Great eats and a huge variety of wonderful whiskeys. Great atmosphere and great bartenders! Do yourself a favor and check this place out, there's no way you can leave disappointed! read more

This is HANDS DOWN, WITHOUT DEBATE my favorite bar. It beats any place I've been within metro LA, San Diego, OC, and the Bay in my humble opinion. The selection of whiskies available are IMPECCABLE (2oz of Blanton's for $14 cannot be beat, in my opinion). Don't feel inclined to try the whisky though, as BD has an elusive selection of lighter liquor, wines, and brews to fit everyone's taste. Although I miss enjoying the inside ambiance, the outside dining is still an enjoyable experience either solo or with a small party. They've taken extraordinary measures to exceed COVID cleanliness precaution, and their resilience alone through the shutdowns makes spending my money worthwhile. 10/10 experience every time, and it's my #1 recommendation to take someone for a nice date (even a bro's date). read more

I love this place! Great food, we ordered the Parmesan fries (the best), Breakfast burrito, Grilled cheese. It was all so good! To drink I got a chocolate raspberry stout which was amazing and the bf enjoyed a whiskey drink(forgot the name). Everything about the blind donkey was great! read more

My happy place. Amazing drinks. Make sure you request the sphere ice! Amazing music (well, mostly.... They should stick more to the era, frank Sinatra, jazzy, bluesy etc etc. If I wanted trap and ghetto rap I would go to barneys lol). Amazing staff. Amazing atmosphere. The dim lighting is my faaaav. Amazing decor. :) I will continue to recommend this place! read more

The Blind Donkey - :) - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Food + Drink + Mind Stimulating Conversation = A Happy Soul Because happy hour is from 4-7pm on a weekday and you know company is great... Parking: Since Union is a one way street, parking will be on the LEFT side. There's two entrances so if you miss the first one, just drive slower and you can get to the 2nd one. Make sure you bring a credit/debit card since there's no teller. You pay via machine. I did not pay attention to the hourly rate but I payed $6 for 3 hours. The drinks: The drink menu was "thicker" than the food menu. Drink to your heart's delight. They have whiskey, beer, cocktails and many more choices. The Food: It's all burgers and fries... its basically bar food. read more

The Blind Donkey - This was all HIS idea... - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

I don't know why people keep giving this place good reviews when it's possibly one of the worst places I have ever been in my life. I recommend coming to this place if you want to be falsely accused of not tipping by the staff (even though I left a pretty stunning tip of $40 from my last visit), especially by the brunette bartender who was way too aggressive for my liking. Whoever she is, I hope she begins treating customers with respect. I know that tipping is important and essential for these establishments and it's an appreciation for their work but either way, it was really disrespectful to be falsely accused of not tipping even though I did in my last visit. It was especially humiliating that she began telling other customers that we didn't tip which cause people to stare at us as if we murdered someone. I've never felt so angry and embarrassed in my life, especially for something that I didn't do. To make matters worse, as we were waiting outside for a couple of friends to pay their tab, the brunette bartender stepped outside to give us one last menacing look as if she was trying to intimidate us. Overall, I would recommend to give your money elsewhere. There is plenty of bars in Pasadena who provide good drinks and service to their customers. Seeing other peoples experience at this place, (in the same weekend!) really validates my experience and doesn't make me look like a crazy, annoying customer. read more

The drinks are good and the fried pickles were killer I would come to this place time and time again. read more

The Blind Donkey - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Tried this place out yesterday (11/13) excellent drinks and great vibe . They have pliny the elder and the best old fashioned. Carne asada fries are delicious and very tasty. Minis one star for service. Service sucked. Daisy was our server and she was terrible. We would have to flag her down for everything. She wouldn't check on us. They should also get some outdoor heaters. Will try again soon read more

This is a pretty average bar. A decent place to stop by on a week day night. But they didn't have food available when we came in, so we were pretty disappointed about that. This is not a bad bar, but options in Pasadena are kind of limited!! The drinks were poured fairly, not too much, not too little. read more

Came here on a Wednesday night for happy hour and the atmosphere is quite chill. The double sided mirror is pretty funny since people don't know outside so if you're adjusting your clothing or checking your teeth, beware! They have an array of whiskeys! It's insane but cool. I tried the nick of thyme like many recommended and it wasn't bad at all. Interesting drink. As many have mentioned, there's the cool shuffle board on one end and some tables have the checkers you can play on the table. I'm curious to return on a wkend night to see how fun this place would be! Until next time... read more

Don't waste your time here. We were told that our table will be ready in 20 minutes so we had our names written down. We waited about 25 minutes right by the sidewalk. A lady came next to us about 10 minutes later and as it turns out this lady was a friend of the male waiter as he approached her and started whispering something in her ear. We asked when we will be seated and the next thing we know the lady was seated before us. This is obviously favoritism and it's not professional. The male waiter argued us saying she was waiting for an hour. If she's waiting like all of us and she was not his friend, how on earth was he able to get close to her and whisper to her ear? Don't come here if you don't want your time to be wasted with this unprofessional attitude. read more

Best bar in Pasadena. During the weekdays easy to sit down with a friend or date and chat away while sipping on a nice rye. On the weekends...well its a weekend. So expect it to be busy and crowded. Bartenders are friendly , the fries are amazing. Overall this just a great place to drink. Take a chance and try it. You won't regret it . read more

The Blind Donkey - A relaxed Tuesday night - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The Blind Donkey scores the highest in terms of their delicious cocktails (Pear Necessities FTW) and friendly servers. Our server was such a joy - dancing through her job all night! :) The sole reason I'm taking off a star is because they don't take reservations. In my opinion, this is not friendly for handicapped or injured people (which I was and still had to stand on my injured foot for about 45 minutes while waiting). Management should consider making this change. read more

It was a Sunday late night when I came here and it was pretty cool! The music they played was really good surprisingly, I'll never forget hearing Grimes suddenly playing and my ears perking up like they never did before haha! The vibe is casual and people come here to hang out and drink. It's kinda dark in here too but manageable. You order your drinks at the bar, they've got a menu to look over too. Definitely a place you'd wanna come hang out w/ your friends. Planning to come back to try their famous whiskey drinks! read more

There are only a few statements that sum up this awesome place. 1. The bartenders are amazing and friendly. 2.The atmosphere is your favorite neighborhood bar! 3. Amazing alcohol selection. 4. Bartenders pour great drinks. For a super cool neighborhood feel, STOP here!!! Did I mention the disco ball??? read more

Good atmosphere and a nice local hang out. Go for trivia night. You will have a great time. Great bourbon prices for the location.

Fairly new bar/eatery in Old Town Pasadena with lots of decor, design and an interesting drink menu. This place is under the same management as Little Bear, Verdugo Bar, Phoenix, etc, so I know I will be good quality service and food/drinks. My only gripe for this place is that the design is so oddly created. The bar is like an elongated "V" (think birds in flight") in the corner, when there is a lot of empty space where there could be tables and barstools, etc. They have shuffleboard stands, which is really fun and quirky, especially in OTP. I'd come here to try their specialty cock\tails again and again! read more

The Blind Donkey is simply, awesome. Come by and get a 1 or 2 oz pour of one of their fine whiskeys. The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable of what they serve so prepare to come out a fine, old and wise chap. They make the best Old Fashion and their 'Bird of Courage' is my new favorite cocktail. Hang out on the side for a game of chess (ask the bartenders for the pieces) or by the window for a friendly match of shuffleboard. GREAT new addition to Old Pasadena. read more

Whiskey Bar? I've never been a fan of whiskey but this was a great experience. The music was good with a good amount of people. They had flights of whiskey on the menu that you can order if you'd like to try different types of whiskey. The flights come in 3 different 0.5 oz shot glasses (tip: slowly sip your whiskey). It took me a while to sip those, they were quite strong. I also ordered the Nick n Thyme cocktail which I thought was quite tasty (the ginger beer in it made it refreshing). The Pear Cider was good at first sip...but I couldn't finish it because it was too sweet and it tasted weird afterwards. Great place...lots of whiskey! read more

This bar wasn't super packed which is awesome! The drink was served whiskey in a glass with a big ball of ice. It was pretty cool looking. They also served some kind of ice cream but I never got a chance to get any. I did play a game of shuffle board and it was fun! The layout is standard and the bathrooms weren't grotesque. I liked this place and it's next to slaters so it's a win win !! read more

If you like whiskey, bourbon, rye, scotch this is a great place for you. The selection is huge and it's an educational stop. If you like craft beer this is a good place for you, and a knowledgable bartender. They carry some low alcohol content beers similar to coors light and some 3.8 angel city and 4.5 blue paddle. For the person who is not looking for the stronger beers. Tap system is a perfect pour system and every glass is rinsed which is one of my favorite little adds. Ok sports bar since it only has 2 televisions but you can pretty much view the game from almost any seat in the house. The place is small. Food is weak at best. Burgers and fries only. They seem to specialize is fries and make them a dozen different ways. I asked for everything on the size and it came out to my asking. My only issue was they were to greasy for my liking. However they worked perfectly for the game. Will return to this place again since the bartenders were awesome! read more

o6.27.14 This date of 2014 was my Lunar Birthday. (Chinese should know what that means.) Haha Anyway, so I decided to join my BFF for a few drinks. Hey, free drinks from the bestie! ;P We came here and sat at the bar. When my friend turned to her right, she saw a super cute guy! Then look again, another guy wrapped his arms around this cute guy's neck. Ok, enough said, you should know what I meant. We are not against it. It was just a little disappointment for us ladies. :( haha She got me the Old Fashioned and she had the Southern Tartans. Both were ok because I am not a whiskey person, can't tell you much. But she liked the Southern Tartans more. I believe it was more strong too. This place was pretty crowded on a Friday night! All the bartenders are beauties (that included the guys haha). Then there are the customers. Including us two, I think there were only about 5-6 Asians. Awesome! read more

Cool bar located just off the main drag of Colorado. Came here for the first time and was way impressed with the whiskey collection. Tons of single malts and various blends available. Food however was ok...that being said only had Fried donkey pickles, garlic Parmesan fried. Overall would be willing to go back however based on the whiskey and ambiance alone... read more

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Went here for the whiskey, but I'll start with the snack. We hand cut garlic-parmesan fries were fantastic; crispy outside & very tender inside. They were served with ketchup, but we asked for the ranch & jalepeno ranch which were very flavorful, though the jalepeno was not that spicy. We could not finish the order. The whiskey menu here is extensive & the prices are high, but not out of normal limits for a high end whiskey bar. Spirits can be purchases in 1 or 2 oz servings which is nice if you want to sample. I had Masterson's 10 yr barly whiskey and Masterson's small batch rye. Both were very good & cost $11 each for 1oz. I will definitely return. read more

Solid bar, nice and secluded, but still close enough to the main strip of Old Town Pasadena so you can bar hop or grab a full meal elsewhere. I visited the Blind Donkey last week with my gal, and the first thing I noticed was the lack of servers. The bartender at this joint essentially does it all. I believe I spotted a barback here and there, but this guy is moving and grooving all night, keeping all the patrons happy. The decor is definitely reminiscent of a European-style pub, minus the soccer on TV. Dark wood, soft lighting, and just the main bar to order from. We tried the bbq chicken cheese fries and they were delectable. A little steep at first glance ($13) for an appetizer, but think of it as an entree, because the generous helping of fries they give you might as well be an entree. This is a large portion, and keep two or even three hungry visitors satisfied. Overall, the drinks are pretty competitively priced, especially considering the 5-7 every weekday Happy Hour. They have an interesting selection of Belgians, Trippels, and Quadrupels as far as beers go. Plus wine and mixed drink options too. Parking is a cinch, with multiple parking structures within walking distance, and the noise level was manageable. I would definitely come back for Happy Hour, or as an after-dinner spot even. Ultimately, the Blind Donkey isn't somewhere I would choose for my main meal, but what it lacks in great entree choices it makes up for in ambiance and tasty drinks. read more

Good atmosphere and great drinks! All the drinks we got were really good and we're balance perfectly. Would totally recommend to anyone trying to grab some drinks while waiting for some dinner reservations. read more

Nice bar! they even played Solarbabies on their video feeds ...Google it. It is an 80s flick that rips off Mad Max and Xanadu but hey I learned about it that Saturday night. Anyways, we had a party of 16-17 and i'm glad they had enough tables for us. Well a long table plus a smaller one to fit our group. Nice ambiance, at first this place was chill and the noise level was moderate around 9pm but an hour later it picked up, the crowds started coming in but overall we got a nice lounge. I wanted something to not too bitter, so I've ordered their Anthem Pear Draft Beer, its not too much on the sweet tart side, it has a smooth flavor do it, with a bit of a champagne pear after taste (I hope that makes sense). The restrooms our on the back wall to the ride side, you will see an arcade machine there while you wait when someone is handling. read more

The Blind Donkey - Anthem Pear Draft BeeR - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is a pretty average bar. The music was not so great. Some of the tables were made to play chess or checkers, which I thought was cool. I came here on a Sunday night and had a beer...I think it was called The Jolly Roger or something. But anyways it was very good, it was similar to a Guiness. I also ordered a whiskey, which I can't remember the name. But overall the drinks were good. And They had a large selection of whiskey. The bartenders were nice and helpful and I was pleased with their drink recommendations. I also thought that it was cool that you can play chess or checker/ for Free!;) I'm definitely coming back whether it's to play chess or order a good whiskey! read more

The Blind Donkey - The Blind Donkey! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've got to give this bar 5 stars because of the excellent service we have received the times we have been here ! Nice bar off of busy Colorado Avenue ! Penny the bartender is simply great ! She always makes you feel so welcomed and always holds an engaging conversation with you ! She definitely makes you laugh and can make your drink more enjoyable !! We have gone in the afternoon hours so it is not as busy and it makes it for a relaxing time to enjoy your drink !! They have a nice selection of whiskeys, scotches, beers, and yes even wine !! Nice happy hour specials as well !! They sell food, but have not tried any yet but stayed tuned for that !! All in all it is a nice trendy bar where you can relax with your drink and watch the games because they have televisions as well and the music is also good ! Give it a try you will keep going back for sure !! read more

The Blind Donkey - Cool place to relax with a drink !! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Great selection of whiskey and good drinks. Not much of a room but the outdoor seating is a nice change.

One of my cousins recently invited my sister and I to join him and his wife on Wednesdays at The Blind Donkey in Pasadena for trivia night. As it turns out, this place has trivia night every Wednesday at 7:30PM hosted by Geekswhodrink.com. It is a fun night when you mix booze, intelligence, and great family & friends! The place is just like your average dive bar, fully stocked, full bar. What really shines (at least to me) is the food. The fries are ridiculous! Large portions, generous toppings, and LOADS of flavor! So far I've had the garlic parmesan, carne asada, BBQ chicken, buffalo chicken, and bacon cheese fries. SO GOOD! You will NOT be disappointed if you lve fries with a bunch of junk on it! The burger was just as tasty as well! It comes with a side of their already amazing fries (just plain) and the burger is juicy, flavorful and satisfying. The Blind Donkey is definitely a place to go to in Pasadena. At least stay for the trivia night if you're not interested in eating, or if you just pigged out at Slater's 50/50 (which is next door, see my review). Who knows, I just might see you there during trivia night on Wednesdays! read more

The Blind Donkey - Garlic parmesan fries and carne asada fries - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I'm not a whisky expert, i'm more of a beer fanatic so hopefully i can reach out to those who are in a similar position as i am. The blind donkey is definitely a cool little joint a street over from the hectic colorado blvd. Everytime i've gone now its usually got a decent sized crowd, and there is plenty of different types of whiskeys. The last two times i've come here i've shared a flight of whiskey (comes out to about $18). They usually give you 3 types of whiskey and in total its about a double shots worth i would say. I'm new at whiskey so everything i tried was super strong haha trying to figure out how to enjoy it properly is still in process. but overall the little place is very chill and mellow. Blind donkey is a place I would probably come back to to try other types of whiskeys (if i'm in the mood that is) But other than that I'll stick with my craft beers. haha read more

The Blind Donkey - Whiskey flight - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Such a great whiskey bar !!! I've tried getting in here on a Thursday and it's impossible after 9. Nice interior I love the big mirror and the wall scripture. read more

The Blind Donkey - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

I can't say enough about this this place, I enjoy everything about this place dearly. The food is great I always get the carne asada fries and they don't miss ever, but if you are here enjoy this place, I had a great time and misha was the best part of the night!!!! Great conversation and service. I will be back because of misha! Thank you for a great night!!!!! read more

Like the Vibe here but services kinda slow. If it wasn't bcuz of locals recommendations , it wouldn't be here either

I've been wanting to check this place out, not really knowing what to expect. It's a nice spot: dark, clean, chill vibe. We cozied up to the bar a few minutes before the kitchen closed and they took our order, grateful for that. Overall, food was BOMB and the drinks were good too- I recommend the Mango IPA. However, the service wasn't great. The bartender acted really hurried and curt...yet the place really wasn't crowded. He just kind of rushed all interactions, slapped menus down, would put drinks down and then hurry off. We both finished our drinks and he never came back to refill, we eventually had to pause eating (no waters, empty bar glasses) and wait to flag him down. Good spot, not great service, awesome food, solid drinks. read more

I really loved this place. Extensive whiskey menu, of course, but it has a very laid-back and inviting atmosphere, as well. So inviting, in fact, that it felt totally normal to sit in here on a Saturday afternoon, sipping a whiskey-spiked iced coffee. read more

Recently the company changed the payment system to include cents, coins. It used to be easy. Everything was on the dollar. Now the tally is using coins, but they only have quarters. So if you bill is 10.17, they give you change based on the quarter, and give you 75 cents back. But if the bill is 10.48, they give you 50 cents back, and round off the numbers. If you complain, they'll give you the extra back with a quarter. I call bullshit. read more

Been wanting to try this spot for a while, and this was the first spot we came to to show my friend from Japan around. 1. EXTRA LOUD. 2. It's like a sports bar inside. I had the impression that it was a nice, chill bar. 3. Dress code is whatever you want to wear..flip flops and all. 4. Security guard doesn't talk to you..he's too busy on his phone and barely checking IDs. We walked in and out. read more

I've been to this bar several times! The vibe is always amazing. I highly recommend "pearnessities" it's my all time favorite drink now. Seriously love this place!! read more