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Top 7 Places to Sip Wine in Pasadena

July 24, 2023 | Posted in Food

Pasadena, California is one of the best places in the world to enjoy wine. The wine shops are carefully curated, the wine bars and tasting rooms are filled with activities, and the restaurants with extensive wine menus are bucket-list worthy for any wine enthusiast. The air of wine talk in Pasadena is relaxed and fun-filled, inviting the novice wine drinker to sip and savor alongside sommeliers.

Bottled wine at Monopole by Wine RX in Pasadena, CA

Where to Sip Wine in Pasadena

Once upon a time, long before Northern California became synonymous with wine, hundreds of acres of vineyards, wineries, and cellars covered Southern California. Pasadena was a land where grapes thrived and wine was made. Today, Pasadena is home to some of the most impressive curations of wine lists and cellar collections. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, here are the top 10 wine bars and wine tasting experiences in Pasadena that you simply cannot miss:

Monopole by Wine RX

Monopole by WineRX

Conveniently located right next to the Tony Award-winning Pasadena Playhouse, a Latina-owned, fun spirited wine bar and tasting room livens up the 100+ year old building. At Monopole by WineRX, enjoy live music, paint and sip events, and blind tastings weekly. The wine selection is vast and varied and the sommelier guided tastings are a journey across the world.

The Cellar
The Cellar

The Cellar: A Wine Library

Along Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena, The Cellar: A Wine Library is hidden between buildings and down a gold elevator. Inside, an impressive collection of wine adorn the walls, which are covered with books, art, and wine. Some leather couches provide lounge seating while small tables are dimly lit with green bankers lamps to create the an intimate wine tasting experience. There's a food menu too, filled with charcuterie boards, burrata, and oysters.

We olive
We Olive & Wine Bar

We Olive & Wine Bar

When meandering through Old Pasadena demands a rest and a glass of wine, We Olive & Wine Bar on Colorado Boulevard is the perfect pitstop. The cozy spot has olive oils and balsamic vinegar tastings right when you enter, followed by a beautiful wooden wine bar and a charming back patio space with al fresco seating. Enjoy anything from cheese and charcuterie boards with your wine to Italian sandwiches and salads.

Agnes

Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery

A delightful brunch and dinner spot in Old Pasadena, Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery offers an informal wine bar with a thoughtful wine list. There's also a marketplace filled with goodies like jams, tinned fish, and cheese and wine.

1894 Wine Bar
1894 Wine Bar

1894 Wine Bar at Vroman's Bookstore

A true neighborhood gem, the 1894 Wine Bar inside the cherished independent bookstore at Vroman's is a book lover and wine enthusiast's dream. A selection of cheese plates and snacks are available to enjoy with a glass of vino and a good read. We recommend perusing the large selection of books at Vroman's first, before heading to the wine bar to enjoy the one of a kind experience.

Bar Chelou

Bar Chelou

Located adjacent to the Tony Award-winning Pasadena Playhouse, Bar Chelou brings a gastronomic culinary experience that is highly revered by Angelenos. Located in the 98-year-old Spanish Colonial Revival building, the wine menu is managed by one of the region's most favorite sommeliers, Kae Whalen.

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