Last updated: 2025-05-06
Pasadena’s culinary landscape offers a sophisticated dining experience that blends California charm with innovative cuisine. From historic Old Town to tree-lined Colorado Boulevard, the city’s restaurants showcase exceptional gastronomic artistry that delights discerning palates.
Discover restaurants like The Raymond 1886 and Parkway Grill, where locally sourced ingredients and masterful techniques transform dining into an extraordinary journey through Pasadena’s vibrant culinary traditions and contemporary flavors.
Explore Pasadena’s finest dining destinations now!
Featured Fine Dining Spots in Pasadena
- Arroyo Chop House
- Parkway Grill
- Malbec
- Ruth's Chris Steak House
- Sichuan Impression
- The Raymond 1886
- Agnes
- Bistro 45
- Perle
Agnes
What to Expect
Integrated restaurant and artisan cheese shop
Description
Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery offers a sophisticated farm-to-table dining experience in Old Pasadena, featuring Californian comfort cuisine crafted by chefs Vanessa and Thomas Tilaka Kalb. The restaurant combines a seasonal menu with an artisan cheese shop, delivering locally sourced dishes in an intimate, contemporary setting with a focus on sustainable regional ingredients.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Agnes
Arroyo Chop House
What to Expect
Single-source U.S.D.A. Prime beef hand-cut daily
Description
Located in a refined Craftsman-style setting, Arroyo Chop House delivers a classic American steakhouse experience featuring U.S.D.A. Prime beef aged and hand-cut daily. The restaurant offers premium seafood like whole Maine lobster and ahi tuna, complemented by expertly crafted cocktails from a dark-wood bar with barrel-aged specialties.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Arroyo Chop House
Bistro 45
What to Expect
Seasonal New American cuisine with French culinary techniques
Description
Nestled in a 1939 Art Deco building, Bistro 45 offers an intimate New American dining experience featuring organic, locally-sourced cuisine. The restaurant showcases French culinary techniques through seasonally changing menus, with an emphasis on sustainable 'ranch to restaurant' ingredients and an extensive wine selection.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Bistro 45
Malbec
What to Expect
Authentic Argentine wood-fired grill specializing in premium beef
Description
Malbec offers an intimate Argentine-inspired dining experience in a warmly lit, sophisticated space. Featuring hand-crafted empanadas, premium grass-fed beef cuts, and an extensive South American wine selection, the restaurant delivers authentic Argentinian cuisine with refined presentation and tableside service.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Malbec
Parkway Grill
What to Expect
1920s Chicago bar transported to Pasadena
Description
Housed in a sophisticated space with brick walls adorned with Millard Sheets paintings, Parkway Grill offers an innovative regional American dining experience. The restaurant features an exhibition kitchen with a Mesquite Burning Grill and Oakwood Burning Oven, showcasing locally sourced ingredients in dishes like Lobster Crêpes and Whole Ginger Fried Catfish. An original 1920s Chicago bar serves hand-crafted cocktails and features an award-winning wine cellar with over 3,000 bottles.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Parkway Grill
Perle
What to Expect
French-California fusion tasting menu with seasonal ingredient focus
Description
Perle offers an intimate French-inspired fine dining experience in Pasadena, featuring elegant candlelit dining rooms and meticulously crafted seasonal tasting menus. Chef Christopher Goossen delivers sophisticated French cuisine with California influences, presenting artfully plated dishes that showcase local, premium ingredients.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Perle
Ruth's Chris Steak House
What to Expect
Patented 500-degree sizzling steak presentation technique
Description
Ruth's Chris Steak House offers an elegant dining experience centered around perfectly broiled steaks served on 500-degree sizzling plates. The restaurant features premium beef prepared using a patented cooking method, complemented by expertly trained chefs and a sophisticated bar environment. Warm hospitality and high-end service define the steakhouse's signature approach to fine dining.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Ruth's Chris Steak House
Sichuan Impression
What to Expect
Authentic Sichuan cuisine from Chengdu-born culinary artists
Description
A vibrant Sichuan restaurant showcasing authentic regional cuisine from Chengdu, featuring traditional dishes elevated with contemporary presentation. The intimate dining space offers a culinary journey through Sichuan's most celebrated flavors, from classic Bo Bo chicken to renowned mapo tofu, prepared with carefully sourced ingredients and deep cultural reverence.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: Sichuan Impression
The Raymond 1886
What to Expect
Historic Craftsman mansion dining environment
Description
Housed in a historic Craftsman mansion, The Raymond 1886 offers an elegant Modern American dining experience with sophisticated craft cocktails and seasonal menus. The restaurant features an intimate, refined atmosphere with expert tableside service and a curated 1886 Bar showcasing innovative culinary techniques.
Where: Pasadena | More Info: The Raymond 1886
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