The Perfect 24-Hour Pasadena Itinerary!

Pasadena is a mere 11 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, yet it operates on a completely different frequency.  The pace is slower, the architecture is a little more interesting, with a lot of Spanish-style influence, and the amount of world-class cultural institutions within walking distance is incredible.  One well-planned day here can cover a lot of ground, without feeling rushed.  With the perfect 24-hour Pasadena itinerary, we’ll show you exactly how to do that!

 

Morning: The Huntington (10:00AM to 1:00PM)

Start at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens at 1151 Oxford Road in San Marino, right on Pasadena’s southern edge.  It’s best to arrive at opening, if you prefer dealing with fewer crowds.  The Huntington covers a massive area of 130 acres, with 16 distinct and differently-themed gardens, an art collection that includes Gainsborough’s famous painting of The Blue Boy, and a Rare Books Library that holds an original Gutenberg Bible.

Within The Huntington’s botanical spaces, The Japanese Garden and Desert Garden are two of its most-visited areas.  The Chinese Garden, their newest major addition, covers an impressive 12 acres, and is typically less crowded than the Japanese Garden in the morning ~ making it a great place to start your visit! 

On the first Thursday of each month, admission is free with advance reservation.

What to Prioritize:

 Head to the Chinese Garden before 10:30AM, while it is still quiet.
 Check out the American Art Gallery for famous paintings The Blue Boy and Pinkie, which hang opposite each other.
 The Rose Garden Tea Room opens at 11:00AM and serves a full English tea service ~ which is worth building the morning around!

Allow 3 to 4 hours minimum at The Huntington. Most visitors underestimate how large the space is, & how much time it takes to cover the major sights.

 

Midday: Old Pasadena/Colorado Boulevard (1:30 to 3:00PM)

Head north into Old Pasadena, the city’s historic commercial core along Colorado Boulevard.  The area between Pasadena Avenue and Marengo Avenue is one of the most popular sections, where the city’s street scene becomes evident: independent book shops, covered arcades, and a restaurant density that rivals that of any neighborhood in Los Angeles makes this a great area to wander.

For lunch, try Union Restaurant at 37 E. Union Street, which serves a California-Italian style cuisine with incredible handmade pasta in a lively setting.  Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery at 40 W. Green Street is Michelin-recommended, with a breakfast-through-dinner menu centered around artisanal cheese and fresh California produce.  Both restaurants fill up quickly, on weekends especially; try to make a reservation in advance.

After lunch, Vroman’s Bookstore at 695 E. Colorado Boulevard is the oldest independent bookstore in Southern California, operating since 1894.  This is a Pasadena insitution!  And worth wandering through for a bit, even if you’re not a passionate book lover.

 

Afternoon: Norton Simon Museum (3:30 to 5:30PM)

Norton Simon Museum at 411 W. Colorado Boulevard houses one of the most significant private art collections in the world.  Seven centuries of European art, a substantial Southeast Asian sculpture collection, and a beautiful sculpture garden with a central reflecting pond serves as a great place to rest midway through your action-packed day in Pasadena.

Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, Degas, Monet, Cézanne — the permanent collection at the Norton SimonMuseum reads like a checklist of some of the art world’s most famous names.  Admission runs $20 for adults, and is free for students. 

The Patina Group Café adjacent to the sculpture garden is a good place to grab a bite before continuing into the evening.

Evening: Arroyo Chop House + a Pasadena Night (6:00PM On)

Arroyo Chop House at 536 S. Arroyo Parkway has been a Pasadena institution for over 40 years.  Prime steaks, table-side dessert service, and a dining room that feels appropriate for a day that started at the Huntington all serve to make this a great place for a special occasion.  Reservations are essential.

For a lighter option, Holy Saints! on Holly Street serves a seasonal California menu from a renowned Michelin-trained chef.  Try their Barnyard Spaghetti Bolognese or Tenderloin Steak Tartare on Sourdough Toast.

After dinner, seeing the Colorado Street Bridge at night (or at sunset!) is well worth a short detour.  The 1913 Beaux-Arts bridge arches gracefully over the Arroyo Seco, and is particularly well-lit in the evening.

 

Getting Around Pasadena

The Huntington, Old Pasadena, and the Norton Simon Museum all sit within about three miles of each other.  While that distance could be walkable in good conditions ~ it involves hills and residential stretches that make driving the better option.  Most visitors find that a pre-booked vehicle covers the day more efficiently than piecing together separate trips.  For travelers coming from Los Angeles, a luxury car service provider often simplifies the Huntington-to-Old Pasadena-to-Norton Simon circuit, particularly once parking and late-afternoon traffic begin building across Pasadena.

For milestone celebrations or dinner reservations at Arroyo Chop House, some visitors may wish to continue the evening with a Pasadena limo service rather than switching vehicles, between gallery stops, restaurants, and hotels.

A Few Practical Notes:

  The Huntington requires advance ticket purchase online; walk-in availability is limited on weekends.
  Norton Simon charges separately from the Huntington. Budget time and admission for both.
  Old Pasadena street parking meters run until 8:00 p.m. on most blocks (you won’t need to worry about this if you book a car or limo service)!

The Perfect 24-Hour Pasadena Itinerary!

Pasadena rewards those visitors who actually stop and take in some of the sights, rather than just passing through.  The Huntington alone justifies the trip from Los Angeles!  Add a night at the historic Langham Huntington Hotel, & you’ll find that this is one of the better ways to spend 24 hours in Southern California….

 

xoxo Noelia

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