How to Spend a 24-Hour Staycation in Pasadena
How to Spend a 24-Hour Staycation in Pasadena
With its tree-lined streets, picturesque parks, and Craftsman-style homes, Pasadena may very well be Los Angeles’s quintessential suburban paradise. However, scratch beneath the well-manicured lawns to find a neighborhood that is as dynamic and as diverse as any in greater Los Angeles.
In 2025, the Eaton Fire tore through neighboring Altadena, devastating the area and displacing its residents throughout the Southland. Without a regular customer base, award-winning spots like Bar Chelou in Pasadena have closed permanently. As many of these local restaurants and their residents rebuild, Pasadena remains one of the region’s best dining destinations that reflects the tastes of its residents and tourists who visit year-round.
The itinerary below highlights some of the most essential places to eat while exploring the city and its many attractions, including a stop at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, the annual Rose Parade, Old Town Pasadena, and more.
9 a.m. — Cinnamon rolls and matcha at Badash Bakes
Pasadena’s viral cinnamon roll specialist, Badash Bakes, is the first stop of the day. Owner Ashley Cunningham navigated a fascinating path from private chef to industrial kitchen, and then opened as a brick-and-mortar in April 2025. Her impressive social media following fueled hour-long waits for her traditional and matcha cinnamon rolls, coffee, ceremonian-grade matcha lattes, red velvet cake, banana bread loaf, blueberry muffins, brownies, and banana pudding. The lines have minimized in recent months. This is an ideal starting point to pack in the caffeine and sugar, as there’s a delicious and long day ahead. 247 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, 91101.
10:30 a.m. — A botanical garden stroll with a latte at Red Car Coffee Shop
Huntington Gardens.
Whether exploring the expansive botanical gardens, library, or museum, the Huntington is one of Southern California’s most historic and captivating institutions. Before strolling through the 130 acres, order cold brew, café au lait, latte, or chai from Red Car Coffee Shop near the entrance. Don’t be too quick to dismiss what appears like a standard cafe; Red Car also offers a local favorite, Fosselman’s ice cream. If in need of additional sustenance before lunch, try 1919 Cafe, Jade Court Cafe, or book a reservation at the elegant and refurbished Rose Garden Tea Room. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA, 91108.
1:30 p.m. — A Chinese feast at Colette
Gather ‘round the lazy susan for a Cantonese feast by chef Peter Lai at Colette in Hastings Ranch, about a 15-minute drive from Old Town. The new-school spot made waves in LA’s Chinese food scene in 2023, capturing the attention of diners for its spectacular riffs on classic Cantonese dishes and wholly innovative creations. While the restaurant’s name and Instagram-friendly decor remain unchanged from the previous tenant, the menu is completely new. Find the chef’s signature crispy chicken stuffed with shrimp paste atop every table, along with heaping platters of beef chow fun, salted egg yolk shrimp, and sweet and sour pork. Dinner reservations, along with advance orders of the more labor-intensive dishes, including winter melon soup, Singaporean chili crab, and stir-fried lobster with sticky rice, are imperative. 975 N. Michillinda Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91107.
3:30 p.m. — Afternoon sweet treat at Carmela Ice Cream
A cup filled with vanilla and salted caramel ice creams at Carmela in Pasadena.
Cathy Chaplin" data-portal-copyright="Cathy Chaplin" />Carmela Ice Cream owner Jessica Mortarotti happily reopened her longtime shop in early June. Her Pasadena shop was closed for most of 2025 after the Eaton Fire, while much of the surrounding neighborhood continues to rebuild. Her Pasadena shop adjusts ice cream flavors throughout the week, but batches of the shop’s perennial favorites like salted caramel, mint cacao, lavender honey, and brown sugar vanilla bean made with organic milk are always ready for regulars. The scent of freshly shaped waffle cones and cups fills the air, enhancing the experience. Get a cone or a cup, and sit on the bench right out front. 2495 E. Washington Boulevard, Pasadena.
5 p.m. — Dinner at Cannonball
Hippo chef Matt Molina and operating partner Joe Capella debuted their sprawling multi-floor space in May 2025 in South Pasadena. Cannonball is a stunner sporting original brick walls, an extensive vintage wine list, cocktails, and local seasonal produce. Molina anchors the menu with his signature flaky biscuits with honey butter and a single-patty burger made with ground chuck and Tillamook cheddar. Starters include shaved celery salad with medjool dates, roasted carrots with cumin vinaigrette, and fideos with clams, chorizo, and saffron. A short list of six mains includes the burger with fries for $23, and extends to barbecue pork loin with Anson Mills polenta, grilled prawns, or grilled New York steak with pommes aligot. The wine list is extensive and worth exploring. 1010 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA, 91030.
7 p.m. Evening cocktails at Good Neighbor
Hop on the shortened 710 Freeway and exit on Lincoln Avenue for a quick drive to Altadena’s Good Neighbor Bar. Co-founders April Langford and Randy Clement (who also own Everson Royce Bar and Silverlake Wine) take the name seriously. Before the Eaton Fire, many patrons walked from their homes to the sleek bar. In recent months, regulars have found comfort at Good Neighbor, especially in the covered parking lot that has evolved into a hangout spot (kids are welcome to crawl over the outdoor haystacks). The grown-ups can enjoy the sublime mezcal Paloma with grapefruit and sea salt, and Good Neighbor’s extensive menu has something for every taste. Most nights, there’s a food pop-up stationed outside. While there, check out the mural that illustrates the damage to the Altadena community. 2311 Lincoln Avenue, Altadena, California, 91001.
