Best Bars In Pasadena
Just north of Downtown LA, Pasadena is home to the popular Old Town, beautiful homes and great dining establishments. But, bars, pubs/gastropubs and cool restaurant bars are popping up all over. These days, expect to find quality beer bars, a wine scene that rivals other cities and bars with enviable cocktail programs.
Der Wolfskopf
72 N Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 219-6054
www.derwolfskopf.com
Der Wolfskopf might be hard to say and pronounce but you should get used to it because this upscale bar is here to stay. Situated in Old Town Pasadena, this German beer hall is set in a spacious hall where you'll enjoy countless German beers, from the ultra rare to ones you've heard of, as well as German food like Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel, sausages and frankfuters. Downstairs, there's even a hidden secret bar that's full of specialty beers, unique cocktails and even more German food! Brought to Pasadena residents by the people behind West Hollywood hotspot The Surly Goat, Little Bear and Pasadena's Blind Donkey, Der Wolfskopf is impressive for it's massive beer list of Bavarian brews. But, not to fear, the friendly bartenders know the goods and can walk you through picking the right one just for you.
The Blind Donkey
53 E Union St
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 792-1833
www.theblinddonkey.com
It's all in a name right? Well, in this case it really is. The bar's name actually comes from the olden days when donkeys were actually blindfolded while they stopped on the grains that eventually made up whiskey. Fast forward hundreds of years later, and we have Pasadena's Blind Donkey, which offers hundreds of whiskeys from all over the world including Ireland, Canada, Scotland and America. But, it doesn't just stop at whiskey. In fact, they offer an impressive draft beer list, as well as bottled and canned beer, and cocktails, flights and boilermakers. What's good? Well, everything of course, but definitely try the 'Nick of Thyme' with Buffalo Trace, honey-thyme syrup, lemon, and Cock & Bull ginger beer. The Pasadena gastropub, which comes from the same owners as German beerhall Der Wolfskopf and LA's Surfly Goat and Little Bear, actually has another location in Long Beach too. Make sure to stop by the bar for happy hour, from 4pm-7pm Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.
1886 Bar at The Raymond
The Raymond Restaurant
1250 S Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 441-3136
www.theraymond.com
Situated in the back of Pasadena's Raymond Restaurant, 1886 Bar is known around town for their tasty cocktails and a romantic setting. In fact, 1886 is somewhat of an institution in the craft cocktail scene. Opened in 2010, the cocktail program was created by Aiden Demarest and Marcos Tello (7 Grand, Tom Bergins and The Edison), so you know the drinks here are good. Featuring a seasoned staff of bartenders, you can also expect if you order a Manhattan, a sidecar or sour, it'll be prepared to perfection, with fresh juices and ingredients. Add in the fact that bartenders really do know their stuff and you aren't dealing with some amateur bar. You're dealing with a bar that knows their stuff. Bar 1886 boasts over 600 off menu house cocktails, including their famous Honey Nut Old Fashioned, and a series of Pimm's Cups 1 through 13 found nowhere else in the world.
Congregation Ale House
300 S Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 403-2337
www.congregationalehouse.com
With other locations in Long Beach and Azusa, Pasadena's Congregation Ale House features over 60 taps and over 120 different types of bottled beers to choose from. Here, beer drinking is taken quite seriously. Think of this spot as a church of beers. Situated across from Pasadena's Central Park, the inside resembles that of a monastery with long wooden benches, and a stained glass window with a beer mug. Prices are reasonable here, but if you stop by at happy hour you can expect $1 off beers on tap and more. Food is offered as well, including staple beer type items like a burger, fries and other bar type eats.
Magnolia House
492 S Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 584-1126
www.themaghouse.com
Part restaurant, part bar, Magnolia House is a sure bet if you want great craft cocktails and a menu that is always dependable. Tucked away in a little craftsman house, Magnolia House has been many things over the years including a family home, a post-Prohibition liquor store, and many other businesses. Today, though, it's transformed as a hideaway brought to you by Portland transplant Evan Zimmerman. What awaits you is not only an excellent cocktail menu with tasty housemade concoctions, but also fun weekly and monthly events. Stop by Mondays for board games and beer, Tuesdays for bourbon and burgers, or Friday and Saturdays for a DJ spinning tunes at 9:30pm.
Kings Row Gastropub
20 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 793-3010
www.kingsrowpub.com
Located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, Kings Row Gastropub is a relaxed and casual restaurant with some seriously good food and drinks. Offering reinterpretations of British pub food classics, the food here is almost exclusively found from California and meant to be shared. Add in a full bar with more than 60 beers, and you have the recipe for a great place to enjoy a casual drink with food. The Gastropub is divided into 3 distinct areas too: a patio bar, dining room and a beer garden. Make sure to stop by on the weekends to enjoy live music ranging from bluegrass to blues.
Vertical Wine Bistro
70 N Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 795-3999
www.verticalwinebistro.com
Owned by movie producer Gale Anne Hurd, the name of the game here is, of course, wine! Set in a stylish, modern eclectic setting, this wine bar is offers a floor-to-ceiling glass wine cellar with over 650 wines (70 by the glass) and bistro fare to pair with it.
