48 Best Coffee Shops in Santa Barbara

“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“

“No trip to Santa Barbara for my spouse and me -- and Louie, our rescue dog -- is complete without at least one visit -- and, ideally more than one -- visit to Handlebar. Sublime coffee. Cowboy cookie?! - don't ask, just order...two, because you will want one tomorrow...trust me.
I celebrated, this past weekend, with friends, my 70th BD, in Santa Barbara. That cowboy cookie and tall glass [trust me] of latte were sublime.Thank you!“

“My new favorite coffee shop!! Made from scratch flavors for lattes, made from scratch almond milk, amazing menu, staff and variety of exquisite drinks!. 💛“

“This is such a cozy and unique coffee shop. They got me a matcha latte with orange cardamom which was to die for. Their service is outstanding, super nice and very thoughtful about making the drink you want. The decor is beautiful and it connects with the Dusk bar, right next door. Such a clever combination and naming game.“

“Very happy！！amazing！！👍👍👍“

“Went here after camping at El Capitan canyon for the weekend. Me and the missus were hankering for a good cup of joe after 2 days of instant.

The store was very clean and had a good vibe. Smaller indoor are but there was adequate indoor and outdoor seating. Only one barista / employee working there and he was apologetic about the wait but was extremely helpful.

I got 2 cups of pour over of their lightest roast. It was a bit too dark for my taste but smooth and not bitter at all. My oldest got the creme brulee latte and loved it.

The bacon avocado toast was the BEST! The toast, avocado, bacon, hard boiled egg and sauce was so delicious. I didn't want to share it with my partner it was so good. The breakfast sandwich with sausage was one of the best my youngest ever had apparently. He said it was better than a McDonald's cheeseburger and that WAS his favorite food of all time. Lol. He even asked when we'd be going back.

In summary. The coffee used was on the darker roast side and would probably have been better as an espresso/milk drink in my opinion. If you like darker roasts then this is the place for you. The food there was excellent and I especially recommend the avocado toast.“

“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!“

“Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great service and delicious food.“

“The girls that work at the Haley location in the AM are so nice! I so look forward to passing through on my way to work a few times a month. My friend from LA told me she comes through for the matcha latte when she's in town and it's now one of my faves. Not sweet! Which is what I like and they have a good variety of nutmilks, as well.“

“The lightest, buttery moist scones. They also had hamburgers and salads that looked were very generous portions. All was freshly made. The silverware was REAL silverware.“

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

“It's a great spot to learn it's history of the area and the harbor and other maritime information!“

“I visited on 3/4/2026
This space is so cute! The outdoor patio is really cozy. The people working were also really nice. There was a person with red hair with black tips and they were really sweet and patient with me. The other barista with beaded earrings was also very sweet an encouraged me to try their Chubaka drink. I would come here again when i’m in the area.“

“My new favorite coffee shop!! Made from scratch flavors for lattes, made from scratch almond milk, amazing menu, staff and variety of exquisite drinks!. 💛“

“I can't even say I have a favorite. It's all good. When you bring home a warm loaf, all is well with the world.“

“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)“

“My new favorite coffee shop!! Made from scratch flavors for lattes, made from scratch almond milk, amazing menu, staff and variety of exquisite drinks!. 💛“

“Open Mic on Tuesdays 7p-11p. The best, hands down, working Open Mic in Santa Barbara. The attending Audience here is phenomenal. The selection of Artists extensive.“

“Very friendly and open staff here; you'd never guess or feel like you're in Monticeto among the wealthy elites (which you are).The folks at Caffe Luxxe are so down to earth they even make friendly suggestions, since I'm no coffee connoisseur.And their Caffe Nico latte distinguishes them from other coffee shops, in Santa Barbara. This drink doesn't disappoint!“

“Sweet perfection! These colorful lokum are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. 10/10“

“The breve lattes are 🔥 !!“

“Super friendly staff here make wonderful espressos and Sunkist lattes. Despite the down vote and biblical verse quoting of another reviewer, the Mission supports this business and this business supports the Mission. The owner couldn't be more kind. It's so nice to go up and enjoy the Rose garden and get a coffee on a beautiful morning.“

“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.“

“Great small gourmet Market. They have vegetables, condiments, pasta, etc...but not cleaning products or paper goods. They have wines.
I love this market for their delicious lemon tea cake! Their cookies, brownies, and other treats are all fabulous.“

“Small batch, local roasting at it's finest☕“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Iced caramel macchiato and a cheese danish“

“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.“

“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.“

“We stopped here on our way driving back down towards LA and so happy that we did! The most amazing breakfast we have had in a long time! I had the Banana Bread and it was amazing and my husband had the Wagu wrap which was out of this world. Coffee was excellent and they cooked my bacon exactly like I love it! Such a great stop for our trip!“

“Wonderful French pastries in California with beautiful setting.“

“Great stop when travel the coast line in California“

“The only place chess is played over days or weeks. Credit cards, no thank you. Roots mixed in with structural elements in the patio, yes please. Conversations about anything and everything are possible. Vapes are forbidden and camel cigarettes required. You’re not sure if the pool players have been keeping score but they’ve been there all night. Weird, cool, hip, rare these days. Stay awesome Elsies.“

“the savory everything bagel brioche donut and the sweet and savory maple bacon are to die for!“

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

“Nice people behind the counter. The young lady helped me decide on another drink when the first one I wanted was only made cold. My coffee was made quickly. I stayed while and wrote postcards to my friends. Nice music over the airwaves to keep me relaxed. A peaceful atmosphere when you need little break from a busy day. I will return when I'm in the neighborhood.“

“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.“

“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.“

“wonderful family friendly neighborhood restaurant with great food, and always served with a smile. I would highly recommend to anyone for breakfast or lunch. Debbie also makes fabulous mimosas for breakfast. 😊“

“Fun refreshing dessert 🍨 lots of yummy flavors“

“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.“

“The best Starbuck in Santa Barbara.Everything went perfectly the several times I went to that shop.The order was taken without spelling my name and served quickly. The staff were very welcoming and so kind, and kept me coming back, with a special mention for Nick, the first member of staff I spoke to.I recommend this Starbuck's“

“Had a wonderful experience here! The barista Sarah was incredibly friendly and went above and beyond in making our drinks. She really added the Christmas spirit to them. We really appreciate people like her who make such a positive impact with the small things.“

“I ordered a tall • matcha • whole milk • no classic • 1 pump vanilla syrup • banana protein cold foam • for the first time and let me tell you! It's my new favorite delectable!! Barista was very friendly and vibe was on point!!“