PUNCH

I’m pretty much in love with the drinks here. I can drink it alllll day. And night. And day again.
Until I pass out.
But that won’t happen because I’m such a tank of course.
My second visit here found the place to have a lot less people. I did make a reservation but probably didn’t need it. I’d still make one just in case though.
And those drinks doe.
Pasadena is not my watering hole of choice, but for Punch, I’ll make an exception.

I am sad to find out that PUNCH has closed :(.
From PUNCH’s instragram:
«We have known several months that we were going to lose the lease for PICNIK Pasadena. We have been shopping for a new location in hopes that we could announce the new home before we had to vacate the space, but we have not found a new home that we believe is the perfect fit for the concept. PICNIK closed to the public Sunday night. We hope to announce new locations as soon as possible.»
I hope they find a new home soon and start serving amazing punch drinks and extraordinary service again.

I came here with a friend last night to scoop out some cool hang out spots in old town pasadena. It was my first time in the area, so decided to come here based on the pictures I saw on Unilocal and they did not disappoint. This place is kinda hidden, it’s actually the upstairs of piknic. There’s a hidden stair way (next to a valet parking lot) with a red door with a picture of a punch bowl on it. We actually walked by and missed it twice… there’s no sign that says «punch» or anything.
It’s pretty dark inside. The Place Is pretty small and And initmate. We came at around 9pm ish I think and there was only one seat right In front of the bar for us to seat (no table). Everything else was reserved. There’s probably about 10 seating areas/​tables. Obviously, they are known for their punch, hence the name PUNCH. It’s 10 dollars for a glass; my friend and i opted for the flight punch, 4 flavors of punch for 22 dollars. The punch was delicious!!! Loved all 4 flavors. They were all strong but didn’t taste strong. It’s one of those drinks that will sneak up on you. We had the wings (3 pieces), the skin was fried to perfection but it was kinda salty; I didn’t mind the saltyness too much but my friend did. An the dressing was sweet, kinda yogurt-​y. And I had the guacamole dip with edadame and that was delicious.
Definitely make reservation if you plan on coming here with a large party. We left at around 10:30pm and it was getting busy, more pple were coming in and crowding over by the bar. There’s No dance Floor And They were playing 500 Days Of Summer On a projector.
The service was superb! All the waiters, servers, even the bartenders were attentive and accommodating. They felt really bad we had to eat on these soft cushioned chairs without a table so when a table opened up, they helped us move over there. My first time here was enjoyable and I will definitely return for more PUNCH!!!

This place is AMAZING I tell you! The bar itself, has an entrance through the back of the building or through the restaurant. This place is the definition of mixology at it’s finest. Their drinks are beyond explanation. If you’re a man’s man you will order the Gentleman’s breakfast punch. Bartenders are all great and turned our drinks into pieces of art. Did I mentioned they taste OUTSTANDING?! Our server was Anna Lisa. Not only is she the most beautiful server in all of Pasadena, but she is super attentive.
Place was jammed packed and Anna Lisa still managed to attend all of her tables and managed her employees. The place itself is the definition of class. The vibe there is super chill and the music is not over-​bearing where you can still have a conversation and hear each other. I would definitely go back and recommend to others.

We had some friends over from Venice Beach and not knowing much about night life in Pasadena, we decided to try out this place for the first time.
Our place is only 1 mile away, and so we decided to walk to Colorado Blvd. Half way through, everyone was nagging about how far we have to walk. I was getting a bit anxious about where we are going since I had never gone myself.
Here are some cool facts about this place:
1) There is no visible sign, so you would have to kinda guess where this place is located out. If it wasn’t because of one my friends curiosity to follow some electric candle lights, we probably would have not found this place.
2) Inside, is very cozy, leather sofas and dark lighting. They also have a huge projector that plays old school movies.
3) There are a couple of specialty Punch drinks, and we tried 3 of them. Each had its own unique taste. We met the owner and he was nice enough to come and sit down with us and talk about his concept of creating this place.
4) The bartenders and servers were super nice and friendly. When we could not decide to chose the type of Punch we wanted. They offered us 3 different kind of samples of their top choices.
5) I am not sure if they would reserve this place for a huge birthday party or a large group gathering but the simple décor, and the dim lights makes it a perfect venue
I Highly recommend to check out this place and experience the cool vibe and the concept of punch drinking.

Amazing drinks — well made, great tasting, unique.
Amazing staff — the server, busser, and the owner, Darwin. (Darwin, btw, is the type of owner/​bartender that will take time to explain to you the drinks, the flavors, and make recommendations
Only downside — I wish there was more seating space.

I thought I had a review written for this AMAZING place already. Turns out I didn’t. Opps!
Well, I cannot rave enough about this place. The first time I came, I was accompanied by my friend and we had already had a little too much to drink, yet they were still extremely nice and acted as though nothing was off. I got the flight because it was my first time coming and everything sounded was so good. The presentation of the drinks was awesome! They came in tea cup like glasses and on a pretty metal tray. I loved it and just about any girl would love this. That day, I met Annalisa, Selena, and Danny. All of them were knowledgable about the drinks and how the speakeasy came to be. They were quick to recommend their favorites, as well as give suggestions to what we would probably like.
The next time I came, I was recognized and greeted by name… this is huge to me. I don’t have a common name and it’s only the second time that I’ve been here. I know that some people are just good at names and sometimes you develop a knack for it when you’re in this industry, but remembering me the second time? I was very impressed. Later that night we also got to meet Darwin, one of the owners, who came over and introduced himself. Again, very friendly and loves his craft. The girls that I came both got flights as well and it was so difficult for them to pick a favorite because they were all really good.
I would definitely recommend coming to this place for a more intimate setting, or a girls night. It is small, but still pretty spacious and is dimly lit. The entrance is kind of behind picnik, near the alley… you’ll see signs for it!
Soo, if you want amazing uniquely hand crafted cocktails… come to punch!
If you want a intimate setting with your boo… come to punch!
Don’t have a boo? Just bring your friends to punch!
If you want to show your friends how Pasadena is cool… come to punch!
If you just want light conversation with people who are knowledgable about booze… PUNCH.
Have I made my point yet?

The drinks here are good. I tried the 4 punches they had here. The mix behind each of them is pretty cool and interesting. Each drink has it’s own unique touch. I think they change them around from time to time.
I really enjoyed the Royal Vice City and Caribbean Rhapsody.
The staff were friendly and made sure we were doing good. The place is kinda small though. So it’s hard to have larger groups.
And yes, it’s kinda confusing to find the entrance. But you’ll find it. Somewhere around the corner of Picnik. There was a sign somewhere. It’s upstairs.
Overall, the atmosphere was pretty relaxing and lounge-​like, the kind of place to slowly sip on your drink with good company.

Great atmosphere and amazing service.
We couldn’t find the entrance to PUNCH, but thanks to fellow Unilocalers we found it! Look for the red door near the alley! PUNCH is on the top floor of PCNK.
The place is really small and we were greeted by Darwin, the co-​owner of punch, who explained all the different punch bowls to us.
We tried the sampler first and decided we all liked the Royal Vice. Darwin explained to us that every single ingredient in the punch bowl takes time and effort. Even the giant ice block goes through a boiling process so that it is super clear! Very unique.
There is plenty of seating and the couches are super comfortable.
My only complaint is that the punch bowls are expensive.

If you’re looking for shots and cheap beer, DO NOT COME HERE. If you can’t appreciate the experience of a well crafted drink from its look to its taste, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. Just do everyone a favor and go away.
That being said, PUNCH is a great place to start the night with friends. Try all the delicious drinks, watch the pure artistry of the bartenders making the cocktails, sip and relax on their many lounge-​y couches and chairs. It’s a cozy spot and the novelty of finding the red door sets the mood for this modern speakeasy.
My friends and I have had the pleasure of enjoying the drinks and atmosphere here. It’s quiet in comparison to the many bars that try to be clubs which makes this a nice chill hangout spot where conversation is actually possible.
4 stars means I’m a fan!!!
No perfect score because of the occasional slow service and the bathroom being a dangerous trek down stairs, especially for a buzzed girl in high heels. I know they can’t help that but… oh well.

Came here on a Friday night (¹⁰⁄₁₇) with the lady as we were looking for a bar we haven’t tried in Old Town. PUNCH came to mind since I’ve seen so many of my friends post it on Instagram.
It’s ontop of PCNK, and has a cool loungey vibe to it. Live music also played 90s music which added to the already chill ambiance.
We ordered the sampler which featured the four cocktails of the night, all four were delicious and warranted the $ 20 price tag. I usually hesitate to order a tiny cocktail worth $ 12 (ex. Perch or the Standard), but all the drinks at PUNCH are definitely worth it. Also ordered some whisky on the rocks.
The owner, Darwin, chatted up with us too. Really nice guy and made sure everything turned out alright. The bartenders Marvyn and Dustin were pretty cool, too.
Check it out if you’re ever in Old Town. I’ll be back for sure.

Came here on a night out with a gf. Definitely a hidden gem that’s worth the find!
Highlights:
+ Friendly and accommodating staff. Even had a chat with one of the owners (Darwin) about how they came up with this concept and the quality effort they put into their drinks
+ Dimly-​lighted lounge upstairs from Picnik, good for groups or for couples who just want a nice night out. Didn’t know exactly where to go but the bouncer in front was kind enough to lead us directly to Punch
+ The drinks seem limited, but you can tell the quality put into these drinks w/​the fresh ingredients used. Reasonably priced, they offer punches (4 flavors: Gentleman’s Breakfast, Water-​Malone, Caribbean Rhapsody, Royal Vice City), cocktails, and a few other select items (no food though, just drinks!). Since it was just the two of us, we got the punch flight (sample of all 4 punch flavors), favorites were Water-​Malone & Royal Vice City.
If you’ve been around the area before, you know parking is either metered street parking or in one of the parking structures nearby. Overall a great experience and would definitely come back again. Check it out if you’re in the area!

As I walk through valley, in the shadow of death, I look back at my life and realized… It’s been a while since I’ve been to Pasadena. With that Coolio thought in mind and a lovely lady by my side, I made the trip to Colorado, boulevard, not to be confused with the state. I had some
food at Picnik and proceeded to have PUNCH for some cocktails.
What can I say? Daddy needs his medicine. It’s a speakeasy so they keep the entrance on the down low, so nobody has to knoooow (–R.Kelly). You can’t be any geek off the street, gotta be handy with the steel, if you know what I mean, earn your keep! (Warren G. and Nate Dogg). So I found the door and ‘mounted up’ the stairs into the lounge. Very nice, dark, and intimate (is how my date described me, but it also described the ambiance of the PUNCH lounge). And now the libations!
We ordered the PUNCH flight which features all the 4 Punches they had to offer. The Water-​Malone (apparently Beyonce’s been drinking this) and the Gentleman’s Breakfast were the favorites. For the record, I just call it «Breakfast.» I also had the pleasure of trying the «El Bombero,» which features mezcal, cherry herring, and some vermouth, and accented with cinnamon smoke. This drink was probably the most memorable. While the mezcal was young and strong, the cinnamon smoke was a very nice touch that brought me back to the comforting feeling of a campfire, hiking in the forest, and scamming in a tent.
Overall, I had an awesome experience here. The wait service was friendly and informative. The cocktails are thoughtful, strong, and conversational. So what is you waiting for? Don’t you want a piece of the GLORY? and SEE WHAT IT TAZSTE LIKE! (–Nacho).
***Side note: Valet was a MF. I valeted my car and when I was ready to leave, the whole Valet booth, staff, and service were GONE. Supposedly, they’re there until 1:30, but they definitely left early that night. So beware using the Valet. I should mention that PUNCH has no association with the Valet service and they actually helped me out that night. Thanks again, Darwin! Much love to everyone at PUNCH!

This bar/​lounge is not your typical type of bar/​lounge. They are well known for their punches, hence the name «PUNCH». If it is your first time at Punch, the best thing to try is their punch flight. Don’t be fooled though their drinks taste and look good, but they are sure to creep on you later. My favorite drink as of right now is the Watermelone Punch, it is super refreshing especially during the summer. I believe they are going to switch out some of their punches and have some what of a seasonal punch every season, so get them while you can!
Punch is a perfect place to sit and actually have a conversation with someone. It is more of a place to sit, relax and enjoy your company, rather than bump and grind on somebody if you catch my drift. (Just saying, haha) The service was great, the servers were so attentive to my friends and I. Always asked if we needed anything, and even came to make small talk. The bartenders even came by, and even came to talk about punch and its whole concept and story. Overall, punch has great drinks, ambiance, and service it’s a good place to come and grab a drink and just hang out.

Hate is a strong word. So yes, I definitely hated this place.
Let’s start with the huge systemic fail… YOU CAN’T ORDER A DRINK AT THE BAR. Really? We have to wait for the 1 out of the 2 waitresses on staff who are supposed to be taking care of the 50+ people present to come over to our area, take the drink order, input the drink order into the register, wait for the one of TWO bartenders to receive the drink order, make the drink via superfluous mixology methods of chopping ice into gem stone shapes and lighting oranges on fire, wait for the 1 of 2 waitresses to pick up the drink at the bar and bring it over to our area. A guaranteed 20 minutes to get a drink — baffling.
Also, the service was extremely incompetent. For some reason, the two waitresses couldn’t carry more than two drinks in their hands (how about trays? anyone?). Our waitress refused to take drink orders until she delivered all the ready drinks at the bar, two by two… She never checked on our group the entire three hours we were there, so people in our group were constantly getting up to find her to order more drinks. And when she did bring drinks to our group, she’d drop them off and then bolt — wouldn’t even bother to ask if anyone wanted to order anything more (which we wanted to) or if we were doing okay (which we were not). Inefficiency, check and check!
The punch bowls are $ 70.00. Yep, SEVENTY. They advertise they serve 6 — 8 people, but this is not true. The cups that come with the punch bowls are 3 oz. (YEP, THREE OUNCES). That is not a drink size. That is a shitty tea party sized cup. The one I tasted was good, but after two 3 oz servings, I had zero buzz.
I also ordered their version of an Old Fashioned and kid you not, the attached picture is how it was given to me, I hadn’t taken a sip of it yet. Yep, they basically gave me a shot for $ 12.00. NOT COOL.
More annoyances:
— THERE IS NO BATHROOM — Yep, you have to mosey down to Picnik, which all three stalls were out of toilet paper at 10:30pm.
— THERE IS NO BEER. Yep, a speakeasy with no beer — enough said.
— THERE ARE NO BARBACKS. Our entire reserved area was littered with empty cocktail glasses, nay, empty small 3 oz tea cups that were poor excuses for cocktail glasses. And Punch bowls.
— They ran out of white wine — which we had to find out about when we flagged the waitress down to check on our drink order. How did you not return and tell us you were out of white wine? And we had to find you to order something else?
— They ran out of two of the four PUNCH bowls available on the menu. That’s like KFC running out of drumsticks and thighs and only having wings and breasts left.
The décor is downright Fugly. They keep it so dark in the place it is hard to notice, however this «speakeasy» is outfitted with cheap faux wood furniture, filthy carpet, battery operated tea lights and seating, albeit comfy, is pretty much pieces of foam covered by gray soft velvety material. It makes it hard to distinguish from the looks of an airport terminal lounge in Milwaukee.
I spent about $ 75 at this place and I couldn’t get even buzzed solely due to terrible service and small drinks. I even ended up drawing a penis on my receipt because this place BLOWS.
Hate you very much PUNCH,
Julia

Presentation and true craftsmanship. Punch is the epitome of both.
From ice being chopped into gemstone shapes to smoldering cinnamon smoke infused glasses and all kinds of debauchery in between. These handcrafted cocktails are made to satisfy your taste buds and to without a doubt to please you visually.
And to describe the ambiance of Punch, they’ve really set the bar (See what I did there?) No, but really, the owners Darwin and Robin have done a exceptional job at delivering a truly unique place to hang out.
As far as hours go, they were exclusively open on Thursdays and Fridays from 8pm to 1am. As of recent, they’ve extended their hours to Saturdays as well. I highly recommend to follow them on Instagram for the latest updates and current events they have going on —
And F.Y.I. a speakeasy is supposed to be «hard to find» but I suppose if you ring the correct doorbell on a certain maroon colored door with a white punchbowl decal, you’ve found your doorway to something that’s far better than Narnia.

Punch is brought to you by the mixologists of Corazon y Miel in Bell, CA. Hailed by Esquire magazine as one of the best bars in America for 2014, these bartenders really know what they’re doing. (
)
If you’ve ever had their signature cocktails or unique libations, you know exactly what to expect at a place like Punch. A solid punch means lights out for you. I really gotta hand it to Darwin and Robin — they truly bring an art form and a breath of fresh air to the age old science of alcoholic consumption. I call them the Caped Crusaders of Moonshine.
HOW TO THROW A PUNCH
Obviously, you’re going to see a few types of punches around the bar. Tonight’s creations — Ponche la Diosa, Caribbean Rhapsody, Royal Vice City, and Tea with Lola. I don’t know what’s more creative, the name or the spirit itself. One thing’s for sure, you’re gonna taste a combination of strong, sweet, sour, weak, and spice.
My eyes are glued to Robin, who’s currently «throwing» a cocktail behind the counter. His technique is a combination of classic mixing, shaking, and stirring. It’s quite a sight, even though the lighting across the room is dim and subtle. The outcome is called the El Bombero — Mezcal Joven, Cherry Herring, French Vermouth, and Cinnamon Smoke. Yes, it somewhat seems like a nightcap with the smell of a lightly sweet cigar. Darwin is educating the nearby enthusiasts with his blend of intoxicating knowledge and welcoming personality. Both barkeeps grab my attention, along with my curiosity.
I experience 2 more drinks throughout the night — the Domo and the Royal Vice City. The Domo is Cognac, Amer China China, Sherry, and Orange Bitters. A bit heavy for me, but I haven’t drank cognac in ages, so it’s understandable. The Royal Vice City showers you with — strong (Ford’s Gin, Pisco Encanto), weak (Pink Grapefruit Cordial, Cucumber), sour (Lemon), sweet (Caster Sugar), and spice (Opal Basil, Pink Peppercorn, Lime). Just a lively sequence of flavor, oomph, and aftertaste.
Located on the 2^nd floor of Picnik, the current hours of operation are Thursdays and Fridays, with entrance and exit up the stairs thru a door in the back. Just remember to make some reservations with your lovely hostess Anna Lisa, cause it might get packed even before you know it.

Darwin and Robin have something good going on here. This isn’t your normal bar in Pasadena. There isn’t loud music blasting away to where you have to almost yell at the person next to you. Yes, there’s only enough seating for around 30 people and it can be a hassle to find this place if you don’t know what to look for, and possibly intoxicated. However, this bar is worth the journey.
Drinks are reasonably priced and the taste is on point. Outside of their trademark alcoholic punch drinks, Darwin is able to make the typical bar beverages as well. He makes a kick ass old fashion, probably one of the best that I’ve had. I will definitely be back here again.

The newest and coolest little speak easy bar serving up some mean punches! Pun intended.
I was fortunate to attend their grand opening last Thursday. It was a bit of an adventure, since all I knew was that it was located on Pasadena and Colorado in Pasadena (according to their Instagram @punchbar). Wandered around for a bit, to find a sign in front of PICNIK that says that Punch Bar is located through the back door. Managed to find my way back there, and noticed a single red door with a punch bowl logo. This has to be it! Rang the door, and was shortly greeted by someone who took me to the second floor.
It’s a small cozy space with comfy seating and some tables. They happened to have an awesome live cover artist performing that night. I ended up getting a glass of all 4 punches (to share of course!). My fave hands down was the «Royal Vice City» which had gin, pisco, pink grapefruit cordial, cucumber, lemon/​lime, sweet basil, and pink peppercorn (surprisingly loved this addition!). I’m a big fan of anything gin and grapefruit now, and this fit the bill quite nicely. The pink peppercorns and bits of citrus zest kept me smiling with every sip.
You can also order some small bites, which is made in the kitchen downstairs in PICNIK.
There’s plenty of street parking, and I think it’s better to go on a Thursday because after 8pm is free, versus Friday which is after midnight. They are currently only open on Thursday and Friday nights, and it’s highly recommended that you make a reservation.
Definitely a chill spot to grab a well crafted punch and spend some quality time catching up with an old friend.

Do you know where the word punch comes from?
No worries, let Robin and Darwin take you on a punch journey at this new upstair punch speakeasy. The variety of punch changes, but last night at their soft opening, they featured: Caribbean Rhapsody, Royal Vice City, Tea With Lola, and Ponche de la Diosa. Punch can be purchased by the glass at $ 10 or by the bowl at $ 60.
Our party tried one of each and all of them were so good it was hard to pick just one that I liked. Descriptive words won’t do the punch justice, so you’ll have to go try them out yourself! They’re grand opening will take place ⁴⁄₂₄ and ⁴⁄₂₅. Look for a red door in the back of Picnik near the valet lot entrance and ring the doorbell. A password may be needed for entry, but you can get more details on their Instagram @punchbar.
The only adjustment I’d make would be lighting. Every spot I found behind the bar to sit and sip my wonderfully crafted drinks, the little lights were on me like a spotlight, really blinding me from my experience. Dim ‘em lights, please :)