Pasadena Cafés With a Magical Flair

The Sisters of Bubik houses a theatrical boutique café, located at 34 South Raymond Avenue in Old Town Pasadena, California. The Land of Bubik, peopled by its owners Diana and Sharie, is filled to the brim with lovely, designer clothing, gorgeous glittering jewelry, and hats, shoes and purses of the most original cut. In the back of the café lies a small stage where the magic of homegrown artistry is encouraged to flower.

They serve enchantingly rich desserts and frothy coffees, salads and sandwiches and other snacks. Open daily, their entertainment schedule is simply chock full of everything from comedy to classical music, book signings and poetry night, along with a festive atmosphere for various groups in which to meet up.

The sisters, Sharie, a talented but frustrated clothing designer and teacher, and Diana, a talented but frustrated actress, singer, dancer and jewelry designer, are marvelously warm and welcoming. They have incredible talent, and go out of their way to make everyone feel at home.

Creative and fun, they created the Legend of Bubik, to explain exactly how they came to be café owners. "The Legend of Bubik", as well as the entire entertainment calendar, can be found at their colorful website located at: www.sistersofbubik.com, or you can call them at 626-744-9220.

Café Culture

The owner of Café Culture, Sheila Fennoy, has made sure that her café lives up to its name for over nine years. Located at 1359 N. Altadena, in Pasadena, just north of the Phoenix Pharmacy, her Café offers a large range of entertainment/cultural events in the evenings and on weekends, including traveling storytellers, meetings of the local chapter of the United Nations, local resident's meetings regarding the environment, or politics, as well as local artist's shows.

The neighborhood atmosphere is friendly and funky, a café filled with used books for sale, comfy couches and overstuffed chairs. They also happen to offer some of the tastiest health food around, (in a cracked wheat and sprouts type of way). The food is fixed fresh on the spot by their super friendly staff, Lissette Mosley, Leslie Santos and Elizabeth Moreno, who prepare tuna melts, pastrami melts, veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, and various salads.

They serve juices, smoothies, espressos, Italian sodas and more than 13 types of herbal blends of tea, from the Republic of Tea. They also carry over six types of Yogi Tea, including the ever popular chais and green teas. With huge portions and a generous side serving of chips, you'll never leave there hungry or thirsty.

Café culture also offers a private tutoring for S.A.T. preparation, math, and computer classes. Call 626-441-8204 for more information on all the subjects offered.

Zephyr Coffeehouse & Art Gallery

Zephyr Coffeehouse & Art Gallery, at 2419 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 91107, boasts a beautiful garden atmosphere. Artfully transformed from a small house, this coffeehouse offers several semi-private rooms, perfect for a small get-together with friends or an informal meal. They serve a variety of salads and sandwiches, coffee and teas, but their claim to fame is their pannini bread! The desserts are rich and fabulous, and the atmosphere cozy enough to read, and inspiring enough to pen a song.

Speaking of music, their website at www.zephyrcoffeeandart.com has an events calendar, so check the listings online.

Parking on the street is sparse, depending on the time of day, but a small shopping center nearby offers ample free parking. Call their friendly staff for details at 626-793-7330.