Helena Avenue Bakery

Unfortunately, overpriced avocado toast was intolerably salty and the $10 kids toast & egg was plate plain. Granola parfait was tasty and refreshing but latte had an odd side taste. Super pretty popular place but for us clearly did not meet the quality vs price “worth it” point. Obviously they buy the food somewhere else add a sprinkle and resell.

Casual counter service eatery. Self serve water station with a tiny tap. It was bustling at 10am on a Sunday- but we were lucky to grab a table outside as someone was leaving. Others had hyped the avocado roast so I was looking forward to it, but I found it a little bland and the bread hard to bite into. It looked beautiful though! Coffees were good and the ambiance was fun and relaxed. Cinnamon role was good for “breakfast dessert”. 😊 oh- 2 slices of bacon were a $8 up-charge, it wasn’t on the menu but they did accommodate a side of bacon. The bacon was really delicious and I can almost admit that it was worth the 💰

The egg sandwich is everything. Fried Chicken sandwich was just okay. Matcha latte a little small. Line was long, space is limited, service was awesome and friendly. Great first stop and introduction to Santa Barbara for us.

Came on a Saturday around 11am and it was busy but the line moved fairly quickly. Had the scone, avocado toast and biscuit. The flavors on the avocado toast were ok. The bread didn’t fit the avocado. The highlight was the biscuit and the strawberry jam. The cappuccino and iced chai latte were also on par with other places. This place is cute for a casual coffee date.

Had breakfast at Helena Avenue Bakery and we were very impressed. Everything—from the food to the people working there—made for a great start to the day. The coffee was flavorful. Ordered a chocolate chip cookie to start and it was soft, warm, and full of flavor. The morning bun—kind of like a croissant twist—was something special: light, buttery, and totally unique. Wife ordered the brioche breakfast sandwich, she loved it, and I went for the spicy chicken sandwich and it blew me away—crispy, juicy, and full of bold flavor. They’ve got an awesome variety of breads and pastries in general, all of it looking and tasting super fresh and creative. The staff was great—friendly and on top of everything. They brought over a high chair for our toddler, and the food came out quickly, which was a big plus with a little one. All in all, this spot checks all the boxes. Great food, kind people, and an original vibe. Definitely a place we’ll come back to.

Saw this on Google, thought I’d check it out (even left another place after walking in and not feelin it). What a delight! The ricotta, honey, stone fruit toast exceeded my expectations. Definitely want to come back next time I’m in Santa Barbara. Amazing ambiance and they obviously take their craft seriously.

Breakfast sandwiches here are delicious! We got the sausage sandwich and then the egg and bacon on brioche. I will say.. the sandwich on brioche needs some kind of sauce. It has a scallion butter but that’s not really a sauce. It was still delicious though. Vanilla latte also 👌 Oh their baked goods are a must as well!! It’s in a super cute area in the Funk zone. Would definitely go back!

We stayed very close and this place was well rated that we decided to visit. The setting is very beautiful with indoor and outdoor seating. Their croissant was okay and get them to warm it up if you're eating there. Their whipped honey ricotta toast was wonderful. We asked for a small flat white and it was served like a latte in a big cup (ya I know we are a coffee snob!) that tasted milky. I wish they were more careful about this. Otherwise this place was definitely worth the visit for the ambience and the baked goods variety.

Three words: GLUTEN FREE BISCUIT. I absolutely loved this place. The whole menu is full of fresh, local goodies, creatively prepared. Excellent coffee drinks too. Add in the friendly, efficient service and charmingly rustic/industrial décor, and you've got an excellent choice for breakfast or brunch. Especially great for gluten free options- the biscuit with lavender lemon jam was delicious and I also enjoyed a perfectly-textured blueberry muffin. So good!

The place was spacious and very cute. We had to stand in line for around 20-30 mins on Saturday morning. Passionfruit and poppy seed muffin - 8/10 - this was delicious with a great intense passion fruit flavor which I think is harder to come by. Almond croissant - 10/10 amazing highly recommend. Breakfast sandwich - 6/10 - the egg was fluffy and good. The brioche was a bit more on the sweet side. Overall the dish was okay, I felt it lacked flavor and could be improved with a sauce maybe.

I live in San Jose (not at all close to Santa Barbara) but the last 3 times I was even remotely in the area or at the very least driving through, I stopped here. The BEST gluten free goodies. Highly highly recommend. Don't be scared of the line, moves fast.

Second time here and still really liked the ambiance and outdoor space. It's located in the funk zone- pretty busy on a weekend and the line was about 15mins. The flowers were beautiful and I liked their playlist. A few months ago I got their season danish and this time again I got the same thing but with Cherry fillings. The ricotta toast was aesthetic and I love they added bee pollen on it. Cappuccino was average. I liked their drip.

Really good sourdough bread but quite oveprriced. I get my sourdough fresh from local farmers markets all the time and this is comparable to that but I don't pay $52 for two toasts lol so pricing wise kind of ridiculous. Those two boiled eggs(not even scrambled) shows minimum effort made, were $8 additional as was the side of avocado. They charge for everything and the pricing doesn't make sense. Quality is up there but price isn't justified.

The cutest bakery with the freshest flavors right in the heart of the funk zone! Helena has become one of my must stop places every time I visit SB now. Both the toasts we got were bursting with incredible flavor combinations and you can tell the quality of ingredients is top tier. I'll be thinking about that smoked salmon toast for days! Be ready to wait in line to order, but seating is generally available and the line is worth the wait

One of the best breakfasts I had in Santa Barbara. The spot is so cute, we loved sitting out on the patio with all the greenery. I ordered the avocado toast which was perfect. The sourdough bread in particular was amazing. Had some of my friend's biscuit and jam which were made perfectly as well. Would happily come back!

I see the hype. Jacobsen salt and pepper products, exclusive olive oil, pretty solid sweet pasteries. They sort of missed the mark on the savory elements. I ordered the mushroom toast. It was decent, but it wasn't extrodinary. The carmalized onions didn't take over but it left it feeling 1 note. The mushrooms still had a firm texture, I like them soft as butter. Unusually the best part of this dish was the farm raised egg on top. Perfectly cooked. Restaurant itself is oddly laid out. Big tables closely packed together. Not particuarly family friendly. Decent, not the best.

Fantastic breakfast place! Order at the counter and they bring your food and drinks out to the table. The staff person who took my order was wonderful when I was torn between the strawberry or blueberry compote for my biscuit he offered to get me both! The breakfast sandwiches were delicious with squares of baked eggs. The avocado toast was also fantastic. The California Wine Collective is also located here so you could pop back in the evening for cocktails. Sadly, we discovered this place on our last day in Santa Barbara so we couldn't check it out.

Overhyped and super average. Mostly, it's a waste of an opportunity to eat somewhere else if your visiting the area.

I love this bakery. We have come here multiple times since it's close to Moxi. Love to come here for breakfast. It's surrounded by breweries and wineries so if you come in the AM the area might seem like it's closed, but it's not. Unless they have a sign or they have mentioned on their social media that they are closed, they are open. Depending when you come in the AM, it might be busy. We tend to go around the time they open, so it's typically very calm and quiet. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Parking is limited around the area. There are parking structures around/near by. As far as food and drinks go, we have gotten pastries and breakfast items. We tend to try seasonal items since we know they will only have them temporary. My husband has tried the Elvis. He loved it. I recently tried their breakfast sandwich on brioche. Love brioche sandwiches and this one was delicious. I kept it as is since I recently became pescatarian. You can sub avocado for bacon. Overall we love this place. We will continue coming.

Came here for breakfast and sat in their patio area with our dog. It's a fast casual type of spot - order at the register and get a number for your table and they bring the food out to you. Food was very hearty and satisfying. We tried the breakfast taco and the sausage biscuit sandwich. The food was on the saltier side for us.

A little pricey but wow the food is so good! I ordered the big breakfast taco and it was a real delight. It had bacon, egg, hash brown, cheddar and salsa. I also ordered the almond croissant which was so buttery and flakey. My friends ordered something with bacon and bananas on it, so unique and they enjoyed it. We arrived when the line was still short, eventually it was so long it went to the parking lot. They do have a lot of seating and it is dog friendly.

Probably "the" best breakfast biscuit sandwiches I've ever had. I've had plenty but this one was amazing! Place is great and ambience was good for our puppy too! Definitely a must if you are around the funk zone during breakfast or brunch!

Beautiful bakery - wonderful transitions and very unique seating areas within the building to outdoors. It's a bakers' dream environment. The baked goods? All were visually appealing. The croissants lacked folds in the dough. Also, each baked good we ordered lacked that baked-this-morning freshness. Service was ok.

I came upon the Bakery to meet up with some alumni of Brooks Institute. They meet the last Tuesday of the month at 8 AM so if you're an alumnus, you're welcome to come. Finding the place was a bit difficult. Yes the address is 131 but you will not see it Look for 137 and go down the Ivy walkway. It'll be on the other end right across from Figueroa mountain brewery. You order at the counter and while a limited selection, the food was really good. You'll get a number they will call and you can pick it up. I have a taco with a coffee for about $20. The interior is welcoming and it looks like they have plenty of tables. I would definitely come back with regards to parking. It's on the street. They mentioned they have a couple spaces and a lot, but I did not find them.

Very cute bakery with lots of patio seating, surrounded by beautiful flower boxes. The service was quick and everyone was polite. We had the chocolate almond croissant which was fantastic. Also tried the cinnamon roll which was a little bit too salty for my taste but overall not bad.

This was such a fantastic lunch! We came over from the farmer's market, super hungry, and we arrived during the lunch rush. We waited in line for quite a while, but it was totally fine because they have some spectacular plants and we spent most of the time admiring those. Despite the line, there was lots of seating available both inside and outside, and it was a nice place to be. Pastries were nuts! Sandwiches were fantastic. Will definitely go again.

Cute little spot in the funk zone. I got up early to have a yummy breakfast waiting for my partners birthday, and I picked this little gem. It's in a beautiful open building connected to a brewery, so it feels very open and airy which is nice. I ordered two breakfast sandwich's, one dairy free, and some hash browns. I also ordered a vanilla latte and a praline latte, and they both were delicious! I walked in right at opening and everyone was super friendly and ready to get the orders in. They also took care to ask about any allergies since I wanted no cheese on my breakfast sando, which I appreciated. I would definitely recommend stopping but this spot. They also have a lunch menu that looks just as good!

Saw this on Google, thought I'd check it out (even left another place after walking in and not feelin it). What a delight! The ricotta, honey, stone fruit toast exceeded my expectations. Definitely want to come back next time I'm in Santa Barbara. Amazing ambiance and they obviously take their craft seriously.

Excellent service. Like seriously so good! Really cool atmosphere. Delicious breakfast sandwich- the egg was light and fluffy and it was a great hearty start to our day's adventuring. Bought some pastries to snack on later and they did not disappoint. The olive loaf was chock full of plump olives and was chewy on the outside and soft inside- great consistency. Highly recommend this spot.

The food here is excellent, came for breakfast and will be back next time we visit. The croissant/muffin was so good. They had a lavender flavor that was unique and not too strong. Both of the breakfast sandwiches were rich and delicious. It's super cute inside, everything is made with organic flour. They use unbleached napkins, water is filtered. Very health conscious, which is nice.

Always a must-visit when I'm in the area. Located in the Funk Zone, the parent company that owns this bakery, also has a few businesses immediately surrounding, and Loquita, another must-check-out restaurant. Couple goodies: Seasonal cranberry cookie 10/10 Breakfast sandwich on brioche bun 9/10 Elvis toast 8/10 Food quality is 9/10. Post-sale service e.g., wiping down tables or refilling the empty water glasses for water is sometimes slow. Depending on when you come, the area might be overflowing with foot traffic or the rush hour just passed. We came on a weekday just after they opened.

This was a really cute coffee shop at walking distance from our hotel. They had plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. As vegetarians we tried the following: Buttermilk Biscuit: 4/5. We really enjoyed this one. It was crispy on the outside and soft inside. Enjoyed the butter and jam that came with it. Latte : 4/5. Lemon Ginger Tea : 4/5 The service was friendly and quick.

So it was a 20 minute wait, but worth it. Hubby got the cinnamon roll, it was different style but really good and I got the breakfast taco which was phenomenal. We also got a maple croissant for later which was bomb

Mushroom toast was a little too sweet for me. The mushroom were chewy and rubbery, and onion toooo sugary. And avocado toast a little too muted and underwhelming. A 3.5 for me, but loved the cozy vibe, dog friendly patio and the local merchandise available for sale. Will be back to try other things!

Very cute spot with lots of great food/pastry options! Expect a line in the morning (so get there early). We had the honey cake and a pumpkin cruffin. Both super good. The honey flavor in the honey cake was amazing and the layers of the Cruffin were great! Want to go back and try their savory options. Stay Cheerful

Had this twisted croissant muffin type pastry, and it was amazing! So many layers without being overly sweet! Wish I could've tried other things on their menu as they all looked/sounded amazing! There's a lot of seating inside and out, they even have boardgames for you to play. Definitely would come back!

I love Helena Ave. Bakery for breakfast/brunch! They have had some amazing pastries lately, including a tiramisu cruffin and homemade strawberry poptart. This is a great spot in the Funk Zone, surrounded by coffee shops, boutiques and wineries/breweries. This is the perfect first stop if you are planning a full day along State St. or the water. When I have visited, service has been pretty quick and the staff are friendly.

Amazing spot for brunch! I've heard about this spot for a while and I'm glad I finally tried it! Ordered the hash brown with smoked ketchup, pear and earl grey danish, southern fried chicken biscuit, griddled sausage biscuit sandwich, cappuccino and Arnold palmer. The hash brown was nice and crispy, wish it was a bigger portion, but was still good. The smoky flavor in the ketchup was good at first, but then the flavor became overpowering. The pear and earl grey danish was so good! Nice and flaky and the earl grey flavor was subtle but added a good flavor to the pastry. The Southern fried chicken biscuit sandwich was probably my favorite! Amazing crisp to the chicken. The flavor was nice with a bit of spice to it. The biscuit was nice and fluffy. 10/10! The griddled sausage biscuit was also very good. Loved the balance of sweet and salty flavors. Had the same fluffy biscuit that I loved. Didn't enjoy as much as the chicken sandwich, but was definitely a hit. Arnold palmer wasn't too sweet which I liked. Cappuccino was solid and came with a pretty design on top! Loved how spacious and open the restaurant was. Had to order up front and the workers were nice. Will be back!

Came here for a birthday brunch. The ambience and patio are lovely. My partner took me for a birthday brunch. We got: - The Elvis: It was yummy.. but too much banana. There is banana as a topping and as the bread. Aesthetically prettier in looks than taste. - Fried Chicken Sandwich: I love fried chicken sandwhich. Personally, it was dry and salty. - Side of egg: simple and good. Overall service was decent. Our experience was not bad, but nothing spectacular.

It's a must try! Top quality goods, great service and a cool vibe. Helena Avenue Bakery is definitely trendy and a widely promoted attraction in Santa Barbara's "Funk Zone" but don't let that deter you. They offer a variety of fresh breads, pastries, sandwiches, salads, coffee/tea and more! I stopped here for a relaxing lunch and left 100% satisfied. I highly recommend the avocado toast which was topped with cucumber, micro-greens and lightly seasoned. If you're hungry, you can easily add a 7-minute egg and/or side of mixed greens. The bread tasted so good that I tried to order a loaf but they had just sold out! It's also a great place to relax and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine from the wine collective that shared the space. I'll have to give that a try next time. In summary, Helena Bakery rocks. Enjoy!

Loved the Carpinteria Avocado Toast ($14). It comes with persian cucumber, sunflower seeds & sprouts, aleppo pepper and I added on a 7 minute egg ($2). Previous visits, I've had the Fried Chicken Sandwich, which has sweet jalapeno jam, black pepper bacon, and honey butter ($15). It's delicious. The hash browns are also amazing, if you like hash browns. They are golden brown on the outside and well seasoned. Yum! ($7) If sweet is more your thing, I'd skip the Brown-Butter Cinnamon Roll ($7). Sadly whenever I tried them, they are rock hard. Maybe I have bad luck with them? I am a big fan of their Blueberry Lemon Scone ($4). Worth a visit for breakfast. Lovely atmosphere and very nice staff. It's got outdoor and indoor seating. I have seen pups at this restaurant so I think dogs are allowed to sit outside. YAY!

I was visiting Santa Barbara for a wedding and my boyfriend and I went into town to explore and find some breakfast. I had some spots picked out, but had my eye on Helena Avenue Bakery after checking out their menu online and seeing their delicious offerings. We went on a Saturday morning and there was a line, but our wait was only 10 minutes before we made it to the counter and ordered. Don't let a line stop you from coming! I had read reviews online that service was fast and it was! We ordered and our food and drinks were at our table shortly. I got the Griddled Sausage Biscuit Sandwich and my boyfriend got the Breakfast Sandwich on Brioche. We had a bite of each other's sandwiches and agreed they were both delicious but we're happy we ordered our respective sandwiches. We split fresh fruit and a Plum & Almond Cream Danish, and to be honest, I'm still dreaming about those items as I am writing this! They were the perfect sides to our main dishes. We each had coffee and Arnold Palmers, which were also fantastic. Helena Avenue Bakery is a sunny, open-air spot, with local offerings also available for purchase (teas, soaps, salt, etc.). This is a really hip spot and a good place to catch up with friends. It is really cool seeing the bakery and bakers working and making creations as you are ordering. We would have bought a baguette if we weren't flying home the next day. I'll be dreaming about this spot and hope to return again!

The best sausage biscuit breakfast sandwich ever. It was on steroids! Use a knife and fork and have lots of napkins ready. Service was friendly, lots of pastry choices, indoor and outdoor seating. Small parking lot in an industrial area. The only thing was the coffee, it was slightly bitter. The restaurant appears to be Helena's for breakfast and lunch and a wine bar in the evening. It's got an industrial vibe with a wall of wine, a bar, sofa seating area. A must try if you are on the area.

I'm surprised this is the "best" breakfast and bakery in Santa Barbara. The ambiance is beautiful with a lot of flowers and greenery, but wish the food program was better. The price for the food they give is pretty ridiculous. $13 for a breakfast taco, that's literally one egg over a few small cubes of hash browns on a flour tortilla. My husband looked at my dish and said "someone is laughing to the bank." Breakfast sandwich was a bit better with egg and a little bacon. Strawberry shortcake was weird. Biscuits covered in cream and jammy strawberries. Where's the shortcake?? Best thing was the cruffin. Crispy, flaky, soft inside.

I make my way to Helena Avenue Bakery in the Funk Zone each and every time that I'm in Santa Barbara, it is located close to trendy shops, bars, coffee shops, restaurants and the beach, parking is always a challenge in this area. There is lot of outside patio seating with shaded areas and umbrellas, plus inside has table and chairs with a long community bar table settings. You order pay gett a number then staff bring your order to you service is great here plus the food is always delicious. I had the turkey sandwich that came with smoked cheddar,chipotle aioli, heirloom tomato, and crispy bacon all on a sourdough bread it is so GOOD! I also had a warm flaky chocolate croissant also really GOOD! Plus potato chips that is very crisp and crunchy. Helena Ave Bakery share space with Santa Barbara Wine Collective that has a bar with wine tasting, Oh there is only one unisex restroom for both places.

The place itself is cute but very noisy and crowded. I put my number on a table, went to get my self serve coffee and when I came back I saw a guy walk away with my number! That got solved. However, the food (biscuit and hash browns) TERRIBLE AND Terribly EXPENSIVE. Brewed coffee -WORST I'VE EVER HAD - even when they brought a fresh batch *even the blueberry preserves tasted strange 2 coffees 2 orders of biscuits and 2 orders of hasbrown nearly $50 Don't go. Save your money.

When I dined here last year, I promised I'd get the Elvis on my next Fiesta trip. And I did just that! I'm not a fan of peanut butter, but man do I love Elvis sandwiches and toasts! And this one was unique as it was served on a thick slice of banana bread. It was amazingly delicious! And well balanced - I can taste each component separately but were in harmony when eaten in one bite. The bananas and honey gave it a slight sweetness that went well with the crispy peppery bacon and savory peanut butter. This is by far my favorite Elvis toast I've ever had. And I had to get a pastry to go, which I got a blueberry scone. I ate it later that evening with a cup of tea and it automatically made me relaxed. The blueberries were bright and the pastry was buttery. Service was great as usual. And the weather this past Fiesta was absolutely gorgeous so it was wonderful dining outside. We were lucky to get a table because that's where everyone was heading. I adore Helena Ave Bakery and it is my go-to spot in Santa Barbara.

The food here is incredible. Farm to table style. Everything tastes super fresh and you can see everything cooking/at work if you gaze to the left of the check out counter. There was one cook that I noticed whipping everything up with a constant flow of people. I waited less than 10 minutes though for two breakfast sandwiches. So very quick service. The vanilla lattes I ordered were amazing, I tried two other local and popular coffee spots while I was here because of the high yelp reviews but this one was by far my favorite out of all 3. NOT a great place if you're not looking to splurge. I paid $96 for two coffees, two breakfast items, two bags of chips and two watermelon waters. Overall I would highly recommend this place, worth every penny in my opinion.

This adorable farm to table vibe is a must do in SB! The seating area is also beautiful- we sat outside in a little courtyard with colorful plants and cute garden furniture. The food was great- we ordered the summerland on sourdough (this was my sandwich- I demolished it), the pastrami sandwich, farmers market bowl, and avocado toast. This is obvious but because this is a bakery, order a dish with actual bread. The bread is so so so good. Their pastries also looked good but unfortunately we didn't get any of those. And the potato chips that come with the sandwiches - perfectly tasty and salty!

Love the vibe of this place! You can almost feel it in the photos. Cool converted garage with garden setting, wine tasting room and bakery. The chocolate almond croissant was amazing! Caramel latte also top notch. Do yourself a favor and drop by this place to hang for a bit. #Zen

I am still in love with Santa Barbara. So, I made the two-hour one way Amtrak journey to Helena Avenue Bakery. Before arriving, I thought I knew what I was going to order (I'll tell you the next time), but opted to go simple with just a Butter Croissant. Why? Because this was my lite breakfast. My brain was already in motion, already planning to have lunch..... and it had to be somewhere else in Santa Barbara. The Butter Croissant was crisp on the outside, flaky, well layered and nice and soft on the inside. The establishment has both indoor and outdoor seating. Both well appointed and attractive spaces. There is an enticing menu, that can capture your breakfast and lunch desires. This is a lovely place. Service was superb.

We stopped by right before they were closing as something sweets was calling my name. First off, it's in a cute little hidden area with many other shops surrounding. The weather wasn't cooperating so no was seated outside which would have been nice. Cute patios overlooking all the other shops. It's a cool spot with a nice collection of baked goods as well as prepared sandwiches and salad. A little mini market with a nice wine selection. Seated area was nice as well with the wine wall as the backdrop. There's the wine bar which they also do wine tasting here. So many wine tasting room in the area. We didn't really get as chance to check it out as they were closing but the sweets, they were amazing. The cookie, wow. So chunky and each bit me was worth it. Also the croissant with the lavender cream i believe, not that deserve a recognition on its it. The right amount of sweetness and flakey. The hidden spot was worth popping into and Will definitely be back next time.

Pros -unique items such as their muffin croissant pastry -chocolate chip cookie was amazing -jalapeño scone was one of the best scones I've had Cons -can be pretty busy and loud inside Rating 9/10

The pear ricotta toast was yummy! The iced gingerbread latte didn't hit the spot but enjoyed the toast. We went with a big group of 17 and were able to find seating earlier in the morning. Good tea options as well.

soooo good! I had the avocado toast and fresh fruit and it was delicious! it was quick and there was decent seating. Definitely recommend

Oyster mushroom toast was amazing! Blueberry scone warmed up and breakfast taco were also great.

The cafe is open air with heaters and a bar. You order at the counter and then get a number and sit down. I got a Carmel latte and my daughter got an Americano. They were your standard cafe coffees more on the bold side than sweet which I prefer. The food needs editing. The biscuit was crumbly and soft served warm, but it was absolutely filled with pepper. A little pepper might be nice, but this was excessive. The jam option was blueberry lavender or apple butter with thyme. They were both to much. The blueberry would have been great with out the lavender. The lavender adds a medicinal flavor that doesn't enhance the sweet blueberry. The thyme apple butter was the consistency of Apple sauce but almost had a mustard flavor, very gross.