The Blind Donkey
Bar · Pasadena
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About The Blind Donkey
En The Blind Donkey, en pleno corazón de Pasadena, te damos la bienvenida a un espacio único donde la buena compañía, las cervezas artesanales y una selección impresionante de whiskies se unen a una deliciosa propuesta de cocina americana. Nuestro ambiente rústico, con paredes de ladrillo visto, te...
En The Blind Donkey, en pleno corazón de Pasadena, te damos la bienvenida a un espacio único donde la buena compañía, las cervezas artesanales y una selección impresionante de whiskies se unen a una deliciosa propuesta de cocina americana. Nuestro ambiente rústico, con paredes de ladrillo visto, te invita a relajarte y disfrutar de una experiencia inolvidable. ¡Ven a descubrir tu nuevo rincón favorito!
What Customers Say About The Blind Donkey
The Blind Donkey is a popular Pasadena bar known for its whiskey cocktails, friendly bartenders, and lively atmosphere. Customers rave about the karaoke nights, trivia, and the overall vibe. Some find the music too loud or prices high on certain drinks.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: Stick to whiskey and vodka cocktails. Be prepared to pay for parking until 8:00 p.m. on the street.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around The Blind Donkey
The Blind Donkey is located in Pasadena, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Museums
- Armory Center for the Arts (A 162m) — nonprofit visual arts organization in Pasadena, California, United States
Religious Buildings
- St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Pasadena (A 420m) — church in California, USA
- All Saints Episcopal Church (A 592m) — episcopal church located in Pasadena, California
Parks & Gardens
- Pasadena Memorial Park (A 224m) — park in the United States of America
- Central Park (A 550m) — park in Los Angeles County, California, United States of America; geonames ID = 5335557
Other Points of Interest
- Apple Pasadena (A 271m) — Apple retail store in Pasadena, California
- The Hotel Carver (A 366m) — building in Pasadena, California, United States
- Robinson Memorial (A 447m) — public monument in Pasadena, California
- Pasadena Conference Center (A 622m) — convention center in United States
- Ambassador Auditorium (A 728m) — auditorium in Pasadena, California
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about The Blind Donkey
The Blind Donkey Pasadena Reviews
The Blind Donkey has a collection of hundreds of whiskies from all over the world. The best part about them though is that their prices are fair so it offers opportunities for people to try whiskey that may normally be outside of their budgets if they would have gone to other establishments. During my visit, I tried a pour of Ardbeg Uigeadail . Imagine walking into a smoke filled room and taking a deep breath. This is Ardbeg . The Uigeadail offers a hint of sweetness though from the influence of sherry casks. Cheers!
Honestly it's nice. The bar itself is a little dim. They have corndogs! Lol small menu but good bar food. Bartenders are nice and friendly. I would probably put another TV at the bar but thats just me. Its a hidden gem that didn't even know existed. Cheers 🍻
I came across this bar after leaving a Halloween show in Burbank and wanted to grab a couple of drinks. I found this spot online and saw it had great reviews, so I decided to stop by and I’m glad I did! I ordered a drink called Whiskey Time, and it was amazing. We also had the carne asada fries, and honestly, they might be the best fries I’ve ever had. The place has a really cool, laid-back vibe, feels private, and the service was great. I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an amazing experience here! The service was top-notch — friendly, attentive, and quick. The food was absolutely fantastic, especially the burgers. We had some special dietary restrictions, and they handled everything perfectly without compromising on flavor or quality. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for great food and even better service.
Very good local bar. Good service and better than average food. Nice place for a date or a talk with the friends. Very good bartenders who remember your name and orders. They have a trivia and karaoke night. And dog friendly. One of my favorite local bars.
This spot is pretty chill. I got the whiskey sour and it was only $13. The other drinks are good too. I came on a Thursday night and it was moderately filled up with people. They had karaoke and it seemed to be a popular spot in the area. It’s very dark in there which I like, and the ambiance Is good. I’d forsure come back on the weekend.
What a great find! We stumbled upon the Blind Donkey while looking for a drink after a late afternoon dinner. The atmosphere was unique and the place had a good vibe in general. The bartender made the best old fashioned I’ve had in quite awhile and they were very friendly and efficient. Add in the fact that a few locals at the bar chatted us up and made us feel like we’re in our own neighborhood bar and you get an easy 5 stars. If you haven’t already, find your way here for a cocktail and good conversation. You’ll be happy you did!
A nice selection of bourbon and scotch. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing. Gabriel was fantastic and had a well of knowledge and made the experience enjoyable.
Great little bar, drinks we're good and the atmosphere is completely something to experience, great for a hang out, catching up with someone, a date, or just to try a new experience or return for a great memory, definitely enjoyed this bar and would highly recommend to anyone, great location too
What a fun place to stumble upon! With high ceilings, a Gen X playlist, hand-crafted cocktails, friendly staff with solid recommendations, and tasty bar food, The Blind Donkey has become one of our favorite bars. The fries and Frito nachos were excellent, but the real stars of our evening there were the cocktails. I especially enjoyed the Nick of Thyme, which was refreshing and not to sweet. Perfection!
Friendly staff Stick to your whiskeys and vodkas cocktails There is tripping it on Wednesday starting from 7:30 p.m. going till about 9:00 p.m.. They're about 10 to 14 teams playing every night. Since it's late night you can pay for parking until 8:00 p.m. on street and the alternative is to use parking structures. The burger was $13 which comes with fries and a burger. They have selections of beer. I feel like hazy beer check out main Street.
Great bar, amazing whiskey cocktails and super nice bar tenders. Came for Thursday night karaoke, accidentally stayed til close. Love that they have indoor + outdoor seating too.
Great drinks, absolutely fantastic. Process have gone up but where hasn't it. The security guy is awesome, he's a character but very nice and sociable. Lots of seating but gets crowded on the weekends. Bartenders know the right mix ratio.
The Blind Donkey is definitely a must visit for any of your bar hopping festivities. Their cheese fries are worth the visit alone! The bar is on a rather narrow street, so be prepared to park in a structure just like everywhere else in Pasadena. Plenty of seating, friendly staff, good food, and a great selection of drinks.
Good drinks and vibe. Good bar to chill with friends…
Best bar I've been to in Pasadena as of yet. Good music, cool space, tasty beers, and clearly attracts a lively crowd. The bartenders were friendly and happy to help. Expect each beer to run you about $9-$12. -1 star because you are required to leave your card with the bartender. As opposed to getting your card back with the contingency that if you don't cash out, they will do it for you at the end of the night and auto-apply a tip, which is what nearly every other bar does (honestly a win-win for everyone),
This place is a standard bar with a classical dark feeling to it. If you enjoy the exposed brick walls the aesthetic it evokes you'll have a very nice time. Also the drinks are very well made by the bartenders and reasonably priced. Finally you're right in the middle of Old Town so you're a quick walk from everything that you may want to get to after. I would not recommend this place for me because they do not have an extensive menu at all but they are a great place to get drinks.
Great vibe, good bartender that made quality drinks. Was hoping for a good happy hour hence the no 5 star rating. Was visiting the area, so maybe it's common to not have at least one or two non-well drinks part of happy hour. I strongly suggest bucking that trend if possible, but understand times are hard due to the pandemic and inflation. Would definitely go back and still recommend.
Meh bar. If you're looking for a loudish place with little atmosphere and okish cocktails for a fair price- this will do it. Better than the other two places we checked out but not a great spot by any means. Pasadena, what happened to you? I guess I grew up.
Cool bar but what’s the deal with charging $30+ for a Wild Turkey Rare Breed Old Fashioned? Not an allocated whiskey or a pricey bottle, so why the need to gouge your customers like that?
We stopped in over the weekend, late afternoon, to check it out. Great air conditioning, looks like a good place to hang out, but the music way too loud. No one is coming here to listen to music. We're hear to have a few drinks and talk with our friends. Music at this volume just comes off as desperate. It's not cool.
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About The Blind Donkey
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53 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91103
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Location
53 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91103
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Upcoming Events
Strawberry Festival - Sunday Faith Family & Festival
17 May 2026, 10:00
Pasadena Convention Center and Fairgrounds
Exit the King
17 May 2026, 14:00
A Noise Within
Exit the King
21 May 2026, 19:30
A Noise Within
Exit the King
22 May 2026, 19:30
A Noise Within
nonprofit visual arts organization in Pasadena, California, United States
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public monument in Pasadena, California
park in Los Angeles County, California, United States of America; geonames ID = 5335557
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