Edwin Mills

Edwin Mills by Equator is one of the most charming live music destinations in the San Gabriel Valley, a gastropub and cocktail bar housed in a building more than 100 years old, accessible only through one of Old Pasadena's historic alleyways off Colorado Boulevard. The exposed brick, original beams, and reclaimed wood create an atmosphere that is both intimate and unpretentious, and the alley setting means that outdoor tables are tucked against a century-old facade while a live band plays just a few feet away. It is the kind of room that turns dinner into an event without requiring you to dress up or pay a cover. Live jazz and live music run nearly every night of the week, with the strongest programming on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings. The music calendar features established Los Angeles jazz guitarists, pianists, and small ensembles who have the experience and stage presence to hold a dining crowd's attention across a full evening. The happy hour deals are genuinely aggressive: three-dollar martinis, half-price wines and appetizers across different nights of the week, and bottomless brunch on weekends make Edwin Mills extraordinarily accessible for the quality of the experience it offers. The venue holds about 120 standing or 60 seated, the food menu is a well-executed American gastropub spread with some clever touches, and the staff culture tilts hard toward making regulars rather than one-time visitors. If you are in Pasadena and want a real jazz bar atmosphere in a setting that looks like it was art-directed by someone with excellent taste, Edwin Mills should be your first call.