AM to PM
As terrace hopping becomes Santa Barbara’s new favorite ritual, a noteworthy collection of cafés and cocktail bars are helping make transitioning from day to night a pleasure
Written by Ninette Paloma | Photographs by Blake Bronstad
In the eastside enclave known as the Haley Corridor, refreshing morning brews are dispensed from a keg at Low Pigeon (lowpigeon.com); their signature Dirty Bird Espresso blend makes for a smooth entry into the day. When the sun sets, the rustic and candlelit interior of The Mill comes to life, and in an unmarked corner of this hip warehouse space, Lab Social speakeasy (lab-social.business.site) beckons the adventurous. Let award-winning mixologist Sean Sepulveda shake up your evening with a Spanish Mule, made with 10-year-old brandy, a sangria-reduction syrup perfumed with citrus and apples, and a splash of ginger beer and chocolate bitters.
For Southern France vibes, head to the Funk Zone and order up a June Bug from Dart Coffee Co. (dartcoffeeco.com) before settling into their tranquil, garden terrace. The latte layered with Peruvian espresso, creamy oat milk, and a swirl of fragrant lavender syrup is the perfect accompaniment to a morning among the butterflies. Come nighttime, follow the pulsating sounds of mambo to Test Pilot (testpilotcocktails.com), where Cuban and Jamaican rums fortify cocktails using fresh fruit and house-made syrups. Try the Thai Iced Tiki with coconut, passion-fruit pearls, and a kick of Caribbean allspice.
In the Historic Theatre District nothing whispers oasis quite like the new outpost of Cajé Coffee Roasters (caje.coffee), where wicker loungers and a gurgling fountain lull the downtown crowd into Santa Barbara serenity. Order the Bella Rose—a matcha latte dream swirling with pomegranate-juice ice cubes, strawberry elderflower syrup, and a sprinkle of beet powder and rose petals—and watch the sun’s rays dance around the courtyard’s archways. When cocktail hour strikes, float down to La Paloma Cafe (lapalomasb.com), an iconic gathering place for Old Spanish Days revelers in the 1940s. Once led by three generations of women (and later the locals’ favorite Paradise Café), La Paloma has a new proprietor in Sherry Villanueva, who celebrates the history of this corner spot with innovative twists on regional classics. Sink into a chair on the cobblestoned terrace and order their namesake La Paloma—a refreshing grapefruit, tequila, and champagne dazzler served up by the pitcher until the moon rises over the Santa Ynez mountains.
