New bars around Pasadena to know: mid November

There are no brand-new doors to report around Pasadena this week, so this edition is about the two rooms people are actually pouring into right now. The Ice House, the country's oldest comedy club, is as much a drinking destination as a comedy one after its full restoration: a new bar and patio pouring premium cocktails, plus a VIP lounge with a self-serve bar and windows into the main showroom. And The 1894, the wine bar inside Vroman's bookstore, remains one of the most distinctive places to drink in the city, with hyper-local beer, wine flights, and literature-inspired cocktails. 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.

The Ice House: comedy history, and now a bar to match

The Ice House at 24 N. Mentor Avenue is the country's oldest comedy club, opened in 1960, and since its full restoration it is also a serious place to drink. The renovation, bought and guided by Lakers co-owner Johnny Buss, added a new bar and patio pouring premium cocktails with top-shelf spirits, plus a VIP Lounge that seats up to 30 with its own self-serve bar, a room-assigned food and cocktail server, and windows into the main showroom. The club now runs two showrooms, the Legendary Room and a second larger-than-a-closet room, and stages live stand-up several nights a week, including Patrick Warburton on Wednesday, November 18. The VIP Lounge page has details and booking, and Pasadena Now covered the full transformation. It is a fun twist on a Pasadena landmark: the country's oldest comedy club is now also one of its more comfortable lounges.

The 1894: a wine bar inside Vroman's

The 1894 sits just inside the entrance of Vroman's Bookstore at 695 E. Colorado Boulevard, named for the year Southern California's oldest bookshop opened. It pours four draft lines dedicated to hyper-local breweries, wine and wine flights, and literature-inspired cocktails, with small bites like salted rosemary roasted nuts, parmesan-and-black-garlic truffle popcorn, Mediterranean olives, and warm brie with baguette and honey. Hours are Monday through Thursday noon to 8:50 pm, Friday and Saturday noon to 9:50 pm, and Sunday noon to 6:50 pm. The full menu and hours are on The 1894 site, and Pasadena Now has the backstory. Grab a book, order a flight, and settle in; it is one of the most peaceful glasses in town.

Still topping the cocktail rankings

The updated Yelp cocktail bar rankings for Pasadena have been remarkably steady through October: 10 1/4, Ladies and Gentlemen, GRANVILLE, Magnolia House, Good Neighbor Bar, The Raymond 1886, The Dungeon, Foothill, Bull And Barrel, and 1881. Most of those rooms have been covered in earlier journal editions, and they remain the reliable names when you want a serious drink after dinner. The through-line this fall is character: rooms with a story, from a restored comedy club to a wine bar inside a bookstore, keep outdrawing the anonymous lounge, and that is a good sign for the neighborhood.

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. If you hear of a bar around Pasadena I missed, text me and I will add it to the next edition.

Sources: The Ice House VIP Lounge, The Ice House, The Ice House, Pasadena Now, The 1894 at Vroman's, The 1894, Pasadena Now, and Cocktail bars, Yelp Pasadena.