Perfect Pasadena Date Night Ideas
We have compiled a list of excellent Pasadena date night ideas. I think you will find there is something for everyone, whether you are planning Valentine’s date, girls’ night out, or just want to try something new and romantic.
Pasadena Date Night: Uber Recommended
Everson Royce
Everson Royce is my favorite date night or girls’ night out a spot in Pasadena. It’s a wine store that offers tastings on Tuesday and Friday nights (5-9 pm), and Saturday afternoons (2-6 pm). The tasting menu changes every day, but they always have several excellent glasses on tap for you to choose from. It’s very laid back, notables.
Just sally on up to the counter, help yourself to some bread and fresh creamery butter (they have salami and cheese on Tuesday and enjoy. The staff at Everson Royce are a big part of the draw. They’ll tell you everything they know, and they know a lot. Flights are only $15 per person, and glasses of wine run $6-10/glass.
Everson Royce Wine & Spirits, 155 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103, Phone: (626) 765-9334
After Dinner
As you are walking closer towards Colorado Boulevard to get maybe a bespoke ice cream sandwich at Cool Haus (closed) or a slice of Earl Grey pie from the Pie Hole, don’t ignore the quiet man lounging by an intriguingly nondescript door who calls, “Hey, do you want to go to the Speakeasy?” You’re calling an Uber anyway, might as well enjoy the ride. You will pass through a curtain into a room with ruby-colored lights illuminating a dazzling array of liquor bottles. Order at the bar (anything, all of the cocktails are handmade and unique), then grab a table and talk to your honey all night long.
The Pie Hole, 59 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105, Phone: (626) 765-6315
Pasadena Date Night Ideas to splurge
One thing I still have not adapted to here in Pasadena is that people just do not get as dressed up as they do on the East Coast. It’s a shame, really. I say, to heck with the SoCal suit of nice jeans with $300 sandals. Break out the little black dress and head to one of these beautiful places.
The Royce at the Langham
What says a fancy night out better than grass-fed steak and lobster wood-fired over a White Oak grill? Head straight The Royce at the Langham. You park at the hotel (valet only but validated if you’re dining at the restaurant), then head back through the hotel to the comfortably posh Royce. The chairs are white and plush, perfect for sinking into while you enjoy a swoon-worthy glass of red. You can also dine in the temperature-controlled red wine room, where they keep all the bottles served in the restaurant. Don’t worry, it’s a lovely setting and if you get cold, they will loan you a pashmina.
Are there several other steakhouses in Pasadena? Yes. We love Houston’s, Arroyo Chop House, and more. For the real luxury feeling, though, definitely head to the Royce.
The Royce Wood-Fired Steakhouse, 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106, 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Pasadena Date Night: Sushi
Sugarfish
I do not eat a lot of sushi. I’ve tried it at several places, but really the only place that will satisfy a non-sushi lover like me is Sugarfish. Get there early as they do not take reservations, but you can always grab a drink at Smitty’s Grill while you’re waiting for them to text you that your table is ready. It’s an easy place to wait, too, as there is a lovely fountain and usually plenty of parking. I digress, though. Sushi. Their very opinionated menu reminds you of the chef’s motto: “don’t think, just eat.”
Order the Trust Me or the Nozawa menu to share, and let the whole experience be a conversation starter. If they have hirame, order an extra piece. Oh, and maybe extra albacore too.
Sugarfish, 146 S Lake Ave #108, Pasadena, CA 91101, Phone: (626) 298-8386
Date Night Ideas to enjoy SoCal weather
Huntington Library and Gardens
Huntington Library and Gardens not only has a fabulous art collection (including a First Folio of Shakespeare and a Gutenberg Bible), but also some stunning botanical gardens. Make sure you check out the Calendar, as they often have special lectures, evening concerts, tai chi, and more.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
Street Food Cinema
If you prefer the cinematic arts, grab a picnic basket and blanket and watch a movie under the stars with Street Food Cinema. It’s more like a giant party than a movie. Before the show, they have contests and games, and an aromatic variety of food trucks. You can always bring in your own food (and wine/beer), though. Most of the outdoor movies are in the spring-fall, but they run special nights at an indoor theater during the winter.
Street Food Cinema, 1617 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Pasadena Date Night Ideas: Pasadena Outdoors
Maybe you feel you have seen all there is to see of the Pasadena restaurant scene. This is a little hard to believe, as Pasadena has a very high number of restaurants per capita. Still, though, if you may want to venture a little further afield, check out:
Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung in nearby Glendale or Arcadia. It is a Taiwanese chain that specializes in xiaolongbao or juicy pork soup dumplings. It doesn’t break the bank, and you can eat a ton. It’s fun to get a little messy, right? If you don’t want soup dumplings, try the noodles in sesame sauce or the Shanghai rice cakes with chicken. Then go catch a movie, as they both abut cinemas.
Din Tai Fung, Level 2, 400 S Baldwin Ave #M5, Arcadia, CA 91007, Phone: (626) 446-8588
Eagle Rock restaurants
These restaurants are not just family-friendly, they are definitely date-night friendly. In the shadow of its eponymous stone, Eagle Rock abuts Pasadena, Highland Park, and Glendale. It has a character all its own, with tree-lined streets where kids ride their bikes past bungalows and restored Craftsmans.
The real gem of Eagle Rock, beyond its community, is the quality of the food. Without the astronomical costs and faux pretense of the West Side, you can enjoy some true foodie and family-friendly restaurants simply by walking down Colorado Boulevard.
Go for a hike
For the experienced hikers, you cannot beat the views on Echo Mountain and Inspiration Point. If you’re still a little hungover after Everson Royce and the Speakeasy, head to Eaton Canyon. You will be rewarded with a cool stream and some small waterfalls. Take off your shoes and enjoy a chat on the rocks.
Terranea Resort
Head down toward the coast to one of the most beautiful hotels, the Terranea Resort. They have several restaurants and bars. You can enjoy a drink and the beautiful Pacific coast sunset with your loved one. Nothing better to spur conversation than an exotic locale.
Terranea Resort, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, Phone: (855) 938-4047
Pasadena Date Night: For the Health Conscious
Rose Bowl
If you find it difficult to find time for fitness and your honey (who doesn’t?), why not combine them? The Rose Bowl in Pasadena has a 3+ mile loop around the iconic stadium. Make sure you keep your eyes open, as the people watching here helps fuel date conversation. We have overheard couples screaming at each about how so and so wore the wrong dress to a fancy party (keeps your own relationship in perspective), moms debating what is the best organic gluten-free vegan baby carrier, and have even seen multiple versions of recumbent bicycles (including one that looked like the early bicycles with one big wheel and one small).
True Food Kitchen
If you prefer a meal, don’t miss True Food Kitchen. You can either sit on the patio (of course there are heat lamps when it is less than 80 degrees), inside the airy bar area, or in the spacious dining room. The menu changes seasonally and has an excellent selection of vegan and gluten-free options. Any of the soups and the grilled chicken salad are my favorites. The names are simple but the flavors complex. Because it’s date night, splurge on a cocktail. They have a delicious skinny citrus margarita or several non-alcoholic options.
True Food Kitchen, 168 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105, Phone: (626) 639-6818