Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Pasadena

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Pasadena? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Madeline Garden Bistro & Venue

4.7

4.7 (175)

$30 and under

French American

Pasadena

About the restaurant

We serve a modern French and Italian European cuisine featuring exceptional vegetarian, seafood, poultry and grass fed steak selections. We also invite you to come relax and enjoy appetizers in our Wine and oyster bar. For dessert, we offer unique house made pastries that are as delicious as artistic to the eye..
There is truly something to please every palate and conscious eating choices.Please visit us for Dinner,High Tea, Lunch or Brunch at our beautiful and charming historical Pasadena venue. Madeline Garden is newly reimagined and decorated to create an elegant yet comfortable dining experience.
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Top review

NishmaVIP

Dined on May 31, 2025

Such a beautiful restaurant! Food was delicious, they only have pre-fixed menus. They had live music and also gave me a little treat for my birthday. The lady playing the harp was amazing!

Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens

4.7

4.7 (84)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

La Canada

About the restaurant

Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens is a new farm-to-table dining destination celebrating California’s boutique farms and locally sourced ingredients. Inspired by the vision of renowned chef Rich Mead, known for his deep ties to sustainably focused farmers and purveyors, Farmhouse offers a unique culinary experience set amidst the breathtaking natural beauty of Descanso Gardens. Guests can enjoy a thoughtfully designed space that combines indoor and outdoor seating and a modern, airy aesthetic. With a dynamic menu of seasonal dishes and a garden-to-glass cocktail program, Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens is the perfect setting for both casual meals and special gatherings, inviting guests to connect with nature and savor the freshest flavors of the moment.

Top review

Brionn

Dined 3 days ago

Beautiful ambience and a carefully thought out menu. The staff was kind, attentive, and VERY knowledgeable about the food. You can tell that everyone that works there is excited about what they’re doing. The food was beautifully cooked and truly a unique experience in itself. Very enjoyable experience!

Wife and the Somm

4.8

4.8 (27)

$30 and under

Californian

Highland Park

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Glassell Park, Wife and the Somm is a charming neighborhood bistro that invites you to indulge in a world of culinary delights and exquisite wines. Step inside and be greeted by a warm and inviting ambiance, where the aroma of fresh, seasonal ingredients fills the air. The ivy-covered walls and cozy interior create a sense of intimacy, while the spacious patio and front courtyard offer a delightful al fresco dining experience.

Husband-and-wife team Chris and Christy Lucchese, passionate about food and wine, have curated a menu that showcases their love for fresh, locally sourced produce and expertly paired wines. Their ever-evolving seasonal offerings feature an array of shareable plates, from handmade pastas and charcuterie boards to roasted baby beets with whipped feta and toasted almonds. Each dish is a testament to their culinary artistry, designed to tantalize your taste buds and complement the carefully selected wines.

Top review

Gabriela

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

Amazing food, quality and service. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back.

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Experience

Somm Table

Dunsmoor

4.9

4.9 (1044)

$50 and over

American

Eagle Rock

About the restaurant

Brian Dunsmoor’s namesake restaurant, Dunsmoor, is the latest iteration of his ongoing exploration of American heritage cooking. It is, first and foremost, a restaurant for the community that surrounds it, and a loving expression of the relentless research that has informed his cooking for the last ten years.

We offer the full menu at tables in our dining room and at the chef's counter, as well as at our outdoor tables. Reservations are recommended but we make every effort to accommodate walk-ins when possible.

Dunsmoor's wine bar, accessible either through the restaurant or via its own door on Ave 35, does not accept reservations and serves a limited menu of our raw and larder items.

Top review

YvetteVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Best pork chop I’ve ever had in my lifetime. It was juicy, well seasoned, and large enough to share.

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The Royce Steak House

4.6

4.6 (1329)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Pasadena

About the restaurant

The Royce | Wood-Fired Steakhouse features the finest selection of Prime Cuts, Australian Wagyu, and grass-fed beef, expertly prepared on a wood-fired grill. The menu is accented by fresh seafood and creative, comfortable side dishes.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined on May 24, 2025

Service was top notch, and food as always was incredible.

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Casa Cordoba - Montrose

4.7

4.7 (544)

$30 and under

Spanish

Montrose

About the restaurant

Casa Cordoba was established 2013 to deliver a truly authentic Spanish dining experience. Located in a classic Spanish building in the heart of beautiful Montrose, Casa Cordoba presents a truly immersive experience where Angelenos can step out of the hustle and bustle of their daily lives and experience a Taste of Spain.

You can experience Casa in our magical garden, dining room, or wine bar. We offer authentic Spanish cuisine including an extensive tapas menu, specialty paellas, and much more to go along with our hand selected wine list representing various regions of Spain.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

John was our server. He was friendly, happy, and provided great service and advice on drinks and our food. Food was tasty, sangria red was great! Great time!!

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Popular dish

Paella Marinera (seafood) - small

Popular dish

Churros con Chocolate

Popular dish

Marinera Paella

Parkway Grill

4.8

4.8 (2486)

$50 and over

Californian

Pasadena

About the restaurant

The Smith Brothers trend-setter in regional American cuisine, Parkway Grill continues to define dining in the city and beyond. Parkway Grill specializes in a seasonal, market-driven approach to cooking that incorporates diverse influences and classic French technique. Throughout its over 30 years, Parkway’s innovative chefs have showcased an intriguing array of dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

Demonstrating the ultimate commitment to fresh produce, Parkway Grill planted its own organic vegetable and herb garden behind the restaurant, which continues to thrive for over 25 years on a piece of prime real estate in the heart of Pasadena.

Top review

EDMOND

Dined 5 days ago

57th wedding anniversary! Server was remarkable and informed. Food well prepared! Ambience mellow! Couldn’t have been better! Thanks! Edmond

The Lobby Lounge @ The Langham Hotel Pasadena

4.5

4.5 (768)

$50 and over

Afternoon Tea

Pasadena

About the restaurant

Join us for Afternoon Tea at The Langham Huntington Pasadena, Los Angeles with live entertainment. Enjoy a seasonal menu including mouthwatering sandwiches, baked scones, scrumptious sweets and a flavorful array of tea selections. Delicious Gluten-free and Vegan menus available.

Please include the number of adults (and if they have any dietary allergies) and number of kids (and if they have any dietary allergies) in your reservation notes to enable us to best prepare for a seamless experience.

Offered Thursday-Friday 11am-3pm (live pianist) & Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm (live harpist).

Our grace period for reservations is 15 minutes.

Tax + 20% Gratuity will be included in all final Afternoon Tea experiences. Parking $15 with Afternoon Tea validation.

Top review

Pamela

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

I consider myself quite the Tea connoisseur, enthusiast, and steepster (insert cheeky laugh). We had made reservations through OpenTable to try this place out some time ago. Upon arrival, be prepared to valet your car. The lovely entrance welcomes you to a special day.. It's the perfect setting for your Afternoon Tea. Tables down in the (I call it) Solarium portion of the Lobby Lounge are made up of the traditional 2 or 4 tops - combining a couch with 2 chairs and your Afternoon Tea spread placed on a coffee table. Excellent scones - moist and never crumbled when we spread the lemon curd and clotted cream on them. I would say the sandwiches were perfect! The bread was so soft, and the fillings were plentiful. My favorite was, by far, the Chicken Salad. They prepare Tea Leaves (out of Canada) Tea OMG!!! The Vanilla Earl Grey and the Thunderbolt Darjeeling have always been my favorites from Tea Leaves, and I was thrilled to see them here. I'm excited to return! Respectfully Reviewed.

Nick's South Lake Ave

4.8

4.8 (3251)

$30 and under

American

Pasadena

About the restaurant

Classic American comfort food, crave-able bar snacks, plus unique cocktails, an extensive wine list in an upscale yet casual environment. Our exhibition kitchen highlights the talents of our passionate culinary team.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Nick's Pasadena will reopen on April 12, 2021 for dinner starting at 4pm. We look forward to serving you!

Top review

GregVIP

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

Food was really good and the service was amazing!

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The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room

4.6

4.6 (1469)

$50 and over

Afternoon Tea

South Pasadena

About the restaurant

Rose Garden Tea Room is set within the historic Rose Garden, the Tea Room offers an elegant and memorable experience inspired by the tradition of English tea service with a distinctive California twist.

Any party with more than 6 guests MUST call to make their reservation or email tearoom@huntington.org.
Please do not divide your party into multiple reservations, as each Open Table reservation will be treated as individual and will not guarantee adjacent tables.

Please note that visiting the Rose Garden Tea Room requires purchasing admission to The Huntington. When planning to visit the Tea Room, please purchase a separate ticket to The Huntington for the same day as your Tea Room reservation. Tickets are available at huntington.org

Top review

MikeVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Had a great time! Wonderful experience and Kelly was fantastic!

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