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    Cosmic Cafe

    4.0 (54 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Cosmic Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    COSMIC CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Touristy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cosmic Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jared F.

    The food here was what you'd expect, it hits the spot just right when you're on a hike or just there to enjoy the view! The service was great, think concession stand but at the top of a mountain.

    menu nov 24
    Danielle G.

    came here for a quick hotdog with chili. too bomb after a long day of bike riding in the angeles crest. they have stellar baked goods from a local pasadena bakery "little flower". the cookies there are out of this world. cosmic. seasonal hours so ... make sure to look online and whatnot before coming. beautiful ambiance atop the pasadena mountains. lots of bikers and hikers scattered about, and bathrooms just behind the building!

    Food chili con carne with shredded cheese coffee jalapeño
    Fam D.

    Tried the chili con carne w shredded cheese and a cup of coffee on a rainy day on top of mount W. After a hike definitely you can replenish here with a simple menu to choose from.

    Jannie K.

    came to have a coffee above the clouds! most romantic place for Valentine's day with the most spectacular view in Los Angeles! must go place!!

    Jumbo hot dog , chili dog
    Yonnie C.

    This was our first stop after we parked our car. Husband ordered: 1) jumbo hot dog 2) chili dog The order took a long time to arrive, I think they forgot about us. Service was slow.

    Mt. Wilson Observatory from Cosmic Cafe
    Mason R.

    I'd have to give it a 5- star not because it is the highest quality food but for its location and providing food and cold/hot drinks where it is very difficult to do so. Amazing place with friendly staff! The view from the balcony is also breathtaking.

    Darren R.

    Hiked/ran from Sierra Madre to Mount Wilson today and arrived at the Cosmic Cafe. Although they were not open yet, the very nice Manager, I can't remember her name, was kind enough to share a cup of ice that made my water refill quite refreshing and made my return trip to Sierra Madre a bit more bearable. Many thanks and highly recommend taking a day trip, either by car or foot to visit Mount Wilson, both for the views and the kindness, service and food at the Cosmic Cafe

    Treats

    An amazing spot to take a break once you reach the top of mt Wilson on a day hike. Restrooms & water avalible

    Welcome!
    Danny T.

    COME UP THE MOUNTAIN FOR A WONDERFUL LUNCH IN AN INCOMPARABLE SETTING! Only in my dreams would this cafe be open year around. HOURS: SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM & Only APRIL - NOVEMBER When I first started hiking Mt. Wilson, this cafe had a very limited selection of food but this year the menu has expanded so much. Cosmic Cafe offers a variety of snacks and food. They have easy grab and go bags of chips to cooked delicious hot dogs and some of the best Sandwiches & PB&J's (after a killer hike or bike ride up it's all so delicious) The Cafe is located in the pavilion overlooking the large parking lot at the entrance to the Observatory, they have a plenty of tables to relax and enjoy a meal or just cool down and relax. As you enjoy the top of the mountain FREE WiFi is now available (YAY!) Staff is always amazing. They definitely make you feel welcomed and understand that hikers/runners/ and or bikers come Hangry (Hungry & Angry) LoL You may also purchase great souvenirs at the cafe. They have selections from sweaters, tee shirts, patches, and more. Don't leave empty handed ;) On my last visit the free water station was still closed, so make sure to bring cash or debt/credit to purchase water or anything else needed to refill. Hope you have a great day! Enjoy :)

    Closed for COVID-19.
    Stevo O.

    "Closed until further notice." That is what was on a sign at the front gate, referencing COVID-19. I guess the public does not frequent this food oasis enough to keep decent hours, or the observatory staff bring their own lunch while conducting research. I just enjoy the idea of having food awaiting on top once you've reached the end of your trail, and is something that motivates a person to conquer the trail with this in mind. I hope COVID-19 is resolved soon, so things get back to normal...

    Banana split
    Stephanie R.

    Subjective: After a long 5 hour hike up Mt. Wilson, nothing was more welcoming than the promise of food and a place to sit, and Cosmic Cafe deliciously delivered. Since we had promised ourselves a post hike treat, the bf and I decided to split a pastrami sandwich and kettle chips. The in-house made kettle chips were amazing- fresh, crunch, and a simple yet well done flavoring of salt and pepper. Definitely glad we went for those rather than the regular bagged chips! The pastrami sandwich was delicious as well, decently sized with plenty of protein we needed to refuel. I was a little disappointed in the banana split because though it was plentiful, it only had vanilla ice cream and sparse toppings. Objective: Date of visit: 5/27/2018 Previous visits: none Takes reservations/call aheads?: no Parking: lot parking, or hike up like we did Perceived capacity: large, plenty of outdoor only seating Perceived atmosphere: casual Wait time to seating: none What I/we got: pastrami sandwich with kettle chips, banana split cost: about $10 Assessment: 4 stars, optimal way to summit a mountain in my opinion. Surprisingly well priced food given the demand, and delicious to boot! Plan: Would definitely check it out again for future hikes or tours of the observatory.

    a view of the mountains from the top of a mountain

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    These mfs never bother to update their hours on yelp or google or on Apple Maps. You have to check the website for the correct times.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cosmic Cafe

    Any gluten free items?

    Hi - we have limited options, but we do have salads on the menu that are gluten free. And popsicles!

    Do they serve halal or kosher meat?

    Can you drive right up or do you need to hike and bike?

    Hi Julie! You can absolutely drive up - we recommend using our map & directions to get there (apps on your phone can give incorrect directions). Here's the link, and hope to see you soon!… Read more

    Does anybody know if there are any outlets to charge an electric bike?

    Presently, we do not have charging available, but we have applied for a grant to set up a vehicle charging station, including e-bikes.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Lavender & Honey

    Lavender & Honey

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $

    Came by at noon on Friday on a pleasant day to explore a local cafe! There was no wait and plenty…read moreof seating indoor and outdoors. It was my first time here and the barista was very friendly in explaining their menu and pastry selection. They have a new menu every season but since it was my first time here, I opted to go for a staff favorite, the Cinnamon Creamed Honey Latte (the other is the Brown Sugar Latte). I chose the Coconut Oatmeal Chai Cookie Sandwich for the novelty but I found that it was rather sweet for my taste. So for anyone interested in their cookie sandwiches, I definitely recommend getting a drink that's not sweet to balance out the flavors! Otherwise I'd absolutely come again to try out the rest of their menu.

    I really wanted to love this place since I love to support local cafes, but I couldn't help feeling…read morea little disappointed. Blueberry Lavender Latte - 4/5 The flavor was great, I could clearly taste both the blueberry and lavender without the drink being overly sweet, and the actual espresso shot was pulled nicely. The presentation was also really cute; the blueberry garnish, the pretty cup, and the latte art were all nice touches. My only complaint was the temperature. I ordered this drink hot, but it was lukewarm at best. Maybe the milk wasn't steamed enough? I stopped by early when there wasn't a crowd, so I feel like there isn't really a reason for the drink to be cold? Pasadena toast - 1/5 For $7, this felt like a very basic avocado toast I could easily make at home. Compared to the latte, the toast's flavor and presentation was super underwhelming. The jalapeños looked like they were just tossed on as an afterthought, and the bread wasn't toasted well. The image from the website menu shows a nicely seasoned toast with some pepper(?), pretty garnishes, and a fluffy spread of avocado, but mine didn't seem to have any visible seasoning, and the layer of avocado was fairly thin. Again, I'd understand if it was busy and the staff was in a rush to get orders out, but there wasn't a crowd at all (literally 2 people in line) and this toast was $7.. The space does have a cute area with artisan goods and merch, and there's free parking in the back lot and nearby streets. There's no wifi, but I get it since it prevents people from camping tables. I'll probably come back and give this place another try since the other reviews are positive, maybe this was just a one-off poor experience for me.

    Photos
    Lavender & Honey - Menu and pastries. What more can you ask for?! Lol.

    Menu and pastries. What more can you ask for?! Lol.

    Lavender & Honey
    Lavender & Honey - Seasonal Dragonfruit lemonade

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    Seasonal Dragonfruit lemonade

    EMMI's - Southwest Tostada Salad with chicken - hubby loved it

    EMMI's

    4.6(163 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Emmi's after hiking Sturtevant Falls so definitely looking for something with a nice…read moreportion and filling. Great location in what looks to be the downtown scene. Driving in has great views of the mountains. Parking was easy and free on the streets. The restaurant was busy but manageable for a Saturday morning and Its self seating and pay first which makes it easy when ready to leave. Friendly staff, clean and nice decor With a decent selection on the menu. 2 of us ate - 1 regular burrito and 1 regular breakfast plate. Burrito was a filling portion to the point i was 'almost full'. Breakfast plate was decent, the one minus I had was the potatoes came out cold. I mentioned it when they came back around for the "how is everything" ask and they brought out a brand new plate of hot hot hot potatoes. Great service. Would recommend it and would again.

    Went to Emmi's for brunch! First time here (: I was craving…read more breakfast burrito so was recommended by the sweet cashier girl to go with a pastrami breakfast burrito my first time cause I was deciding between that or the og breakfast burrito! So I went with her recommendation & it was so yummy & filling! Very much enjoyed my meal! As for my drink I got the Italian soda which was in the flavor vanilla. It wasn't the greatest. So asked for more vanilla & it helped a little but just think other flavors are so much better ( strawberry, mango, berry) so I wouldn't order that again. Overall the place was busy always people in & out! It is a cute little local joint to do work on your laptop or have a meal. Staff was helpful & sweet! Would return be back for another burrito (:

    Photos
    EMMI's - Merch wall!

    Merch wall!

    EMMI's - Double smash burger with tots - fantastic!! Would get again

    Double smash burger with tots - fantastic!! Would get again

    EMMI's - Double smash burger with tots - fantastic!! Would get again

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    Double smash burger with tots - fantastic!! Would get again

    Syndicate - Tuna salad sandwich - was fantastic!!

    Syndicate

    4.3(368 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    Definitely want to come back to try a few other coffees as well and some of their pastries or…read morecooked foods such as the tuna sandwich or mood ring coffee. Everything looked delicious and staff were friendly. Prices are a little on the high side and the place was pretty busy when we stopped by on a Saturday morning. My bf and I shared the Plain Jane Latte and the drink was true to its name. It has a satisfying coffee taste to it but sweetened slightly from the vanilla. If you're sensitive to sweetness this is a safe and delicious pick!

    I give this place 5 stars for food and 1 star for slow drip coffe and chai latte and zero stars for…read moretidiness. Here's why... Had the JB Burrito (picture and description in photos). It was delicious and a great size! All the flavors were distinguishable yet married perfectly together. And the GREEN salsa is a must! Didn't see it on the menu, but they had it on a promo flyer near the register. Also tried the vanilla cranberry pancakes with a side of bacon. The pancakes were light, fluffy, and perfectly cooked. Accompanied by whipped butter and a not-too-sweet cranberry syrup. Whatever they are doing in the kitchen is magic. I'll be back to try other things from the menu as well as something from their pastry selection. The chocolate cherry hand pie is lingering in my mind! Pictures attached. Sadly, the coffee and chai latte were a miss. The medium size coffee was teeny tiny. So much so I thought they made a mistake. It didn't have a kick and fell short. Too weak for what I was expecting. The chai latte was flat. There was no froth, it was way too spicy, and although I asked for extra honey, it was still not enjoyable. Too bad because the food was so great. The location is perfect and if they can get their drinks a notch up, it will be Sierra Madre's gem! There's a small indoor seating area both with small couch/table set up and single seat bench seating lining the window and wall. If you can grab one of the two high top tables you may have to wipe things down. There are small tables outside too if you don't mind foot traffic and the people watching is good. It may have been the Sunday rush (I was there around 12:30) but I was disappointed with the lack of someone doing quick wipe downs of the least the table tops. Both my table, the window bar seating, and floors were quite untidy. Most disappointing was that a manager or owner was sitting in the 2nd heigh top table chatting with friends. We realized he was management because the barista informed him that they were out of ice. At this point he was surprised that barista was in (maybe it was her day off?) He quickly said goodbye to his friends and walked to the back. This disappointed me for two reasons. 1. He could have been wiping tables and sweeping the floors instead of customers having to clean their own tables. And refilling the utensils as there weren't any forks. 2. He and his friends sat at the table for a while. We arrived and I saw them already there. And they were there until we were almost done eating--which was about 40 mins. There were other customers looking for a place to sit and totally could have used that table. I'm pulling for this spot. I hope they can tidy up these details and will be around for a while.

    Photos
    Syndicate - Tables inside

    Tables inside

    Syndicate - Another great morning brought to us by @syndicatecoffeebakerykitchen Angelo and Paige are the heart of it all

    Another great morning brought to us by @syndicatecoffeebakerykitchen Angelo and Paige are the heart of it all

    Syndicate - Lemon Meringue Latte & Blackberry Latte - both lovely! (The Lemon Meringue Latte has a white chocolate mocha type base)

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    Lemon Meringue Latte & Blackberry Latte - both lovely! (The Lemon Meringue Latte has a white chocolate mocha type base)

    Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters - Snowball latte  20 oz white mocha/coconut $6.50

    Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters

    4.5(1.4k reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters is located at 260 North Allen Avenue Pasadena, California 91106. It…read morehas been a mainstay for exceptional coffee for over 20 years. Considering the quality that they have maintained, this is an exceptional achievement. This location has undergone a number of different physical and structural modifications over the years. What has stayed the same is the knowledgeable, friendly service of the staff. Their knowledge helps make this an incredible place to have a cup of great coffee or purchase fresh roasted coffee beans. I have tried many different combinations of coffees and roasting techniques.... Light medium or dark roast. Rose City blend ground for a drip coffee maker (cone filter) is my favorite. It's nice that they have bites that you can pair with your cup of coffee as you wait. The customers are often drinking coffee, on a laptop, or working on their phone. Great background music plays throughout the main area of the room. There are many customers that come in to pick up their order that they have placed over the phone. The staff here is always busy cleaning, preparing coffee, or helping customers. Depending upon the time that you are there you may have to wait for other customers to complete their order. I love that they have a selection of tables, and counter space. I've never had a long wait to find a place to sit. They also have a few tables located outside with umbrellas. Depending upon the time of day parking can be a problem. There is off street parking along Allen and other side streets. I highly recommend this Pasadena Gem!

    Absolutely loved this spot! It's easily one of the cutest coffee shops I've visited. I was really…read moreimpressed by the variety of pastry options, and the cold brew and scone I ordered were both fantastic. There is plenty of indoor seating and the overall vibe is very welcoming. There is plenty of street parking available in the immediate area, which is a huge deal.

    Photos
    Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters - Inside

    Inside

    Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters - Pistachio raspberry muffin (yum!)

    Pistachio raspberry muffin (yum!)

    Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters - Lavender breve

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    Lavender breve

    Cosmic Cafe - cafes - Updated May 2026

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