Old Pasadena is the city’s original downtown: a 22-block historic district centered on Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue, about ten miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Its restored brick commercial buildings now house independent boutiques, national retailers, restaurants and bars, which makes it one of Southern California’s most walkable shopping and dining districts.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, the district escaped wholesale demolition and kept its late-19th and early-20th-century facades. Look up to find ornate cornices, arched windows and Spanish Colonial Revival details above the storefronts. Narrow alleys and courtyards such as Mills Place and the One Colorado plaza connect the blocks, and they hide patios and small shops. The food scene runs from ramen counters and taquerias to wine bars and sit-down dinners, so it rewards visitors who wander the side streets rather than sticking to Colorado Boulevard.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday mornings and early afternoons are the calmest times to visit. Friday and Saturday evenings draw the biggest dinner and nightlife crowds, so reserve popular restaurants ahead. Colorado Boulevard is the route of the Rose Parade on January 1, and the surrounding days bring street closures and heavy crowds. Drivers should use the three public Park & Walk garages, which charge $1 for the first two hours (Old Pasadena). If you’d rather skip the car, Metro A Line riders can use the Memorial Park or Del Mar stations, both within a short walk. The Norton Simon Museum sits about a mile west on Colorado Boulevard.
