The modern room with exposed brick walls and two outdoor dining areas—one on the busy street, one tree-lined in the back—is a bona-fide hit.

Pasadena isn't that far from the center of LA, but on the dining front, it has seemed worlds away. (Not long ago, lining up for a meal at chains like the Cheesecake Factory—or suffering through mediocre sushi and Italian options—was about as good as it got.) But although the Bar Celona menu is short by tapas standards, that focus brings welcome success in dishes like lamb empanadas with pomegranate aioli, littleneck clams doused in white wine and garlic, and kicky paprika-spiced meatballs. A heartier highlight: the paella, which is large enough to feed two people, and is chockfull of seafood, chorizo, chicken and aromatic saffron rice. The sangria rocks, the wine selection is thorough and reasonably priced, and drinks like the sweet Brazilian caipirinha or pint-sized mojito keep the place buzzing (and the diners buzzed) until the wee hours. —Lesley Balla