The Cellar: A Wine Library, Pasadena CA

Great atmosphere that feels nicely far away from the standard fare on Colorado Blvd—yet essentially just hidden underground. Diverse, comprehensive wine list, with knowledgeable, down-to-earth sommelier to boot—helped us pick out a great bottle “SOMM’S CHOICE”. We loved the live piano music (visited on Friday). Food offerings were secondary for us and were good—more choices than we expected.

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! Starts with a GREAT asset dorman, who was friendly and funny! The "ambience" is off the charts FABULOUS. I don't want to ruin the entry for anyone, but its fun! Lighting and music was perfect and not too loud! VERY ROMANTIC. Excellent Champagne choices that arrived icy cold! The charcuterie board was OVER THE TOP.exceptional! Reasonable prices too! Service was great

A random find in downtown Pasadena and I’m obsessed. It is a little difficult to find the entrance but there are red velvet ropes and a person standing out front to connect you the elevator downwards. The ambiance is incredible. Walk-ins can grab a table or bottle service for the couch areas. Would have gotten a bottle if I’d had the time.

First of all, the bouncer was kind of weird and condescending. Then you find out you have to wait outside until they "clear" you a table. They don't do reservations, it's first come first spot available? Then when you get down to the basement in some shared office building, a piano is playing with AI instead of a real person and you can't sit on the nice couches unless you buy a bottle and you have to buy 2 bottles if you have 4 or more people. Also, the waitress was rude as well. Honestly, this place is overrated. And I would never come back. Trust, there are plenty of way better speakeasy places in Pasadena. Skip this one.

Really cool place with good wine, but we ordered food that never showed up. Their food is described by the hostess and the server as “appetizers and desserts” so after waiting 50 minutes for our two “appetizers” we ended up just paying without them ever showing up and leaving. The waiter brought plates, so I know he definitely heard us order food. By our second round of wine I brought up how my choice was based on how it would pair with the food. Then when we asked the check we said to just “cancel the food”. So idk. Maybe it takes this place an hour for a half dozen oysters, but we weren’t warned and we got no apologies or anything. I gave four stars because it was def very cool inside and I really wanted and still want it to be good. But we just unfortunately had a bad experience.

I love this place. Feel like it gets better every time I come and it was great from the 1st time, years ago! I keep coming back.

The best hidden gem of old town Pasadena. Amazing food and excellent wine selection in a sophisticated setting.

Bouncer was very nice and charming. The cellar is decorated nicely, has a library feel with bookshelves on the walls. The wines themselves were only ok and our waitress wasn't very knowledgeable. When we asked about a few of the wines she shrugged and said "I can give you a taste. " The biggest disappointment was the lack of a real piano player. This place was advertised as a piano bar and a computer played songs on the piano

The bouncer was a great dude! The place was spectacular. The wine list was extensive! I went with my favorite wine, it was a great that they carried it, I will be back for wine and the charcuterie board that I was way too full for, having had lunch an hour before.

Great location. Experience is a plus. But reds shouldn’t be kept in the fridge. Went there with a friend in the fall 2022 and felt embarrassed when the waiter poured a chill glass of Merlot.

The place is incredible. Great aesthetic, great wine choice, good food. I will absolutely and gladly come back and change my review to 5 stars, if/when the ownership invests in having real musicians create art in that place. As an artist, professional music composer, arranger and producer, I was left with such a bitter feeling when I saw such a gorgeous piano play itself via technology. Not to mention that some of the music was extremely dark and sad (not all of it of course - but if your playlist only includes classical piano pieces, chances are you will get some that are not helping the atmosphere be as relaxed and positive as it could be).
The warmth, the classy environment, the food and wine choice. EVERYTHING in there screams Jazz duo or trio (piano and bass, or piano bass and vocalist) playing beautiful uplifting ballads at a soft volume. But at least you would have the human factor, real art being performed live. And that would make all the difference in the world, even to a non-trained ear. By using a playerpiano technology, you've elected to take a room with amazing potential and reduce it to the same musical experience as the lobby of a Sheraton hotel or the Americana mall in Glendale.
In this specific room, I would rather the piano be sitting there and used as a piece of furniture playing nothing at all, than seeing it being played by a computer.

Lucky find! As we walked down town to find food.walked across this enormous security guy in front of an empty closed retail space. Interesting, we thought. Then we drunkenly asked "what are you guarding? " not saying a word he took us up the elevator. Curiosity killed the cat luckily we're not cats. We past the stinky elevator into a whole new world, a whole new world indeed! We will come back

Highly recommended place if you are looking for a place to hang out with a good glass of wine, a wonderful place.

Met friends here to start our Art Night adventure. Easy parking right next door in garage- don’t lose your ticket! Enjoyed this location for meeting at beginning and end of night. Relaxed with some good wine and concentration of the planes and things were saw. Did the GRDN outdoor patio under twinkle lights.