For more than 100 years, The Langham Huntington, Pasadena has been a place where people gather around the table. Long before its current restaurants opened, the property hosted formal dinners in the Georgian Ballroom and nightly dances that stretched late into the night. That sense of hospitality never wavered, and the hotel’s latest renovation pulls that history into a more contemporary version of itself.
The project touched nearly every corner of the property. Instead of chasing a full reinvention, Langham Hospitality Group refined what people already valued here: the scale of the public spaces, the garden views, and the rituals that shape how guests eat and drink on this side of Pasadena. LHG CEO Bob van den Oord called it a balance between “retaining the magic at all costs” and adding modern features found in the group’s newer hotels. The result is a refreshed institution that still feels unmistakably like The Langham, only clearer in its purpose.
The Terrace saw the biggest shift, mixing old Hollywood lines with a lighter California sensibility. Sit down for breakfast and the garden pulls your attention, manicured hedges, broad lawn and a scale that feels slightly storybook, almost Alice-in-Wonderland. Breakfast rolls into lunch, lunch into weekend brunch, and the menu keeps that pace with produce-forward dishes, seafood, and a straightforward California style that doesn’t fight the room.
The Lobby Lounge received a quieter but more intentional update. Afternoon Tea has been a signature for decades, so the redesign strengthens what already worked: softer lines, warmer tones, and a champagne area overlooking the Horseshoe Garden. Meet a friend, order champagne, and spend the afternoon catching up. And as the holidays approach, the lounge shifts into family mode too. The Teddy Bear Tea, a kids-focused afternoon tea with holiday treats, a puppet show, and a takeaway teddy bear, sold out early, though the waitlist is still worth joining.
Dinner at The Royce remains the hotel’s more formal option, but the renovation shifts it toward a darker, more intimate mood. A defined entry, a new bar, and a private dining room tighten the space without changing what it does best. The menu still centers on steaks, seafood, and a deep wine list — the reason locals book it as often as hotel guests. Start with a dirty martini, order the ribeye, and the room slips easily into that Mad Men–era confidence.
The Tap Room now reads as a full bar, with live music built into the layout. Lower lighting and richer materials give it a proper evening feel, whether you stop in after dinner or come specifically for a drink and the music.
With everything refreshed, the hotel moves into the season with a little more ease. It’s a good time to drop in — book a table for Afternoon Tea, try for Teddy Bear Tea if the waitlist opens, or make Thanksgiving the excuse. The Langham has always embraced the holidays, and this year the setting feels especially ready for it.