Best Restaurants for a First Date in Pasadena in Los Angeles

The Raymond 1886 brings Pasadena history to dinner, with a restaurant that has operated since 1886 in a setting that carries on the city's Craftsman architecture and hospitality traditions. Bar 1886 has a speakeasy feel without the trendiness of newer ones, and its slow, lingering pace suits a date night.

Pasadena's Arroyo Chop House earns its reputation with attentive service, a romantic mood and upscale steakhouse favorites. The Craftsman-style room is known for staying lively. The beef is aged and hand-cut daily. Share the occasion when you book, and the staff will go above and beyond. Dinner service starts at 5pm daily.

Dos Besos is a Spanish restaurant in Old Pasadena with a lovely, charming feel, which makes it a natural first-date pick. It is also a fit for a family birthday, and for date nights and special-occasion dinners built around Spanish food. Seafood paella is the dish to come for when you sit down to dinner here.

Entre Nous French Bistro is a classic romantic dinner in Pasadena. The room is intimate and lined with art, with a Paris feel.

Houston's is a low-lit steakhouse in Pasadena with a giant koi pond, and it feels fancy yet comfortable. Its broad appeal suits a special occasion, and the low light and comfortable feel make it a place to settle in together over a steakhouse dinner. Start with caesar salad or deviled eggs, then go bigger with the double-cut pork chop, plated alongside potatoes colcannon.

Expect a crowd at Pez Coastal Kitchen, a big, airy Old Pasadena dinner spot with a gorgeous interior. The restaurant serves seasonal California cuisine from sea and farm, with dry-aged kingfish ceviche and seared jumbo scallops among the standouts. A chilled seafood tower for two, with lobster, shrimp and oysters, is made for sharing on a special night.

Thaim is an offbeat Thai bistro in Old Pasadena where every dish is a little refined, and it's a good fit for date nights and drinking great wine. The decor nods to a street-food stall, with a wall sign that plays on the restaurant's name. We recommend the Pad Thai Boran with crackly chicharron, or the Suki Yaowarat, a sweet, fishy and spicy sukiyaki sauce on rice noodles. The Thai Tea Panna Cotta is a sweet finish.

Perle brings a romantic ambiance to Old Pasadena, with both indoor dining and a parklet. The French menu is upscale and classic, with escargot, coq au vin and steak frites alongside oysters, pâté and truffle pasta. We recommend starting with the Salade Lyonnaise. Chef and owner Dean Yasharian is Michelin-trained, with a background in classic French and modern farm-to-table cooking.

Union is a chef-driven Italian restaurant in Old Pasadena, on Union Street, one of the side streets off Colorado that feel calmer and more romantic than Colorado Boulevard. Union makes every pasta in house, and the plates arrive family-style for sharing. We recommend the torchetti, twisted pasta in a hearty pork ragu with ricotta and crisp fried rosemary on top.

Alexander's Steakhouse is a luxurious, modern steakhouse in Pasadena, and wagyu is the standout. Silver tiles shimmer across the front of the open kitchen, which you can watch from the dining room. Alexander's pairs its Miyazaki A5 wagyu with six salts, and the dessert soufflé takes its cue from peanut butter and jelly.