Pasadena, CA

An acclaimed Old Pasadena restaurant doing Northern-Italian cooking with Californian produce and house-made pastas in a snug, focused room. The city's most serious dinner.

An Old Pasadena restaurant built around bone-broth-based Southeast Asian cooking and family-style shared plates, with bold, layered flavors. A modern, communal way to eat.

A long-running Mediterranean restaurant on an Old Pasadena courtyard terrace, doing mezze, kebabs and grilled fish with a romantic, candlelit feel. The district's go-to for an al fresco dinner.

A refined New American restaurant and craft-cocktail bar in a 1900s Craftsman bungalow with garden patios, doing seasonal plates and a serious drinks program. The city's prettiest special-occasion dinner.

A 1963 counter near Caltech griddling a classic thousand-island-dressed burger and slinging slabs of from-scratch pie. A no-frills institution that hasn't changed, and shouldn't.

A Pasadena Thai institution in a striking modern space, long the area's go-to for crisp roti, curries and noodle dishes done with care. A dependable, beloved standby.

A bustling dim sum hall turning out made-to-order dumplings and buns a cut above the trolley-cart norm, drawing crowds from across the San Gabriel Valley. Some of the best dim sum in the area.

Pasadena's oldest Mexican restaurant, family-run since 1920, doing classic combination plates and strong margaritas in a colorful, festive room. A multi-generational local institution.

An old-school Italian deli and grocer slinging overstuffed sandwiches and house-made pastas to a loyal counter crowd. The place for a great cheap lunch and a taste of old Pasadena.

A bright, busy café in a restored Santa Fe railway depot near South Lake, doing big breakfasts, fish tacos and a from-scratch menu all day. The neighborhood's reliable brunch and casual-meal anchor.

A South Pasadena barbecue institution since 1946, doing ribs, brisket and Southern sides in a warm, retro room. A neighborhood mainstay across generations.

A small-batch ice cream shop churning seasonal, herb- and flower-infused flavors — brown-butter, salted caramel, lavender-honey — from local produce. The city's standout scoop.

A beloved local coffee roaster in a big warehouse café south of downtown, sourcing beans from its own family farm in Guatemala. Serious coffee with a relaxed, communal vibe.

A flat, paved 3.1-mile loop around the Rose Bowl and adjacent golf course in the Arroyo Seco, the city's favorite walk, run and ride. Easy, scenic and social.

A broad open-space park at the mouth of the Arroyo Seco below the dam, with easy flat trails, native plantings and mountain views. A mellow nature walk close to town.

A rigorous 6.8-mile round-trip climb from the Altadena foothills into the San Gabriel Mountains, gaining over 1,500 feet to reach Henninger Flats — a fire lookout and experimental forest nursery with sweeping views of the San Gabriel Valley and downtown L.A. on clear days.

A 190-acre natural area at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains with trails through chaparral and oak woodland to a seasonal waterfall in Eaton Canyon. The most accessible nature escape from central Pasadena — trailhead parking is free and the waterfall walk is family-friendly.

A jewel-box museum at the edge of Old Pasadena with an extraordinary collection of European masters — Rembrandt, Goya, Degas — and South Asian sculpture, plus a sculpture garden. Small enough to enjoy in an afternoon, deep enough to return.

A museum of Asian and Pacific art housed in a 1920s Chinese-imperial-palace-style building with a koi courtyard. The architecture is as much the draw as the rotating collections.

A hands-on children's museum near the Rose Bowl with indoor and outdoor exhibits — a climbing tower, a stream to splash in, a bug area — built for young kids to roam. The area's top family stop.

The historic State Theater of California, a 1920s Spanish-revival venue staging acclaimed plays and musicals. A Tony-winning regional theater at the heart of the Playhouse District.

A legendary Old Pasadena comedy club running since 1960, where countless famous comedians cut their teeth, in an intimate brick room. The city's classic night of laughs.

One of the country's biggest flea markets, sprawling around the stadium on the second Sunday of each month with thousands of vendors of antiques, vintage and oddities. A treasure-hunter's all-day event.

An elegant concert hall once dubbed the 'Carnegie Hall of the West,' hosting classical, jazz and world-music performances with renowned acoustics. A refined evening of live music.

A cozy British-style pub in Old Pasadena with a deep Belgian and craft beer list and a convivial, expat-and-local crowd. The district's go-to for a proper pint.

A railroad baron's San Marino estate turned world-class library, art collection and 120 acres of themed botanical gardens — Japanese, desert, Chinese — anchored by Gainsborough's 'Blue Boy.' One of Southern California's true treasures.

The 1922 National Historic Landmark stadium cradled in the Arroyo Seco, home to UCLA football, the Rose Bowl game and huge concerts. The arroyo setting and the famous flea market make it worth a look even on a quiet day.

A 22-block historic district of restored brick commercial buildings, hidden alleys and Spanish-revival facades, now full of restaurants, shops and bars. The walkable heart of the city's social life.

A magnificent 1927 Mediterranean-revival civic building with a domed tower and a fountain courtyard, one of the grandest city halls in the country. A free architectural showstopper.

A 1908 Craftsman masterpiece by architects Greene & Greene, a teak-and-mahogany jewel box of built-in furniture and stained glass, preserved intact. The definitive American Arts and Crafts house.

A graceful 1913 concrete arch bridge curving high over the Arroyo Seco, with Beaux-Arts railings and lamp standards. A landmark from the city's golden age, best appreciated on foot.

A landmark district of more than 800 early-1900s Craftsman bungalows on leafy streets, the largest such neighborhood designation around. A walkable open-air museum of American Arts and Crafts homes.

The walkable old main street of neighboring South Pasadena, a low-key strip of antique shops, cafes and a Gold Line stop with small-town charm. A frequent film stand-in for 'anytown America.'

The arts quarter around the historic Pasadena Playhouse and the Chinese-palace-style Pacific Asia Museum, with bookstores, galleries and El Molino's theaters. A cultured pocket east of Old Pasadena.