Helena Avenue Bakery ★ 4.2
Organic sourdough, pastries, quiches, and hand pies in the historic Fish Market building on Anacapa Street. Essential Funk Zone morning stop.
Worth the queue: Organic sourdough boule
Bakery counters in Santa Barbara worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Where to queue for bread and pastry
Lilac Patisserie ★ 4.2
Fully gluten-free French patisserie on State Street, USA Today's 10 Best Artisanal Bakeries. Layer cakes, macarons, croissants, eggs benedict daily.
Worth the queue: Gluten-free French macaron assortment
Renaud's Patisserie and Bistro ★ 3.8
French bakery and bistro by the Gonthier family since 2008. Buttery croissants, pain au chocolat, quiches across three Santa Barbara locations.
Worth the queue: Buttery croissant
D'Angelo Bread ★ 3.7
Long-running downtown bakery serving European-style breads, pastries, and breakfast with strong espresso. A neighbourhood anchor at pre-Instagram prices.
Worth the queue: Rustic sourdough loaf