1886

Address: 1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, Los Angeles, CA, 91105, United States
Tel: +1 (626) 441-3136
Website: view 1886’s website
Door: Make reservation
Style: Restaurant bar

Review

A hidden gem of a bar attached to an established restaurant in Pasadena, now only a short Metro ride away from Downtown (if you're thinking of doing something of a crawl). The restaurant is the only surviving part of the Raymond Hotel, whose first incarnation burned to the ground, and whose second was razed to the ground to make way for developers. The restaurant is housed in the former caretaker's cottage, and serves high-end American cuisine.

The bar was recently relaunched, with content in CLASS magazine itself providing a virtual blueprint for the style of décor and drinks for consultant Marcos Tello. Now it's a darkly lit den, serving up properly stirred classic-style concoctions, the approach well-articulated by the gentlemanly Therapist cocktail (Highland Park 12-Year-old Single Malt Scotch, Drambuie, Carpano Antica and Chocolate Bitters) or the St Elmos Fire (gin, Aperol, lime and Dogfish IPA). Other cocktails are credited to makers from the likes of Milk and Honey and Pegu Club, which speaks volumes.