This place has a great vibe! Great drinks and bands intimate nice club.. you'll enjoy this neighborhood hang out!

1881 guarantees a fun time! The bartenders are attentive and we always meet interesting people. On Friday nights live bands play and we have never been disappointed! A good time is always had by all! read more

Great bar. Old school feel. Warm place. Neighborhood vibe. Good cocktails. Great music nights. Friday jazz nights with Joel Taylor especially great. read more

I love the new owners but I'm biased, I grew up with them!!! This place looks incredible since they took over. The artwork and interior is clean and classy. They have a space up front for performing and the mix drinks are fantastic! read more

1881 - My favorite bartender :) - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great bar that was reborn from the old 1881 bar. The management/owners have done a tremendous job of refurbishing the previous business: paint, lighting, chairs, stools and DJ equipment, new drinks. Very good acoustics working well with the new digital jukebox. No more pool tables and that's okay( there's plenty of other places to play pool . read more

Love it. Great cocktails. I came early in the evening and it was super chill. Great date spot.

Stiff drinks, kind people, great jazz/blues music and occasional free food (Bbq ribs/chicken.) We had fun!

Attended the Hardboiled comedy show on 3/18/23 and mostly had a great time. Amazing comics pulling truth from their guts and telling very unique and specific personal stories that were honest and frequently hilarious. Things went a little sour when one of the comics (Ellen Harrold?) singled us out and kind of shat on us for interacting during her set. As audience members we were giving great positive energy up to that point and it felt rude, unnecessary and mean-spirited. Would love to come back and maybe even participate in the show (I'm a semi-retired comedy performer myself). Dug the vibe for most of the night but that definitely tainted the overall experience. If i was really being a dick and deserved to be called out by that performer (and even the host piled on afterward) I would understand. But we were really just trying to be part of the fun and were mildly disruptive at most. Too bad it had to go that way but overall would recommend the night, the space and the show as a truly fun night out. Next time maybe just shit a little less on the paying clientele. read more

Amazing local hangout. Reggae wednesday nights are killer, drinks are strong, and ambience is super chill. My local joint, I'll just walk here knowing I'll have a great tap beer and an even greater conversation with the friendly bartenders! There's a floor with tables and bar, and another level with cozy booths. Phone-ready jukebox, big sports TV, and clean bathrooms. What more do you need? read more

The perfect mix of fine beer, quality cocktails, lovely music, the best wine you've never had, and great people.

Happened upon this bar on a Friday night based on possibility of jazz. Well, we got it and then some. Some of the best live jazz I've heard in years and NO COVER. Musicians apparently paying for free for the joy of it. It was certainly joyous for listeners! Oh, and the bartender was great. And the bathroom was clean. What's to not like? read more

Please fire the guy who keeps kicking out musicians who are trying to play for free. Especially when they have played there before. Enormous time was wasted bringing loads of equipment, friends, and pure good intention. read more

Under new management and what a change. The interior has been completely revamped and it looks great. No more pool table in the back room, just additional seating. Last night they had 4 craft beers on draft, plus additional bottle selections. The spirits selection is top notch and the cocktails that were created for me and my guests were fantastic. Glad to have this in the neighborhood. read more

Good cocktails, small divy atmosphere, really relaxed and nice. A real no bullshit place, even though they serve well-made cocktails for around $12. The only drawback is that sometimes there's no music playing, which is eerie and awkward. There should always be at least some kind of background music. read more

I really wish I could give them a better score, but despite the bartender making excellent drinks, her attitude and behavior have completed ruined the location. To keep the story short, my friend and I went there, had a few drinks, didn't cause any trouble, and yet for some reason, the following occured. We had gone outside after closing out our tab and we were watching YouTube videos. My friend had to use the bathroom, so we started walking back to the bar. The bartender happened to be exiting at the same time along with several other patrons. Now, it would have been completely understandable if she had told us the bar was closed, or that she simply didn't want us coming back inside. But instead she immediately opened up with threatening to fight us both, stating "I'm bigger than both of you" (we're relatively small guys, so that's a pretty low bar). She then told my friend to piss in the alley, as opposed to suggesting we try the Stater Bros literally right next to the bar (which is where we wound up going anyways). And she also accused my friend of being high for the second time that night, which he definitely wasn't. Granted, he was fairly drunk by this point and I was tipsy, but neither of us were acting aggressive or rude. If anything I was trying extra hard to be polite, and even after being threatened by the bartender, apologized and guided my friend away. I didn't really mind her standoffish personality before, and I brushed it off the first time she accused him of being high. But being threatened is where I draw the line. On top of which adding insult to injury, telling him to go piss in the alley was downright disrespectful and degrading. Again, I really wish I could give this bar a better rating. The drinks she mixed were fantastic, but I can't overlook the blatant contempt that was displayed, nor do I have the slightest idea where it's grounded. TLDR: The bartender tried to instigate a fight and that's not ok read more

Fun! This is an old dive that got bought by the folks who run the Altadena Ale House on Fair Oaks. Good juke box, WONDERFUL bartender. We loved a beer on tap called New Belgium Voodoo Ranger or something like that. The name was so long it couldn't even fit on the tap, they had a postit note on it! So we kept ordering the "Postit Note" beer, lol. read more

Came across this bar today. So happy I did. Oldest bar in Pasadena and simply amazing. It is a great neighborhood bar. You can't tell much from the outside but inside felt so nice and familiar. The bartender Stacy was so nice and welcoming. The other patrons were super friendly and great music. They are going to start the live music again when the Covid restrictions are lifted. If you want to just chill, this is a great getaway. You can park right next store at Stater Bros. read more

Under new management! Very clean and friendly enviorment. Good people that serve quality drinks. A solid $9 whiskey and coke. Bar is comfy and there are many power outlits for students and others to work. Very satisfied. read more

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Great locals hangout, good drinks, friendly atmosphere and special music nights. Patrons at the bar are very friendly.

Cool & clean local/community bar. New Ownership. Friendly & knowledgeable staff. Friendly regulars, nice neighborly vibe. Proper cocktails, quality spirits, beer & wine! Awesome live music! I'd recommend their old fashioned, or the basil cucumber gimlet! They have ABSINTHE!!! Reggae music on Wednesday nights!!! And the Guinness stays on draft!!! Awesome local bar, I'll definitely keep coming back! read more

This place is great! I went with a few ladies on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised at both the atmosphere and the service. Also, most dive bars have terrible wine, but every bottle the bartender recommended was delicious. I wish they had snacks or appetizers, but otherwise thumbs-up. read more

Best Top Shelf and Friday night Jazz! Such an amazing nightlife here in north Pasadena, centrally located. When I come to Pasadena, this is where I come! No cover charge to check out some great drinks with amazing music! Absolutely love it! read more

Affordable drinks, casual atmosphere, and a jukebox where I can play almost anything! What's not to love?

1881 is a great local bar. The music is world class. Jazz, blues band was incredible. We are lucky to have such talent in the neighborhood! read more

Fun local bar. One of the best in Pasadena. New owners within the last couple years fixed the place up. Live music and great top shelf liquor. Plus a solid cocktail list and happy hour from 2:30-6pm everyday. read more

Stopped in the other night to meet some friends...this dive wasn't bad, they stopped allowing smoking but didn't really clean up the smell so be prepared to smell like smoke if you drop by. Beer selection is rather good and service is great! 3 stars is because my dry cleaner had to wash my outfit twice to get the cig smoke smell out. read more

Live a few blocks away. After many months of trying to get there finally visited and loved it! Great specialty cocktails and great jazz on Friday. The crowd was enthusiastic with the music and attentive staff. Truly recommend. read more

Completely new place! Bartenders know their stuff and they love pouring good drinks. I'll be going back here after dinner before anywhere else. read more

Great Jazz after 8:300p on Friday evenings. Nice vibe for a local watering hole. Friendly crowd!!!

Classy decor, art on the walls, craft drinks and a great jazz band. My highest reccomendation.

They really did a great job transforming this place. The specialty drinks are very good! A lot of booths in the front room and high top tables in the back room. Jukebox as well and they have live music often. The owners are great people, they also own the Altadena Ale and Wine House. This location is much closer to where I live, so that's a huge plus! I will definitely be back, especially for the spicy paloma! I would recommend stopping by this place if you are in the area. Great neighborhood bar. read more

Fun, cozy place with live music and very good mixology. No cover charge, which is great for pretty good musicians.

I heard this used to be a dive bar, but it's a charming spot now! This afternoon I attended a reception for the exhibition of Telling Images by Debbi Swanson Patrick, an Altadena-based artist. The art will be up for a few weeks, so go check it out. I like the little upstairs area which is a bit quieter. Anyway, the bar just the right size, the staffers are nice and there's plenty of parking on the street and in the shopping center next door. A swell little neighborhood spot. (Minus one star for no air conditioning!) read more

Chill locals bar, off the beaten path. A nice change from the over crowded and obnoxiously priced bars in Old Town Pasadena. They are experimenting with artisanal cocktails, which I have yet to try but look good. Decent tap selection, but great spirits variety. Wish they had more televisions, and decoration. Overall, I wouldn't go as far as calling it a dive, but definitely not a bougie bar. Chill people, live music, and in a quiet neighborhood. read more

Friendly service, great music, both live and on the jukebox. Really starting to develop a unique atmosphere.

Great bar! Bartenders are extremely friendly , love music on Sunday nights are the perfect end to your weekend :)

This place is under new management! such a different vibe. The games inside has been cleared out to make room for more seating. They serve drinks at regular prices. I went on a Tuesday, which is apparently their karaoke night. The mc's were fun and the atmosphere was conducive to bursting into song. Good people drinking there, the staff was friendly. I would go again. I would take a friend or a date also, this place is pretty fun. It is also close to my home, so I guess I will be stoppong by from time to time. read more

No longer a dive bar or pool hall... craft beer and froofee cocktails and good company !!

Tuesday night karaoke is really fun. The cocktails are great, the room has been nicely redone. Cheers to Gareth the bartender!

This place is awesome! Good atmosphere, friendly bartenders, and killer cocktails. I personally recommend the Flechette, bourbon with lemon juice and watermelon...the perfect summer drink. Gareth and Owen are always mixing up the bomb cocktails...if you have a moment go ahead and step on through. read more