Euro Pane

Sumi Chang's bakery may be the center of civilized life in Pasadena: a place to buy excellent-to-superb scones and baguettes and pains au chocolat, of course, but also the heart of a certain sort of society, the Caltech professors, theology students and writers who worship at the twin altars of caffeine and conversation, a place where you are likely to bump into a zillion-dollar chef, a man who helped design the Mars rover, or the star of the play you saw last night at the Ahmanson. On a good day, Euro Pane's magnificent croissants could be mistaken for France's best in a police lineup, and, the natural-starter sourdough is superb. Toss in the homemade granola, the epochal bread pudding, the rustic fruit tarts and the gooiest egg-salad sandwich in town, and it's no wonder that Europane's regulars treat the bakery more as a permanent residence than as a café.

• Cuisine(s): Bakery, California

  Hours: Sun 7am-3pm, Mon-Sat 7am-5:30pm

  Price: $

• Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa

  Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout

  Serving: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

• Alcohol: None

  Reservations: Accepted, Not Necessary

  Parking: Street