50 Best Cafes near South Pasadena

“A modern coffee bar, with soft vibing music playing in the background. Limited seating, but nonetheless a nice place to chill and drink your coffee.

The staff was nice and fast with their services.

I ordered their Brown Sugar Latte which was pretty good. I also ordered one of their pastries, the strawberry apple pie, which was good, more so apple than strawberry.“

“I write for a music and coffee blog called Crooners In Coffeeshops, in which I interview local musicians at local coffeeshops. My writeup reflects the positive experience that I encountered at Kaldi Coffee on our interview date. Ever wondered where they shot the coffee scenes for films like Lady Bird, Prom Night, The Ugly Truth (AKA my favorite rom-com ever in the entire world) and tv shows like Brothers & Sisters, Parenthood, and most recently Splitting Up Together? Who knew that it was right underneath our noses tucked away in beautiful Pasadena, CA! Kaldi Coffee & Tea certainly has the appeal of the go-to coffeeshop with its weathered brick walls, worn wooden seating arrangements, maintained hardwood flooring, and classic oldies tracks playing in the background. Even with its somewhat infamous reputation in the film and television realm, the food and drink options are reasonably priced. An array of classic coffee and tea options with a seasonal signatures, like the deliciously refreshing honey vanilla latte that I couldn’t help but choose, showcase that they try to cater to every type of customer that rolls in. From the minute you step through the shop’s forest green framed doors, you can just tell that generations of coffee lover have come through here. Plus there is a strong sense of community with local artwork on display, and a bulletin board with notes of local events, offers, listings, etc. tacked to them. If you’re looking for a relaxing spot to spend the day reading, playing music (on their front seating area of course), or are a movie and tv buff looking to visit a place with some history, Kaldi Coffee & Tea is the hidden gem you’ve been looking for.“

“First time going with my daughter. I love it. Fresh bread and the food absolutely fresh I got in love this place ❤️❤️❤️❤️“

“Great sandwiches. I especially enjoyed the atmosphere and the great service from the owner. A+ for customer service. The gentleman was exceptional. Don’t get quality service like that anymore. Would definitely recommend supporting this sandwich shop. We’ll be back! 🙌🏼“

“Such Wonderful atmosphere, food and coffee! 💖🎉🥳 They also have a super sweet display of gourmet treats!!! 🤩“

“get the Hash! and some pie“

“Que Delicia! Todo Fresco! Y Vegano <3“

“Going local-origin for my next batch of pumpernickel bagels. Choco-latte and Nicaraguan chocolate down here are legit crazy awesome!“

“I am excited to share the heavenly news that Doubting Thomas has been fully endorsed by the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, King of Wings! Congrats Chef Naomi!“

“Came out because of an Eater article, stayed for the mochi pastries. Got an espresso cloud, a black sesame mochi cake bar, and a hojicha mochi muffin. Espresso cloud was tasty, black sesame cake had a great flavor, and the consistency of the hojicha muffin was spot on. Came on a Sunday morning so it was a bit packed and hard to hear orders get called out (hence the 4 star atmosphere), but would absolutely come back again.“

“Warmly welcoming cafe with delicious food. How nice to be able to indulge in a treat and support a wonderful organization at the same time! We recommend the esquite, the pozole, and the strawberry hibiscus fresca. Can't wait to come back and try the famous chilaquiles!“

“I am visiting from Massachusetts and THIS place is THE BEST for quality, portions, price and friendliness of staff!!! and also the nice location, seating options (inside or balcony outdoors!) sunny!..geat mountain view!..casual and super clean and organized! A+++++++ my 2nd day here in a row for breakfast and the coffee is EXCELLENT & large cups too! ❤️“

“one of the best places in los Angeles California“

“Highlight Coffee Shop in Glendale, CA is a true gem for coffee lovers. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that sets the perfect tone for a cozy coffee experience.“

“Excelente servicio. Comida exquisita y saludable. 💯%Recomendable. Gracias.“

“Their signature soufflé pancakes“

“Thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to the charming, highly-rated Hello You're Welcome café. They make and bake everything in house- you can even see the ovens. Really friendly staff with a slight hippie vibe. Some items were made with almond flour, like their giant chocolate chip cookie, so I had to skip them (allergic). I was pleasantly overwhelmed by a delicious gigantic frittata slice with bacon, onions, and tater tots inside. Togadachi coffee is really interesting: the beans were fermented with lavender. Extra sugar helped me adjust to the unique flavor. The wall full of retail items features coffee beans in VHS boxes, which is a first! I love their mugs and bought one to take home.“

“I found them from an IG food review, like many others. So when I went they were out of several menu items because it was such a great review. They ended up making me a build your own breakfast sandwich and it was delicious! I had turkey, eggs and cheese on sourdough bread. That bread was magnificent, so perfect! One of the best sandwiches ever! I went back the following weekend and got the same sandwich but on a flaky, buttery, delicious croissant! Which was equally great! I'm not really down with community seating, which is why I gave atmosphere a 3, but the staff is wonderful, great customer service and genuinely seem happy to work there. My sandwich was a little pricey compared to what I'm used to paying. It was almost $17, I usually pay between $10 and $13.“

“Love to start my day with fresh orange juice and bagels here. Staff is welcoming and cheerful“

“Love their sandwiches! Delicious!!“

“Awesome healthy food! A ton of vegan options. And the price is great too. You'll meet alot of grassroots artists and cultural creatives here,as well as spiritual people. All tribes are welcome here!“

“I recently visited Gong Gan and had such a great experience. The café is super cute with aesthetic decor — definitely a spot that feels both cozy and Instagram-worthy.

We tried a variety of drinks, desserts, and food, and everything looked as good as it tasted.

One of my favorites was the meringue affogato — crispy meringue topped with gelato and espresso poured over. It was delicious and really fun to eat. The black sesame latte was rich, creamy, and nutty, while the matcha yuzu tonic was refreshing with a light citrus twist. I also loved the strawberry matcha — fruity and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. The corn cream coffee was surprisingly unique — sweet, creamy, and slightly savory.

For desserts, the Injermi croffle is a must-try — crispy outside, soft inside, with soybean cream and roasted soy powder. The strawberry French toast was also amazing, loaded with toppings and very indulgent. The egg tart was simple but satisfying.

For savory options, the GG burger was juicy and flavorful with bulgogi sauce on a croissant bun, and the mushroom cream baguette sandwich was creamy, cheesy, and comforting.

Overall, a great spot if you’re looking for creative drinks, good desserts, and a cozy café vibe. Would definitely come back!“

“Very healthy and delicious breakfast/lunch sandwiches (organic produce), salads and Coffee ☕️...and pastries...LAUSD Coffee cake the BEST 😋😋“

“We drive all the way from Santa Monica a lot! Rain or shine. It is worth the drive and their Tres Leches Latte is the best I’ve come across in LA - hot or iced. Love that it is a small business - support local! They have great seasonal drinks too.“

“Breakfast goals achieved! Generous portions, delicious homemade biscuits, and an omelette that could serve two. Friendly staff made it even better. My favorite meal done right 💕☕“

“Super riko selos recomiendo“

“Walked into the café 15 minutes to closing time not sure if they would take us in, but they were very kind to us and didn’t rush us and we had excellent service. I really like how you order at the counter many great options on the menu. As a Mexican American, I appreciate well-made Mexican food. I had the enchiladas Oaxaqueña and the taquitos Dorados and both were excellent. They do very well on their presentation as well. Can’t wait to come back and try other things on the menu. Prices are a little on the high end but overall, I think it’s worth it. My only critiques, and they have nothing to do with the food, would be to not make it so cold inside the restaurant and it would be great if the bathroom had a normal sink without the push button kind, ideally one that is sensor operated. These things are totally peripheral and are not influencing my overall view of the café, but if by chance anyone who manages the restaurant is reading this, maybe they can help improve the overall experience.“

“The people at the Kawada Hotel recommended this wonderful diner. I walked in and fell in love with the place. I'm not a fancy person,but I may as well have been eating at a Michellin Stared restaurant. The gentleman behind the counter was friendly. I love ❤️ a good diner for breakfast. If I were to recommend something, it would be to have something other than plastic silverware. Bring the kids...“

“Maru has really Nice green tea latte. I usually leaning toward coffee and Maru’ coffee is super nice. But, their iced green tea latte is something else.“

“I stopped by cause I was in the area and really wanted a Vietnamese coffee! I got the Vietnamese Coffee and Breakfast sandwich along with a free pastry because I spent over $10 (tip included). In this economy all the items here are reasonably priced and taste good! The cafe is clean and the staff is nice as well.“

“Great coffee, great pastries, and an easy vibe. Street parking can be a little tricky depending on the time of day, but it’s worth it once you’re inside. There’s outdoor seating if you want some fresh air, and it’s right by the LA River bike path which makes it a perfect stop before or after a ride. Consistently solid spot.“

“es el mejor lugar los mejores cafes y postres ynoseles olvide llevar su rikisimo pastel selos recomiendo. está rikisimo todo“

“First time here and ordered their iced chai latte. The barista was very friendly and suggested I add honey vanilla syrup because their chai is more on the spicier side. I took her suggestion and the chai tasted great! I definitely could taste the note of spice but the honey vanilla helped balance out the flavors. They also sold various pastries that I’d like to try next time. The actual cafe is small but there’s some seating outside. Overall. I enjoyed my visit and is a place I recommend trying out!“

“👌👌👌👌👌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍“

“I loved the citrus tea.. it was delicious.“

“I love the neighborhood cafe, my sister had mentioned she enjoyed it last time she came with a friend and I came to try it out. I loved the food, their breakfast burrito so yummy and their chilaquiles too. Loved their salsa. Overall great experience and a nice environment to get breakfast and catch up with a friend. Robert and Norma were super nice and would continue checking in on us to make sure we were doing well. Definitely recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“First time here. Shared the breakfast sandwich and the breakfast burrito. Both were good 👍 but the burrito was the favorite 🌯🫶 the green salsa it comes with yum! 🤤 the young ladies who work here are very sweet.
Clean even the bathroom.
Only negative parking 🫤“

“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.“

“Immediately after I walked in I was greeted in a real way and asked what I was feeling like. They made me the special they have currently which was delicious. I also bought their Everything Bagel Croissant which was also delicious and unique. Geeky vibe with cozy energy. Excited to return.“

“My favorite breakfast place when we visit DTLA. The atmosphere is excellent and it’s next to my favorite bar.“

“This one is a nice place to meet people & enjoy the surroundings of the way it was built in LA

Vegetarian options: Not bad in trying ya Vegetable Plate throw in the side you do your own dish put anything in there add ya Salad to it.“

“best place! been coming here for sometime. can't wait for them to open in altadena.“

“I ate a Lechon sandwich. Took a while to prepare but it was tasty“

“I'm a retired chef from Louisiana but living in Nashville nowadays. I know about eating healthy and I would give this place 2 thumbs up.“

“The Burlington Arcade is so gorgeous and mandarin coffee stand fits right in! While the storefront only allows 4 customers at a time, waiting outside doesn’t feel bothersome because you’re in such a beautiful space.

While they do have citrusy flavors on their menu, much of their focus is on serving Chinese coffee among classics. I got the gui hua latte (which only comes hot) and it really grew on me, with the complex flavor combination of coffee, slight spice, and florality. Their Vienna latte was smooth and rich while their honey yuzu fizz was bright and refreshing. There are a couple of tables in the walkway, but I wouldn’t count on doing work here or staying for a long period of time. Parking is pretty easy in the lot, though!“

“Beautiful setting and great food“

“My husband and I had breakfast at Café Montrose, and it was a delightful experience. I ordered the avocado toast worh a delicious vinaigrette salad, which was fresh and delicious, while my husband enjoyed a hearty plate of eggs with green salad The atmosphere felt friendly and cozy, making it a perfect spot for a late morning meal. The staff was friendly and professional, adding to the overall positive experience. We will definitely be back!
Miriam Huizenga ✨️“

“Excellent food at a reasonable price. We are in Pasadena for a wedding and just had breakfast at the Cordova Cafe my wife absolutely loved the lox and bagel. And I had the Cordova breakfast burrito it was excellent. 10/10“

“Todo es saludable y son amables“

“I enjoy CC for its smoothness. mostly I just get the regular drip coffee. yesterday like every visit the staff is friendly and customers are mostly local nice and polite. now I live in Maryland so I order CC online. still tasty but sitting at the marble counter makes it special“