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Beautiful Pasadena is blessed with warm, sunny weather and plenty of scenic views. To make the most of this bounty, why not host your next dinner outdoors? From pizza and tacos to steak and seafood, you can satisfy all types of taste buds when dining out in the Rose City. Whether you’re looking for a casual meal, or an elegant, fine dining experience, here are 10 of the best dinner spaces in Pasadena where you can dine outdoors.

Where to dine al fresco in Pasadena

1. Café Santorini

For delicious Mediterranean cuisine in historic Old Pasadena, Café Santorini is a top choice. Their spacious, second-floor balcony can seat up to 75 people and features a retractable roof. Enjoy scenic views of the One Colorado Courtyard as you savor dishes such as grilled calamari and kebabs. They also offer an excellent wine list and tasty cocktails.

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2. Luggage Room Pizzeria

Located at the Del Mar Station in Old Pasadena, the Luggage Room used to be the actual luggage room of the Santa Fe train depot. Now it’s a popular pizzeria, known for its wood-burning oven and fresh ingredients sourced from local purveyors and farmers’ markets. Arrive early for their great happy hour, and enjoy cocktails, wine, and beer with your pizza pie outside on their patio.

3. Arroyo Chop House

Located near the mansions of Millionaire’s Row, Arroyo Chop House is the perfect location to celebrate a special occasion. They serve only the finest quality USDA prime beef from a single-source supplier, along with fresh seafood delivered daily. Enjoy fine dining in elegant surroundings, including their pretty outdoor patio set on turf and decorated with planters, lanterns, and lights.

4. Mijares Mexican Restaurant

Pasadena’s oldest Mexican restaurant has a history dating back more than 100 years. Today, this neighborhood favorite still serves many of the founder’s original recipes, including tasty tamales, red chile, and roasted green chile and cheese. Plus they make their tortilla from scratch. Enjoy festive patio dining with a choice of multiple patios, and some of the tastiest margaritas in town.

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5. Union Pasadena

This small and intimate restaurant offers a seasonal California interpretation of Italian comfort food from Northern Italy that is consistently good. The menu is rustic yet elegant, with the focus on fresh local ingredients. Their pastas are all handmade and their meats and fish are sustainably raised and prepared. They also offer a great wine selection, and you can sit outdoors.

6. Sushi Roku

With a massive front courtyard, this upscale sushi restaurant offers plenty of space for outdoor dining. Part of the Innovative Dining Group, their dishes are indeed innovative and feature intriguing mixes of flavors and ingredients, along with classic favorites. The fish is incredibly fresh and beautifully plated. There’s also an excellent selection of sakes and wines that pair well with the sushi.

7. Perle

Sit outdoors at Perle’s sidewalk patio in Old Town Pasadena and enjoy delectable California and French-inspired cuisine with a casual French bistro vibe. Perle features a unique mirrored menu that offers meat and seafood on one menu and vegetarian and vegan on the other, with plenty of gluten-free options as well. There’s also an extensive beer and wine selection.

8. Saso

Enjoy cocktails and crudo while sitting at a historic courtyard at Saso, which shares space with the Pasadena Playhouse. The restaurant’s name is derived from the Basque word for ocean, which is a fair reflection of the seafood-centric nature of its menu. A charcoal Josper oven brought from Barcelona gives a distinctive wood-fired flavor to dishes, which pair well with an excellent selection of wines from Basque Country.

9. Bone Kettle

Located in the historic Superior Building, along Old Town Pasadena’s restaurant row, Bone Kettle specializes in small plates and shareable dishes inspired by Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, and Filipino cuisines. The bone broth is the star here, prepared for 36 hours for maximum flavor. Pair it with a selection of artisan sake, wine, and beers, and enjoy the rich flavors outdoors on the sidewalk patio.

10. The Raymond 1886

With a history dating back to 1886 as a hotel, The Raymond 1886 features plenty of old-time charm. The menu, however, is contemporary and innovative and masterfully executed, and the setting is casual-fine dining. Sit outside and enjoy your meal on the beautiful patio dinner garden. Or grab a few drinks at the separate outdoor bar — there’s more than 600 off-menu house cocktails to choose from.

Planning your outdoor dinner

When the weather is nice, there’s no place better to enjoy a delicious dinner than al fresco. Luckily, there are quite a few great options in Pasadena for outdoor dining across all different types of cuisines, as this article just highlighted.

There is usually limited seating outside, however, so be sure to make your reservations well in advance to avoid disappointment. With a little planning, you can make your next dinner al fresco and amazing one.

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Resources:

https://www.visitpasadena.com/food-drink/outdoor-dining/

https://www.oldpasadena.org/visit/directory/dine/filter/45/patio-dining

https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/pasadena-outdoor-dining-patios-eat-outside

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=outdoor+dining&find_loc=Pasadena%2C+CA

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g32859-zfp6-Pasadena_California.html

Picture credit: Photo by Eneida Nieves from Pexels,  ROMAN ODINTSOV from Pexels & “Pasadena CA ~ Pasadena City Hall ~ Vintage Film” by Onasill ~ Bill – 72.7M is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0