Here’s a local’s selection of the best cafes and coffee shops in Santa Barbara and Goleta for getting work done. These are also great options as work-friendly coffeeshops near UCSB.
Whether you’re a University of California Santa Barbara grad student, Santa Barbara Community College (SBCC) undergraduate, or in the midst of your career working remotely, Santa Barbara hosts a variety of coffee shops where you can soak up the wifi and focus in on your work. These are great study spots in Santa Barbara.
The Daily Grind, Handlebar, Dart, and Dune may be the most popular cafes in Santa Barbara, but there are many other cool, new spots for espresso and matcha lattes in the area. Check out my favorite 8 cafes in the Santa Barbara area below.
Related: If you’re visiting Santa Barbara, you might be interested in this 2-day Santa Barbara itinerary or in this list of more than 40 things to do in Santa Barbara for when you’re not working.
1. Dune
Opening in 2009, Dune is one of most popular, stylish cafes in the area. They have a several locations and you can find their beans sold all around the city.
Most of their beans have their origins in Honduras and Ecuador. Their location on State and Figueroa St. is their original location. By 2012, they opened their own roastery location on Anacapa St. Later they also opened two locations in neighboring Goleta, which are especially popular among UCSB students.
If you like local gifts, they have tons of mugs, coffee beans, shirts, stickers, and more available as a souvenir. Most of the murals on the walls and their T-shirt designs are done by local artist DJ Javier.
Related: One Day Itinerary for Santa Barbara
2. Dean: a coffee shop
This relatively new gem is located off of Hollister Avenue in Goleta. They have a sunny outdoor patio and a lot of indoor seating. My favorite thing about Dean is all the natural light and large windows throughout. I also like their selection of pastries and bagels.
They’re pet friendly and offer free pup cups. Plus, they always have water bowls for dogs. Parking is easy and free. They recently introduced wifi codes, which has improved their wifi service. A year ago their wifi could be unreliable. After the fixes made to their wifi, this might be my favorite coffee shop near UCSB.
The lattes are on the pricey side in my opinion, but it is super close to the campus and Isla Vista area, making it a good study cafe for UCSB students.
3. Old Town Coffee
Old Town Coffee’s original location can be found in Old Town Goleta. One of the best things about OTC is the wide array of indoor and outdoor seats. Inside, I like the bar seats tucked away behind lots of plants. Outside they have a mix of covered and uncovered tables if you’re looking to bask in some sun while you work. The back patio space is also enclosed, making it quieter and has the feel of trendy backyard. OTC has lots of space and has a homey feel to it.
Sometimes you can watch as they roast their beans at the Goleta location. On the weekends they often have live music on the back patio. One of my favorite things to eat here is their jalapeño bagel with cream cheese. They usually also have vegan donuts. Parking is either on the street or in a free parking public lot a few blocks away. In addition to Goleta, OTC can be found in a collaborative location serving empanadas and beer across from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Both locations have a lot of power outlets.
Update! As of September 2024, OTC has left its location at the Mosaic collab space in front of the art museum. Downtown Goleta however just repaved and refreshed its parking arrangements. OTC in Goleta still has plenty of space.
Related: 40+ Things to do in Santa Barbara
4. Handlebar
This Santa Barbara chain is one of the other two dominating coffee shops and roasters in the area. They have two primary coffee shops: one on De la Vina Street and the other on Canon Perdido Street in the lower state street area across from the Presidio.
The shop on De la Vina Street is larger and is personally preferable to me given it has more tables and seats. They also have a bar area that faces the roasting part of the shop, which adds to this location’s appeal. The location on De la Vina Street is also their flagship location and was originally built in 1939 as a Safeway grocery store. Their second location on Canon Perdido is closer to many of the more touristic sights in Santa Barbara.
Whether you’re Team Dune or Team Handlebar, both offer great study spots in Santa Barbara. Handlebar can feel a little more cozy and rustic given it has more wood details and fewer bright colors in its decor, but overall both are great.
5. Dart Coffee Co.
This cute Santa Barbara coffeeshop shares its building with Tyger Tyger, a creative Asian cafe. Located in the Funk Zone, they have artistic walls and lighting. A visit to Dart Coffee also helps support local artists as a percentage of every cup sold is donated back into the local art community. Dart also roasts its coffee beans on site and sells cool local merchandise in addition to bags of beans. They have a small indoor and large outdoor table selection. Street parking in the Funk Zone can be a little challenging depending on the hour. That said, their space is super airy and bright.
The best thing about Dart is the large garden area across the street. It is easy to miss because it looks like it is the backyard of a home, but you’ll find a little gate that says Dart Garden. There is wifi in the garden, so it is a nice place to work if the weather is good.
The garden area is sometimes used for special event markets for selling crafts and local arts. Check in advance if you plan to use the garden.
Related: Perfect 2 Day Itinerary for Santa Barbara First Timers
6. Lighthouse
Lighthouse has four locations around Santa Barbara. The one with the most indoor seating can be found in the Mesa area of town. The Mesa is also their first location. In 2022 they opened another shop on Haley Street, taking over the business of Low Pigeon Roasters. Here you’ll find outdoor seating and high-top bar seating, as well as where they do their roasting. On Chapala Street, their shop features a big indoor-outdoor vibe as one wall rolls open like a garage.
Update 2025: There’s a new Lighthouse in Goleta, located just off of Calle Real and across from Trader Joe’s. A bit smaller than some of the other Lighthouse options, it still has outdoor seating and a good table selection for a quick Goleta study cafe or drop in coffee.
7. Caje
Known for its impressive, signature craft drinks, they attract many people for “Instagram-worthy” photos of their artistic drinks. They have several locations, to include in Isla Vista, the residential hub of UCSB. Caje is an Isla Vista staple. It’s possible to get work done here, however it is not the quietest environment in my opinion.
The Caje on E Haley Street has big tables and a tranquil outdoor patio with a fountain. This is a good spot to work, although I believe outlets are limited. This Caje locations also serves as an occasional special event venue and evening speakeasy, so the shop is not entirely focused on coffee and cafe services. That said, the drinks speak for themselves. They also tend to close pretty early (1 pm) to accommodate the mixed usage of the space.
8. Santa Barbara Roasting Co.
Found just off of State Street, this cafe first opened in 1989. You might hear people refer to it as RoCo, nicknamed for “Roasting Company.” Brewing their small batch roasted beans for at least 24 hours, they make a great, sweeter cold brew than most. If you come hungry, you can also expect a variety of breakfast sandwiches and sweet and savory toast options.
Related: One Day Santa Barbara Itinerary
Map of Best Coffee Shops
In sum, Santa Barbara has some great coffee shops to choose from. Whether you’re looking for airy and bright or cozy and quiet, you’ll find just what you’re looking for in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara’s coffee scene is just the tip of the iceberg though, be sure to explore more of Santa Barbara’s wine, food, and history.
Dune, OTC, Caje, and Handlebar are some of the best cafes in Santa Barbara. Or, at the very least they are some of the most popular. Dean, Santa Barbara Roasting, Lighthouse, and Dart (especially the garden) are a little less well known. Overall, both locals and travelers will love these spots and all feature great tables for getting work done.
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