Print View

Return to YellowBot!

Zona Rosa Caffe

15 S el Molino Ave

Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 793-2334
zonarosacaffe.com

Recommend this place?

Rate this place!

↑

A class act

View tags & more!

Review It

Member Reviews

Best cafeteria...EVER!

First time I visited this place was actually to see someone play (she was in this small band). Zona Rosa sits next to the Pasadena Playhouse, but in-between the two is this small alcove & that's where all the indie bands play. This only occurs during the spring & summer months on Thursday evenings. Loads of fun!

That first time in there, I noticed they had "Chocolate de la Abuelita" a famous Mexican brand I grew up with & this became my spot. I started working nearby not too long after & used to have my daily Zocalo con Platano (Abuelita chocolate blended with bananas)---absolutely the best cold drink...EVER!

Posted by Miguel Hernandez on January 30, 2008

Great place, good snacks, great drinks and a loft space hideaway upstairs that will have you wishing...

Great place, good snacks, great drinks and a loft space hideaway upstairs that will have you wishing you could own the place.

Posted by Vani on April 04, 2007

Business Description

brought to you by

latimesguide

Zona Rosa evokes a bustling café in Mexico City, full of folk art in bright primary colors and wrought iron tables and chairs. Latin-inspired drinks are the main draw here, like the Zona Rosa cappuccino laced with cinnamon-spiced Mexican chocolate and smoothies blended with Jumex nectar juices. Unfortunately, the pan dulce, or pastries, don’t go much beyond standard muffins and croissants. When the ... more

Posted by latimesguide on July 02, 2008

brought to you by

10best

OMG! This place has awesome coffee. The Zona Rosa Capp is my favorite and the Latin vibe is very cool.

Posted by 10best on January 31, 2008

brought to you by

metromix

Grap a cup of Joe and chill out with pals. Zona Rosa Caffe, a fantastic find on a side street in Old Town Pasadena, is a neighborhood haunt and local fave. Its Latin vibe, excellent coffee and artsy flair make it an ideal hang out for friends who want to have endless talks over oversized mugs of foamy cappuccino. Live music is performed when the weathers nice and parking can be a problem at times ... more

Posted by metromix on January 31, 2008

brought to you by

digitalcity

With a ''Bienvenidos!'' to Pasadena's java crowd, Zona Rosa froths up hot and cold drinks in its Mexican-themed, two-story cafe. Located just a few yards away from the Pasadena Playhouse and about a mile away from Old Town, Zona Rosa attracts a mix of theater patrons eager to discuss performances over cups of joe and twenty-something, nuevo bohemians who prefer reading with a book in one hand and ... more

Posted by digitalcity on January 31, 2008

brought to you by

10best

Awesome coffee!

Posted by 10best on October 07, 2007

Editorial Reviews from the web

brought to you by

calendarlive

This Pasadena coffeehouse was named for an art district in Mexico City — and the menu and the décor reflect that connection. Mexican art hangs on the walls downstairs as well as upstairs in the cozy reading room, and the cafe regularly hosts traditional Mexican music and cultural events such as a Día de los Muertos celebration. Try a Zona Rosa cappuccino, which combines espresso with Mexican chocolate ... more

Posted by calendarlive on January 31, 2008

brought to you by

Citysearch

Named after a bohemian enclave in Mexico City, this lively cafe is the centerpiece of the Pasadena Playhouse District. The two-story, vibrantly colored coffeehouse is a hub for local intellectuals, artisans and coffee connoisseurs. The menu features Mexican chocolates and South American coffee beans, as well as house favorites drinks like the Zona Rosa cappuccino and Zocalo Con Plato, a chocolate ... more

Posted by Citysearch on January 31, 2008

Other Reviews from the web

really.

brought to you by

yellowpages

nice place. i frequent it. i would recommend it. they're kind. cash only.

Posted by zeegrt1 on January 15, 2008

Zona Rocks!!!

brought to you by

metromix

Zona Rosa is so cool, we drive east to have some awesome coffee. My wife loves the mexican chocolate and I dig the espresso (great crema). The music is very latin/world beat and the Thursday night music shows are really unique for a LA coffeehouse. This place is worth the drive!

Posted by AM DBR9 on July 10, 2007

Best Coffee Pasadena

brought to you by

Citysearch

Zona Rosa Caffe in Pasadena has Eclectic mexican decor with drinks with a twist mexican hot chocalate,iced cap ,red eye expresso shots and hello dolly cookies/brownies my fave.Good place to relax and drink a cup or come thursday night for the free musical entertainment ,in the now found out area of the playhouse district

Posted by rharvey on June 25, 2007

Best of City Search???

brought to you by

Citysearch

Ok, so I had read the reviews and most seemed positive, so seeing as I only live about 15 minutes from this place, I decided to give it a go. I had driven by it before, and it looked kind of like a "hole in the wall" kind of find, so I was kind of excited. That's just what I was looking for. My wife and I went on a Friday night, and there were 4 people in the upstairs and 2 people sitting outside. ... more

Posted by gustomc on June 01, 2007

It's a nice place yet the coffee is no good

brought to you by

Citysearch

The coffee is the worst I have ever had in my life, it taste like dirt ....please invest the money in the Java guys!

Posted by skywalker00 on April 12, 2007

brought to you by

calendarlive

Great espresso! My wife is crazy about the mexican chocolate that we also stop by to hang out when we are in the area.

Posted by Scott on October 25, 2006

best coffee

brought to you by

Citysearch

omg this place rocks!!!!!! great atmosphere... very good service...clean!!!! the best coffee ive found in LA!!!!

Posted by dogdropping on July 15, 2006

brought to you by

digitalcity

Very disapointing Monday afternoon coffee break. After searching for the "best" coffee spots we came across this one online. Cut to the point. We ordered two house coffees and they were both cold/luke warm. When that was mentioned to the employee she heated the coffee by steaming it. I would have expected a new coffee. When i paid, total being $4.33 and i gave her $10.35, she could not make the change ... more

Posted by COLD COFFEE.. on April 13, 2006

Better than Starbucks

brought to you by

insiderpages

Good coffee and friendly service. A great place to study if you don't mind a little background talking/music. It's a nice place to go to avoid the commercialized feel of a Starbucks.

Posted by Sara G. on March 17, 2006

Small but Good Coffee

brought to you by

insiderpages

I love the coffee drinks here but tend not to go because I usually can't find parking or seating here. It is tucked away on El Molino near the Pasadena Playhouse in a narrow space. But, when I have gone, I like to go upstairs because they have big, plush couches and reading material available.

Posted by Bj B. on July 18, 2005

Zona Rosa Cappuccino!

brought to you by

Citysearch

This place rocks! Friend of mine told me about Zona Rosa Caffe and the mexican chocolate drinks they have. Let me tell you, the Zona Rosa Cappuccino is the best drink I've had in Los Angeles period! This coffee house is a cool place to hang with friends. The music and art are refreshing, you feel like your not in Los Angeles.

Posted by artc on April 15, 2005

Beats Starbucks any day

brought to you by

insiderpages

It's a tiny, hole in the wall coffee shop that serves up fantastic coffees and teas with a mexican flavor. It's a perfect hangout if you want a quiet place to study. They have an upstairs room perfect for lounging. Always busy with regulars - a good place to pick up a flyer on local happenings and culture.

Posted by CaesarTheDay _. on March 19, 2005

Mexican Hot Chocolate

brought to you by

insiderpages

Small coffee shop with a comfy area upstairs. The Mexican hot chocolate is very good. Great place to hang out for long periods of time.

Posted by M A. on March 15, 2005

Truely Awesome

brought to you by

Citysearch

Zona Rosa is truely the best coffee in Los Angeles! They have a great drink called the zona rosa cappuccino and their espresso is poured exactly how I had it in Europe. The music is really cool and check out the second floor space if you want to kick back. Enjoy!

Posted by gagne on January 27, 2005

brought to you by

insiderpages

Zona Rosa definitely has a niche all to itself in L.A.- great drinks made with Mexican chocolate in a small but laid-back atmosphere. Everyone knows about the Mexican Mocha which is indulgent but worth it! The employees know and take pride in their products and are happy to recommend one should you need help or have questions. The latte is smooth and hot and served in a nice glass. You can enjoy your ... more

Posted by Alexandra H. on January 06, 2005

Simply wonderful!

brought to you by

Citysearch

Zona Rosa Caffe really is the best coffeehouse in town without a doubt! They have the most incredible mexican hot chocolate along with those Il Fornaio bake goods, just yummy! They should be in the Best of City Search's coffee as number #1 in my book.

Posted by el on December 08, 2004

brought to you by

insiderpages

Tired of going to an impersonal, corporate coffee joint like Starbucks? Try Zona Rosa, a unique coffee house that offers good drinks, cheap refills, and a warm atmosphere. It's a great place to study or hang out with friends. I recommend Zona Rosa's Mexican chocolate as a tasty alternative to regular hot chocolate.

Posted by Cory Y. on November 22, 2004

brought to you by

insiderpages

This is a funky, cozy little place with great espresso drinks and fruity concoctions. They're small, but the upstairs is a great atmosphere for studying or chatting and occasionally there's live music. It's friendly and perfect for apres-cinema conversation.

Posted by Eva M. on October 20, 2004

Awesome Cappucinos

brought to you by

Citysearch

This place is great. Excellent coffees, great atmosphere, cushy upstairs lounging. I highly recommend it, but not to too many people, I don't want to lose one of my hangouts. My tip: get the Zona Rosa Cappucino, it's very rich and worth every penny. The caffeine quotient alone will keep you up and chatting for hours on end, and with the Spanish dance music they frequently play, you've got plenty of ... more

Posted by breakbeat_addict on June 14, 2002

Mexican Mocha Heaven

brought to you by

Citysearch

Probably one of the few places in Pasadena that you can get your hands on a good mexican mocha drink. Though the chairs out front look about as comfortable as a iron fence, the service is great and the theater/jazz scene provides a interesting flow of customers. note: Try venturing up the narrow staircase, they have a spacious seating area upstairs.

Posted by SantaCruzSlug on June 13, 2002

finally, good drinks...

brought to you by

Citysearch

Being the kind of person that loves the coffeehouse atmosphere, I am always thrilled to find somewhere like Zona Rosa that actually has good drinks! They're caramel drinks are the best, in my opinion, and I love the fact that they have a great selection of non-coffee beverage for those hot afternoons. My personal fav is the Orange 50/50. :o) They have these incredible rosemary bagels with cream cheese ... more

Posted by vani on May 23, 2002

Support small business

brought to you by

Citysearch

Very friendly South American vibe to the place. Get your coffee (there's no food), then head upstairs to the comfortable couches.

Posted by AndreaLoera_Citysearch on May 16, 2002