15 Best Wine Bars in Pasadena

“Had to stop by my favorite Italian grubbin in the heart of Old Town Pasadena all the way from Boise. This was my 3rd time and each time just keeps getting better; definitely the bigger the party, the better. We paid $225 for 4 pasta entrees, 3 appetizers, & 2 glasses of wine for a party of 6. I’ve learned to like my pastas al dente after having them here. The meatballs are banging, the wine-pairing was delightful. Our service was attentive and pleasant; the vibe is always vibrant and homey. Highly recommended.“

“Serving some of the best seafood in Pasadena! Situated at the heart of beautiful Old Town Pasadena, Fishwives is a solid spot if you're looking for variety and a bit of a change from your usual American greasy food.Their ceviche is outstanding and so fresh; the fried oysters on devilled eggs were incredibly flavourful and cooked to perfection - with the right amount of crunch; the lobster roll was scrumptious with chunks of lobster meat in every bite; and their fish and chips were outstanding - featured a great crispy batter paired with their excellent fries. Everything that we ordered was great plus service was spot-on!Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for seafood in the Pasadena area.“

“Amazing food, ambiance, wine, and staff! Tucked away on Holly St., a few blocks over from Colorado. Old town local vibe. Super chill. I've been trying new restaurants in the area and decided to pop in early on a Fri nite. Got a seat at the counter overlooking the chef preparing all the meals. Ordered a rose, very tasty. Short ribs with mash potatoes. Amazing! I will definitely be back to try more things. Highly recommend. We really don't have anything like this in Pasadena.“

“How could I forget about this beautiful restaurant for months since my first visit with girl friends last September? I am so glad I suddenly remember this restaurant last Saturday,the first day of the Chinese new year! The interior decoration is perfect for Chinese new year! This is My family's first time visit! They all love it! Perfect for pictures! It is a shame for not many people knowing this place, because they are only two tables occupied during our 1.5 hour visit. The only waitress is Miss Iris from Taipei. She is super nice and friendly! Fortunately, when we left, there were two parties coming in! We love the food maybe because the owner and the chef are from my hometown Taiwan, according to the waitress! The presentation is so beautiful! Perfect for my Facebook postings! I already told my college girlfriends about our next reunion location! Here! Perfect for our group pictures!“

“One of my go to restaurants in Pasadena, highly recommended! Excellent service with incredible favors! Outstanding french dishes like Escargo, Confit de Canard, and Carré d'Agneau à la Fleur de Lavande. This is the restaurants I take people to when they visit me.“

“Flavorful food and great cocktails in an Orleans-vibe atmosphere. I had the braised chicken with peanut sauce. It was super tender. Why can't I carmelize sweet potatoes that good? Husband had jalapeño flank steak. The angel biscuit was straight out of the oven. OMG.“

“Cordova Cafe & Bottleshop isn't called Cheers, but it certainly could be - the "neighborhood hangout" vibe here is amazing! The food is great and there are excellent choices in beer and wine, but what sets this place apart are the people. You could look long and hard without finding a more welcoming establishment!“

“So, I was not expecting to have a beer while perusing a nee bookstore this weekend, but lo and behold! I desperately needed to charge my dying phone, and couldn’t find an outlet anywhere in the book aisles. So I stumbled across The 1894, and was immediately greeted by the friendly staff. Their happy hour is awesome- a french pilsner for only $6! And the staff went out of their way to accommodate me near an outlet where i can drink and charge my phone. Again, was not expecting this pleasant bar, but will def be back!“

“Terrific staff and innovative cuisine. Small local restaurant who worked hard to keep staff through the pandemic closures with delicious creative take out and who are keeping everyone safe by requiring proof of vaccination for indoor dining. Fresh creative food.“

“We went for the Tomahawk Tuesday special, a great deal. We had the sliced Porterhouse (filet plus bone-in NY strip). They were out of the bone-in so offered us a regular NY strip instead, which was fine. It was cooked to perfection. Our waiter Chris was attentive, friendly, and funny. Our cocktails (Old Fashioneds and a PCH Vesper) were wonderfully mixed. It's unfortunate that they don't have any beer on tap for people who can't drink or don't like wine, although they have a small selection of bottles. It was a bit noisy at first and I had trouble hearing our waiter, but that's because it was a busy night. As it got later and the crowd thinned it was quieter. Salads, sides, and desserts were very good. This was our second time and we will come back again.“

“Republik Coffee is as solid as it gets. It has good food, good coffee, and a good ambiance, which makes it a great hang out spot.The breakfast burrito, an almond danish, and a hazelnut cappuccino. It's not a large breakfast burrito, but I felt like all off the ingredients were good quality. The danish was good,and the cappuccino was solid as well.“

“Update, two weeks later: So after a slightly rocky start, we went again - the food and wine were excellent as before, but the service really really improved since the last time. I can highly recommend this place to go for a good time. If you are with friends, make sure you try "family style" - order loads of munchies - the four of us shared the charcuterie board (the salami was among the best I ever had), the flatbreads, the baked brie - and a sample plate of their delicious oils - so so so good - and given the superb quality, reasonably priced. Not to forget: did you ever try vanilla ice cream with olive oil - you should ;-) So thankful they understood and appreciated my earlier review. I will surely go again soon. Previous review: Oh, what a wonderful place - and an amazing concept. My wife and I took two friends yesterday. We were seated at a table for two, with the promise to be relocated to the table next to us as patrons were close to getting their check. Never happened, no problem.I wanted to order a bottle of wine. The service recommended tasting their canned wines - 4 different ones for $49. Canned wine? I come from Germany, from Koblenz, where the rivers Rhine and Mosel meet. Canned wine? Seriously? Still, why not try something new?So the four of us received four balloon glasses with the four wines. Wine tasting? Share every glass physically with four people in times of Corona? They must be kidding. I would have expected to get four cans - and, in all honesty, four small glasses for each of us. Sure: it ain't the Ritz - a personal glass for each of us. But sure: this ain't "The Ritz," so we shared. We are really good friends, and we did have a good time. The wine was OK - which sounds as if something was wrong - it wasn't. It was OK - nice experience, but I would personally not order again - while it may be perfectly fine for you, the reader (by the way, I appreciate you reading this ;-)Then: the food. As with the wine, we wanted to share. We started with the baked brie, which was really really good, and the burrata flatbread, which came soaked, and I really mean soaked, in Oil. Sadly, it did not come with silverware. We asked three times but never got it. Then, we asked if we could have at least some napkins. We got two. We were here to share, weren't we ;-)I asked for the check. The printer had issues. Happens. We were not in a rush. Service offered a sip of wine while we had to wait. Sure, a nice gesture. Sadly, the wine never came. After just under half an hour, we got some sort of check - still issues with the printer. We were charged $61 for the wines - they were charged separately and not, as per the menu and recommendation, as the $49 offer. $12 was refunded. Receipt: sorry, the printer.I really wanted to love the place, and as we enjoyed the company of our dear friends in a nice atmosphere, loved the brie, and drank the wine, I did not want to spoil the evening by arguing about the service, which really "has potential."It would have been easy to make this a five-star recommendation, as the location, atmosphere and general concept scream fabulous. I would possibly go again. At the moment, I feel sorry for the place.“

“My recent visit to The Cellar was nothing short of extraordinary! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a friendly bouncer who directed us to an elevator down the hall. Descending down felt like stepping into another world, and as the barrel-like door opened, we were warmly welcomed by the host.The atmosphere at The Cellar is simply enchanting. With the soft melodies of a piano in the background and the ambiance reminiscent of a cozy library, it's a place where time seems to stand still.The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, ensuring that our experience was nothing short of exceptional. The wide selection of wines offered something for every palate, and we were delighted to find that we could choose from a variety of small plates and desserts to accompany our drinks.For those looking for a more intimate setting, the option to sit on the couches is available with the purchase of a bottle of wine or champagne, while tables offer the flexibility to enjoy wine by the glass.Overall, our experience at The Cellar was lovely. From the welcoming atmosphere to the excellent selection of wines and delectable small plates, it's a place I can't wait to return to. If you're looking for a memorable evening out, look no further than The Cellar.“

“SUCH an amazing experience at Ruth's Chris! The food is delicious but we definitely keep coming back for the impeccable service. Our servers Julia, Brandon, and Katie provided my boyfriend an excellent first time dining experience for his birthday! Truly gratefully, highly recommend, and will be dining again soon!“

“Tried this for the first time today, and it was absolutely delicious! It's a hidden gem in Pasadena! Highly recommend, the staff was friendly and attentive to my order (it being my first time). Looking forward to returning with friends and introducing them to this hidden gem!“