Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Pasadena

OpenTable

Updated July 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!

The Royce Steak House

4.7

4.7 (1331)

$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

Pankaj

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Excellent ambiance with courteous service. Menu was a great combination of food with a delicious dessert selection 👍

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4.8

4.8 (32)

$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

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

A great time as always! Love the vibe, the people, and the food!

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Experience

Sunday Brunch at Wife and the Somm

Experience

Somm Table

Dunsmoor

4.9

4.9 (1052)

$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

Sam

Dined 5 days ago

Everything was epic. Highly recommend the chefs counter for two!

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4.8

4.8 (2492)

$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

AndrewVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We’ve been going here for over 20 years. One of my all time favorites. This place is always spot on with everything….food, drinks and service are perfect. Great choice for a very nice leisurely dinner. Truly five stars all the way!

Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery

4.8

4.8 (218)

$31 to $50

American

Pasadena

About the restaurant

Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery is a neighborhood oasis that showcases live-fire cooking with seasonal ingredients behind an adorable cheese shop that offers unique and thoughtfully curated artisan cheeses and renowned provisions.

With our spaces for large parties, an open kitchen, darling outdoor patio, and a beautiful marketplace, Agnes offers many opportunities for celebrating a wide variety of occasions.

The holidays are a wonderful time to discover Agnes with the Cheesery offering several stunning products worth sharing with all of your friends and family. From large format cheese, meat and crudité platters, tinned fish, delicious gifts, freshly baked treats, to our decadent Sides & Pies holiday offerings. Enjoy and relax during the holidays with Agnes catering your parties and family get-togethers.

Founded by Chefs Thomas and Vanessa Tilaka Kalb, stop by while exploring the famous Gamble House, Rose Bowl, Castle Green, Huntington Library or strolling through Old Town Pasadena.

Top review

BobVIP

Dined on Jul 3, 2025

My original experience with Agnes was not great. Food was average except the pasta. Sat outside which was a mistake. No energy. I was also offended by a requirement that if we didn’t cancel our reservation 24 hours in advance I would be charged $25.00 a person. Bad policy. I was convinced to try again several days later. Totally different experience. Great service (inside, good energy), wonderful dishes, especially the fried chicken , very very good. Still offended by policy of $25.00 per person if not cancelled 24 hours in advanced. Bob Burns

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Experience

Weekend Large Party Reservation

Experience

Weekday Large Party Reservation

Experience

Brunch Large Party Reservation

Casa Cordoba - Montrose

4.7

4.7 (546)

$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

Maria

Dined 1 day ago

Food was amazing and every bit worth each bite! It did take over ten minutes to be greeted once we were sat so that wasn’t necessarily my favorite especially since I wanted some water. It also took around 20 minutes after we finished our meal to pay. Not the worst thing but would have loved to have a more prompt service. Otherwise, staff was friendly, gave great recommendations, ambience was wonderful, and food was delicious! We will definitely be back!

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Popular dish

Paella Marinera (seafood) - small

Popular dish

Churros con Chocolate

Popular dish

Marinera Paella

The Lobby Lounge @ The Langham Hotel Pasadena

4.5

4.5 (770)

$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, and Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm with 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

JasonVIP

Dined on Jul 4, 2025

Our two servers were excellent. Belvaneda described our afternoon tea options and we chose the noble tea option. When the scones arrived, Belvaneda described the two flavors and then when the rest of the food arrived, she described each pair of them. We got to choose two different teas with an option to change them if we wanted to later on. We chose the cherry blossom and the mountain berry and ended up sticking with the mountain berry. Belvaneda and her partner kept our tea cups full. The views from our sofa was stunning. The orchids and other flowers were beautiful. And the piano player, played happy birthday to one of the guests having a birthday celebration 😀. Belvaneda gave us a version of strawberry shortcake for our anniversary. That was so sweet of her. Thank you Langham for making our special day memorable.

Nick's South Lake Ave

4.8

4.8 (3259)

$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

Michelle

Dined 4 days ago

Nicks is always a great time with great food. I would highly recommend it.

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The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room

4.8

4.8 (1484)

$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

RobertVIP

Dined 2 days ago

During our entire lunch there was a 3 year old daughter screaming and running around the restaurant with parents paying no attention and in fact in encouraging her. This was during our entire lunch. Nothing was being done to stop this disruptive behavior.

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Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens

4.6

4.6 (167)

$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

Gordon

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding healthy choices (plus a couple of more indulgent options) complement a stunning building and garden patio.

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