The 3 Best Coffee Shops in Santa Barbara, CA

If you know me, you know my favorite morning ritual after the gym is walking over to one of my favorite coffeeshops in town to jumpstart the day with a little java.

I’m an Iced Americano with a splash of oat milk kind of girl–what about you?

Whether you’re a Santa Barbara local or visiting for a long weekend, be sure to check out our favorite stops to grab a cup of joe, people watch, or even co-work for a few hours.

1. Handlebar Coffee Roasters (@handlebarcoffee) | Kim and Aaron own this cozy, bicycle-themed coffee shop. They spent years as professional cyclists, hence the name “Handlebar,” and Kim even won the Route de France Féminine, the women’s version of the Tour de France, in 2009. They’ve got two locations now–the one in Downtown on Canon Perdido was the original, so it’s a bit smaller and cozier, while the newer location on De La Vina is more spacious, with window light, and the perfect place to grab a salad or breakfast burrito (weekends-only).

2. Breakfast Culture Club (@breakfastcultureclub) | Turns out, my NC friend’s husband’s mom’s best friend’s son owns this gem of a spot. It’s a small world after all. What I love about Breakfast is their TOAST (the “Trifecta” with almond butter, strawberry preserves, and sea salt is my JAM), their surf-inspired decor, and their garage door designed space. The white walls dotted with surfboards amidst an indoor/outdoor seating style create wonderful energy for the perfect start to any day. And, the line is usually fairly short here, which is perfect for meeting up with clients or 1:1 social media sessions.

3. Cajé Coffee (@cajecoffee_haley) | Coffeshop by day (Cajé), speakeasy by night (Lab Social, starting at 5:30pm). Cajé is currently the talk of the town with its unique, transformative space and concept. This isn’t your everyday cup of coffee, but more like craft coffee. Plus, they’ve got a menu of foodie bites created by the team at Sama Sama. My favorite specialty coffee, so far, is the “Burnout,” a breve short latte with bourbon pecan syrup, activated charcoal, ginger salt, candied ginger, and blackberry. They definitely bring the “wow” factor with their more elaborate drinks, and I’m eager to go back at night to try out the speakeasy. I heard they’re just as stunning and yummy.

There are a few other cafés I’ve been wanting to check out in the area. Drop me a line below if you’ve got a Santa Barbara County favorite you’re buzzing about that’s not yet on the list!