Zona Rosa Caffe – Playhouse District

I have been here twice. The first time I ordered a latte and it was pretty good. The second time I ordered a zona sunrise and I enjoyed it.

Coffee shop. No wifi. Welcome to 2016. Hopefully you’ll find your way to the new century.

Cute, quaint café with Latin American overtones. Despite the fact that it was a coffee shop, I ordered something called the Zona sunrise, a mix of cranberry juice, oj, and grapefruit juice. Tastes nice with the right amount of bitterness from the grapefruit. The barista was very pleasant as well as sweet and nice. Would recommend to a friend. Great place to just hang out and have a conversation.

I’ve been coming to this adorable, quaint place since I was 20 (16 years!) Not once have I been disappointed.
I’ll be stopping by, soon!

Really nice little coffee shop.
The staff is friendly, the coffee and hot chocolate are good. Has a few seats on the first floor if you’d like to be around a little bit of noise, but if you take the stairs you’ll find that the entire second floor is a seating area with couches and tables which makes it feel very homey. It’s also pretty quiet on the second floor which makes it a great place to get some coffee and study.

I really like the Mexican theme, it’s beautiful. I had their Zona Rosa latte which is Mexican chocolate and espresso. It was very good, I definitely recommend that drink. Also the barista was nice and had a cool vibe. It was great just relaxing and enjoying the city and the warm sunny Southern California day. Really great location in Pasadena and great jazz music ambiance. I tried their iced coffee, I guess a cold brew, and it was not good at all. I don’t know if it’s the cold brew process but the coffee tastes like cigarettes. Other than that, I really enjoyed the place and will return.

I had the Mexican hot chocolate and the BF had the caramelo royale. Both were ok. Not bad but nothing too exciting. I’d probably get one again only if I were in the area.

The coffee spot is so cute and inviting, and so are the baristas. And sadly that’s where the positives end. The coffee was not great — I had the most bland cappuccino ever. I also got a bag of coffee that I regret purchasing. It’s a really dark roast, doesn’t pack a punch and is a shame to the arabica name.

A few weeks back I was at Zona and I got the usual good service by the baristas. My drink was good and pastry was on point. However, I realized that someone who seemed like the manager or owner of the shop was talking to an employee. He was very demanding and demeaning. A conversation that should’ve been done behind closed doors. The owner was not nice at all in the way he spoke to the barista I felt so awkward and eventually left. The way the owner spoke to the workers was very un-​professional. It’s unfortunate because the baristas are so nice and I wasn’t even able to tip them because you can’t tip with card. I’ve been coming for years and they you still can’t tip with card, it’s 2016 people! I think ownership is everything and it seems like there needs to be some in-​house changes.

A quaint, creativity-​inducing space for Pasadenians to play around and sip some damned-​delicioso caffeinated concoctions for hours on end! Enjoy a cozy little loft up a tight staircase with many a couch or lazyboy to stretch out and hone your drawing or writing skills, take in the sounds of the bustling Playhouse District, or just enjoy a Zona Rosa cappuccino made with their delectable Mexican hot chocolate…
I just really enjoy when businesses give a little bit of effort to make the place fun and inviting to hang out. These guys do it, and they do it well. Very similar vibe to Holy Grounds; but without the expansive patio area.
The location is amazing: right next to the Playhouse and Red White & Blues, and a stones-​throw away from Colorado Blvd, Blaze Pizza and a nearby movie theater.
Kristofer’s El Dorado of caffeinated Deliciousness:
Zona Rosa Cappuccino

Cute, quaint and small coffee shop that serves a very strong cold brew which kept me up all night because I drank it too late in the day. Be prepared to spend $ 5 on an iced coffee though.

Super cute little café! I just happened to park in front of it while I was late for a meeting. I noticed it when heading back to my car.
I popped my head in and saw a really great interior. I was immediately greeted by the staff!
I ordered and enjoyed a delicious Mexican hot chocolate.
I definitely look forward to returning!

Cute little coffee spot in the Playhouse District. There is an upstairs area and a few tables downstairs. I love the vibe of the place and can certainly see why people love coming here.
I’ve only tried the chai latte, but it was creamy with just the right spice and rich flavor. They also serve up Porto’s pastries and potato balls, which is nice in case you’d like to avoid driving to Glendale to pick up some for the office!
Definitely will be coming back to try other drinks here!

Pros: Cool upstairs seating, Free concerts on Thursday evenings
Cons: Mediocre coffee, Porto’s pastries with a high markup!
This eclectic little coffee shop in the middle of the Playhouse District is located just a stone’s throw from me. I was feeling the Mexican vibe of the décor and as a local I really wanted to fall in love.
Their coffee is certified organic and fair trade, so I figured the quality would carry through in the taste department, but I found it to be very average. I’ve tried both their Almond Milk Latte and Mexican Hot Chocolate. The latte was nothing special and definitely can’t compete with the many craft coffee shops in Pasadena.
As for the hot chocolate, it was light on the cinnamon and the chocolate flavor was far too subtle (they do use Ibarra tablets – perhaps just not enough!). The consistency of the drink was also too thin. Amara Chocolate & Coffee serves fantastic chocolate drinks and sets the standard as far as I’m concerned.
Overall, I’d go back in a pinch, but definitely not my first or second choice.

I’ve been wanting to drop by here for some time.
Looks like the kind of small coffee shop I’d love for its atmosphere.
The location’s on a side street (El Molino) so the foot traffic is lighter which makes for a more calmer experience.
Too bad I couldn’t sit down and linger like I wanted to. (It was Pi Day at the nearby Blaze Pizza and my husband was waiting for them to open & was drooling over there.) Next time.
The barista was very friendly (and tall & good-​looking too!).
Made me a double café latte flavored with Irish Crème.
Perfect!

It’s a nice little independent coffee shop that has an eclectic charm. There’s a fair amount of seating both outside and upstairs but not a ton of seating since it’s a smaller coffee shop.
I generally drink straight coffee with some sugar and I can’t say that the coffee was exceptional considering a very small cup cost $ 3.00 which is about 33% more than Starbucks and you get less coffee.
I might go back for the charm and location but for my everyday coffee, I don’t think it’s worth going.

I stopped by here for some iced tea after having dinner at a nearby Thai place. I consulted my trusty Unilocal app, and found this place to be appealing. So we hopped in my car, and drove around the city block to get to here.
Parking was not a hassle, granted we walked in here pretty late at night. This coffee shop is cozy. It has a small seating area at ground level, and also has an upstairs portion with plush couches and plenty of seating. There is ample seating outdoors as well.
As it was too late for lattes, I inquired about their iced teas. I got a tropical flavoured tea, which came out exquisite. The fact that it was unsweetened was a plus. The prices are reasonable, and the barista was efficient and professional.
I will be back to try out their latte options. Stay tuned.

Zona Rosa is what I would consider a local favorite non-​chain coffee house. As many people have already stated, it has a Dia de los Muertos theme complete with an upstairs altar where you can write the names of loved ones on popsicle sticks. There is a very eccentric vibe you get that isn’t typical of a coffee shop, but I think that’s what makes this place interesting. It’s not really something I would tell people who live far to come to as a destination spot, but if you happen to be in the area, it’s definitely a great place to stop by. I live super close to this place and often stop by when taking a stroll through the neighbourhood to get a nice cup of mexican hot chocolate.
Honestly I think what I like most about this place is the «local coffee shop» vibe. Although, I LOVE Mexican hot chocolate, and Zona Rosa does it well. I like all variations that they offer, the Zona Rosa cappucino (Mexican hot chocolate flavored) as well as the blended version. I hung out up stairs once but have to say it’s more of a place to read as it was pretty quiet. I would say if you are there to catch up with a friend, it’s better to grab a table below or outside.
Bottom line, not your typical coffee shop, full of character, enjoyable drinks.

A great little place to hangout and study if that’s what you’re looking for. It has seating on the first level, upstairs, and outside along the sidewalk as well. I love the couches and set up on the upper level. Reminds me of a small coffee that can only be found in SF or other parts of the Bay Area.
I don’t quite remember what I ordered, but it was definitely a large, a coffee, and included some chocolate. My friend insisted that I try it. I’ve always been more of a black iced coffee kind of guy, so this may have been a little too exciting for me. It was good, but wasn’t great.
Not the best parking in the area. I couldn’t find any street parking so I ended paying at a garage at the corner…$ 5 until 11pm. Short distance from the coffee shop.

I was first introduced to Zona Rosa by a friend, for their Mexican hot chocolate. It was not my taste, thick, and spiced.
Today I was passing them by, and I thought, how cute are the lights? Maybe they have other things on the menu. I picked Zona Sunrise, it is a mixture of juice, cranberry, grapefruit, and orange I think. It’s presented in a beautiful pink color, very refreshing and delicious. Personally, I think it will be absolutely perfect with a splash of sparkling water, the bubbly will tingle the taste bud and give it a texture.
Up the narrow wooden stairs, it’s a cozy lounging area. With some games and people hanging out. Lower level has outdoor seating that’s perfect after a movie. Next door, at the Playhouse, there is a water fountain and a courtyard – belong to a restaurant, perhaps.
The bar keep is very handsome – added eye candy for the experience. Compare to the almost immediately adjacent crowded and hippie Urth Café, this is more of a pleasant treat.

I love going to Zona Rosa. I go there all the time to read or work by myself, or with friends to talk. It’s a great vibe and the drinks are really good. I agree with the review that says «get the mexican hot chocolate» — that’s what I always get and it is soooooo good.
There’s a couple tables outside literally on the sidewalk, and all the seating inside is pretty much on the 2^nd floor. There’s a local feel to this place, because when I checked out the 2^nd floor area, I felt like a total outsider, probably due to the narrow stairway and the creaking wood boards made more apparent by the quietness upstairs. This place did certainly well for filling the space it has with seating. Since it’s local, I’ll probably find myself back here trying the other favorites.
I didn’t know this place existed till recently. It is a great addition to the Playhouse District.

I was ready to love this little café my first step in. I wasn’t the only one. A lot of patrons seemed like regulars and very buddy-​buddy with the barista, which was a great sign. And I can now see why they keep returning!
I ordered a medium specialty drink Caramelo Royale (caramel, chocolate, espresso, and cold whipped cream to top the hot drink!) with a ham and cheese croissant. They serve Porto’s pastries so it was my first time being more torn staring at the food display than the drinks menu. Both added up to be about $ 9. The drink was creamy and light — I would definitely order it again. The whipped cream stayed cold, which made it really delightful to pair with the warm chocolatey goodness.
*Note: no wifi, everyone studying here is doing it offline! I was shocked too. I forgot you could study without the internet.