New and trending bars in Pasadena to know
A warm, sourced look at the bars around Pasadena worth knowing this week: Edwin Mills by Equator pours craft cocktails with live jazz in Old Pasadena, Der Wolf keeps the German beer-hall mood going on Fair Oaks, and The Raymond 1886 serves its celebrated cocktail program in a historic dining room, with addresses, hours, and links.
By Alejandro Espitia
The bar map around Pasadena has been quiet on brand-new openings these past couple of weeks, so this edition is a look at where people are actually landing right now. The standouts this week are three rooms with real character and none of the pretense: Edwin Mills by Equator, the craft-cocktail and live-jazz tavern tucked onto Mills Place in Old Pasadena; Der Wolf, the warm German beer hall upstairs on Fair Oaks; and The Raymond 1886, the historic dining room with one of the most respected cocktail programs in the city. I am Alejandro Espitia, a Broker Associate and REALTOR with Apex Realty and Investments, licensed in California (01213999) since 1996, serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and Riverside, fluent in English and Spanish. Every spot below comes from the venue's own site or current local coverage, with sources at the bottom of the post.
Edwin Mills by Equator: cocktails and live jazz on Mills Place
Edwin Mills by Equator at 22 Mills Place in Old Pasadena is a New American gastropub and craft-cocktail bar with a long local history: it grew out of the Equator Coffee House that opened on the same corner in 1992. Today it is known for a well-built cocktail list, an urban-American menu of burgers and small plates, a daily happy hour, weekend brunch, and regular live jazz and music. It is the kind of room that makes Old Pasadena feel settled and welcoming. The Edwin Mills site carries hours, the menu, and the music calendar, and it is listed in the Old Pasadena directory.
Der Wolf: a German beer hall upstairs on Fair Oaks
Der Wolf at 72 N. Fair Oaks Avenue is the warm, wood-lined German restaurant and bar that sits above the hand-painted speakeasy The Dungeon, and it has a personality all its own. It pours German and local beers, pours a tight cocktail list, and serves hearty Bavarian-inspired plates in a room that feels like a lodge rather than a lounge. It has been showing up on Yelp's hot new bars list for Pasadena as a gathering spot worth knowing, and the Der Wolf site has hours and the full menu. It is a great spot for a lively group, and the sort of place I like to track for the buyers and sellers I work with across the area.
The Raymond 1886: craft cocktails in a historic dining room
Down on 1250 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, The Raymond 1886 pairs modern American cooking with one of the city's most respected cocktail programs, served in a restored 1886 cottage. The bar is known for seasonal, thoughtful drinks and a dining room that feels like a special occasion without being stuffy. Hours, menus, and reservations are on the Raymond 1886 site. For anyone who likes a drink with history attached, this is a Pasadena classic that keeps earning its reputation.
A note on details: bar hours, kitchen times, and live-music schedules can shift, so please confirm directly with each spot before you head out, and use the links below for the latest. The new-opening news has been quiet this week, so if you hear of a bar around Pasadena I missed, text me and I will add it to the next edition.
Sources: Edwin Mills by Equator, Edwin Mills, Old Pasadena directory, Der Wolf, Hot new bars, Yelp Pasadena, and The Raymond 1886.
About Alejandro Espitia
Your guide to the neighborhood, and to real estate
I am Alejandro Espitia, a Broker Associate and REALTOR with Apex Realty and Investments, licensed in California (01213999) since 1996 serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and Riverside. I am fluent in English and Spanish, and I specialize in real estate and home financing, so whether you are buying, selling, or investing, I help you find the right home and the right loan with straight talk and a steady hand.
Apex Realty & Investments
CA license 01213999
Broker Associate, REALTOR
English and Spanish
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Enjoy the bars
From a live-jazz tavern on Mills Place to a German beer hall and a historic cottage bar, Pasadena keeps finding new reasons to stay out a little later. If you need a recommendation, a real estate question, or a hand with buying, selling, or financing your home, text Alejandro at 626-314-9170 or use the form above. He is always happy to help you feel at home.
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