Lucky Baldwin's

drewbage

California

4.88/5  rDev +17%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5

Let me tell you that this place is a whole reason to move to Pasadena. As it is I live just a little bit more than around the corner in LA terms (17.4miles) and this place is every bit worth the drive.

David always has an amazing selection of beers on tap or bottles. Things can vary widely since it seems like every month is another festival. During the Belgian Beer Festival almost every tap in the joint is tapped onto lots of different Belgian beers. Outside of Belgium have you ever been to a bar with 4 different varieties of Cantillion on draft? The Barleywine and IPA Festivals are equally amazing with selections of all the big names and some odd smaller names as well. Another great example of random events at Lucky Baldwin's, a few weeks ago it was Sierra Nevada week with about 10 different SN brews on tap including the SN Rauchbier!

As a rule.. always, always check the fridges. Dave hids some amazing products in there.

Oh and have a plate of fish and chips, you'll need it when you see all the beer waiting for you.

ETA: David is a great sport. He was gracious in service of the October 2003 BA gathering, even giving the group a 3L bottle of Corsendonk and a 750 of Cochonne.

05-29-2003 18:07:03 | More by drewbage

fdrich29

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +14.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5

I did some research before my trip out to Los Angeles and knew this was a place I needed to visit. After going to Anaheim to witness my beloved Red Sox get beat by the home team I decided to head up to Pasadena to check this place out.

Getting to Pasadena was easy...finding this place...much harder than it should have been. I must have driven past it 3 times before I found it.

I went around the side as the front entrance was closed and walked in through the patio tables into the bar. A few high, round tables across from the bar, plenty of throwback beer memorobilia and half dozen or so seats at the bar. For all intents and purposes it looked like a dive...the most beautiful dive I have ever seen.

The bar, and everything behind the bar looked like controled chaos. A fridge full of beer to the left, tap handles to the right, trophies and keepsakes lined the back of the bar.

I pulled up to the bar and struck up a conversation with the bartender who had been there since the place opened, or just after. He was a great guy who really knew his beer, the bartender's bartender if you will, and it bothers me greatly that I do not remember his name because for the three hours I was there he took very good care of me, introduced me to some local Pasadena beers and even pulled out his only bottle of 120 out of the fridge and gave it to me.

The selection was outstanding, the perfect mix of local brews and national micros, as well as the Belgians any respectable establishment should carry. I didn't think any place else could rival Anam Cara back home, but I have to be honest, this place did.

Aside from two semi-pro baseball players who were drinking away their injuries and making fools of themselves, the rest of the patrons were quite down with the beer scene and I had great beer conversation for the entire night, was given plenty of pointers, tips and told where to find the best beer for the best prices nearby my hotel in Woodland Hills.

Folks who live near this bar are quite lucky indeed. It will be a stop for all my future visits to Los Angeles.

08-10-2004 01:37:56 | More by fdrich29

jeffjfindley

California

4.74/5  rDev +13.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

By light years, this is the best beer joint in Los Angeles. Atmosphere, though a little musty is exactly what a good pub should be. Dark, plenty of seating, lots of beer memorabilia on the walls, and great music. The last time I was there they were playing lots of Dylan and Tom Waits, in past visits I've heard Radiohead and all sorts of great stuff. It's also not too loud that you can't carry on a conversation. The beer selection and quality thereof is simply second to none in the city. In addition to the army of Craftsman, Stone, Lagunitas and other favorite micros, they have a wild selection of imports from Germany, England, and Belgium. In fact, I believe their selection of Belgians to be unrivaled in the city, including some wildly expensive vintage bottles. The service is always cordial and knowledgeable.

My appreciation for this place grew immensely after a recent trip to New York, where you will find more great beer joints accidentally in one hour than I've found in 5 years of living in Los Angeles. By my definition of what constitutes a great beer bar (not including brewpubs, which are well-represented in Southern California, if not in Los Angeles), this is a lonely star on a desolate map.

08-14-2007 20:12:50 | More by jeffjfindley

paulyrimz

Nevada

4.72/5  rDev +13.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5

Ahhhh Lucky's. My favorite local bar. If only I didn't live in Orange County I would be there every night. What can I say about the place that hasn't been said? I love the atmosphere. A great artistic local crowd with a few in-the-know european tourists love to frequent this place. Decor is awesome with a nice seating area upstairs, several leather booths downstairs, a beautiful patio heated with lamps makes it fairly easy to find a seat, even when it is crowded. Beer paraphenelia from around the world don every corner of this local watering hole. Beer selection is exceptional, whatever beer you are in the mood for, Lucky's will provide. Belgians, lambics, IPAs, barleywines, take your pick, there is a great selection of almost everything. They boast 58 beers on tap, with a large amount always rotating. Rare belgians on draft can be found here including beers I've only seen on the east coast like Leffe dark and leffe blonde. About 40 other rare belgians completed the Belgian beer festival that I attended recently to much enthusiasm. Even when the Belgian beer is not in season, the permanent taps keep me coming back. With some of the best selections from the Craftsmen brewery I've seen anywhere, Lucky's does not disappoint. Craftsmen's solid Barleywine, Pale Ale, IPA, Orange Grove and many others are always on tap. There are even two rotating cask taps for those of you who like me think that the hand pump adds a little something extra to the beer. Food is pretty good as well, I ordered fish and chips, not the best fish I chips I ever ate, but appetizing none the less. A must-see if you are visiting Southern California!

03-04-2005 11:45:12 | More by paulyrimz

stoutlove77

Arizona

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4

Having been out to Pasadena many times I really cant believe I overlooked this place. Located in a small section half a block away from Colorado Blvd. I can see why. The setting is a very unique, all with decorative English Flags, maps of England and its beers with TV's displaying European football games can explain the enviroment a lot better. The selection of beer is the best by far for me, the owner of the place having a itch bug for Belgium beers you are certain to find what your looking for (He has Delirium Christmas 2001on tap). As far as food they have a good variety to choose, so far I have tried the Belgium Stew, I hear it is served during it's Belgium festival and it was quite tasty. When in Old Town make sure you give them a visit, you'll be quite happy with your trip.

01-10-2003 13:11:18 | More by stoutlove77

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5

A little piece of “all that is good” in sunny California. Where to start? Well Lucky Baldwin’s is probably one of, if not the, best Bar I have been to in California by a long shot.
In old town Pasadena not far from the intersection of Colorado Blvd. and Raymond lies this unobtrusive home from home. This is a superb warm and very welcoming hostelry, which is *the* purveyor of high quality beverages in Pasadena and the surrounding area. I promise, you “will not” want to leave here once settled.
Entrance is either from the street, or the side alleyway. From the Street you will have to walk through the Shop part of the Pub. The Shop serves allsorts of wonderful items including; Birds Custard Powder, proper English Tea Bags, HP Brown Sauce (we’re not worthy!), Heinz Baked Beans, a host of other items from Jolly Blighty and even a small selection of Belgium Beer Glasses. From the side alley entrance you will enter a tall but small entrance room that has another smaller room to your right hand side that leads back through to the shop. The bar is set back to your right hand side in a corner. Above which is an upper wooden deck, access is via a wooden staircase (careful). The upstairs is resplendent with an authentic English Dart Board, from Young’s Brewery, London. This is where we spent most of out BA Pasadena Crawl on 1/25/03. The whole pub is bedecked with a plethora of Adverts, Mirrors and beery paraphernalia from around the world. The bar has many Taps, at least 30 that serve a superb selection of Belgium, English, American, German and other beers. For me the best of each of these are Poperings Hommelbier, Fullers ESB, Alesmith IPA and Aventinus. The draft beers are backed up with an awesome range of bottled beers that frequently change – so ask. On a visit on 1/23 I drank the last two bottles of Oud Beersel Kriek, mixed emotions there. All year round you can sit outside at the small but often well populated Tables by the side alley entrance. Serves a great range of English style food. The Curry is excellent, as are the Fish n’ Chips. Super Owners, management and staff as well as a mixed clientele; ex-Pats, locals and beer lovers – what more do you want?

If you are from England, miss that Old Pub feeling, fancy a game of Darts, want to drink great beers and watch the “footy” then this is indeed a Limeys Paradise. Hey shit, that’s me on all counts!!!!
English or not, you just have to come here!

01-27-2003 22:11:56 | More by TheLongBeachBum

Gusler

Arizona

4.66/5  rDev +11.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$$

Finally a chance to visit this home of a famous “Belgian Beer Fest”, and a fine place it is! Quite a quaint spot, with an amazing selection of beers, of course all devoted to Belgian beers; love to see it on a normal day and or time. Small and cozy, and we picked a night that had everyone indoors because of the heavy rain, so it was quite tight quarters. Never the less, great beers on tap and cask some 50 plus Belgians, and a cooler full of great beers, didn’t have the food, but everyone else that had some said it was great. Staff were quite friendly and knowledgeable about their beers, and they seem to have special beer sessions monthly, so a place that must be added to you “Beerfly” experience.

02-23-2004 17:50:55 | More by Gusler

Dukeofearl

California

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5

Met up with a group of BA's for the fifth annual "Belgian Beer Festival" with over 50 taps dedicated to Belgian beauties. I can't really add much to the other reviews of this place, but I do agree it is a very nice place to be (especially on a rainy day). It got a bit crowded because of the weather and the festival, and there was difficulties with separate checks, and they were running out of types of beer as the day went on, but other than that, it was great! Seriously, I was very impressed on my first time here. Great atmosphere, excellent selection, the food was good (soup was too salty, but still good). If you are in town, check this place out!

02-25-2004 03:55:28 | More by Dukeofearl

PStevens

California

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Whoa there! I have only been here once, but that's about to change partner! I can't miss XMAS IN JULY next weekend! Im so pumped. Just had Lost Coast Double trouble ipa and coronado idiot ipa. Both exceptional! The only thing I can say about this place is GO THERE! I just happened to stop in the area and found it by a recommendation from a gas attendant. You can say I got lucky! beers beers lucky in finding the place that is The food is not to miss very tasty and fairly priced. Too many handles to choose from. Gotta go back!

07-09-2010 04:35:43 | More by PStevens

Myk

Massachusetts

4.64/5  rDev +11.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5

one of the stops on a pasadena pub crawl. really, really liked this joint. all wood interior with great service and a nice small upstairs area with darts, which i sucked at, but had fun. great variety of beers in both bottles and on tap. good belgian selection on tap, which is great because it isnt the easiest thing to find, especially in LA. they even serve pitchers of a bunch of locals, such as alesmith. go to this place, i will definately be back.

01-29-2003 15:40:53 | More by Myk