Live like a local - Altadena guidebook

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Live like a local - Altadena guidebook

Altadena food recommendations

These places are located in Altadena and almost entirely frequented by locals.
Great pizza and sides. Delivery might be a little slow, but worth it. (You can pick it up if you're pressed for time) Even if you're not concerned about gluten, their gluten free pizza is worth it - it's like eating scalloped potato pizza casserole.
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Pizza Of Venice
2545 N Fair Oaks Ave
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Great pizza and sides. Delivery might be a little slow, but worth it. (You can pick it up if you're pressed for time) Even if you're not concerned about gluten, their gluten free pizza is worth it - it's like eating scalloped potato pizza casserole.
Fox's Restaurant has been an Altadena favorite since the 60's. The original owners retired pre-pandemic, but the new owners have kept the charm and updated the menu. Mostly inhabited by locals. It's in a tiny house, so sometimes there is a long line. Draw up a chair and chat with your neighbor.
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Fox's Restaurant
2352 Lake Ave
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Fox's Restaurant has been an Altadena favorite since the 60's. The original owners retired pre-pandemic, but the new owners have kept the charm and updated the menu. Mostly inhabited by locals. It's in a tiny house, so sometimes there is a long line. Draw up a chair and chat with your neighbor.
Serious gourmand food. You can order "roasties" ahead. Has just reopened for indoor dining.
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ALTAeats
1860 Allen Ave
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Serious gourmand food. You can order "roasties" ahead. Has just reopened for indoor dining.
Shocking that gelato this good can be found in an ugly strip mall setting, but there it is. Also has Friday night movies and dinner during the summer. Pricey, but worth it. (And if you decide it's too expensive, you can get ice cream at RiteAid in the same strip mall)
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Bulgarini Gelato Artigianale
749 E Altadena Dr
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Shocking that gelato this good can be found in an ugly strip mall setting, but there it is. Also has Friday night movies and dinner during the summer. Pricey, but worth it. (And if you decide it's too expensive, you can get ice cream at RiteAid in the same strip mall)
Great place for food, cafe drinks and smoothies. Has indoor and outdoor eating. Can get super busy, so be patient. Also hosts pop-ups for local bakers on weekends. You can call in orders and pick them up.
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The Coffee Gallery
2029 Lake Ave
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Great place for food, cafe drinks and smoothies. Has indoor and outdoor eating. Can get super busy, so be patient. Also hosts pop-ups for local bakers on weekends. You can call in orders and pick them up.
Spicy chicken to die for. Very similar to El Pollo Loco, but better. There is also a taqueria in the same little square if you want a taco instead (same owners).
Pollos Puebla
2057 N Los Robles Ave
Spicy chicken to die for. Very similar to El Pollo Loco, but better. There is also a taqueria in the same little square if you want a taco instead (same owners).
This is a food truck in a parking lot (which is a quintessential LA experience). Great tacos. You will only find locals here.
Tacos 210
North Fair Oaks Avenue
This is a food truck in a parking lot (which is a quintessential LA experience). Great tacos. You will only find locals here.
Great place to find breakfast pastries, cakes and cafe drinks. Some things sell out fast.
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Patticakes
1900 Allen Ave
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Great place to find breakfast pastries, cakes and cafe drinks. Some things sell out fast.
Just plain pizza if that's your bag. Sometimes it's ours. This place has been around for decades, so somebody's keeping it in business...
Pizza Joe's
2287 Lake Ave
Just plain pizza if that's your bag. Sometimes it's ours. This place has been around for decades, so somebody's keeping it in business...

Local Coffee shops

Fairly new coffee shop, but there's usually a line outside. Also hosts pop ups for local bakers and other food providers in their side alley.
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Café de Leche
2477 Lake Ave
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Fairly new coffee shop, but there's usually a line outside. Also hosts pop ups for local bakers and other food providers in their side alley.
Some people travel across the width of Altadena for this coffee.
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Unincorporated Coffee Roasters
3045 Lincoln Ave
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Some people travel across the width of Altadena for this coffee.
Cute little place for coffee and treats.
My Place Cafe
2057 N Los Robles Ave
Cute little place for coffee and treats.
Altadena adjacent, has interesting coffee combos.
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Lavender & Honey® Espresso Bar
1383 E Washington Blvd
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Altadena adjacent, has interesting coffee combos.
Cafe drinks, food and awesome smoothies available. Can get very busy, please be patient. You can call ahead if you are in a hurry.
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The Coffee Gallery
2029 Lake Ave
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Cafe drinks, food and awesome smoothies available. Can get very busy, please be patient. You can call ahead if you are in a hurry.

Local Nightlife

Who are we kidding? Altadena doesn't have nightlife other than owls and raccoons, but if you're looking for a place to have a drink...
Very mellow dive bar. Definitely only locals. Outside patio for safe covid drinking.
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Rancho Bar
2485 Lake Ave
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Very mellow dive bar. Definitely only locals. Outside patio for safe covid drinking.
Slightly more upscale than the Rancho. Slightly. Frequented by groups
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Altadena Ale & Wine House
2329 N Fair Oaks Ave
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Slightly more upscale than the Rancho. Slightly. Frequented by groups
The other dive bar. Take your pick... :) This one has live Jazz on Fridays ($10 cover).
1881
1881 East Washington Boulevard
The other dive bar. Take your pick... :) This one has live Jazz on Fridays ($10 cover).

Shops and groceries

Owned by two Altadena lifers - this shop is full of locally produced items and artwork.
Hoopla! An Emporium Of Good Things
2591 N Fair Oaks Ave
Owned by two Altadena lifers - this shop is full of locally produced items and artwork.
Amazingly cheap and wonderful produce, full butcher, sushi bar and deli counter. If you shop late at night you will find chefs picking food for the next day. Parking lot can be a little intense. On a typical day you may hear up to seven different languages being spoken which is a testament to Altadena's diversity.
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Super King Markets
2260 Lincoln Ave
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Amazingly cheap and wonderful produce, full butcher, sushi bar and deli counter. If you shop late at night you will find chefs picking food for the next day. Parking lot can be a little intense. On a typical day you may hear up to seven different languages being spoken which is a testament to Altadena's diversity.
Only open on Wednesdays from 4-7. Locally produced food and other items.
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Altadena Farmer's Market
587 W Palm St
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Only open on Wednesdays from 4-7. Locally produced food and other items.
At one point this store was the heart of Altadena as it contained a liquor store, a pharmacy, and a stationer and gift shop - truly one stop shopping. Sadly, only the pharmacy remains, but it has a lovely gift shop with a lot of local themed items. Great for souvenirs.
Webster's Community Pharmacy & Post Office
2450 Lake Ave
At one point this store was the heart of Altadena as it contained a liquor store, a pharmacy, and a stationer and gift shop - truly one stop shopping. Sadly, only the pharmacy remains, but it has a lovely gift shop with a lot of local themed items. Great for souvenirs.
Closest full service grocery store.
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ALDI
2246 Lake Ave
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Closest full service grocery store.

Play/Visit

Pickleball, tennis, basketball courts and baseball fields, plus a beautiful wisteria covered picnic area. Altadena's most historic park. In the summer there is music on Saturday nights.
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Charles S. Farnsworth Park
568 Mount Curve Ave E
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Pickleball, tennis, basketball courts and baseball fields, plus a beautiful wisteria covered picnic area. Altadena's most historic park. In the summer there is music on Saturday nights.
Relatively easy hike up a canyon to a seasonal waterfall. The walk to the canyon entrance from the Ranchito, is probably shorter than the walk from the parking lot, but keep in mind you will have to walk uphill all the way home. There are no bathrooms or trashcans. Bring plenty of water.
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Eaton Canyon Falls Trail
Eaton Canyon Falls Trail
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Relatively easy hike up a canyon to a seasonal waterfall. The walk to the canyon entrance from the Ranchito, is probably shorter than the walk from the parking lot, but keep in mind you will have to walk uphill all the way home. There are no bathrooms or trashcans. Bring plenty of water.
Using the Sam Merrill trail hike up to Echo Mountain and view the ruins of a hotel that once stood there.
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Echo Mountain Trail
Mount Lowe Road
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Using the Sam Merrill trail hike up to Echo Mountain and view the ruins of a hotel that once stood there.
A deep shady canyon that almost always has running water, even in the height of summer. There are falls and even mine entrances.
Millard Trail Camp
4041 Chaney Trail
A deep shady canyon that almost always has running water, even in the height of summer. There are falls and even mine entrances.
This trail can be accessed from our street. Fairly easy hike for spectacular views of the LA basin including down town LA (DTLA), Catalina Island, Port of LA/Long Beach, etc. This trail connects to several other trails leading up canyons or up to a few summits. Aromatic chaparral plants line this trail and wildflowers bloom in almost every season.
Altadena Crest Trail (section)
Altadena Crest Trail (section)
This trail can be accessed from our street. Fairly easy hike for spectacular views of the LA basin including down town LA (DTLA), Catalina Island, Port of LA/Long Beach, etc. This trail connects to several other trails leading up canyons or up to a few summits. Aromatic chaparral plants line this trail and wildflowers bloom in almost every season.
Everything bunny. This is not a kid's museum and it is a little bizarre!
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The Bunny Museum
2605 Lake Ave
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Everything bunny. This is not a kid's museum and it is a little bizarre!
Right around the corner, if you're lucky enough to be here in the summer you might catch an avant garde act at the Folly Bowl, but the real treat is the garden setting. (Like the Hollywood Bowl but smaller and way more amazing)
Folly Bowl
Right around the corner, if you're lucky enough to be here in the summer you might catch an avant garde act at the Folly Bowl, but the real treat is the garden setting. (Like the Hollywood Bowl but smaller and way more amazing)
If you'd like to ride a bike in our neighborhood, but you're not up to the hills, this is the place for you.
Open Trails E-Bikes
467 North Lake Avenue
If you'd like to ride a bike in our neighborhood, but you're not up to the hills, this is the place for you.
Not currently offering public tours due to Covid, but it is an awesome place to visit. Many JPLers live in Altadena, so if you take a walk, you never know you could be waving at a Mars Rover driver or a rocket scientist!
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Dr
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Not currently offering public tours due to Covid, but it is an awesome place to visit. Many JPLers live in Altadena, so if you take a walk, you never know you could be waving at a Mars Rover driver or a rocket scientist!
Besides the amazing views of the entire city, you can check out the telescope that Edwin Hubble used to prove the Big Bang Theory. The apple pie at the Cosmic Cafe is pretty good too!
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威爾遜山天文台
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Besides the amazing views of the entire city, you can check out the telescope that Edwin Hubble used to prove the Big Bang Theory. The apple pie at the Cosmic Cafe is pretty good too!
This museum has one of the most comprehensive collections of art throughout the ages. Small enough to easily digest. Has a lovely sculpture garden as well. (If you've ever watched the Rose Parade, this building is the backdrop to TV view)
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諾頓·西蒙博物館
411 W Colorado Blvd
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This museum has one of the most comprehensive collections of art throughout the ages. Small enough to easily digest. Has a lovely sculpture garden as well. (If you've ever watched the Rose Parade, this building is the backdrop to TV view)
Amazing gardens used to film many, many things. You will definitely recognize parts of the gardens. Closes earlier than you'd think in summer. This place is large, so have a plan if you want to see specific things. Has a few nice cafes in the gardens.
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Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Rd
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Amazing gardens used to film many, many things. You will definitely recognize parts of the gardens. Closes earlier than you'd think in summer. This place is large, so have a plan if you want to see specific things. Has a few nice cafes in the gardens.

Neighborhoods

Lots of shopping, world class restaurants and beautiful buildings. 90 minute free parking at two of the parking garages (Schoolhouse and Delacey).
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舊帕薩迪納
23 E Colorado Blvd
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Lots of shopping, world class restaurants and beautiful buildings. 90 minute free parking at two of the parking garages (Schoolhouse and Delacey).
This street is the heart of Pasadena's Armenian community and has many amazing restaurants and stores. In addition to the stores on Washington Blvd, there are several Armenian standouts on Allen Avenue as well - Old Sasoon Bakery, Vrej's Pastry and Garo's Market
East Washington Boulevard
East Washington Boulevard
This street is the heart of Pasadena's Armenian community and has many amazing restaurants and stores. In addition to the stores on Washington Blvd, there are several Armenian standouts on Allen Avenue as well - Old Sasoon Bakery, Vrej's Pastry and Garo's Market
A commercial area in East Pasadena with lots of chain restaurants and shopping.
Hastings Ranch
A commercial area in East Pasadena with lots of chain restaurants and shopping.

城市觀光建議

周邊交通資訊

Most shops and restaurants are not within walking distance

You will need a car or a ride share service. You can also use MetroMicro which is a low cost, public van service for local destinations. The Gold Line is a great option to get to Downtown LA (DTLA), Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Olvera Street. From DTLA/Union Station, you can transfer to other lines (like - Red Line to reach Hollywood).
風俗和文化

Indoor establishments may require vax proof and/or masks

Los Angeles County has just lifted the indoor mask order for vaccinated people. If you are not vaccinated masks are required. You may be asked to show proof of vaccination. Some stores may still require masks.
風俗和文化

Single use plastic bags not available

LA County has outlawed single use plastic bags in grocery stores. Please feel free to use any of the reusable bags we've provided in the lower, middle pantry cabinet in the kitchen.