Community, Cold Brew, Lavender and Honey.
If you’re not familiar with the layout of Pasadena, it’s split up into a few different kinds of areas. There’s ‘Old Town’, which has most of the shopping and restaurants in the area. There’s ‘South Pas’, which is known for the old money of Pasadena. And then there’s a not so glamorous part of Pasadena that mostly is full of neighborhoods filled with small, craftsman style house. Nothing too hip or cool exists in this area, until Lavender and Honey made it’s home here.
On the corner of Washington and Hill, a new brick building emerged 5 and a half years ago that created something much bigger than just another coffee shop on the corner. Not only did it coin the signature ingredients, lavender and honey, it became a beacon for community. Owners Charlie and Melanie Porter talk a lot about their passion and commitment to excellence and community. They’ve not only opened a coffee shop, but a place for people to gather around a cup coffee and catch up. But on that note, finding a spot to sit down and catch up at, is not easy, especially on the weekends.
Part of the charm of Lavender and Honey is it’s hole in the wall size, yet with exquisite interior design. Because it’s the only one of it’s kind in the area, the cafe fills up fast. There’s also a patio but on the weekends, it’s not likely you’ll find a spot to sit, without waiting a bit for someone else to leave. Don’t let that stop you from stopping by though, not only is the vision behind the coffeeshop gold, the aesthetic on point, but the coffee and food items are excellent.
It wouldn’t be called Lavender and Honey if there weren’t something to taste that is Lavender and Honey. And they have the best tasting Lavender and Honey latte AND Lavender and Honey toast. The Lavender and Honey toast is where it all started, with almost immediate popularity. Goat cheese, dried lavender, and drizzled honey make this toast absolutely mouth-watering. This and a few other unique toast opens fill what they call, their “Toast Bar”. Through the years they’ve expanded to a sandwich bar, salad bar, and even a hot chocolate bar and kids bar. (To add to their invocation, they’ve also launched their own brand of cold brew) Something for everyone and absolutely worth the visit!