THE BEST BAKERY IN PHOENIX!!! I love their breakfast but their pastries and macaroons and some of the best I have had. Get a vanilla croissant, you'll thank me later! read more

I'm pretty sure Essence has the best croissants in town. I have become a bit of a Phoenix croissant connoisseur. I love the croissants at Proof bakery and J&L patisserie, but something about the croissants at Essence puts them over the top. Maybe it is the unique flavors - aside from the usual plain, chocolate, and almond, I have also ordered an olive oil swirl croissant, zaatar swirl croissant, oreo croissant, and pumpkin spice croissant there. And they have all been amazing! If you love croissants, check out Essence. You won't be sorry! read more

Love the pastries but charged 4.75 for an 8 oz glass of chocolate almond milk and completely missed the order of regular milk for my other child. More expensive then any croissants. I had asked for hot chocolate and they said "we aren't making hot chocolate now". The back of house was doing great work but they make you feel unwelcome in front of house. read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - 4.75 for small kids glass of chocolate almond milk - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is a favorite neighborhood spot. I've been a customer since the original Tempe location. I'm disappointed to see several critical comments on here for a beloved cafe. People sure are bitchy and nitpicking. I digress.... Essence is popular so if you want to sample their prized desserts get there early and try a weekday. They close by 2pm so keep in mind. Sign up for weekly email updates. You can also call to purchase desserts in advance. I've done that many times. Staff can be busy in peak hours but they've always been kind and gracious. They've had loyal staff for years. Cost of food has been going up with ongoing pandemic and Essence prides itself using local farms and organic products. I've always respected that and although lower pricing would be nice I get it. The menu offers weekly specials and special desserts and breads on weekends including to go items. All delicious!!! It's a small operation so when items are out, they're out. It's a unique cafe that I'm so happy is nearby my home in Phoenix. I don't go often out to restaurants in general since pandemic started, but Essence never fails to make my tummy and heart happy when I visit. I also love that it's not pretentious and has local art and lovely garden in parking lot. I always bring guests here. PS. Love their fresh soups, breads, salads, croissants, macarons, potato cake, baked veggies, egg sandwiches, little dessert boxes, etc. It's all excellent! Enjoy and please be nice to local small businesses. They're trying hard to make quality food. read more

I always try to get here as early as I can because I want to snag all the good stuff and parking sucks! Such amazing pastries, probably one of the best I've had in the valley. Haven't tried breakfast here yet but will be back :) read more

I have nothing but love for this place and Chef. I needed a great baguette and remembered Essence is just up the street from me. CALL AHEAD and reserve that baguette because they go fast. I grabbed a Macaron on the way out.... Ooh-la-la! So good. Disregard any negative comments you might see here; those peeps were going to have a bad day with or without visiting Essence. read more

As a local, Essence is a go-to for breakfast and for treats to bring to others' homes as gifts (like the macaroons!)

I've been coming to Essence since they were located in Tempe so I can tell you that the food still taste consistently amazing after so many years. You can't go wrong with the butter croissant which is pretty the same as getting a croissant in Paris. My go to breakfast here is the "Big Breakfast" and the quiche. I come here a lot of mornings for coffee and pastry to go. If you are dining in, the food does take a while to come out but it's well worth it! read more

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The macaroons were amazing! This will be my new place for macaroons. Baked perfectly. The cookies were disappointing and I tried a few. Good place to work and I would like to try their food next time too. read more

Essence has been on my radar for quite some time now and to my surprise it had much more to offer then expected! I had an iced caramel latte and it was delicious, they make their syrups in house which is awesome! I ordered pastries to go and they were great too. The restaurant itself is really nice & cozy, I'll definitely be back! read more

A friend posted photos of her croissant and I knew I had to try this place. My mom's birthday was coming up so I decided to bring her for breakfast. The lady at the counter recommend the egg sandwich so I chose that. My mom chose the other recommendation of huevos frenchos. My dad decided on the big breakfast. Since the bakery case alluringly sits right next to the register, we decided a few pastries to snack on while waiting was a great idea! I got the pistachio croissant and Mom got the almond croissant. Both pastries were tasty and quite unique. The almond one held the best amount of moisture while the pistachio one felt a tad drier. However, the taste more than made up for that slight discrepancy. The breakfasts were tiny but I find that incredibly helpful. I disliked the piled on breakfast plates of typical morning fare at other restaurants. The mashed potato cake was overall tasty. The brioche creating the egg sandwich made that entree choice a true winner! Delicious! The eggs on both the other two entrees were so fluffy and tasty. We abhor dry eggs and these were excellent! I ordered the regular drip coffee but it was kind of bitter. Next time I will go in for a latte or something more creative! We want to come back for lunch as my mom is a huge fan of spanikopita and coconut creme pie! read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Pistachio crossing and almond crossing - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Great pastry options and they all tasted delicious! I tried a pistachio croissant and a strawberry creme macron (but I forgot to take a picture). I also got 4 different flavors of macrons for my family and they all loved those as well. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Macrons - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, here is a picture of our stash that we picked up this morning. We're in town visiting the family for the holidays and heard nothing but great things about this place and it did not disappoint. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Great espresso and super cute atmosphere to study in! I got a large iced oat milk latte with an extra shot (my go to at a new coffee shop) and it was amazing! The espresso has a decadent chocolatey flavor! The inside seating area is great for studying/working. I will definitely be here again. The food also looks amazing I did not get anything but from what people around me were ordering it looked amazing! Great and kind customer service! The chef also seemed to know regulars and which was wholesome to see! The only downfall is no wifi. 10/10 read more

I was greeted and helped by the kind staff. I opted for the Huevos Frenchos and the eggs were fluffy & airy, the pico de gallo had a slight kick, and the potato cake was crispy. These beautiful macarons and arrangement of pastries & croissants call out to you as you are ordering. I got the raspberry croissant and, without hyperbole, was the best raspberry croissant I've ever had. It had a slight crunch but light, the raspberry sauce and shavings were present but not overpowering. I would definitely recommend coming here as the care & meticulousness that goes into each of their dishes are evident. read more

Spent $16 on the worlds most mediocre chocolate croissant (dense as all hell), arnold palmer that had the lemonade poured first rather than the tea (a crime to humanity), and "fresh" squeezed orange juice that was retrieved from a store bought jug that contained pulp to give the illusion that it was fresh squeezed. you're better off going to bosa donuts down the street than this fart of an establishment. not to mention the ambience was trash. yikes! (also just tried the macron, it was literally like... wet???? and heavy ????) read more

Probably the best bakery in all of Arizona. Barrio bread is the best bread place but essence has a chokehold on me. I am obsessed of their croissants and breakfast sandwiches. I am glad it is in my neighborhood and it is a must go to if you like a true French patisserie. read more

We went there for breakfast and ordered their special which was a version of avocado toast. The sign stated that it comes with a fried egg on top. When we got ours, while it's technically a version of a fried egg, they were over easy at best. My girlfriend does not like a runny yoke so simply asked that they either completely fry the egg or scramble it as yoke had gotten all over the plate and toast. We were then told that the chef would fry the egg but reuse everything on the plate. This was unsatisfactory given the yoke everywhere. We then asked that our money for that item be refunded. We were then told the chef refused that request as well as they do all their fried eggs over easy (seems like something the should state instead of assuming everyone would just know). Can't say I've ever had something like this happen before so I decided that after taking one bite of mine we would just leave and I'd dispute the charge. Needless to say we will never be back. So many great breakfast places within a mile of this pretentious place that I can't imagine they'll be around that much longer anyway. read more

This place is cute and clean. Staff are nice. The bread was really great. It looks dry in my picture, but I promise it wasn't. I took an assortment of pastries for some friends to try and they were a big hit. Not a single thing we tried was bad. read more

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Great pastries and brunch offerings! I got the french toast, which was delicious and fluffy. The coffee was excellent as well. In this area it is hard to find a good brunch spot that doesn't have an hour wait on the weekends-- but now I've found one! Will be coming back for sure. read more

I was looking around for good bakeries in Phoenix and really craving a delicious almond croissant and came across this bakery. The interior of the store was so cute and would be an ideal workplace for studying or meeting up with friends. The pastries were displayed in a beautiful glass case and everything looked so appetizing! I ended up getting an almond croissant and a chocolate passion fruit croissant. Both were delicious however I did feel the chocolate croissant would have had much more chocolate in it. The almond croissant had a faint hint of orange zest I believe which complemented the almond flavor very well. Will definitely be coming back to try more of their baked goods! The staff was very friendly as well. read more

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This is an example of how bakery/breakfast restaurant should be. Be prepared to wait if coming on a weekend, but when the food arrives you will be rewarded. Also, set aside your diet because you will want to try everything! read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Outstanding pastries! Yum - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Unorganized is a good description. Two people upfront taking orders, and before you think it's your turn they walk away and start making drinks and putting together the orders to serve them to the people who just sat down. Leaving the rest of us bewildered as the reality is they do it all. I myself waited just to find out they were out of specif items as their so called baker is out for 10 days ..Never coming here again. . read more

Flakey buttery delicious croissants and pastries. Used to frequent this place a lot until we moved across town. My husband suggested it for birthday pastries and I am so happy we came back. I forgot just how good it is. Great place to take breakfast pastries to go or, when not during coronavirus, a great place to stay and eat a hearty breakfast. We will definitely not let so much time pass in between visits next time around. read more

Baguette is phenomenal (even if a little pricey). The croissant are all very good. Wish some of the pastries where a little less sweater. The macaroons (gluten free!!!) are a must. Will be back for lunch... read more

Delicious, flaky butter croissant, clean seating areas, clean bathroom. Pretty fast service. They ran out of pastries around 11am on a Sunday so you'll have to get there earlier for those. There was just enough parking spaces when we got there. read more

I guess since 8 haven't bought pastries I don't understand what the good reviews are for. I just ordered their daily special and asked for the eggs scrambled soft and (not including tip) paid over $15 for one of the worst breakfastsI ever had - when it arrived 20 minutes after I ordered it the eggs were well done, there was one slice of over ripe tomato with sprinkled herbs, a couple of sliversof avocado and what can only be described as a cardboard patty. Completely inedible, a "homemade' turkey sausage devoid of taste and texture. So not worth the price. The folks at the counter were very nice, and the place is nice - that is where the two stars came from. read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - The s"special" I ordered on the board - not so special after all! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I ordered a cheese croissant (it wasn't really a croissant, more like a swirly pastry with cheese on top) and an oat milk latte. It was served cold too. Heads up they also do NOT have wifi. The oat milk latte was alright. read more

My quest to finding the best croissant in town drove me to Essence Bakery. With Covid there is no seating inside out outside so we bought a few pastries and left to take home. Two plain croissants, flaky and buttery, very good start! Next a pistachio croissant rolled like a cinnamon roll and an almond croissant were outstanding. Pistachio croissant was guey, moist and crispy at the same time. Almond croissant was on point as well. Essence is worth the drive! read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Our experience for lunch was not so good. They had no soup of the day, the workers didn't know anything about what could be substituted and what was included, our sandwiches were okay, the croissants are great. And then I ordered a coffee, he charged me for the coffee and then gave me the last of the coffee urn and it was cold, I asked them if they had any fresh coffee and they said "oh no we are servicing the coffee machine" unbelievable! Why would you charge me for cold leftover coffee from the bottom of the urn? It was not cheap I got some croissants to go, four of them to be exactly close to $100 and then when you go to pay they literally force you to give them a tip which I find this is becoming a real issue with a lot of stores. read more

Great pastries! Love their cinnamon buns and twists and macaroons. Would happily recommend them to anyone passing bt

We ordered 100 macaroons for my daughters graduation party. they were the best macaroons! We also go there for breakfast, and the food is consistently good The people working in the restaurant are very professional and personable. always willing to help answer questions. read more

Essence has the best macarons I have ever tried! They are $1.50 each and made fresh daily. I tried the entire sampler box and was impressed by every single flavor! The macaron has the perfect texture that is so rare in other macarons. You have to try it!! I also got the cookie box, which came with a variety of different treats. I LOVED the chocolate truffle inside! I'm craving more already! Tip: they do not have WiFi here so it is not work friendly. Also, they have parking in the back of the bakery. read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Macaroons $1.50 each - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This place never ceases to put a smile in my face. The food is top notch - especially the croissants and macaroons. If you find yourself in the area, stop by and enjoy. read more

Glad we stumbled on this French Bakery..... we got variety of their pasties.... their Croissants are pretty awesome! We are taking home some macaroons today and back for breakfast! read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Enjoyed a variety of French pastries.... their Croissants are the best. Glad we found this French bakery! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Maybe it's because of the pandemic, but their selection of breads was diminished. This visit we just needed a loaf for a home meal. Our only option was their baguette. Too bad. Their pastries are excellent and we'll continue to visit but may not for a while. read more

The food is pretty excellent but the service has always left me frustrated. The blonde female cashier will act like she can't be bothered to help you. And none of the cashiers have any agency to approve any mods to your order. It's always "let me ask," "let me ask," "let me ask" like you're ruining their day by asking. Don't rely on the website for info on the weekly specials. You'll get told they're old with no apology. Oh and you'll show up to the place to find it randomly closed with no notice posted to their website or socials. Good food but poorly run. read more

Breakfast is AWESOME...usually. I love the simple but cute atmosphere, excellent menu, easy order-at-the-counter system, and just pick your own table. Oh and there's a parking lot in the back. The menu has so many great options, there really is something for everyone! Egg sandwiches, quiche, scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes, yogurt/granola... if not, the big pastry case filled with delicious baked goods can be your meal. The French scrambled eggs are always so fantastic, that I can never bring myself to switch it up-- it's that good. Perfect soft, creamy, rich consistency every time. They taste like they're scrambled with love, Dijon mustard, herbs...and French magic, probably. And when the Chef/Owner is in, you MUST opt for the baguette. Just a piece of their beautiful baguettes, served with butter and/or jam. Rumor has it that she's the master and is the only one who can bake them perfectly. Here's where things can start to get dicey: - If they use day-old bread...GASP! Last time I was in, B.C. (Before Covid) the bread was NOT baked fresh that morning. It was stale and had that old-chew texture, no spring. It seems like it was "steamed" back to life in a microwave. Very disappointing. Especially after I went on and on to the husband about how epic the baguettes are. - Customer Service. It's 90% awkward and cold and unwelcoming. Smiles are rare at the cash register, and I usually want to get away from there ASAP. This department could use the most work. - Protein sides. Your options with the French scrambled eggs are bacon or sausage and both are meager (for the price) and just 'meh'. - Line can get long during peak hours, and most tables are 2-4 tops. Overall, Essence is one of my favorite breakfast spots in the valley and the butter croissants alone are worth everrrrrrry flaky, buttery, calorie. read more

The coffee is great, the pastries are to die for, and the food is rich and tastes great. The atmosphere is very nice. You will want to keep coming back here. read more

For anyone who has seen Italy at least once, you know how breakfast is over there. Espresso or cappuccino and a fresh pastry. This place was recommended by friends, so I decided to give it a try. It does resemble the Italian breakfast a little bit. My friends were right, their baked goods are a legend. So fresh and delicious, you're naturally inclined to get more than one. Their presentation is also appealing. I got a croissant, a raspberry danish and a small cappuccino. Cappuccino, to be honest with you, is not the best in town, but still a cappuccino. My eulogies go to the baked goods I got. Never had something that good before in Phoenix. Prices are fair. I will come back other times to try something different and see if my palate will get satisfied even more. Watch out for parking, as this place is right on Indian School street and there is not much room for maneuvering your 4 wheel. :-) ciao! read more