34 Best Coffee Shops near Isla Vista

“Went here for a quick stop for lunch while passing through town, coffee and food were delicious and the owners are incredible. Reliable wifi so I was able to get some work done. Will definitely come back if im ever in the area again 💜
Thank you for the zip ties! They were a life saver 🙌“

“Excellent authentic Mexican food served quickly by a very friendly staff.“

“The people that work there are great, coffee and delicious desserts !“

“Ive gone to Kozy 2-3 times a week this quarter! I love this place, best coffee and pastries around! I get the honey vanilla iced latte and they always make it to perfection and so yummy. Staff is super friendly and get my order out so quick.“

“Did a compare between Yetz’s (Goleta) and Mother Dough (SB) with family this weekend. While we liked both; independently each family member enjoyed bagels from Yetz’s the best- especially the everything, yum! Bonus- Price point at Yetz’s much kinder on the budget. In SB? They’re worth the drive to Goodland . Enjoy!“

“Stopped in before a long day of mural painting in the sun,
I ordered the lavender matcha, it was made with hate, it was the worst I ever had. I couldn’t even drink it. That was fine I didn’t need the calories I guess. Just a waste of money since I have to pay extra for oatmilk.“

“Love this place so much. Staff is chill and awesome. The crowd is so friendly and fun. Wonderful place for a quick coffee or a relaxing hour in the sun. Can’t recommend highly enough“

“Everyone seems to have their favorite coffee shop. This one’s mine. The people are nice, the coffee is good, and the seating is plentiful.“

“We made a weekend trip from Miami to Santa Barbara mostly just to visit Kin lol. I had seen them on socials and reddit and I'm a sucker for great food and an even better experience. Kin is such a special place. Yes, the line is long but it is oh so worth it. We literally visited every day, twice a day over the long weekend and tried almost every drink and baked treat on the menu LOL. Can't go wrong with anything. Everyday I had a new favorite, it's THAT GOOD. The coconut cloud matcha, and pandan matcha are the best I've ever had. The cookie butter cream top is also stellar. The donuts speak for themselves, but trust me, the flavors taste just as good as they sound reading them on a menu. So thankful we got to try Kin and thank you a million times over to the staff and the amazing owner. I don't know how they do it but they manage to still be warm and friendly even with how insanely busy they are non-stop. For anyone complaining about the lines or prices, this is prob not your vibe. Those of us who get it, 'get it.' I really hope to be able to come back and visit in the future. I wish sooooo much success for this team and hope Kin sticks around and expands (hopefully to Miami lol)“

“We love Green Star Coffee! We order pouches of their delicious Ethiopian Yirgacheffe every eight weeks or so. Our online orders are fulfilled efficiently and without delay. These beans are roasted to perfection and the price/value can't be beat even with the small delivery charge. Plus, we feel good supporting a locally owned business - and don't see ourselves buying a bag of beans in the supermarket or at any of the large coffee chains ever again.“

“ordered for my mother in law. excited to gift it to her!“

“Great coffee and a fun venue.“

“This place is awesome. All the Dune's are awesome really. Can't go wrong at any of them. In my experience, this Dune has the most "interpersonal" customer service. For example, they have consistently asked about my day, etc., or made small talk that goes a bit beyond the basic kindness you'd get at any of the other Dune's. Basic kindness, as in, they are really friendly there, either way, during your transaction, but this Dune seems to do a little extra with customer interactions. The coffee (what I usually order; e.g. lattes) are excellent.“

“The coffee is very good although sometimes it is not as hot as I would like. The atmosphere is decent, sometimes you get people having a loud zoom meeting with no headphones on which isn't really dune's fault but it can be obnoxious. Judging on flavor alone it's probably my favorite coffee around.“

“Iced, oat milk matcha is delicious! And the goats on Date sourdough toast hits the spot! Sweet and savory with just the right about of kick.“

“The baristas strive to remember your name and drink. They provide "extras" and seem to enjoy their work. I feel like it is "home."“

“My wife and I have been there 2 days in a row. We've ordered cold brew (great), a rose latte (good), and a honey lavender latte (really great).
Breakfast sandwich on sourdough was also great! And then this doughnut hit the spot. See you tomorrow morning!“

“Such a chill place to get coffee (best in town) and work. Amazing food and even more amazing people ❤️“

“10 de 10, me encanta el pan y el servicio, Lore es la mejor“

“Wonderful French pastries in California with beautiful setting.“

“What a genuinely AMAZING experience. The service was top notch, timely, welcoming and HOLY COW was the food good. We had the D-Dawg, slice of Hawaiian, and a slice of Combo pizza. Great portion size, plenty of toppings, and all freshly made. Plus they're open late for those late-night cravings. Definitely give them a go! 10/10“

“We were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to stay on property so chose The Bistro. From start to finish, everything about our experience was absolutely incredible. The service was warm and attentive, the ambiance was just right, and every dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. We had the seabass and beet salad, both of which were perfectly executed. The chef and team ensure you have a wonderful experience with delicious food and impeccable service. Whether a special occasion or a just looking for a great meal, go to The Bistro, you won't be disappointed.“

“there was this purple haired person that made my 3 pumps vanilla frappe that lowkey snapped so hard omfg. give them a raise on the lowks. attaching a picture of the drink they made btw. if i was on death row, id die happy knowing i had a caramel ribbon crunch made by this purple haired worker. thank you. for everything.“

“I had wonderful customer service from all 3 baristas working today (Saturday)! Just wanted to give them props. I had 2 drinks added to a drive-up target order, and one drink was accidentally made iced instead of hot. Not a big deal. I went in to ask for a hot one (it was for my son). They were SO kind about it, and they even threw in a banana bread for him to apologize! They were lovely.“

“What a spot. This is one of the most convenient locations for certain tasks. They definitely served good coffee at a reasonable price, as well as delicious cookies. I was rocking in my seat because of the music they were playing. This is always the place! I would strongly recommend it to my peers, family, and coworkers. Continue your good work!“

“This location is a shining example of what’s possible when you have a stellar management team at the helm. While the entire team delivers consistently great service, the leadership deserves real credit for building such a strong, people-first culture. They’ve clearly hired a group of hardworking, personable individuals who genuinely care.

The other day, I watched the team respond instantly and compassionately when a disabled customer dropped their drink. There was no hesitation - just immediate action. A manager stepped in to reassure the customer while others quickly remade the drink and cleaned up the spill. It wasn’t just “good service” - it was good people doing the right thing. And this isn’t a one-off moment. I see this level of care all the time.

I used to manage a high-end retail store, and I would always tell my team: the difference between a great experience and a memorable one is you. Your positivity, compassion, and humanity matter more than any product or brand ever could.

I can go to any Starbucks - there are plenty - but I choose this one because of the people.“

“We live in the neighborhood closest to this Lighthouse location and the baristas here are just the best. I bring my kids and dog all the time to have breakfast on the patio and they are so sweet. The cucumber toast and breakfast sandwiches are excellent and my young kids get to practice putting their order in by themselves with patient, kind baristas.“

“Peet's has the best coffee in the area. The espresso is hand pulled and consistently high quality. I especially like the whole milk mocha. Baristas are always trained. They seem to have improved the snacks offered, they were mediocre until recently, but really, you go to Peet's for coffee. No longer offer teas.“

“👍Love the coffee from this company. I order it for my honey to have at home“

“It’s hard to describe perfect. Everything from the extraordinary staff, to the comfortable atmosphere, to the perfectly prepared food was spot on. We are greatly appreciative for the work that goes into an operation like this.“

“I visited Lighthouse Coffee today and had their breakfast sandwich along with the cucumber toast. Both were delicious — the sandwich was hearty and satisfying, and the cucumber toast was fresh, crisp, and full of flavor. The ambience inside is warm and inviting, making it a nice spot to start the morning.

The coffee was good, though the flavor could be a bit more balanced to match how great the food is. Overall, a very pleasant experience and definitely a place I’d return to.“

“Great stop when travel the coast line in California“

“Always been a very good place to get together and have great food and beverages ☺️“

“If you’re anywhere near Del Pueblo Cafe, do yourself a favor and stop in, this place always delivers.

I tried the California burrito, and it was easily one of the best I’ve had in a long time. Everything was spot-on: perfectly seasoned, generously filled, and just the right balance of flavors without feeling overly heavy. The quesabirria was just as impressive: rich, savory, and packed with that slow-cooked depth you hope for but don’t always get.

What really surprised me, though, was the drinks. Their coffee is excellent (not just an afterthought like at a lot of spots), and the matcha is genuinely good—smooth, not overly sweet, and clearly made with care and in house.

Overall, it’s one of those rare places where everything you get is good—from the food to the drinks— I wish it was just a little further from my work so I wouldn’t be so tempted all the time.“