If you love books, wine, and that cozy intellectual vibe, 1894 is an absolute must-visit in Pasadena. 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. read more

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

The 1894 - Wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

What a cute tiny wine bar!!! I was hosting a small book club meetup here since we all just read 1984...1984 seemed too perfect, especially since it's inside a beautiful book store. Our server let us sample a couple of wines before making our selection and they were so good. I'm obsessed with how the drink names are based on books or authors! The bread with brie and honey was yummy and the ambiance was too cute. I'd absolutely go back!! The bookstore itself has SO many options and 2 floors. It's all worth the visit! read more

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Was a little disappointed with the mixed drinks my friends and I got, but that is what happens when we go to a wine bar and not get wine lol. Overall it was a cute place but will not be coming back for the mixed drinks. Maybe I'll come back and get some wine :) read more

The 1894 - House on Mango - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is my second time here and I gotta say, I just love this place! It's so quaint and the staff are awesome. Located towards the front end of Vroman's book store, they offer wine flights, wine by the glass, unique wine cocktails, beer, hard cider, mocktails, and small bites. Great place to meet friends! *Opened *Wednesday & Thursday 3-9pm * Friday & Saturday 1-9pm *Sunday 1-7pm *Happy Hour *Wednesday-Friday 3-5pm *Plenty of free parking in the lot behind Vroman's read more

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I've been coming to The 1984 since I've moved into the area and I'm so happy I found this gem nestled into the bottom floor of Vroman's. With great wine, snacks, and service, this is a perfect spot to get together with your book club, have a casual date, or read your latest book! Win not your thing? They have a few mocktails to choose from, as well! read more

The 1894 - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Another great experience at this wonderful bar. My friends very much enjoyed the ambiance, drinks, and snacks. The dusk to dawn fleet is still my favorite. I recommend the cheese and meat charcuterie - the jam is really yummy. As always, the bartenders were so nice :) read more

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Love it here. This is my dream bar and I'm so happy it opened. Located inside Vromans. Decoration is super cute, the menu and location is perfect. Just bring your book and have a glass of wine, what a dream place highly recommend! As someone who usually gets judged for going places alone with a book lol this place is so refreshing and comforting . Love it so much highly support and recommend! read more

Cute and quaint little wine bar which is located in Vromans bookstore. I find this place absolutely adorable and fun, down to the clever name of the drinks which are a spin on classic and popular books. Sat at the bar solo, reading a book and sipping on wine, literally one of my favorite ways to spend the evening. Check it out! read more

Came here during happy hour with my partner. The menu is fairly small but everything we got was really good and I love the vibes here. The earl gray cocktail is possibly one of the best cocktails I've had anywhere and I've had a lot! It smells soooo good. I also loved that the seating was super cozy! I'd be happy coming here alone even and enjoying the drinks with a good book. We found street parking on a Friday afternoon but next time we'll need to find the parking lot that other reviewers have mentioned! read more

Was excited, finally caught this wine bar open! Enjoyed my ale beer (craft) and tiny portion $5 truffle popcorn selection (cold but tasty). Was not willing to buy a super small premade boxed meat & cheese for $40. Crazy. The snack selection could be more innovative and expansive; so very limited & overpriced. Still, nice to sit & enjoy a beverage in this fabulous bookstore. read more

A wine bar in back of California's oldest independent bookstore?! What an idea!! Everything is literary themed of course - from the menu to the drinks!! Drinks are delicious, staff are all fantastic, and the vibe is perfect for a relaxing chat with friends! Met up with some awesome Yelp gal pals for Friendsgiving Friday and had a blast! The theme of this spot is so cute - the menu is inside a book and everything is so decorative and quaint. I loved that they even have a mocktail section! The drinks are all just beautifully presented. My friends tried The 1894 and also the Pride & Pearjudice and loved them all. I tried the Floral Spritz mocktail which is lime juice, agave, grenadine, and rose water - very light and refreshing- probably one of the nicest mocktails I've ever had! We also shared the warm Brie with baguette and honey and it was SO good!! Very comforting and complimented our drinks so well. The Brie is very soft and absolutely lovely with the honey - and they also give you some nuts to put on top if you'd like. The baguette is super soft and warmed - just excellent - highly recommend! Staff were so friendly and extremely attentive - my water never went empty and they made sure we had a lovely time. Everything was very clean. It was pretty empty when we arrived around 4pm on a Friday but had completely filled up by 5pm so it gets very busy and the space is limited. They have bar seating and tables as well. Views are of the bookstore and they have books laying around for you to read if you'd like. They offer wine flights and all sorts of unique and fun cocktails. You'll find The 1894 in back of the bookstore - can't miss it. They have a parking lot out back and also street parking in the area. Very cute place for a girl date or just to relax! read more

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Really enjoyed 1894. Located in a large independent bookstore called Vroman's, this was a nice surprise to come across as I was navigating my way around not exactly in search of bevs or a bite. The ambience was nice and classy, and the uniforms the staff were wearing was reminiscent of the late 1900s era true to the name of the bar. Service was very friendly, running me their personal choices on the abundant list of mocktails present on the menu. I'd ended up settling with a cold brew espresso drink I can't recall the exact name of, and a warm baguette with brie and honey. The cold brew espresso was incredibly refreshing and unique, paired with a dried orange slice garnish and swirly golden straw for an aesthetically appealing touch. It had the kick necessary to wake me up a bit as I was lacking proper sleep. The baguette had amazing texture. It was pillowy and paired perfectly with the brie/honey, as well as the side of generously-seasoned seeds. read more

The 1894 - Cold Brew Espresso Mocktail - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The food is good, the ambiance inside of a book store is very unique. Some mocktails are better than others but it's worth trying them read more

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Oh, how I waited for this one! What's better than sipping wine and reading your favorite book. Better yet, you can browse the vast collection of books at Vroman's, buy something fun (you must buy the merch before sitting down to read! The public library is on Walnut.), then sit and relax with some wine and a snack while you read! The service is A+. Nice wine selection. You can do a tasting of 4 for $20. They have a small snack menu of which I've tried the Brie/bread/honey and the Meat and Cheese Box. The Brie/bread/honey was nice and filling to drink a glass of wine with, but the Meat and Cheese Box was so-so, mainly because the cheeses were so bland and the crackers tasted stale. The rest of the fruit, nuts, olives, pickles accompanying the cheese and crackers were very nice. It was enough for me to split one box with a friend which is better at the price of $25. The scene can range from quiet and easy to read to loud, happening, and very social depending on the day/time you visit. All in all, a great addition to the neighborhood! (There is also a coffee shop in Vroman's, if you want to read and have a latte after your glass of wine and before you drive home.) read more

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[ Background ] July 2024 on a Sunday at 1:00 PM My knitting and crochet group decided on The 1894 as the spot for our weekly meetup. It's a tiny wine bar located inside Vroman's Bookstore. I entered through the front entrance located on East Colorado Boulevard. But if you park in the lot behind the building and walk south, you will encounter stairs leading to the back entrance of the bookstore, and the wine bar will be inside. Because our group congregated right when this wine bar opened, it was basically empty except for a party of two who were reading, so the ambiance was quiet. Throughout our two-hour stay, other patrons eventually trickled in until it was pretty packed; the mood shifted to a pretty lively vibe with most of the other customers meeting up with friends. The noisy conversations combined with the music playing in the background made it a bit hard to hear my acquaintances, so this location may not always be the most appropriate place to sit down with a book. [ Food ] The 1894 has a decent selection that includes boxes/plates (basically a charcuterie board), snacks, wines, beers, ciders, cocktails, mocktails, and other beverages. Their menu is conveniently located on their website: https://vromans1894.com/menu/ I ordered: * Pomegranate lime-ade ($7.00) This blood-orange-colored mocktail contained "house lime-ade, grenadine, pomegranate float over ice". It had an aesthetically pleasing presentation and came in a hurricane glass topped with ice, real pomegranate seeds, and a cute mint sprig placed on top along with a metallic gold and white striped paper straw. The beverage was refreshing and not too sweet. I did think it was a bit pricey given the volume, especially since it was a mocktail, but I suppose I was also paying for the location. [ Service ] The staff were extremely accommodating. Our party consisted of seven people, so they pushed two tables together. They made sure our water glasses were always full. One server came over to ask if I wanted a refill when I finished my mocktail. And they even made an exception of splitting the check for each person, which they said they don't usually do. [ Tips ] There is a parking lot north of The 1894 with 90-minute parking ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/KBUYbPCFqgwYkvYs5 ). The time limit doesn't seem strict since I parked for two hours and didn't get towed (but park at your own risk). You can enter the lot through the entrances located on Union Street or North Oak Knoll Avenue. Although the lot is shared between multiple businesses (Vroman's Bookstore, Total Wine & More, and The Atrium), there were still plenty of open spots when I was trying to park. The suggested tip was calculated pre-tax, which I always appreciate. read more

The 1894 - Pomegranate lime-ade - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

I was so excited when I saw that one of my favorite bookstores was getting a wine bar inside. Books and wine are just perfect. This bar is located inside of Vromans. They not only serve wine but also serve cocktails such as The 1894 with sake and sparkling wine, martinis, a few selection of beers and ciders and even a mocktail! Their cocktails are also literary themed which is cute. They also have a charcutier board *(the Half N' Half), popcorn and mixed nuts for snacks. The charcutier board is a bit limited and not as filling for 3 people. I do love that they have red, white, sparkling, rose, and even orange wine. Their wines seem to change but their selections are great. When I went they had the Lion Tamer Cab which has become one of my favorites. They sell their wine via flights ($20) , per glass or even per bottle. Friendly staff, it can get crowded at times especially around happy hour Hours are different than the bookstore: Tuesday-Saturday 3-9pm Sunday 1-7pm CLOSED Monday Happy Hour: Tues.-Fri. 3pm - 6pm (flights are then $15!) Great spot for a catch up with some friends or even a solo date by yourself and a book. I've seen dogs around in Vroman's but no dogs allowed in 1894. read more

The 1894 - Cheers - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I didn't know this place was inside of a bookstore. The cheeseboard reminded me of pre-made airport food. The staff were nice, however and seemed knowledgeable of the drinks on the menu. read more

This place is a delightful little bar inside a quaint bookstore. Who knew? Our group enjoyed refreshing drinks after a day at the Huntington Library before going off to dinner. Our server allowed us to have a few tastings before deciding on a crisp Malagousia white wine. Some of us ordered their yummy version of a French 75. On our next visit we will make time to peruse the book shelves! read more

Such a cool spot! Super hipster, chill, relaxed, and a great vibe. Nestled in the corner of the bookstore, this little bar is an absolute oasis. They have a cool happy hour, wine flights, beer, cocktails, and finger foods. The ambiance is what I truly love. It's got speakeasy vibes mixed with a coffee shop vibe. Great place to chill for a bit, read a book, hang out with a friend, or even get some work done. Service was super friendly. Innovative cocktails that taste delicious. Good wine selections. I highly recommend coming here if you're in the area. Have a glass of wine. Buy a book! read more

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I love this vibe! Book store with a wine bar inside! What more is needed? Chill vibe for sure. A place you can come alone, with a date, or with friends. Drinks are great and appetizers are good. 10/10 guys! read more

The 1894 - Pomegranate mock-tail and wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Super cute hidden wine bar inside Vromans bookstore. Free and plenty of parking in the rear. Crafted cocktails, wines, beers and snacks. What more can you ask for while reading a book! Also, 1894 is when Vromans was established. read more

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This is a nice wine bar inside the Pasadena bookstore, Vroman's. There is a big parking lot that they share with Total Wine in the back. It's opposite Target's two-story parking lot, so I can see a lot of people parking there too. The spots at Total Wine are so ridiculously small, so people take over two parking spaces all the time. The wine bar is closer to the Colorado entrance of Vroman's. I almost expected to see coffee machines in the kitchen, but all I saw were shelves of wine bottles and glasses. At first, I was hesitant to try it because it was so quiet like at a library. Everyone was hush hush. But the hostess saw me and my party, so she asked for our IDs and COVID vaccinations. Then it was too late to back out. She explained that the menus were the books on the table; they were so cute! They had a small list of cocktails, whites, reds, and a couple sparkling drinks. The servers are generally not attentive with refilling water, but it's not hard to wave for their attention. On a Saturday afternoon, they were not super crowded, which I appreciated. It wasn't so loud that you had to yell, but not so quiet that you could hear two tables behind you. My Yelp buddy Joanne and I enjoyed our time with a glass of wine ($10-16/glass) and shared the cheese board ($20). I would have liked more crackers with the cheese board, but they did give us more jam when we asked. PS. I guess February is Girl Scout cookie season because I saw them tabled in their back entrance. read more

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Very cute small wine bar tucked inside the bookstore. Love the ambience. They sometimes have live music which makes for a special evening.

If this isn't the cutest wine bar tucked into a book store! I love that you can buy a book then sit and read it with a glass or flight of wine! And they have snacks, what more could you ask for?? The service was great too. One person in my group was unsure of what red wine he wanted so our server offered him a small sample of 3 in his wheelhouse. He was pleased with that! We also tried 2 appetizers that were lovely. Great hummus!! read more

Such a fun little wine bar! The service was so good and they had a guy playing blues music who was amazing! Definitely plan on coming back!

I love Vroman's because it is so much more than a bookstore. They also have a number of unique items - gifts, jewelry, accessories, home goods...and now The 1894. This wine bar is charming & quaint and was named after the year Vroman's was established. There's a book on each table for your reading enjoyment or bring your own. It's also a great spot to hang out with friends while enjoying wine, cheese plates, and small bites. We received a friendly welcome from Doris (the operations manager). She said we could sit wherever we wanted and then brought us some water. She was sweet and told us about the history of the store. Soon after, Marisol, the bar manager, come over to greet us. She was also lovely and was kind enough to bring us some samples of wine to help us decide on our beverage choices. They have a delightful selection to choose from and the flights were also a great option. (Beer & mocktails are also available.) However, it was a hot day, and we were both looking for something a bit more refreshing. Marisol mentioned that they were short staffed so the Literary Cocktail menu wasn't available this evening, but she said she would be happy to make one for us. Since great minds think alike, we both ordered "The Talented Mr. Minty" - peach & lime muddled with mint topped with champagne and served over ice. It was very pretty, delicious, and refreshing. Exactly what we wanted! Shout out to Dolores & Marisol for their impeccable service and making our girls night out even more enjoyable! These two ladies were fantastic! Happy Hour flights are $15 3 - 6 p.m. Open Tuesday - Saturday 3 - 9 pm Sunday 1 - 7 pm Closed Monday. Free parking in the back. read more

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It's in a bookstore so that instantly makes it great. Nice environment to sit and have a glass of wine. The service was very attentive. If books and wine are your thing, I'd highly recommend this bar. read more

Located in the back of Vroman's Bookstore is this gem! The menu was very cute and I had the orange wine and my partner had the hazy IPA. The orange wine was absolutely incredible! The servers constantly filled up our water and were very attentive. There is also plenty of parking in the back. Overall, the vibe was super cute and I can't wait to go again. read more

The 1894 - orange wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place is so cool! It's inside the Vroman's bookstore, you can literally grab a book, go here to get a drink and enjoy. I went on a Saturday with some friends and we sat at the bar. Their cocktails are really good. The menu is the CUTEST. The bartenders were also awesome. Can't wait to go back! read more

The 1894 - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This is not your ordinary Vroman's bookstore. This particular location sells books, unique gifts, has a cute/quaint wine bar. The ambiance is nice, the staff and manager of The 1894 were all so nice and attentive. The quality of the wine/drinks and food were very good and the prices reasonable. I would definitely return. read more

The 1894 - Charcuterie board and pomegranate drink - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Wonderful gem of a wine bar located inside the Vromanns bookstore in Pasadena. Super friendly knowledgeable staff and a wonderful selection of vino and all your normal small plates to go along with it. Counter and table seating inside the bookstore make it a fun place to purchase a book and to peruse thru it while enjoying some wine and cheese. Not advertised on the outside of the store but a hidden gem of Pasadena. read more

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The wait has been worth it for this adorable book themed wine bar inside of Vroman's bookstore. Came in on day 2 and my friend and I spent over two hours chatting, drinking, eating and feeling just fine about life. Every detail at this establishment is a treasure. The menu is in a book about Vroman's first 100 year history. There are roses made from books! Mine was from the Secret Garden, it was perfect! The food is so tasty. Red wine and cheese pairing - fantastic. Loved the smoky Gouda and Sangiovese pairing the most. The meat platter - 3 super good meat choices Prosciutto and melon salad - so tasty! Love the balsamic drizzle Creme Brielle - creamy almost queso consistency but made from Brie! So good. Fig jam on the side was also my jam. Blueberry, Brie, walnut mini flatbread with micro greens - heavenly Artichoke and burrata mini flatbread - very tasty, perfect size for one or get two to share and try different flavors Lava cake - sooo good! Whipped cream is also good though I wish it was vanilla ice cream. Also got a glass of Pinot from Willamette which was amazing! Will it get loud is full, yes. Is it a great place to catch up and relax? Yes! Can't wait to see if you can rent out the space for parties. read more

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I wish I had taken photos! It's a cute, cozy, quiet nook inside an adorable bookstore. I would absolutely recommend for a chill girls' night or a date. The wine and snacks were delicious, and not expensive. The best thing however was the service. We asked about the wine, and our server gave us a selection of tastes to try before ordering a glass. She told us about how there were made, and even shared stories about the winemakers. (Well, it's a bookstore... and people who frequent bookstores do love stories.) We found a wine we loved that we wouldn't have tried otherwise. There are so many great restaurants within walking distance, too. This would be a great place to gather before going out. There weren't too many people there. This was nice for us during this Covid surge (we felt very safe), but also worrying because we loved it and wouldn't want it to close. Vromans almost closed recently, since more people are buying their books online. If you love bookstores and wine, please check them out. read more

The 1894 is a wine bar inside Vromans bookstore. The bar itself gives off DC capital hill bar vibes, someplace to go and casually relax at after work. The menu is currently pretty limited so I've tried most of the cocktails by now, and I've loved every single one. I'm pretty picky when it comes to drinks so to have found a place where I love all their drinks- it's definitely exciting. Service was friendly too. The only slight issue with the bar is that since it's inside Vromans, they close when the bookstore closes at 9 pm, so pretty early compared to your typical bars. read more

The 1894 - Rose petal spritz & Peach cocktail - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Had an absolutely LOVELY Sunday afternoon here with my fiancé. We shared a wine flight and the warm Brie with honey and bread. The servers are kind, quick, and hospitable. The decor is adorable and getting the added bonus of walking around this wonderful bookstore afterwards was such a delight. We will definitely be back again read more

The 1894 - Wine flight with warmed brie with honey and bread - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

The 1894 is the cutest bar literally inside Vroman's Bookstore. The space is not huge, but is such a fun place to grab a drink, wine flight, or beautiful mocktail. Happy hour goes from 3-6pm on Tuesdays through Fridays, and includes a $5 discount on wine flights. Our server was beyond kind and accommodated a large group of us by pushing three tables together. She also steered me away from ordering a wine flight that has a few wines that others have not liked. I ended up with the Dusk to Dawn and thought all four were excellent. I also tried a bite of a shared warm brie with baguette and homey, and it did not disappoint. My friends ordered the hummus snack plate, which I didn't try, but it looked beautiful. Parking was easy on the street around the corner from the bookstore. Definitely give this place a try, it will not disappoint! Also a great spot for a solo read at the bar or a date night. read more

The 1894 - Dusk to Dawn - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Wine bar meets bookstore? Winning combo. It's a very cool bar! You're seated in a corner of Vroman's, but it's like an alternate realm within the store, with moody lighting and, you know, wine. I enjoyed my wine flight, and thought 4 wines to sample for the price was fair. The kimchi popcorn was savory, and we loved each bite. Great place for a low key get together to thoughtfully catch up with friends. There were folks working and reading at the bar area, too. read more

I absolutely love this place. I came here while waiting to a table in a restaurant. The service was immediately great. Was greeted and the menu explained. Loved the vibe and the music. Drinks were great. We had the truffle popcorn which was delicious. Will definitely be back read more

The 1894 - The martini and men - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great environment surrounded by books. Snacks are amazing paired with the drinks. Quiet bar in the middle of a bookstore read more

The 1894 - Of Martini and Men - Wine Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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