Old Town Coffee
955 Embarcadero Del Mar, Isla Vista, CA
Crema's Take
“This espresso-focused spot in Isla Vista has carved out a devoted following with consistently excellent coffee and a genuinely welcoming vibe, though service can be inconsistent depending on who's behind the counter. The outdoor courtyard is perfect for lingering over a cappuccino or getting work done on wifi, and the owners' passion for their craft shines through when they're on their game. It's the kind of neighborhood coffee shop that rewards regulars with reliability and quality, even if first-time visitors might experience the occasional rough edge.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Went here for a quick stop for lunch while passing through town, coffee and food were delicious and the owners are incredible. Reliable wifi so I was able to get some work done. Will definitely come back if im ever in the area again 💜 Thank you for the zip ties! They were a life saver 🙌
Half friendly service, half not. Always been that vibe. It’s cool I can play that too. But in a mega sustainability leaning college town, to look at a regular customer who asks to pay for a cup of hot water in their freshly washed reusable mug, and say with seeming attitude, “yeah we can’t really fill up YOUR cup” without offering an alternative, just isn’t rad service. $1 for your paper cup was fine to offer rather than me having to ask a second time. Others would call it rude. I call it an sb day. Cheers. Indoor and outdoor seating… Coffee espresso matches pastries etc, menu with avo toast and more. Good when it’s good. Usually low key chill. Merch and coffee for sale.
Cappuccino had nice art but the actual coffee tasted burnt and mid. Witnessed the owner being territorial and kicking people out from their empty patio. Not a very friendly or welcoming environment and the shop was desolate. I guess it's good to have competition to see that Cajé is the better choice for both coffee and vibes in IV.
Best coffee I've had in Santa Barbara so far. Decent amount of seating. You have to ask for wifi access at the time of purchase. Great neighborhood coffee shop.
A nice little coffee shop in downtown Santa Barbara! We stopped in to get a snack and ended up sitting down in the courtyard outside to enjoy the yummy coffee and sunshine. They share the space with other local restaurants/cafes, so there were plenty of different unique & yummy options to chose from. I got an iced caramel lavender cold brew that was fabulous, and my husband had an iced green tea matcha with honey. The staff was friendly and seemed to have some good relationships with regulars/local patrons. They had plenty of indoor seating inside & out. There were also glasses and water for us to enjoy along side our treats. I would recommend stopping here if you are in-town exploring for the day.
Crema Reviews
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