WOW! The lemonade was so sweet & tart at the same time We ordered the breakfast taco - it is massive and literally the best breakfast taco I have EVER had - a sentiment shared by everyone at my table. Absolute We sat on the patio that provided adequate shade and is beautifully furnished with plants and flowers. The staff were kind and efficient. We would absolutely frequent this place if we lived nearby. 10/10! read more

I went to this bakery every morning in SB. You can't go wrong with the baked goods. Everything is spectacular. Try the warmed up coffee cake. Coffee is good as well! Their bread is also amazing read more

It's taken me a while to check out this delicious eatery but it's now going in the rotation for a quick delicious cafe meal. Located in the Funk Zone, Helena shares a space with SB Wine Collective. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Order at the counter, get a number, grab a seat, and your food/drink will be delivered to you. Cutlery is at a self service station along with water. The big breakfast taco is delicious! Highly recommend. I've also had take out of the Italian hoagie... let me just say it's one of the best sandwiches I've had as of lately. The bread was crisp yet soft, the meats perfect, and the Italian vinaigrette and veggies were fresh. If it was that great for takeout I cannot wait to try it dining in. Their breads and pastries are baked fresh daily! Open 7-2:30 though you'll encounter a long line on the weekends so be prepared. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Big Breakfast Taco - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Whew! This was a *pricey* breakfast, but it WAS good! That being said $62 good? Meh. $62: (2) Iced Vanilla lattes (1) Banana (1) Breakfast Taco (1) Breakfast sandwich (1) Croissant (1) Children's toast +egg The sandwich and taco were really good, but keep in mind it's JUST the one taco, JUST the sandwich. The homemade (I assume?) bread and jam for the kids meal was SO good! The vanilla lattes were not work $6.75 at all though... nothing special to them and easily watered down. The space itself is nice, outdoor/indoor concept. My daughter loved all the flowers and the birds that would fly inside for crumbs. I would come back but would JUST get the meals, the extras weren't worth the price IMO (even the croissant). read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - $$$ I also ordered a kids toast + egg for $8.74 after. Latte is not worth $6.75 FYI. - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Tiramasu Cronut - While this was a good cronut, it didn't taste like tiramisu at all. Blueberry scone - Good size and tons of blueberries. A little frosting on top to make it sweet. These were more moist than your average scone. Croissant - Big croissant that was flaky on the outside and soft on the inside. Would definitely get again. If you order a sandwich, make sure to select the chips and not the salad. Trust me on this. Outdoor seating is limited, but there are tables inside. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Beautiful spot and perfect way to start the day in Santa Barbara. The weather was great and we opted to sit outside. You order at the counter and take a number. The tiramisu cruffin and the breakfast sandwich were delicious. There's one bathroom but it's clean. Service is nice. Parking available on the street and in different lots. It's about a 10 minute walk from the wharf. read more

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It was good but also expensive and I was expecting better, especially for the price. The menu was also pretty small and nothing particularly jumped out at me so I was kinda disappointed about that. I wasn't really a fan of how the egg was prepared in the sandwich. The muffin was good and had a good passionfruit flavor in the icing, but other than that it was kinda dry. The chai was pretty good though so that was a plus. It was also very very crowded we waited quite a bit (maybe 20+ min) in line to order and then more for our food to arrive. Granted this was probably because it's popular and considered good, but it didn't really meet my expectations. The venue is cute though with nice outdoor seating and a big spacious indoors. They also had some strawberry and blueberry plants which was cool! read more

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Love the indoor and outdoor space. Line to order, you get a number and seat yourself. The line comes and goes. Lined up for about 13 minutes, but there was no line 5 minutes later. Went primarily for brunch, the breakfast fried chicken sandwich ($16) should also include veggies and egg. Chicken was tender, but there was nothing special. The gravy jam sauce was alright, again, needs some veggies or egg. Croissant ($5.50) was great and flakey layers. I just wished it could be heated up for eating at the bakery. I enjoyed the store had little trinkets, such as Jacobsen Salts, candles, soaps, etc. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Side of croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place has such a cozy vibe :) You need to get in line order food and then grab a seat :) It is perfect for brunches or wine tasting as well! Loved their croissants and mochas :) read more

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Love this bakery! Be warned, it's a popular spot and there will likely be a line. There's street parking but it's also not the easiest to find. You order at the counter and have a seat and they'll bring your food to you. The food is amazing! The fried chicken sandwich on brioche is next level. The chicken is so tender and the bread is a nice contrast. If you're not that hungry, I highly recommend the biscuit with salted butter and jam. We also had the whipped ricotta toast which was well worth my lactose intolerance cheat day. So much better than ordering a boring avocado toast. Ricotta and honey is always a perfect pair but the pear added texture. Personally wasn't a big fan of the cinnamon roll. There are tons of options of breads and it's pretty cool to see them mixing some of the batter in real time. Definitely recommend! read more

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Came here for breakfast. They have counter service here but they do bring the food to you. There was already a huge line by the time we reached here. Table was surprisingly easy to find. Food came out fairly quick. Coffee was really good. The sourdough on the breakfast sandwich was a little too crunchy but overall it was yummy. Also got the avocado toast which was also good. read more

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Helena's Bakery did not disappoint! Arrived around 9am on a Saturday and had no trouble finding street parking. The line looked long but moved quickly and was totally manageable. They have a grab-and-go selection--pastries, Cobb salad, granola, and yogurt, perfect if you're on the move. The real MVP though? The biscuits with butter and jam. You get a choice of jam, and since I'm not a lavender girl, I went with the cranberry jam. The breakfast sandwich is amazing, and you can add both bacon and avocado (which is more like a guacamole--no complaints there). I also HAD to try the Elvis: bacon, bananas, peanut butter on banana bread, drizzled with honey. Decadent, indulgent, and absolutely worth it. There's seating both indoors and outdoors, and with the heat lamps, sitting outside was actually warm and comfortable. So glad to have found a spot I'll be excited to return to the next time I'm in Santa Barbara. read more

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Such a cute bakery! They have indoor and outdoor seating, and even little dog treats for purchase. I got the classic turkey sandwich and it was so good. The bread was soft, mayo on both sides which made it super moist, and the lettuce, turkey, tomato, cheese and bacon were all so fresh! I also got an iced vanilla matcha latte! Which was also very good. Shout out to the gentleman who rang us up, I needed help on ordering my matcha and he was very patient and didn't rush me at all. Very attentative, which I appreciate. Bummed because once my food came out I was so excited to eat I forgot to take pics of my matcha and the atmosphere, but all good things to say! It also turns into a little wine bar in the evening! We didn't stay for that but wished we did. I'll definitely come back! read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Classic Turkey Sandwich on Sourdough smoked cheddar, mayo, crispy bacon, heirloom tomato, served with salt & pepper potato chips - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Yummy food, cute location and garden patio. Quick turn around to get our food too. Great read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Chai Latte and Ricotta Strawberry toast - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had tried the croissants from here at a nearby inn that used their baked goods for their continental breakfast and loved them so we went to the bakery to try some more. The service was very friendly and helpful and the overall vibe and the plants and flowers on the patio was wonderful. Order the cinnamon roll, the frosting they use made it the best cinnamon I had ever tried, and I had my fair share of them. I dunno how they made the frosting but the salt on it and the spices made it very addictive. read more

You need to go to Helena Avenue Bakery. Coming from someone who has been around to many cafes especially in La, this place is great and unique. The ambiance is very beautiful and friendly to be in and the food is great. We had a few different plates including the Elvis and the Cesar wrap, 10/10. The coffee was also amazing. I wanted to try the pastries but didn't think I could get to it with all the food we got. Make sure to stop by this place. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great sandwiches! Cool place with friendly staff. We had the Ham beurre baguette and chicken Caesar pita sandwich. Came with delicious homemade salt and pepper chips. Great space open kitchen and industrial vibe. Really enjoyed the food. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The vibe is amazing I bought the olive sourdough bread wow so delicious also got the blueberry scone also delicious. The only thing I got from the kitchen was the avocado toast. I was about the second or third person in line when the doors opened and unfortunately they forgot about me. Everybody was getting their meals, full families that were in line after me. I was just about to go up to see what happened to my avocado toast and then they brought it to me. It was beautiful to look at, but it was so cold. You can tell it has been sitting there nothing more disappointing than having cold food. Definitely try the tea. It was great. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We had breakfast at Helena Ave Bakery, twice, during our visit to Santa Barbara. The staff are super chatty (in a good way) and super friendly. I noticed that no matter how busy it was, they continued to wipe down the tables but stayed consistent with serving orders. We finally tried the Elvis that everyone on Yelp was raving about. I have to admit that it is totally worth breaking your diet for. We tried a slice of pumpkin bread too just out of curiosity. The banana bread and pumpkin bread were super moist and paired well with coffee. This was definitely my favorite place in the Funk Zone! read more

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Do not let the long line discourage you! We decided to walk up on a busy Saturday and almost left when we saw how long the line was. It was about 11 AM and the line was almost to the st. We decided to wait and the line actually moved pretty quickly. After we ordered, we did not wait long for our food to arrive. The egg coffee and breakfast sandwich was great! Flavorful and filling. The only thing I didn't care for was how thick the egg was. I get the egg ick and had to cut it in half so I wouldn't get grossed out by it. But it was delicious either way! read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is my favorite breakfast place in Santa Barbara. Amazing farm Press food amazing artisan bakery. read more

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Came to this hidden gem on a Friday afternoon to grab brunch. Everything was so good and reasonably priced. I ordered the Breakfast Sandwich on Brioche and it was piping hot and delicious. Moreover, the service was great. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I would love to come back the next time I'm in the area. read more

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We went here twice, once for lunch and then again the next day for breakfast. The bread that they use for the sandwiches is so delicious! The turkey sandwich is really what's worth it. The bacon and veggies go so well with the turkey and bread! I would highly recommend trying this sandwich over their all veggie sandwich, which was a bit disappointing. The breakfast menu did the job, but the sandwiches is where we really felt impressed. read more

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Stopped here on a sunday morning. Theres quite a bit of seating and you order at the counter and someone brings your order to your table, if you dine in. I got the hashbrown, the biscuits and gravy, a cheese danish croissant and a cookie. I also asked if they could modify a drink quite heavily and the did accommodate, so i'm very grateful for that and the main reason for the 4 star rating. The hashbrown was very crunchy and had a nice bite, but it had way too much black pepper to the point where thats all I could taste. Seemed to be a similar case with the biscuits and gravy. Maybe I came on an off day. Either way it was quite expensive for what I got and unfortunately, I don't think i'll be coming back for the breakfast. The baked goods, however...those were on point. That cheese danish croissant was superb and highly recommended. The cookie was nice, bit sweet for me because of the toffee I think it had, but overall not bad. If I come back it'll be to try other pasties and specifically for my modified drink which was Lemonade with a splash of cold brew...don't knock it until you try it. It is my favorite thing to get at coffee shops that serve lemonade. read more

Beautifully decorated outdoor with lots of lush plants and flowers. There's indoor seating as well. This place is know for making their own bread and crafting perfectly delicious sandwiches. Service was excellent. The breakfast sand which was delish, fresh made organic. Everything was delightful. read more

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Fantastic place for a pastry and coffee or a light brunch. Fresh, gorgeous bread, beautiful interior and garden. My friend and I split the smoked salmon toast and ricotta with candied lemon and fresh strawberries toast - so fresh, tasty and just what we needed read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I think I love this place! Just a great way to start the day. The ambience of this place is so chill and relaxing it's great.Stopped by yesterday @1pm and all the cruffins were gone. Employee said to come in the morning, in which I did! Ordered ham and cheese croissant, passion fruit lemon poppy muffin, a tiramisu cruffin and so far my favorite the morning bun. Flakiest croissant with churro vibes, so good! I did not try the cruffin this time , it was for someone else, should have got 2.Everything tastes really good. The lemon poppy is soft and flavorful and enjoyed the everything seasoning on the ham and cheese. Definitely see myself coming back quite a bit. read more

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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! read more

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I stopped in for a morning snack & iced matcha latte. It was busy with lots of people & dogs. I ordered a chocolate croissant & chocolate chip cookie. The size of both were big and they were both fresh baked. They are dog friendly. read more

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I've been coming to Helena for years and I have to say, the love it gets is very well deserved. They have some of the butteriest croissants out there! The dough lamination is absolutely perfect. I was lucky to attend an event at the gardens where the had profiteroles that were absolutely divine. Being central to the funk zone with plenty of outdoor seating the ambiance is absolutely on point. We had a minor mixup with an order and the head chef herself came out and made it right, giving us the tastiest baguette I think I've ever had. I have to say the head chef, who's name escapes me right now, has to be one of the sweetest and most talented people in the industry I've met. Definitely come here for an amazing breakfast or some 10/10 pastries. read more

As a biscuits and gravy fiend, I am drawn to but naturally skeptical. Amazing. Great biscuit, nice spice on the gravy and a perfect sunny side egg. The cheese danish is top five I've ever had. And the ambiance is exactly what I needed to decompress with a coffee. Don't miss this spot. read more

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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 read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Smoked Salmon Toast and Farmers Market Toast - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I had the gluten free biscuit. It unfortunately was trash. So hard and dense BUT the service was good and i liked the flight of wine i had read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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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. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwhich along with an Arnold Palmer. Good Sandwhich and good drink. Easy to order and food was delivered quickly. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Fries Chicken Sandwhich - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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! read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Buttermilk Biscuit with Salted Butter and Jam - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The beautiful garden seating saves the Caesar salad wrap. We let the server give us a recommendation but that wrap was a 0 out 10 fail. We saw someone with a salad that looked amazing & fresh so maybe there is hope in ordering a salad? But the Caesar wrap is a no go...way too much weird mayo sauce and the chicken was slim and dry. The tortilla tasted like cardboard. read more

Tucked away in the funk zone, this is a beautiful bakery with delicious pastries. The garden is well kept and uses foliage as natural barriers between the various vendors in the courtyard. Helena Avenue shares space with the SB collective winery which opens around lunchtime and stays open later than the bakery. When we got there a little after 9am there was a pretty long line already, but it moved fast. It is counter-service style, so you order first to get a number and then will be brought your food when it's ready. The breakfast sandwich was our favorite but the cinnamon roll was also a standout (look at all that frosting!!). Parking is limited, but this is a great stop in any visit to this neighborhood. read more

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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. read more

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Disappointed on my to go order. Ordered a few ham and cheese croissants but only got a regular croissant even though I was charged with the ham and cheese. Parents still enjoyed the regular croissant, but getting what you paid for would've been great. The drive back 40 miles to Santa Barbara to return a wrong order isn't ideal. Still enjoy Helena but hard to trust them at this point. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Clearly no ham and cheese on this one. #robbed - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California