35 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 🙌“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Best bagels in the entire Santa Barbara area! Real New York style.

Parking: We have been to Yetz’s at least 10 times, we have never had a problem with parking.

Kid-friendliness: We take the grandkids there often. They love the bagels and we love the choices of breakfast sandwiches.“

“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.“

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

“Great coffee and a fun venue.“

“Professional place. Been a barista in Kauai for 5 years at a cafe where you get to know the source/ roaster and it inspired me to always try roasters in west coast. So far this place wins for price and quality. Tried many places between Seattle and SD. So far only tried the lightest and the Italian. But wow.Bean is obviously freshly roasted with consistent color and size throughout (no pieces). They have a wide variety of high quality ORGANIC and FRESH ROASTED coffee at a killer price. Highly recommend, it beats my local goto place where many swear by them. Will return.“

“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.“

“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)“

“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“

“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."“

“Amazing breakfast sandwich, great coffee and friendly service. I was in town staying nearby and came here every morning for breakfast and coffee (hotel breakfast was easy to skip). The service here is so friendly, prices are reasonable, food is truly great, and the space has lots of indoor and outdoor seating for individual or a communal table. Thanks Lighthouse team!“

“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.“

“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.“

“We were looking for coffee and breakfast to go. The staff consisted of two lovely UC Santa Barbara students. The espresso and cappuccinos were wonderful, and they agreed to put smoked salmon on their toast with cream cheese, cucumber, and dill, which was delicious. It fully not our needs. The place is clean and while lighted. You can’t go wrong.“

“Wonderful French pastries in California with beautiful setting.“

“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.“

“Good lighting, lots of space, comfortable outdoor area. It’s exactly what you would expect from a chain coffee shop. Plenty of people quietly tapping away at laptops. The single stall bathrooms are clean and locked with a code. Years ago when this was a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf the Santa Barbara Go Club met here weekly. They may still do so.“

“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.“

“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“

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

“Great stop when travel the coast line in California“

“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.“

“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.“

“This place truly ranks as a hidden gem. Loaded with Mexican folk art and some of the best Oaxaca style food I have ever had. Pollo Enlechado is on my top 5 favorite dishes ever. Great molé and shrimp cocktail. Not to be missed.
Seven years later and I still love Del Pueblo Cafe. Now they have stepped up the breakfast menu and added a coffee bar.“

“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.“

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

“I came here during the weekday, and it was empty. I felt awkward but good at the same time since it was quiet. It was yummy, should’ve gotten more ramen! Next time I’ll order more beef and customize it since I didn’t like some of the items in my pot 😭. But overall would come again and it was good!“