Chill vibes, extensive drink options, very casual in the heart of downtown Pasadena. Various parking options nearby in all direction. A great place to start before heading out, stop through during a shopping or restaurant hopping experience, or a fun way to end the night! read more

I've been to this bar multiple times and have always had a good experience, which is why what happened 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. read more

We came here for a casual dinner on a Sunday night and the Blind Donkey did not disappoint. We sat outside 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! read more

The Blind Donkey - Vegetarian patty (bottom) and regular patty (top) - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Tried this place out since it's close to our hotel. We ordered a For What its Worth and Whiskey Sour. The kitchen closes early so we weren't able to get a snack or food to munch on. The interior is very dark and intimate. The whiskey sour was on the sour side and the for what its worth was smooth and sweeter. If I were to order another drink I would stick with for what its worth. read more

The Blind Donkey - For what it's worth and whiskey sour - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My friend recently went for a celebration and honestly the staff was very aggressive and seems unsupportive of the trans/LGBTQ+ community. Please be safe and respectful - clearly this place doesn't understand what that means and decided to create an unsafe environment while being disrespectful. And the fried were soggy. read more

Great place to get a drink after work. Nice and quiet place to sit and have time to reflect on a Monday night. read more

The Blind Donkey - Bar - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Walking back to our vehicles after dinner we thought we'd come try this whiskey bar out. A very interesting name that caught our attention when we were initially walking to dinner. Inside looks kinda divey. Bartender even said that this place is kind of between a dive bar and a cocktail bar. The bartender was ok. Not bubbly at all. Had a great poker face. Initially seemed aloof and off putting. But I get it cuz I'm like that at work also. So I get it. He's just misunderstood!! They are predominantly a whiskey establishment. I love how the back of the bar had all their whiskey bottles on display. Looks really nice. There's plenty of seating here. Multiple types of seating too. Bar top at the bar. High top tablee. Regular tables with chairs. Even couch like seating areas. It was pretty dead when we were there on a Sunday evening. Drinks were good. He definitely knows what hes doing. Never figured out why this place is called Blind Donkey. But a solid whiskey establishment read more

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Located in Old Town Pasadena, the Blind Donkey is a chill bar that looks refined and doesn't take itself too seriously. I came here for a birthday party and was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a handful of tables outside on the street. I'm still trying to be covid safe so this it's nice to have e that fresh air. Inside is a high ceiling typical bar, with high table tops and a counter to order at. They have all the classics that you would find at a cocktail place and they have some of their own unique drinks. The service was quick and friendly even when it was busy. I went with the old fashioned and was happy with the flavor and amount of alcohol that it was made with. Some of my friends brought food not from the blind donkey and we ate it outside at the tables. Im not sure if this is allowed, but they didnt stop us either so that was nice. Overall the vibe was really chill, and the service was great, and the prices were typical. Id come back again in the future read more

Never in my life have I been charged 20% gratuity for a bar transaction. We were going to a Mexico soccer game at the Rose Bowl this weekend and stopped for a quick drink. All of us wearing Mexico gear. Werent greeted very warmly by either bartender. My dad asked for anything Mexican type of beer and she retorted very rudely especially when I tried to clarify what constitutes Mexican style lagers. We settled for whatever was easiest and fastest and she hits herself with a huge tip for pouring our beers! I would have tipped appropriately anyway but found it strange that she would do a big party auto tip thing when we're just grabbing a few quick drinks. It's not like we were sitting down and ordering food. Seemed like she didn't want us there and somewhat discriminatory because of our Mexico gear. Place should be called "rob you blind" donkey. read more

The thing I liked most about my experience at The Blind Donkey, is when I got up to the bar to order my drink, I didn't have to yell over top of the music, or crowd to be heard by the bartender. We had a normal conversation. However, it was early on a weeknight, so I'd assume once more people arrive, or it's a busier weekend, there might be some yelling involved. But otherwise, this felt like a more relaxed experience than what I've seen through the windows of bars on Colorado. I also liked the street seating out front, again, away from crowd and music noise. read more

We visited Blind Donkey on a Friday evening. The place wasn't too crowded yet, and we managed to find a spot at the bar. It's open seating throughout, and all orders are placed directly at the bar. We tried the Hatchet Job (Mezcal, Campari, Lemon, Simple Syrup) and the Pineapple Daiquiri (Rum, Pineapple, and Lime Juice). Both drinks were well-balanced and enjoyable. Service was good, and the atmosphere was relaxed--nothing too fancy, which was a refreshing change given the area. Overall, it's a pleasant spot for a quick, laid-back drink. Highly recommended if you're looking for a casual place with good cocktails and a friendly vibe. read more

The Blind Donkey - Hatchet job - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Ambiance is great, sport bar vibes. Service was on point and bartender was extremely helpful and nice. Regarding, the one appetizer we ordered....which were the asada fries. Those were just average. For the amount we paid... A little over priced. However, I'll go back for beers and to watch foosball. Or. We'll oder an actual entree. OH! I thought the cocktails were made in point. read more

Came on a Wednesday evening to check out their trivia and it was a good time. I didn't get a drink but I did try their buffalo chicken fries and they were delicious! They don't have a huge food menu, but it's a good enough selection to enjoy the evening there. They have physical and QR code menus, however you have to place your order with them for food and drinks at the bar. read more

Just good vibes in here, nice bar, good whisky, nice staff, actually clean place, the restrooms were very clean, we had a very good time here, is a good place for a drink on a Weekend. read more

The Blind Donkey - Inside - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

I finally went here after a friend kept telling me to go. It is quite dark in there and quieter than the one in Long Beach. There are a variety of whiskey. Their drinks are quite delish. The service was okay... Nothing outstanding. We sat at the bar and the bartender took our drink order and made them quickly so at least we didn't wait long. If you are looking to try different types of whiskey... I do recommend this place. read more

Meesha , Noel and Juan are fantastic bartenders! This place feels like home every time I'm here. Vibes and music are great! Thank you for existing read more

STEPH JUDGEMENT: A casual, comfortable bar with weekend happy hour FTW! We'd been to the Blind Donkey in downtown Long Beach a few times but had no idea there were other locations. We'd come out of an art show at the Armory nearby and wanted to grab a drink and a snack in the area before heading back. While wandering around, I happened to spot their sign down a side street and we decided to investigate. The ambiance was open and inviting, with many windows letting in the sunshine--very different from the Long Beach location, which is cool but underground. There were a bunch of fun and interesting signs and items on the walls, and they also had a parklet outside. It was fairly busy on a Sunday afternoon--the people perhaps drawn in by their weekend Happy Hour, but their prices seemed reasonable overall anyway. We decided to sit at the bar and I got an old fashioned and the hubby a whiskey sour, and we decided to share a grilled cheese sandwich. Everything was excellent, especially the sandwich, which was pressed panini-style and served with pickle chips that were an unexpected and awesome accompaniment--the little zing of acid really livened up the cheese and bread. The bartenders were cool, and it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We wouldn't hesitate to return the next time we're in the area. read more

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Kind of a dive bar vibe, cocktail was pretty tasty and decently strong. A little pricey tho ($18). Not super full on a Saturday night

Gotta say surprisingly a bar that knows how to get lit in Pasadena of all places. Not to mention they have amazing cocktails at fair prices which is more than what you can ask for in this economy. If this is your vibe you should bring a date or hang with friends here. Even in a family oriented town like Pasadena this place is full of young adults looking to have a fun time read more

Came here with a friend of mine on a Saturday night. I've been here a few times before and knew it was the perfect spot for a nightcap. Situated off the beaten path in Old Town Pasadena, The Blind Donkey is a cozy little bar that caters to Whiskey connoisseurs. Of course, they serve other libations and their top shelf selections are impressive. Even though I'm a Bourbon fan I couldn't resist the Pear Necessities (Roku Gin, St George Spiced Pear, Elderflower, lemon, Angostura.) My friend ordered a Sazerac. He's more of a Whiskey & Scotch kinda guy and I prefer Bourbon, so we ordered a few shots of brands we were unfamiliar with and created our own tasting flight. Food mainly consists of burgers and fries, which is perfect for soaking up the booze. The cocktails are expertly crafted, the bartenders are friendly, the prices are reasonable, and the vibe is cool. Plus, they have Happy Hour on the weekends too! Happy Hour Mon - Fri 5 pm - 7 pm Sat & Sun 1 pm - 4 pm read more

If there's such a thing as an upscale dive bar, then The Blind Donkey is it Don't worry! They have a host and Sargent at Arms at the entrance who checks your ID and makes sure we all behave Their top shelf liquor is impressive. Their well pour vodka is Sky and Tito's is the well vodka substitute- go figure They also serve snacks, bar food to be honest with their chicken wings and fries Cute place, great bartender, great upscale dive bar read more

Incredible staff and fabulous cocktails--and the food is top-notch! We have been here several times and have never been disappointed. If you are looking for NA options, try the Beckett's. It's an amazingly tasty alternative! read more

Union St. in Pasadena is a great place to stroll, eat, and drink. One of its charms is The Blind Donkey, a friendly, easy-going refuge for a cocktail. Our party enjoyed sitting at a table with excellently-prepared drinks: Manhattan, Old Fashioned, a Mexcal concoction, a Gin cocktail-- plus a bowl of mixed nuts. There's nothing pretentious here-- just an amiable atmosphere with servers who know how to mix their spirits well. Plus, they have a top-notch supply of your favorite libations. It's also a great stop before or after going to dinner at one of the restaurants along Union. read more

The Blind Donkey - A good Old Fashioned. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Best French fries. Triple fried and jalapeno ranch! Cool relaxing vibe with a huge selection of whiskey read more

The Blind Donkey - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

4++ a very nice Pasadena wateringhole with a great selection and great people. Nice vibe for hanging out as well. It could get really busy at times. i've been here previously with some good friends just to meet up and drink. My latest visit, I was passing sometime while waiting for one of my good friends to get into town so we can grab dinner next door. I got some Stagg Jr - neat. I'm a big fan and the pricing was relatively reasonable for a whiskey that hard to get. If Definitely a great place to go to meet up with people and have a nice drink. If you are drinking, I would recommend ridesharing, but just as an FYI parking could be a little tough since it is the very busy area of Pasadena. read more

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Sadly, No fries (or any food) available exactly at 9 pm on the dot (boo!) but the whiskey sour was really good, so up a star for that! Late night service can be a bit slow but this no-frills type of bar is cool and casual, easy to stop by if you are local or just in the area. read more

The Blind Donkey - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

"Now I'm a flying, talking donkey!" - after a few of their amazing old fashioned cocktails! But we don't just come here for the delicious drinks and friendly staff, we come here for the best corn dogs and french fries in LA (at least at the top of my list). Plus I love the laid back, comfortable vibe. It's a great interior and is usually pretty chill (we tend to go in the early evening). My only suggestion: please add something to cover the outdoor seating. It really needs it. We always want to sit outside but mostly opt for inside because it's so bright and hot at the outdoor tables. read more

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Drinks so good. Chick anthem music so ba-AA-yad. Also raise the sticker signage so we can see out of the bar window! Thanks!! read more

Okay so was super hyped about the place! A neighbor recommended it. Solid place to try silly expensive whiskeys at a "reasonable" price if you call $45 for 1oz pour of a Russell 15 (reasonable - granted these go for almost $1k in some places and just impossible to find) Also had the Jack 14 and the Elijah 18. All three are very difficult to find so I was very happy about it. They didn't have everything like the Eagle 17 or the William Larue. Out of stock. The prospect of trying out the whole BTAC line sadly didn't happen. Love the atmosphere not too crowded. My one big gripe that takes away the one star was no Glencairns. If you are serving an Eagle Rare 17 or a Russell 15 in a shot glass, this is a crime. Feels like the owners know what's up but then this big faux pas makes me think "what are they thinking?" Let's level up guys. Or I guess I'm bringing my own glass next time :( read more

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Great bar specially for whiskey lovers. They have a great selections of rare whiskeys ( scotch & Japanese) Bartender are nice and provide friendly services . Ambiance is average, but trust me if you are a whiskey lover give it a try. read more

I travel to Pasadena frequently and the Blind Donkey is always a must visit. Great watering hole, solid drinks, excellent bartenders, good vibes from trivia night to karaoke it's a fun place to relax and have pint (or 2) read more

This bar is small, but it has a fantastic vibe, they make a killer old-fashioned and it always has such great vibes. The staff is amazing. read more

The Blind Donkey - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The ambience and service here is amazing. Alan, specifically, was 100% the gem of the store. He predicted what he wanted, and offered us one of the best drinks ever! I definitely recommend on a Friday night. Safe, comfortable, and fun. xoxo. read more

Best old fashioned in town. Love the chill vibe and has a strong local feel. Food is decent. Definitely recommend this spot.

Go here. Order the loaded fries. Order a fantastic whiskey drink. Then sit and discuss the massive mirror on the wall and what would happen if it fell. Seriously a great place! read more

I'm a Pasadena local looking for a casual yet intimate bar, but I landed on whats now my now LEAST favorite bar. I took a date here after dinner. He recently moved to LA & wanted to explore. I was aware not many places are open at 11pm on a Monday night in Pasasena, but this one came up. Most whiskey bars have good vibes. NOT this one. It's not busy. I see 7 customers at most. Sadly we were not greeted as we approached the bar. Male & female bartenders barely gave eye contact or showed hospitality as we tried to engage in conversation and ask about the various whiskeys. I'm not a whiskey girl, but I wanted to try a sample of the whiskey that my date suggested. She gave him one but not me even though I asked. She probably just assumed we were a couple. When we began to ask about the flavor profiles of whiskey and scotch, she was very short with us and she even said "there's a lot of bottles here, so I'm not going to know ALL of them" in a way that def sounded annoyed, like she wanted to just go home. Pear Necessities was the one drink I had, Not too sweet or bitter. It was delicious, but prob the ONLY thing I enjoyed about this whole experience. My date didn't like his scotch. When the male bartender walked up and warned us about the last call at 12am, he immediately turned his back before we could give a response.  I called for his attention, and he didn't "hear me," I suppose. The female bartender didn't check on us to see if we enjoyed our drinks or ask if we wanted a last round. We just closed out. He gave a good tip, despite feeling unsatisfied with the service. We both agreed the bartenders didn't seem genuine or approachable. It's a shame that this local whiskey bar with good reviews turned out to be an unpleasant experience for me and my date. Not a good first impression. If I have to guess, they cater to regulars OR discriminate due to RACE or social class. Doesn't make sense. I'm giving one star because bartender didn't offer or suggest drink options, seemed ill-informed, overall lack of service, and unwelcoming energy. It's places like this that give Pasadena a bad rep. Sigh* read more

Our bartender, Daisy, was great! She made us several nice cocktails and was friendly and helpful. I particularly enjoyed the "For What It's Worth" from their menu. The space is really lovely too - high ceilings but still a cozy feel. We will definitely be back next time we are thirsty in Pasadena. read more

The Blind Donkey - "For what it's worth" cocktail - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Me and my wife were out for date night went here for drinks and loved it. Great cocktails. Recommend it for sure!

I've been a couple of times when I'm in the neighborhood, and the drinks are good. You order at the bar. The whisky selection is extensive. However, it's really hard to get through to anyone there via phone or email even after SEVERAL attempts across multiple days. And I tried when I thought maybe they wouldn't be as busy, but oh well, the phone just keeps ringing, and even when you leave a message no one gets back to you. read more

Service is always good here, especially from the wee-man, I think his name is Gabriel. Whiskey selection is always on point, and the food is good too. It's always fun catching a Dodger game there with the crew. read more