ALESSIA Patisserie and Cafe - Santa Barbara, California

Will H.

Their pistachio croissant was phenomenal. Other pastries were delicious, but you have to try their croissants. They're pricier than regular croissants in other cafes, but you'd know why their croissants cost a little extra. They're just so much better. The same probably goes for other food items on the menu. I'd try getting there early (or late in the afternoon) as the place gets crowded very quickly.

Elena Y.

I love high tea and this place does it well. They have a lovely space that’s perfect for taking tea. The sandwiches were yummy although the bread on one side was dry so I’m guessing they made them a little bit in advance. The sweets were beautiful to behold and tasty. Besides tea, they also offer you mimosa or lavender lemonade. Although I prefer to have my own teapot and a cup and saucer, they came by often to our more tea into your (very nice) mug. The cost is much more expensive than where I’m from (I won’t ever complain again about $38 for high tea) but it’s much less around here in Santa Barbara. It really was such a nice way to celebrate my friend’s birthday.

Cindy M.

We went here for early afternoon snacks and ordered the following:

2x Espresso
Pain Au Chocolat
Butter Croissant
Total: $22.52 with tips

We thought the coffee's boldness, kick, and sourness were great, but there was a strange aftertaste. The pastries had decent flavors, and we felt they were freshly made. They also had good texture and appearance.

Overall, we are happy with the experience and glad we have visited the place.

Lori

We walked into this bakery because of the delicious looking display window and to our delight they had our favorite pastry the Kouign Amann. It’s difficult to find a bakery that can make such a labor-intensive buttery croissant like pastry but this store makes them to perfection! We have been back several times for the same thing and they were equally as good. Can’t wait to go back and try some of their other delicious items. We also had cappuccinos which were pretty good as well.

Keiran S.

I had a lovely meal here yesterday. Every item was delectable. I just only wish it were less expensive. I absolutely understand that the operation cost in Santa Barbara is incredibly high and the quality of food served is very high. It’s just SO much. Again, I would frequent this location if it wasn’t $50+ for two people for breakfast.

Again, the food was incredible. The service was great. The restaurant was entirely lovely.

Tony F.

We passed through Santa Barbara and decided to stop for brunch at this highly rated French bakery and cafe. It’s located near Santa Barbara city center in the middle several interesting historical spots.

We had the Avocado Toast, it was beautifully served and was very delicious. We also had the French Brest, it was excellent.

We had our puppy with us so we sat outside, the outdoor tables were clean and comfortable.

Parking across the store, $5 for 2-hours. There was a person checking validation for each car while we got there.

Michelle W.

EDIT: Changing the rating. The croissant was the direct cause of our stomachaches. It probably has something to do with the food quality/handling, I am not sure. Be careful, but original rating is below.

Pastries were wonderful, but at an astounding price.
Good for special occasions, and presentation is amazing. Got a hazelnut roll, a strawberry and lemon croissant, a Black Forest tart, and a lemon and raspberry meringue tart.
The croissant and lemon tart were too sweet and messy for me, but the people around me liked it. My sister did not like the texture of the lemon tart.
The hazelnut roll was perfect to me, a great companion to a latte and a nice soft center.
Black Forest tart is either a hit or miss. It wasn’t too sweet, which I liked, but other people may not like it for its bitterness or alcoholic aftertaste (from the cherries).
They were all a sight to see and an experience to eat, but the $10-$15 price tag lingered in my mind.
I had a problem with the rule on boxes: we were misled to believe that you needed 6 pastries to have a box, even though that fact is completely untrue and almost made us overbuy their items.

I think 4 or 3.5 stars is a fair rating. The food seems solid and the pastries were an absolute delight, but it honestly was not worth it to me.

Borys K.

I recently dined at “Alessia”and was impressed by its fantastic location, stylish design, and the quality of the food. However, the experience was marred by subpar customer service. The waitstaff were unmotivated and unhelpful, and I had to insist that they take my order before the kitchen closed at 2 pm. Despite arriving well before the cutoff, they were reluctant to serve me at 1:50 pm. If the service issues are addressed, this could be a great spot, but as it stands, the lack of professionalism is a significant drawback.