I travel around the world empowering minds in schools and corporate spaces--and having a great time…read moredoing it. I was invited to Montecito County as a keynote speaker, where I also led several workshops and an all-day retreat. When you're doing that kind of work, sleep (and great food!) is paramount. The organizers put me up in a wonderful hotel, and just a few feet away I discovered this adorable bakery. What a gift. Let's talk food--because WOW. I ordered a breakfast burrito with crispy bacon that was absolutely delicious. I treated my daughter to a breakfast sandwich, and she wisely added avocado and crispy bacon (excellent life choice). And I cannot forget the croissant--flaky, buttery, and so good it deserved its own moment. One day I had the hashbrowns, the next day the potatoes--both were outstanding. Comfort food done right. Despite the place being busy, the service was impeccable. Yvette and Jorie were not only kind and welcoming, but incredibly patient, serving everyone with genuine smiles and care. What truly impressed me was returning the next morning before my flight back to San Francisco--and Yvette remembered my name. That speaks volumes about the caliber of people who work here. It's rare, and it matters. I look forward to being hired again in Montecito County--and when I am, I already know exactly where I'll be eating. And hey... maybe you want to hire me sometime too. Highly recommend.

Cute stop on the way to Santa Barbara and much easier to access than the one there…read more All the staff we interacted with was super friendly and engaging. Their bathroom is outside in the plaza but easy to use. Food was ok, good but not fantastic for the price. We ordered an American breakfast with potatoes and biscuit. I really loved the multi colored potatoes and peppers! Eggs were French scrambled and perfect but the biscuit was pretty disappointing, very dry. My Arnold palmer had fresh tea and very tart lemonade. My partner's coffee came in a large mug but was just ok. My side of avocado was fresh but the strawberries in my side of fruit, not so much.

This Patisserie is absolutely amazing. Alessia and her brigade of pastry chefs are absolutely…read moreamazing. These desserts are works of art, AND taste delicious!This is a cute and small restaurant and take-away pastry shop. About 6 tables and a counter to sit/stand at. We were there on a Friday mid morning and they were packed. However they have several food runners and support staff to turn the tables fairly quickly. We waited in line for about 5 minutes to order at the counter as you enter so a line is not unusual, especially peak days and times. We purchased 5 different desserts, the peanut butter crunch was my favorite. The tiramisu was my least favorite...but still delicious. The coffee flavor of the tiramisu tasted fake so Alessia should work on her recipe if she wants a better tiramisu dessert...or just change the name so it reduces the expectation. I attached a photo so you can see the talent of the pastry chefs that Alessia has gathered and trained at this Santa Barbara patisserie. Definitely a must stop and try it.

I'm so glad I found Alessia Patisserie & Cafe on Yelp. We stopped by here on our last day in SB for…read morebreakfast. They had a line out the door for the side to order pastries and coffees. We chose to eat here and were seated inside the cafe. The breakfast menu isn't too large, but offers a variety of different eats such as omelettes, quiche, croque monsieur, sandwiches, hash, crepes, french toast, granola bowl, toasts, or salmon board. The lunch menu has a few of the same items as breakfast with the addition of salads and sandwiches. // FOOD // BREAKFAST SANDWICH: Brioche bread, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, tomato, gruyere, onion jam, garlic aioli, fried egg. One of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had! If I lived close to Alessia I would probably get this a couple of times a week. Thick cut brioche toasted to perfection, the onion jam and sautéed mushrooms were so flavorful, nice salt from the bacon and creaminess from the gruyere and garlic aioli, all topped with the runny fried egg. 5/5 DUCK CONFIT HASH: Crispy potato, hollandaise, pickled fresno chile, cilantro, poached egg. The potatoes were crisp and the poached egg was delicious. The duck was a little on the gamier side, but I didn't mind it. 3.5/5 Overall, I thought Alessia Patisserie & Cafe was a great spot to stop by for breakfast, lunch, or just to try some pastries. I ordered a few different pastries for the road such as the pistachio croissant, ham & cheese croissant, and a "French Onion" soup danish. All of them were so buttery, flaky, and delicious! I can't wait to come back here.

Was delighted to find that this chicken was gluten free! Salad was delicious and jasmine iced tea…read morewas perfectly brewed. Could be considered a little pricey-chicken was around $20 with no sides- but I think that the quality of the fresh ingredients make it worth it. Got a piece of carrot cake to go and it was amazing. Not too sweet, moist and tasteful amount of frosting. Interior of restaurant is minimal in design, light and airy. Outside patio is also pleasant despite being next to the entrance of Pavillions. Will be back!

Can't speak for anything else but the chocolate cake they sell by the slice on Saturdays is life…read morechanging. Deserves a 5 star review for the chocolate cake alone.

Everything at Renauds is DELICOUS and very authentic French food. I loved my quiche and the desert…read morewas chocolate perfection. A must try!!!

Got some pastries to go on a Saturday morning. Not much of a line but service was still a little…read moreslow. Decent amount of outdoor seating and a few seats inside as well. Ordered a morning bun, sticky bun, pain aux raisins, and croissant. Everything was pretty good though my favorite was the morning bun. Worth a try if you're in the mood for French pastries!

The good: This place is a winner. The pastries here were…read morephenomenal. They were the amongst the best I've ever had! I got the morning cinnamon roll, pain suiss chocolat, and the chocolate almond croissant. I don't know why pain au chocolat and almond croissants are usually 2 separate things but here they were combined into one pastry and of course it is as delicious as it sounds. The pain suiss was my favorite because it had a delectably crunchy and fine texture from all of the small striations on the pastry. The display for the pastries was small and didn't seem like there was an impressive spread but everything was a hit and I am sure all of the other pastries were delicious as well. They had savory menu items too. The bad: The interior is small and there are only a few high chairs. The interesting: There were plenty of spots to park when I came in the morning right in front of the store. There were also several outdoor tables for dining.

Bree'osh is a cute bakery in Montecito to stop at for some baked goods and drinks!…read more Really friendly staff who gave us bogo on pastries in the last hour of being open for the day! Win for both of us! We gobbled up their remaining goods of the morning and got a great deal. Their grains are all from France, specializing in sourdough and hand making all their pastries. We tried the Almond Croissant and a fruit cookie which were both good. The standout is their Kouign Amann ($5.50) which you can't find everywhere! The owner of this bakery is actually from Brittany, France - the town this little delight was created in. Dominique Ansel made me fall in love with these flaky treats, and Bree'osh does the kouign amann quite well. If you've never had one before, it's similar to a croissant with brown sugar folded into a very buttery and delicious mold. Also had a solid cold brew coffee. With a few seats inside and outside on the cute outdoor sidewalk, Bree'osh is a fabulous place for a morning stop.

Traditionally stop here for breakfast, lunch or coffee and a snack on the first or last leg of a…read moreroad trip up the coast from L.A. The upper village retains a very casual, not trying to impress atmosphere of old Montecito. The staff is always friendly, one lady has been working here the whole time I've been a customer, I think over 20 years ! Even though it's busy, it's manageable. There are tables and seats across the parking lot in the park area which is very nice. I had the curry chicken wrap, it's good. The club wrap was kind of bland, so wouldn't order that again. I appreciate all the specialty items. Coffee drinks are good, and I'm happy they carry the unsweetened Yerba Mate.

I have been coming here pretty much everyday before work for a coffee and smoothie. When I call and…read moretell them my name, they know my order which I appreciated. 2 days ago, I went in as normal and the lady in the back told me that they will take care of me at the front. I got a card as well, went up and paid, & left. Yesterday when I went in a lady in the back told me the smoothie wasn't paid for. I was confused and checked my statement and gladly paid for it as the day before it appeared I was only charged for the card (not my mistake). When I went in this morning, the older lady who is usually pretty nice said to me with a few people around, "you need to pay this time". I thought that was pretty petty and unprofessional to say in front of other customers as well. Again I have been coming here for months and have spent well over $1,500 here in the last half year or so. After today I think that may change as it just isn't right to address something like that when it was a workers mistake not charging me correctly the first time around.

Very cute location with a Beautiful view of the ocean and amazing outdoor seating area in two…read moredifferent areas! They had a very cute store inside the cafe that had a bunch of things. It had a pasta section, a candle section, and much more! I got an unsweetened iced matcha latte and i liked it! The staff was all super friendly!

Unique and tasty menu options, but not worth the price and wait. Loved the savory porridge. Ham…read moresandwich was okay but definitely not worth the price. Staff is kind and friendly, and the shop and grounds are beautiful. But this is probably more of a stop and try it once kind of a place rather than a staple or somewhere I'd go again. You know what though? They did have a KILLER (if not also ridiculously overpriced) brownie.

Most of the baked goods here are vegan, with the exception of a couple sweeter pastries. The vegan…read moremorning buns are delicious. The focaccia and sourdough loafs are hearty and are good toasted at home. It's a tiny store so there's nowhere to sit and eat, but it's great to grab some treats and take home or eat by the beach. Very sweet girl helped us this weekend!

One of our new favorite spots in Santa Barbara. The sesame twist was incredible, as was the morning…read morebun. We got a loaf of sesame sourdough, which was warm and had just come out of the oven. Absolutely incredible. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, no complaints whatsoever!

The first time I went to Kin it was for the donuts. I watched as everyone was leaving with drinks…read more I have never been one to go to a coffee shop or tea shop for drinks. The next time I tried the Suuk (mugwort). What a culinary delight. Next time it was Hojicha. I am now a regular! I have worked my way to Strawberry Rose Matcha. The best!!!!! It isn't just the food. When you walk in you feel welcomed. The vibe is relaxed with wonderful music. All this comes together with the most incredible team. You talk with strangers while sitting on the bench. I now have my "Kin Friends". In today's world it is such an unexpected experience. Kudos to Tommy & Will for giving us such a wonderful place to just go unwind and enjoy their wonderful creations.

I was fortunate enough to be in town during their sunset soirée where they featured in an…read moreexclusive, upscale menu where they crafted mocktails, as well as their usual Matcha drinks and refreshers. They had a live DJ playing throughout the night while others mixed in, mingled outside and inside the shop. I was so happy I was able to catch it right after a wedding and I look forward to going to many more.

It's taken me a while to check out this delicious eatery but it's now going in the rotation for a…read morequick 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.

I've been coming to Helena for years and I have to say, the love it gets is very well deserved…read more 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.