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

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

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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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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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

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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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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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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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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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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Place is beautiful and relaxing. Turkey sandwich, chicken wrap, cob salad, and vanilla latte is on the same level of gas station food. Definitely not worth $110-ish dollars. Caramel latte and ginger tea was delicious, as was the honey ricotta toast. Servers were nice too, you also need to bus your own table. Overall I don't think we'd return based on our experience. read more

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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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

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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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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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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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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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

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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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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The pastries here are so good. Blueberry scones are delicious! Staff is so nice and helpful.

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

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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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

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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I have gone to Helena's every morning for coffee with my Mom since early January. The staff is amazing and, of course, remember our order. Cappuccinos are best in towns and breakfast pastries are tasty. The ambience is perfectly Santa Barbara. Again, all else aside, AMAZING STAFF!!!!!!!!! read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Classic Helena's cappuccino - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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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The Elvis is nostalgic and hearty in the best way possible. I will be making this at home - it's such a simple yet classic combination of flavors, and it kept me full all day. I don't know that the pepper on the bacon was entirely necessary, but the rest of the flavors combined beautifully. I also tried a few bites of the brown butter cinnamon roll and was beyond impressed. The outside was a bit hard and overcooked but the interior was perfectly fluffy and cinnamony. We all enjoyed our coffees and meals, and could not have been happier to stumble upon this place for brunch! The line was long but the service was pretty quick once we placed our orders. See you next time! read more

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

I think my first mistake was trying to come here at 9a on a Saturday. With a toddler who just learned how to walk. There was a long line but this was our third attempt of funding a place to get breakfast and coffee so decided to commit to it. The bakery is tucked away and very pretty surrounded by Pinterest board plant bins and ivy covered walls. I feel like they're selling more of an image than the actual product. $13 breakfast taco and $15 biscuit and gravy with two coffees took nearly an hour. You order first and then find seating. It was a zoo when I went. People wrangling reactive dogs, kids milling around. Add a Napa style bakery in the background and that was my experience. The food was fine but not worth the wait. I did like the beautiful orange yolks and perfect sunny side up eggs. Coffee was unremarkable. You bust the tables yourself but the food and drinks are brought out to you. This is the kind of place to meet friends or a date and chat while taking pics of pretty food and drinks. Especially if you have a lot of time on your hands. Would not recommend if you're on a schedule. I probably would have enjoyed this place more at a different time in my life. read more

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

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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. read more

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I've tried a few different dishes here but the only one I enjoyed enough to order again is the stone fruit toast. Hash brown was not my cup of tea, and they don't have ranch . Can't go wrong with any of the pastries though! read more

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

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. read more

Helena Avenue Bakery - Chef Nico's Breakfast Taco Griddled Sausage Biscuit Sandwhich - Bakeries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California