So, you just got engaged (CONGRATS by the way) and now you want some gorgeous photographs to encapsulate your relationship. Or perhaps you are not engaged but want some photographs to celebrate your relationship or perhaps it is your anniversary and you want to celebrate it with a photography session. Well, Old Pasadena is a wonderful options with beautiful buildings and a old-movie ambiance, perfect for your session (maybe there is even a restaurant with sentimental value to you and your partner).
Old Town Pasadena History
The original Old Town Pasadena dates back to the late 19th century and early 20th century. When Pasadena was initially expanding, growing, and flourishing so did downtown Pasadena, now known as Old Town. Between the 1930s and 1960’s Old Town Pasadena went through a stint of neglect and began to deteriorate. In 1983, it was declared a historic district. Since then, Old Pasadena has been revamped: buildings were repainted and new investors transformed the struggling Old Pasadena, into a new and improved beautiful destination. Currently, Old Town is home to restaurants, cafes, nightlife, shops, hotels, bars, movie theaters, and a shopping mall.
Pricing and Permits:
A permit is not required for photography sessions in the majority of Old Pasadena.
Photo Opportunities
Old Town Pasadena has a rustic feel with gorgeous buildings.
It’s time for a little history lesson. So, when Old Town was reconstructed by city designers, they wanted it to reflect the style present between 1925 and 1940. As a result the color palate and building design of Old Town Pas is representative of that time period. So, in your engagement photos, you can expect this to give your photographs an old-film aesthetic that I love.
Old Pas is home to numerous restaurants that have warm, intimate ambiances with outdoor seating, perfect for engagement sessions. While this Old Town is stunning, it does get busy around sunset, so a sunrise engagement session is optimal.
If you do a sunrise engagement session, there are numerous cafes with delicious coffee and pastries that you can treat yourself to.
And if you do a sunset engagement session, there is no shortage of scrumptious dinner options.
Or if you want a midday engagement session, you can go on a stroll and enjoy quieter streets, catch a movie, and get some lunch.
Either way, you get to enjoy beautiful Old Town Pasadena and support local businesses.
Old Town Pasadena Restaurant Recommendations
- Nine and Nine Thai Kitchen: delicious Thai food located Playhouse Village in Old Town. Keep in mind, they are closed on Tuesdays, but open from 10:30 am – 9:00 pm every other day.
- Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery: a restaurant and cheesery. After all who does not love cheese. Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery serves American food and excellent cheese.
- Il Fornaio: An authentic Italian restaurant dedicated to transporting you to Italy for an evening.
- Arroyo Chop House: If you are looking for a traditional steakhouse in Pasadena, look no further.
- Café Santorini: Scrumptious Mediterranean food, wine, and cocktails located in Old Town Pasadena.
- Bone Kettle: Authentic family recipes of yummy Southeast Asian food. If you are interested in going here, it is important to note they require reservations.
- Boiling Point Concept: specializes in Taiwanese hot soup, offering customizable hot soups with various flavors, and high-quality meat.
- Dos Besos: Authentic Spanish cuisine in Old Pasadena. The menu consists of tapas, larger plates, paella, and Spanish wines.
- Entre Nous French Bistro: The two owners are from Provence and produced a menu that reflects their origins.
- Jumak: Named after an East Asian market, Jumak is delicious Northeast Asian cuisine.
- Luggage Room Pizzeria & La Grande Orange Café: located in the restored historic Del Mar Train station. You can expect to find traditional Californian plates with high quality ingredients.
- Me + Crepe: A yummy Chinese restaurant located in Old Town serving traditional Jianbing, a savory crepe.
- Mi Piace: One of the oldest restaurants in Old Town Pasadena. Mi Piace serves delicious Italian food.
- Paper Rice: Reinvented Vietnamese food, including Gỏi Cuốn (spring rolls), bowls, and Bánh Mì.
If you are looking for five incredible, romantic restaurants in Los Angeles, read this blog post! Or if you want my top five best restaurants in all of Pasadena look at this post!
Cafe Recommendations in Old Town Pasadena
- Amara Chocolate and Coffee: A cozy Venezuelan café known for its cachapa and sipping chocolate.
- Home Brewed Bar: A cold brew tea and coffee house. They brew their teas and coffees using the toddy method, which means they are significantly less acidic than standard brewing.
- Bearology Pasadena: A boba shop located in Old Town that utilizes real fruit and loose-leaf teas.
- Boba ChaCha: A traditional Taiwanese boba tea house with teas, coffees, and juice drinks.
- Savvvy’s Coffee: A family-owned café with assorted espresso, lattes, and pastries. They have food options ranging from a quick bite to charcuterie boards.
- Carrara Pastries & Café Pasadena: In addition to delicious coffee, Carrara’s has an assortment of pastries, gelato, and cakes.
- Chado Team Room Pasadena: At Chado’s you will never run out of tea options and variety. They serve over 200 types of tea, sandwiches, salads, and pastries.
- Coffee & Plants: The first fully plant-based coffee shop in Los Angeles. They have gone so far as to partner with the National Forest Foundation to plant a tree for every hundred cups sold.
- Copa Vida: They have a variety of food options and perfectly brewed coffee and tea.
Dessert Recommendations in Old Town
- Delight Pastry: Just looking at their pastries makes my mouth water. They have pastries ranging from a Chocolate and Orange Croissant to Eclairs.
- Dots Cupcakes Old Pasadena: A boutique cupcake shop located in Old Town, who bakes their cupcakes fresh every day.
- Wanderlust Creamery: The best vegan ice cream I have ever had. Wanderlust has unique flavors that are in honor of childhood memories and trips.
- Hello Gelato: A small parlor with delicious gelato made with natural ingredients.
- I Like Pie: Beautiful, handcrafted pies. If you have a sweet tooth, I Like Pie has both sweet and savory pies that will fix any craving you are having.
- Mignon Chocolate: Sophisticated, delicious, crafted chocolate. Mignon has been in business since 1935, so they know what they are doing. Who does not love chocolate.
Old Town Pasadena Shopping Recommendations
- All Love Collections: Facial spa with a focus on being environmentally friendly and using natural products.
- April Blooms Boutique: Local Pasadena boutique with women’s clothing for everyone. If you are looking for an a dress, accessories or a stunning top for your upcoming photography session or an event, this is a fantastic starting point.
- Commune Records: This is a record store in Old Town that sells both used and new vinyl records. They have music ranging from jazz to hip hop.
- Homage: your new favorite place to gift shop. Homage has a carefully selected array of crafted goods, including handmade jewelry.
- IPIC Theaters: A dine-in boutique movie theater with a wide selection of movies.
- Norton Simon Museum: A gorgeous art museum with an array of exhibits and various educational options.
- One Colorado: A mall in Old Town Pasadena that is home to an assortment of shops and entertainment.
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