haze for the rest of the day. If you crave quiet, delicious, almost healing moments, you need to come here. Wendy, thank you for taking such good care of me and inspiring me to chill out for the rest of the afternoon.

    My book club met here for our January meeting. Parking was a breeze, for context we had arrived…read morearound noon on a Sunday. Their tea menu has beautiful descriptions that helped us choose the perfect teas that aligned with our book's themes. We had a larger group and the owners were a delight to work with to make the reservation to accommodate us and schedule a tea tasting. We had a wonderful experience and enjoyed the delicious teas.

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    Tea cup collection
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    Nostalgic Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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