After enjoying one of the many broad and sandy beaches Santa Barbara is so well known for, it’s never a bad idea to kick back and relax at one of the many vibrant and colorful coffee shops you can find around nearly every corner of this luscious city.
From the quaint and cozy to the loud and exciting, here are some of the best coffee shops and cafes you need to try out next time you’re in Santa Barbara.
1. Handlebar Coffee
With beans sourced from Central and South America, which are roasted 2 to 3 times per week, if there’s one thing Handlebar is known for, it’s the perfect combination of serving delicious beverages with a vibrant atmosphere.
Handlebar Coffee has been one of the most exciting coffee shops in Santa Barbara since it first opened its doors in 2011. With a sociable setting and a spacious interior, it’s always worth visiting when you need to relax with a delicious iced vanilla latte or a creamy espresso.
Address: 128 E Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
2. Dune Coffee Roasters
While it was once known as The French Press, Dune Coffee Roasters has transformed over the years into an incredibly cozy coffee shop and cafe. With its unique art decorations displayed across the walls, it takes on an academic atmosphere.
With an expansive menu packed with more express and latte flavors than you could ever dream of and some delicious warm pastries and cookies to snack on, you can’t go wrong with Dune Coffee Roasters when you feel relaxed.
Address: 528 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
3. Caje Coffee Roasters
If you are a little hungry after spending the day exploring the vast and adventurous city of Santa Barbara. In that case, each of Caje’s multiple coffee shops serves some delicious coffee options with a few unique garnishes to mix up the flavor, but they are also well-known in the area for their extensive food menu.
Whether looking for light and healthy dishes or a full meal to enjoy with the family, Caje is a restaurant and cafe mixed into one.
Address: 1316 State St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
4. Santa Barbara Roasting Company
While this coffee shop may be one of the older stores in Santa Barbara, first opening its doors back in the 1980s, this has not stopped its coffee menu from growing bigger and better over time. There are more than seventy organic and shade-grown trade fair coffees, all with their flavors and garnishes, so you won’t ever be tasting the same beverage twice.
Remember to try out the delicious food options while you’re there, especially the fruit or Nutella toast to complement your drink of choice.
Address: 321 Motor Way, Santa Barbara (click for map)
5. Dart Coffee Company
With a huge selection of drip coffees, pulled-shot specialty drinks, and organic teas, the Dart Coffee Company offers a roasted drink to perfection. This gives the drink a distinctly creamy texture that is a delight to sip on as you enjoy the artistic atmosphere of each store.
As if the warm and delicious beverages weren’t enough, a percentage of every bean sold goes towards the Yanonalli Street Artist Fund, which helps to promote artistic studios in the Santa Barbara area. This makes this coffee store even more loveable.
Address: 121 E Yanonali St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
6. Low Pigeon Coffee Roasters
If you’re ever exploring Haley Street, it’s hard not to notice Low Pigeon’s bright white exterior surrounded by palm trees with the giant pigeon logo near the front door.
The vast and colorful aesthetic isn’t just for show; however, when you step inside, you’re met with an espresso bar, roaster, and takeout counter, along with the very friendly staff who are ready to assist you with the beverage and food options so that you can find the proper meal for you.
Stylish, relaxed and incredibly casual, it’s hard not to instantly feel at ease once you sip a warm and delightful coffee at Low Pigeon.
Address: 401 E Haley St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
7. The Daily Grind
As the name suggests, Daily Grind knows what it feels like to crave that perfect cup of coffee to prepare us for the long day ahead. That’s why they prioritize making their beverages warm, delicious, and with a good dose of caffeine to get you ready for the day.
Alongside its coffee and tea menu, Daily Grind offers fresh veggie juices and sweet fruit smoothies if you want a more fruity flavor to get you out of bed in the morning.
Address: 2912 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
8. Old Town Coffee
For many people, the atmosphere and interior of a coffee shop are just as important as the coffee itself, and when it comes to design, Old Town Coffee’s more traditional and spacious layout is the best.
With a large outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi, and even table tennis, Old Town Coffee is great for enjoying some personal space or conversing about how great the coffee tastes with other strangers.
Address: 1131 State St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
9. Caffe Luxxe
It’s hard to find a coffee shop that oozes style more than Caffe Luxxe, with its light brown color palette and high-standing chairs surrounding the entire store.
This creates a warm, inviting, and friendly atmosphere that is only made more enjoyable by the hand-crafted espressos and brewed coffees, which are delights to sip on.
Address: 1028 Coast Village Rd Ste, Santa Barbara (click for map)
10. Lighthouse Coffee
With a delicious breakfast menu and a long list of warm brews to enjoy, Lighthouse Coffee offers some of the best customer service around. Each barista is incredibly friendly and shows customers how each type of coffee is made.
But these staff members are experts in their own right, so they can prepare great-tasting beverages quickly.
If there was ever a justifiable reason to get you out of bed in the morning, you can be sure that Lighthouse Coffee is the perfect excuse.
Address: 1819 Cliff Dr Suite, Santa Barbara (click for map)
11. LOKUM
LOKUM is best known for its deep, rich-tasting Turkish coffee. It also offers over 30 varieties of Turkish delights, including vegan and gluten-free options.
LOKUM even goes a step further by offering its customers authentic copper Turkish kitchenware to take home, allowing each customer to replicate the delicious tea they taste in the store at home.
Address: 1019 State St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
12. Crushcakes Cupcakery & Crushcafe
From cupcakes and cheesecakes to cookies that melt in the mouth with every bite, if you like the idea of munching on a delightfully soft dessert, you won’t want to miss out on Crushcakes Cupcakery with its fresh food and wide selection of espressos and lattes to choose from.
Address: 1315 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
13. D’Angelo Bread
Known for its delicious croissants, bread, and warm and creamy caramel lattes, D’Angelo Bread is perfect for when you’re feeling under the weather in the morning and need that sure pick-me-up to prepare you for the day ahead.
With a few of these stores being dotted around Santa Barbara, you don’t want to miss out on what many consider the best morning coffee shop in the city.
Address: 25 W Gutierrez St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
14. Lucky Penny
From their creamy espressos to their signature double chocolate chip cookies, Lucky Penny may be one of the lesser-known cafes in Santa Barbara.
However, it has an incredibly expansive menu serving everything from hand-made pastries to pizzas. It is perfect when you and your friends or family want to kick back and relax with a delicious meal and some lukewarm coffee or tea.
Address: 127 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara (click for map)
15. Bree’osh Bakery Cafe Montecito
Bree’osh offers a good selection of garnished coffees and teas in several unique flavors, all of which are heavenly to try.
However, this does not mention their soft and downright delicious ham and cheese croissants and quiche, along with their famous salmon and eggs, which are so good to enjoy as an afternoon treat or evening meal to wind down for the day.
Address: 1150 Coast Village Rd, Montecito, Santa Barbara (click for map)
Summary
When you take a break from exploring all the amazing city has to offer, step into one of the many cafes and coffee shops dotted around Santa Barbara. Always aim to try out a few rather than just one so you can find the cafe that best suits your preferences.
Check out the best coffee shops in California in the other Californian cities we cover.
Other California Cities: La Jolla coffee shops and Pasadena coffee shops.
