Brunch at the Historic & Charming Raymond 1886 in SOUTH PASADENA

Please kindly confirm your attendance by making your $5 RSVP within 12-hours (new change). See payment info below. Thank you!

Take a look 👁️
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOB5tv0Afat/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQZc4nWkYBk/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

PART 1: Japanese Tea Tasting Ceremony at Storrier Sterns Japanese Garden (2 minute drive). Please RSVP on separate post if interested.

PART 2: Brunch at The Raymond 1886 on a beautiful Spring Sunday afternoon.
Come join me as I celebrate my birthday month while sharing this special 2-Part event. Please be certain to let me know in comments if April is yours too!

LET’S HAVE SOME FUN! 📱
We’re going to be playing a fun game during brunch. Please be certain to bring your cell phone. Prize for the winner!

The Raymond 1886 is a very special place. It has always been one of my very favorite historical restaurants not only for its cozy bungalow charm, but also for the excellent cuisine. You’re going to love it too!

The focus of Ladies Who Adore Vintage is both education and socialization. You always get the backstory to enhance your Meetup experience.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP47lFcgep4/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

HISTORY OF THE RAYMOND HOTEL
The Raymond Hotel was the first grand hotel of it’s kind (see photos) in the entire San Gabriel Valley before Castle Green (est 1898) and the opulent Wentworth Hotel now known as the Langham (est 1907). The history behind The Raymond is both fascinating and truly tragic. The legacy of the two later hotels have survived over a century. The Raymond did not share that fate.

The Raymond 1886 is a living example of Pasadena’s past and is a testament to the city’s great craftsman architecture and history. In 1886, Walter Raymond, a Boston native, came to Pasadena and built The Raymond Hotel – a fabulous sunny destination for Easterners looking to escape harsh winter weather. On Easter Sunday in 1895, sparks from a chimney ignited the roof and the entire hotel burned to the ground in only 40 minutes. Guests were directed to safety in the nearby cottage, and it’s said bartenders from the hotel’s “secret poolroom” were serving guests after the tragedy.

Undaunted, Mr. Raymond built an even grander hotel with 300 rooms, along with a charming caretaker’s cottage. See photos.
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In the early years, Walter and his wife often stayed in the cottage when it wasn’t occupied by special guests. Gracious hosts, the Raymond’s entertained celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin, Tom Mix, and Buster Keaton, who visited and filmed in Pasadena in the roaring 1920s. Sadly, in 1931, the Raymond Hotel was toppled by the Great Depression, and once again suffered demise. The hotel was razed to make room for residential development, and Walter and his wife moved into the cottage, where they lived until 1934.

The caretaker’s cottage is now The Raymond 1886, and the timeless charm and spirit of this lovely Craftsman can be enjoyed by all.

The photos at the end of the gallery are of the Grand Raymond Hotel before it burned down and the one rebuilt afterwards before it was razed after the depression. All that remains now is this charming bungalow.
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NOTE: The Raymond is hidden from street view and can be easily missed. It’s below ground street level surrounded by trees & foliage near the over ramp. It’s located directly next to the Pasadena Water & Power Plant which you can’t miss.

⚠️PLEASE NOTE: Payment confirmation to reserve your spot, as of March 2026 moving forward, is now a 12-hour window (no longer 24-hours).

$5 RSVP PayPal, Venmo or Zelle (NOT if waitlisted) to reserve your spot. NOTE: Fee is NOT refundable and NOT eligible for re-sale. If you need to cancel immediately update to “not going”.

Payment contact provided upon RSVP made within 12-hours or immediate removal. This gives everyone a fair opportunity to join events and will expedite the turn around time to fill the event.

AT TIME OF PAYMENT INDICATE: The Raymond

NOTIFICATIONS-ON ARE REQUIRED
It is YOUR responsibility to be aware if you were moved off the waitlist.

BRUNCH
We will be dining outdoors in the lovely patio. I encourage you enter the cottage before or after brunch to explore the cozy charm of the interior dining space and bar. View videos at the top of the event page.

1886 BAR
The bar boasts a repertoire of over 600 off-menu house cocktails. If you don’t see exactly what you are thirsty for on the cocktail list, ask the bar team for their “dealer’s choice” and they will create the perfect cocktail for you, based on your personal tastes and preferences.

PARKING
No need to valet for $8. Street parking is available. See street parking signs. 2 to 3 Hour parking 9AM to 6PM on Fair Oaks.

MEETUP POLICY

🔺 No drop-ins. RSVP Meetup members only
🔺 3 under 24-hr cancellations/3-months out
🔺 3 failures to pay (fee events)/6-months out
🔺 2 no-shows/1-year out
🔺 Excessive cancellations perm. removed