Savvy Picks
Bakeries
Fourteen South Coast bakeries locals send each other to for croissants, sourdough, donuts, pan dulce and birthday cakes, with what to get, what it costs and how much notice a cake needs.
- 14 picks
- 22 locations
- 3 towns
- Updated November 3, 2026
These come up every time someone asks where to find a good croissant or a birthday cake around here. Here are fourteen, in order of how often they were recommended, each checked against its own menu.
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Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro
The almond croissant.
Three French bistros with a pastry case that stays open until close. The almond croissant is filled with almond cream and topped with toasted almonds.
OrderAlmond Croissant. $7.50. The morning bun, croissant dough rolled with cinnamon sugar, is $6.50.
TipOpen 7 am to 4 pm, 3 on Sundays. Whole cakes, tarts and pies can be pre-ordered online for pickup.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on renaudsbistro.com (opens in a new tab)
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Alessia Patisserie & Cafe
Cakes from $95.
A patisserie and cafe near the Presidio. Specialty cakes start at $95 for a 6-inch that feeds four to six, and the design is the chef's choice.
OrderLemon Chiffon Cake: lemon chiffon, white chocolate vanilla bean mousse and fresh raspberries. $95 for 6 inches, up to $170 for 12.
TipClosed Mondays. The bakery opens 7 am Tuesday to Friday and 8 on weekends, until 4. Online cake orders close at 4 pm each day.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on alessiapatisserie.com (opens in a new tab)
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Bree'osh Bakery Cafe
Three days per croissant.
Every dough starts from a sourdough culture, the flour is French, and the croissants are laminated over three days.
OrderAlmond croissant. $6.25. A plain croissant is $4.90.
TipSome loaves bake only on certain days: einkorn on Sundays, olive Friday to Sunday. De La Vina opens at 6:30 am, Montecito at 7, both until 2.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on breeosh.com (opens in a new tab)
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Oat Bakery
No croissants, on purpose.
A Nordic-style bakery that says you won't find baguettes, brioche or croissants on its menu. Bread is baked each morning from 6, in small batches.
OrderHygge Bun, with dates, walnuts, cinnamon and cardamom. $6 on the downtown menu.
TipIt sells out daily, so go early. Danish rye and the country sourdough are Tuesdays and Saturdays only. Montecito is open 8 am to 4 pm daily; check the site for the other two.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on oatbakery.com (opens in a new tab)
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The Andersen's Danish Bakery & Restaurant
Kringle and Princess Cake.
A Danish bakery and restaurant on State at Figueroa that calls itself the home of the best kringle outside Denmark.
OrderPrincess Cake: sponge, Bavarian cream and raspberry under marzipan. $94.95 whole.
TipOrder cakes at least 10 hours ahead, two days for gluten free. Open 8:30 am, until 6 pm Monday to Thursday and 8 pm Friday to Sunday.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on andersenssantabarbara.com (opens in a new tab)
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Anna's Bakery
Donuts from 6 am.
Goleta's bakery since 1990, in the Camino Real Marketplace, with donuts, croissants, conchas and custom cakes.
OrderA dozen donuts. $19.99, or $21.99 for fancy ones.
TipOpens 6 am daily. Gluten-free vanilla cake needs four days' notice.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on annas-bakery.com (opens in a new tab)
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Crushcakes & Café
Cupcakes until they're gone.
The crushcake is red velvet with a chocolate heart dipped in the house sour cream frosting.
OrderCinnamon roll with the sour cream frosting. $4.50.
TipCupcakes sell until 4 pm in Santa Barbara and 3 in Goleta, or until they run out. Cupcake prices aren't posted online.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on crushcakes.com (opens in a new tab)
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Lilac Pâtisserie
Everything is gluten free.
The whole kitchen is gluten free, with vegan options, from cakes to lemon bars.
OrderLemon bars, which it calls one of its best sellers.
TipOpen 8 am to 3 pm daily. Cakes and pastries can be pre-ordered with 48 hours' notice for pickup here or at Lilac Montecito, 1209 Coast Village Rd. Prices aren't on its site.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on lilacpatisserie.com (opens in a new tab)
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Helena Avenue Bakery
Biscuits in the Funk Zone.
Organic breads and seasonal pastries. The door is on Helena Avenue, near Yanonali.
OrderButtermilk Biscuit with butter and house strawberry jam. $8.
TipOpen 7 am to 2:30 pm daily. A sourdough levain loaf is $11. Holiday pies need 72 hours' notice.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on helenaavenuebakery.com (opens in a new tab)
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Jeannine's
Scones by the dozen.
Three cafes, by the beach, in Montecito and in Goleta, plus an online bake shop for whole cakes.
OrderStrawberry White Chocolate Cake: white cake, strawberry mousse and fresh strawberries. From $55.
TipOpen 7:30 am daily, until 1:30 (2 in Montecito). First come, first served. A dozen scones is $48.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on jeannines.com (opens in a new tab)
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Merci Montecito
Orange-blossom cinnamon rolls.
A Coast Village Road cafe with a short pastry list: muffins made with masa harina, lemon poppyseed cake and a seasonal galette.
OrderCinnamon roll with orange blossom frosting. $9.
TipOpen 8 am to 4 pm daily. Order ahead online for pickup.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on mercimontecito.com (opens in a new tab)
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D'Angelo Bakery
European bread and danish.
Breads, pastries and pretzels, with tables inside and on the patio.
OrderAlmond croissant. $6.50. A sourdough levain is $8.
TipSome breads bake only certain days, like German farmer's rye on weekends. Its site and ordering page give different opening times, so call before an early visit. Call ahead for big orders.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on dangelobakery.com (opens in a new tab)
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Hook & Press Donuts
Brioche donuts.
Made from scratch with organic flour, in flavors that change with the season, and some vegan.
OrderBrowned Butter: a brioche ring in browned butter glaze with gold Maldon salt. $4.25.
TipOpen 8 am to 4 pm daily. Apple fritters are Fridays only. Orders over two dozen need 48 hours' notice.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on hookandpressdonuts.com (opens in a new tab)
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Los Tarascos Bakery & Deli
Pan dulce on Haley.
A Mexican bakery and deli that bakes pan dulce every day and makes tortas.
OrderTres leches, by the slice. $6.
TipOpens at 6 am Monday to Saturday. Closed Sundays. Order at the counter or call ahead.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on lostarascosbakeryanddeli.com (opens in a new tab)
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