Pasadena has some amazing places to take a date! It’s got fine restaurants, bars, shopping areas, cultural events, museums, and a lot more, making it worth visiting even if you live far away.
Here are my top date ideas in Pasadena and the surrounding area!
1. Huntington Library and Gardens
I’ve already written a lot about Huntington Library and Gardens. Suffice it to say, this is one of my top picks for the best date destination in all of Los Angeles County. Not only does it feature amazing themed gardens ranging from tropical rain forest to Australian desert to Japanese and Chinese gardens, but it has an impressive art collection in Huntington’s personal mansion, as well as various exhibits in the museum. It’s well worth a drive across LA (heck, we drive here from the West Side). I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon with someone special!
2. Old Town Pasadena
With its restaurants, bars, and shops, Old Town Pasadena is an obvious date destination. Like all brick-and-mortar shopping areas though, it took a hit during COVID, and there are some closed businesses there now, which would have been unthinkable previously. Despite this, it’s still a happenin’ destination for dinner and for a romantic walk afterward, especially if you live in or near Pasadena.
The busiest part Old Town is on Colorado Boulevard between Arroyo Parkway on the east and S. Pasadena Avenue on the west. But don’t forget the side streets for some hidden gems, particularly Union Street (just north of Colorado) around Raymond, which have some really romantic restaurants.
If you want to dine right on Colorado Blvd, my favorite is Mi Piace. It’s always hoppin’ and the Italian food never misses. My favorite “secret” restaurant in Old Town is Café Santorini, tucked away on the second floor towards the back of the One Colorado courtyard. Very romantic ambiance and great food.
Most of the other restaurants that I would recommend are on the side streets off of Colorado, or just north on Union. I find the vibe there quieter and more romantic than the hustle and bustle of Colorado Blvd. Going from west to east on Union and up Raymond, here are some romantic date restaurants that I would recommend:
One of the most popular restaurants in this area is Union at 37 East Union Street, featuring Northern Italian cuisine. Always hoppin’, this is a great dinner date choice! The dishes are served family-style and are intended to be shared.
Perle at 43 E. Raymond has a romantic ambiance and serves classic French favorites like oysters, pâté, and truffle pasta. Has indoor and parklet dining.
Bodegón No.69 at 69 N. Raymond has a romantic but fun and lively atmosphere and serves Peruvian cuisine.
I like the cozy atmosphere of Dos Besos at 99 Union. They serve Spanish cuisine. A majority of their seating is outside.
On the other hand, Pez Coastal Kitchen at 61 N Raymond has a large airy feel, with a gorgeous interior. It’s a great romantic dinner date destination. They feature California cuisine and seafood, and they’re usually busy (which is a good sign).
For ramen, try Sato Ramen House at 34 S Raymond.
Maestro Restaurant at 110 Union serves upscale Mexican cuisine and is another solid dinner date option.
Here are some additional date ideas not on Union or Raymond:
If you’re craving Indian food, check out All India Cafe at 39 S. Fair Oaks, just south of Colorado.
If you want to grab a drink after dinner, I like Edwin Mills, located in the quaint Mills Place alley off of Colorado. They often feature live jazz and Swing music.
After dinner, you can window shop, get dessert (there are many ice cream options), get drinks at a bar, play video games at Neon Retro Arcade (they charge an hourly rate), or just walk around and take it all in.
For a more unusual dessert option, share a Korean shaved ice at Oakobing at 37 N Arroyo Parkway. You won’t regret it! Another great option is Kinrose Creamery in the Mills Place alley, featuring unusual Middle Eastern flavors. Always a line there!
3. The Rose Bowl Flea Market
If you’re into antiques or finding cool nick-knacks, you’ll like the R.G. Canning Rose Bowl Flea Market every second Sunday at the Rose Bowl. They have furniture, clothing, and cool home décor. Last time I went, I didn’t buy anything but we had fun just browsing. General admission is $12 per person.
The Rose Bowl also hosts other special events, such as food and beer festivals, concerts, and so forth. Check their calendar for more info.
4. Urth Caffe / Vroman’s Bookstore
Urth Caffé is the perfect “coffee date” place and a convenient place to grab a cup after seeing a play at the nearby Pasadena Playhouse. The Pasadena Urth Café is one of the largest and most charming coffee houses I’ve been to, with plenty of outdoor patio seating and tall arches. The desserts are awesome. Service-wise, this place is a step above most coffee houses because waiters bring you your order after you are seated, giving you nice quality time to spend your date.
Just across the street from Urth is the huge renovated Vroman’s Bookstore. Vroman’s totally kicks ass in an era when everyone thought bookstores were dead. There is a huge collection of books is on the ground floor, with gifts, greeting cards, games, and children’s books on the second floor. Out front are a well-stocked magazine stand and a coffee shop. This is a rare and cherished find for book lovers (how many cities have a book store like this anymore?)
5. The Norton Simon Museum
The Norton Simon Museum offers world-class paintings and sculptures just west of Old Town Pasadena at 411 W. Colorado Blvd. If you’re into Rodin, Van Gogh, Degas, Picasso, Renoir, and Monet, this place is for you. Many reviewers on Yelp say this is their favorite art museum in L.A., over the Getty and LACMA! It’s well worth checking out if you are into art!
The Norton Simon usually closes at 5 PM but is open until 7 PM on Saturdays.
If you’re really into contemporary art, you might want to also check out the very small but highly-regarded Pasadena Museum of California Art. It’s very close to Paseo Colorado and Urth Caffe if you want something to do afterward.
6. Bistro 45
Bistro 45 is a formal, expensive traditional “date dinner” place. The food, service, and ambiance get high ratings all around. The cuisine is French/Californian and the ingredients are organic. Go here on those special occasions, or if you really want to impress!
7. The Gamble House / Craftsman Houses
Any architecture buff will know the Gamble House as a prime example of American Arts and Crafts style architecture. It was built in 1908 for David and Mary Gamble of the Proctor & Gamble company. Any film nerd, on the other hand, will know this house as Doc Brown’s home in Back to the Future.
One-hour tours are available on certain days of the week (check the website for details) The ratings for this tour are four and a half stars on Yelp!
But even if you’re in the area when there are no tours, it still might be worth stopping by. The bookstore is usually open during normal business hours. And, you are free to walk on the patios and into the backyard.
Pasadena has a lot of other great examples of Craftsman houses in the area. If you’re interested, just drive around and enjoy.
8. The Raymond 1886
The Raymond 1886 is an enchanting restaurant located in a historic craftsman cottage on Fair Oaks, perfect for a special date. It has great reviews for excellent ambiance, service, and food, featuring “American cuisine with global influences”.
9. Arroyo Seco Park (Lower Arroyo) and Desiderio Park
For a pretty cool retreat into nature in the middle of Pasadena, take a short drive down to Arroyo Seco Park (formally known as the Lower Arroyo Park Area). There are 70 acres of trails running along the concrete channel that culminate under the spectacular Colorado Street Bridge and the 134 Freeway bridge.
If you’re into photography, the massive concrete bridge supports offer geometric shapes that will keep you occupied. Or, if you just like to explore under the bridge, that’s fun too. There’s actually a smaller bridge under the Colorado Street Bridge that you can walk on.
The only bummer about this park is the concrete channel (with its chain-link fences) that runs down the middle and replaced a meandering stream after flooding in the 1930s. This place would be absolutely beautiful if it had been kept as nature originally designed it, but I guess I understand the need for flood control.
There’s also a much smaller but charming and very well-manicured park further up under the west end of the Colorado Street Bridge called Desiderio Park. When we went, the poppies were in bloom and the park was quite beautiful. There are some nice picnic benches, but no shade, so be sure to bring hats if it’s sunny.
Restrooms and drinking fountains are available at both parks. Dogs are allowed on leash.
10. The Pasadena Playhouse
A great date destination just down the street from Paseo Colorado is the Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue). Housed in a historic performing arts venue with a charming courtyard and extravagant interior, the Playhouse is an attraction in itself, but it also offers great musicals and plays without the hassles of going to downtown LA.
Across the street there is Urth Caffé, a great place to go afterward for coffee or dessert.
11. Howlin’ Ray’s
It was not uncommon for the original Howlin’ Ray’s in downtown L.A. to have a three-hour-long line for food. When I went, I was lucky to have “only” a one-and-a-half hour wait!
Now, Howlin’ Ray’s has a second location in Pasadena and happily, the lines are not nearly as insane. Howlin’s Ray’s serves Nashville-style hot chicken. Yes, there are tons of competitors now, but I think Ray’s has the most rabid fans.
Make no mistake, this place is casual. I wouldn’t bring a date here on a first date or anniversary or anything like that, but I personally would be glad if someone took me to Howlin’ Ray’s any other time!
12. Yang’s Kitchen (Alhambra)
Yang’s Kitchen is located in Alhambra, but is well worth the short drive from Pasadena (heck, we drive there from the West Side!) It’s kind of hard to describe the type of cuisine there, perhaps Asian fusion? What’s not hard to describe is the quality: excellent.
The ingredients come from the best local farmers and you can tell the difference, from the fruit used in their salads, to their fresh-squeezed orange juice. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are highly recommended as this place is always in demand.
For breakfast, their hash browns are amazing. We didn’t have room to try their Cornmeal Mochi Pancake with organic whipped cream yet, but it sounds wonderful and is definitely on our list.
I enjoyed their Set Meal with chicken, multigrain rice, house pickles, and miso soup. We loved their dinner as well.
The only “miss” for us, food-wise, was their Yang Bang, their take on an Orange Julius. It was strangely too salty for us. But everything else was incredible.
This is a super casual place and rather noisy, so definitely not good for a first date. But, if you’re dating a foodie, they won’t be disappointed by Yang’s Kitchen!
13. Eaton Canyon Hike (Altadena)
The Eaton Canyon Nature Area offers an easy but rewarding hike with rock formations and even a 50 ft. waterfall at the end. The first mile is a not-so-exciting dirt road, but it gets more scenic as you go further along. This trail can get crowded so try to go early and avoid peak periods. Also, remember to bring water and sun protection!
Parking for the Eaton Canyon Nature Center is located at 1750 N Altadena Dr.
14. 626 Night Market (Arcadia)
I admit I have not gone to the Asian-themed 626 Night Market yet, but it is on my to-do list. Located at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia (okay, not Pasadena, but close), this outdoor market features food, crafts, games, music, and other entertainment. People recommend going early because the food lines can get insane later in the evening. Parking is free and admission is only $3!
15. Swing Dancing
For some reason, Pasadena is a hotbed of Swing dancing. So, why not take a Swing dance lesson at Lindygroove, the largest weekly Swing dance event in Southern California? Every Thursday night they offer beginner and intermediate Swing dance lessons at the Masonic Lodge just south of Paseo Colorado Mall. Afterward, try out what you’ve learned to a huge DJ’d dance in the main hall. Or check out blues dancing in the side room. Advance signup required. Dances are $15.
If Thursday night doesn’t work for you, try going to the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association’s Saturday night Swing dances. They always have a lesson followed by a live swing band and snacks. Cost is usually $25. This place has an older, but friendly, crowd.
On Monday nights, check out Crown City Dance at the Crown Theatre, drawing a good crowd of locals and regular swing dancers.
16. Comedy Show at the Ice House
I’m not a huge fan of standup comedy as a date idea, but some of my friends like the shows at the Ice House so I looked into it. Most online reviewers found the comedians hilarious but complained about the super-expensive drinks ($19 for two beers) and the two-drink minimum. Food does not count as part of the two-drink minimum, oddly enough. If you recognize the real cost and still want to go, the Ice House is a good bet for high-quality comedy.
17. Pasadena Ice Skating Center
If you are itching to go ice skating in the middle of summer, or if you want to re-create Rocky Balboa’s first date with Adrienne, you can go to the Pasadena Ice Skating Center, located just south of Paseo Colorado. Housed in a huge white canvas “tent”, this place is not super romantic, but it can be fun.
This might seem obvious, but it’s very cold inside so bring appropriate clothing, gloves, etc., even if it’s hot outside. I was surprised at how cold it was in there.
Just to warn you, multiple online reviewers complained that it’s crowded with lots of kids and that the ice was not smooth (needed to be Zamboni’d).
Skate rental is offered.
18. JPL Tour / Open House
Satisfy your inner geek with a tour of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In this unique experience, you’ll get to see workshops where scientists and engineers are working on actual spacecraft, as well as the mission control room.
However, patience is required for this on many levels. You’ll have to sign up possibly months in advance for the tour or wait for the once-annual open house to see the joint. Once there, it’s crowded, and there are long lines with up to a two-hour wait. The parking situation is equally bad, with long lines of cars that can back up into the freeway! Be warned and go early.
19. Rose Parade After-Parade Float Viewing
Camping out on Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Eve to watch the Rose Parade floats go by the next morning might be fun for some folks, but I wouldn’t say it’s a great date idea unless you’re both REALLY into seeing the floats.
Instead, consider this option: you can view the floats after the parade. It can get pretty crowded, so it is suggested to go in the morning. There is a cover charge as well.
Anything Else?
Whew! It’s amazing that Pasadena has so many interesting date possibilities! What did I miss? Please leave a comment below. – Brian
Still looking for ideas? Check out these great date ideas in downtown LA:
Ask Me a Question or Leave a Comment
POP Champagne Bar! It’s in the cover image for this article but not included! :P
Hi Cheryl,
Ah, good catch! I had intended to add that to my Old Town section. I’ll get on it!
Many thanks,
Brian
Thanks so much for this post! I live in Culver City, but I’m planning a staycation with my boyfriend, and this was super helpful!! Can’t wait to check out some local spots on the other side of the city :)
Hi Kyleen,
I’m so glad my article was helpful to you! Hope you have a great time!
Best,
Brian
Norton Simon is west of old town
Hi Amo,
Ah, thanks for the correction – fixed!
Brian