Happy almost Friday babes!! I’m still in awe from my engagement and all your sweet comments on my Instagram and blog post, I seriously felt the love from every single one of you! Can’t thank you enough and so happy I was able to share the special day ♥ Just in time for the holiday weekend, I wanted to share my next city tour..and this time we explored Pasadena! I spent most of my teenage years living in Glendale, and with Pasadena just 10 minutes away, we would always spend our weekends here…from family dinners, shopping, and strolling around Old Town, I always had such good memories here! Pasadena is one of the only areas of LA that has so much character and charm with it’s historic side, Old Town along Colorado Street, and the Paseo which is a newer outdoor mall stretching through 3 city blocks. Whenever I’m in the mood for more of a one-stop location, I visit the Paseo for all the shopping, dining and entertainment and head to Old Town for a nice evening stroll. And as you guys may know, I love to eat (lol no surprise) so I’m always looking to try new restaurants and Pasadena happens to have some of the best dining in the city! Everything from upscale restaurants on Colorado Boulevard to neighborhood go-to’s and Old Pasadena’s charming historic restaurants. Keep scrolling to see our adventure from photo-worthy sites, ice cream floats and the best Italian food I’ve EVER tried..yes..it’s really that good!!

Float

First stop of the day..the cutest retro cafe famous for their FLOATS!! I love the retro decor here..it reminded me of a vintage ice cream soda shop and is located in a pretty mini-plaza called The Burlington Arcade! Float also offers tasty sandwiches on French rolls, baked goods and coffee..but before you try anything else off the menu, you have to promise me you will try their floats!! They have both classic and seasonal floats with flavors like Creamsicle, Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Sice Latte, and Cold Brew…so delicious!!

We ordered the push-pop float and the hula hula. So yummy! I ordered the push-pop which was made with sparkling lemonade, fresh peach ice cream, topped with whipped cream. But my favorite was Gabriel’s Float..the Hula Hula which had the tastiest Macadamia Nut Ice Cream, so I ended up stealing his lol!!

How cute is the arcade inspired hallway?! Love the candy-colors on the ceiling!

Love the lace-up back detailing on this eyelet crop top by J.O.A (now on sale for under $50!!) I’ll definitely be wearing this top on repeat for summer! It’s conservative and feminine in the front, but sexy in the back! Perfect for pair with high waisted pants, shorts or skirts for the summer :)

Pasadena City Hall

Next up, we visited Pasadena’s City Hall which is one of the towns most historic and beautiful landmarks! I love exploring the grounds here and seeing all the Italian Renaissance and Spanish influences in these buildings..red tile roofs, the big ornate fountain and garden courtyard, all so beautiful!!

I paired the top with these high-waisted satin pants by Blessed Are The Meek (similar here and here). Love how sleek and breezy these are for summer too! I finished off the look with my new baby..the mini Antigona by Givenchy! I’m obsessed!! I’ve always wanted a mini Antigona..I love the classic shape of this bag and when I saw it in this color I knew I had to have it! The light camel leather is so neutral and versatile for all year round making it the perfect wardrobe staple!

Union Restaurant

Our last stop was dinner at Union Restaurant, a small Italian restaurant in the heart of Old Pasadena. And you guys..this place is without a doubt some of the best Italian food I’ve ever tried!! I’ve never been to an Italian restaurant where all the dishes were so innovative and delicious..at first I wasn’t sure about some of the flavors and sauces on the menu, but there wasn’t one dish that I didn’t love!! The chef turned a simple and basic pasta dish like Spagetti and Gnocchi into something unique..bursting with flavorful and quality ingredients that gave each dish it’s own flare.

We started with a few appetizers recommended by the chef. Our favorite was the Housemade Stracciatella Cheese served with just the right amount of roasted garlic, olive oil and balsamic topped over a crisp crostini. The cheese was SO incredibly fresh and creamy..I couldn’t get enough!!

Next we had the Pork Meatballs paired with San Marzano tomato, caper berries, lardo, and chile. The spices were just right and didn’t overpower the dish.

Another must is their Porchetta! The meat was cooked perfectly tender and served with Weiser Farms potatoes and a homemade salsa verde sauce for some extra flavor ;) You can taste the fennel and garlic in every bite. And the salsa verda added the perfect kick of flavor to the dish!

Braised Octopus was another great choice! Paired with chickpeas, lemon yogurt and and dukkah. At this point we were getting pretty full..but every dish was too good to leave anything behind!

For the main course, we were so excited to try the restaurant’s homemade pastas! We ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi and Spaghetti which was pushed and cut through a guitar string board. (how cool?!) My favorite was the Ricotta Gnocchi..cooked with morel mushrooms, roasted onion, all in a brown butter sauce..insanely good!!

A big thank you to Union for hosting us for one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had! If you are looking for an amazing Italian restaurant then I highly recommend trying Union. 

As always, thanks for stopping by! Which area do you guys want to see next on my city guide?! Comment below!

Xxo, Jessi