South Pasadena City Guide
Just South of Pasadena is a small city appropriately named South Pasadena. It is a city in Los Angeles County, California. South Pasadena is less than three and a half miles and is bordered by Pasadena to the North, San Marino to the NorthEast, Alhambra to the South, and Highland Park to the West.
South Pasadena is a small town of about 25,000 residents, and is known for its excellent public schools and family-like community.
Per the 2000 US Census, the median income for a household in the city was $55,728, and the median income for a family was $72,039.
For all people who love running, every year on the first Saturday of December, South Pasadena hosts a 5K/10K run around the city.
South Pasadena History:
South Pasadena’s history is commonly associated with places that played important roles in the city like Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain, The Rialto Theatre, and Cawston Ostrich Farm.
- Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain – Back in the day, this hot spot was for people to meet at the store to grab a bite to eat, or just relax with family and friends. Do not be fooled by the vintage look of the place, they say what they have to offer is thoroughly modern.
- The Rialto Theatre – Built in 1925, The Rialto Theatre, is one of the last remaining single-screen movie places in the Los Angeles Area!
- Cawston Ostrich Farm – Opened in 1886, Cawston Ostrich Farm, was America’s FIRST ostrich farm! (pictures)
South Pasadena, interestingly enough, has been involved in a lot of movie productions including The Terminator, Gone with the Wind, Halloween, American Pie, Legally Blonde, 13 Going on 30, Back to the Future, Mr. Deeds, and Bruce Almighty. And these are only some of the movie/TV show productions that have been filmed in this city!
South Pasadena’s neighboring city San Marino has always been its rival. Beginning in the 1900’s, until now, South Pasadena High School and San Marino High School have met during football season to combat for a victor’s plaque that has been juggled back and forth between the two rivalries!
Cafes:
Heirloom Bakery & Café -In the artsy Mission West district of South Pas, this colorful café features breakfasts, quiches, salads and pizza, plus freshly baked breads and scones. Personally, this is my family’s favorite breakfast hangout – it’s hard to pick which cupcake to have. You absolutely have to try the carrot cupcake – to die for!
807 Meridian Ave
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 441-0042
Wild Thyme Cafe & Bakery -A homey American-style café where you can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Many say if you feel like mom’s cooking this is the spot to go! Breakfast is said to be their specialty. 40 Reviews!
805 Fair Oaks AveSouth Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 799-4169
Lemon Tree Cafe
711 Fair Oaks Ave
South Pasadena, CA 91030 Map
Phone: (626) 799-3618
Buster’s Ice Cream & Coffee Shop – A two story coffee shop and ice cream parlor where families and students can enjoy fresh sandwiches, ice cream, and pastries. You can even go to hear live acoustic music on Saturday nights, and a live Nairobi jazz trio on Sunday nights!
1006 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: 626-441-0744
Restaurants:
Bistro De La Gare – French cuisine
921 Meridian Ave
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 799-8828
Shiro’s Restaurant- Chinese cuisine
1505 Mission St
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 799-4774
Carmine’s Italian Restaurant & Bar
424 Fair Oaks Ave
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 799-2266
Firefly Bistro - Californian cuisine
1009 El Centro St
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 441-2443
Senor Fish, South Pasadena
618 Mission St
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626)-403-0145
Barkley Restaurant & Bar Reviews!
1400 Huntington Dr
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 799-0758
Attractions:
Meridian Iron Works- Built in 1887, the Meridian Iron Works is one of the town’s first structures. Today this art museum serves as the South Pasadena historical museum. It displays a collection of artifacts from the earliest history of South Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.
913 Meridian Ave.
South Pasadena, CA 91030
It is open from 1 pm – 4 pm on Saturday and 3 pm – 8 pm on Thursday (Farmer’s market Thursdays!).
Arroyo Seco Golf Course- Rated as one of LA’s top 10 par 3 gold courses!
1055 Lohman Lane
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Lower Arroyo Seco Archery- Since 1935, PRA (Pasadena Roving Archers), is a non-profit corporation where women, men, and children, at all levels, are invited to join this archery club.
San Pascual Stables- Do you like riding horses? If you do this is the place to be! In the Lower Arroyo Seco, South Pasadena gives horse-back riding lessons and boarding!
221 San Pascual Ave.
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(323) 258-3999
Rialto Theatre – It was built in 1925 and is one of the last remaining single-screen movie palaces in the Los Angeles Area.
1023 Fair Oaks Avenue
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Garfield Park – great for family, children, birthdays or just to take in the beautiful nature!
Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 799-7161
Specialty Stores:
1114 Mission St
South Pasadena, CA 91030 Map
Phone: (626) 403-9463
Fair Oaks, Huntington Drive, and Mission Street are the main passageways through South Pasadena
TRANSPORTATION
Need transportation fast and easy? Well, one of the more convenient things about living in South Pasadena is that there is the Metro Gold Line Mission Station located right in the heart of the city (on the corner of Mission and Meridian).
South Pasadena Schools:
The South Pasadena Unified school district includes five schools: three that are Elementary Schools (Monterey Hills, Marengo and Arroyo Vista), South Pasadena Middle School, and South Pasadena High School.
South Pasadena High School:
- Serves grades 9-12
- Principal: Janet Anderson
- 1,600 students
- SPHS’s API score for 2006 is 830, up by 13 points from 2005.
South Pasadena Middle School:
- Serves grades 6-8
- Principal: David Kubela
- 1,100 Students
API Growth (2007-2008)
| 906 (2008 Growth) 883 (2007 Base) |
Arroyo Vista Elementary School
Our OFFICE HOURS are: 8AM-4:30PM, Monday through Friday, and we are located at 335 El Centro Street, South Pasadena, CA, 91030. We are at the corner of Pasadena Avenue and El Centro Street, bordered to the east by Cawston Street, and to the south, Hawthorne Street. The office doors are most proximate to the Pasadena Avenue side while the large campus gate is closer to Cawston.
Tel: (626) 441-5840 • Fax: (626) 441-5845
Monterey Hills Elementary School
1624 Via Del Rey, South Pasadena, CA 91030
- 466 Students
- 23 Teachers
- 20.3 Student/Teacher Ratio
- Grades K-5
- Public School
- Phone: (626) 441-5860
Marengo Elementary School
1400 Marengo Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
- 612 Students
- 29 Teachers
- 20.7 Student/Teacher Ratio
- Grades K-5
- Public School
- Phone: (626) 441-5850