Best croissant I've had in Phoenix hands down. Chai was so so but service and ambiance are great. Lots of parking available in the back.

I stopped by while out running errands to grab a couple of breakfast sandwiches and some pastries to-go for my neighbors. I had my small Maltese with me and, while placing my order, I was approached by an older woman, most likely manager or chef, who touched my dog's leash and asked if he was a service animal. I said no and mentioned I hadn't seen any signage on the door about pets or service animals. She referenced health inspection regulations, which I completely understand. I let her know we'd just place our order to-go and head outside. However, I was then asked to leave entirely, which felt unnecessary and unkind. The croissants and macarons are truly delicious, but the service today didn't reflect the same warmth. It was over 100 degrees outside, so leaving my dog in the car simply wasn't an option. I wish the situation had been handled with a little more understanding and care. read more

How disappointing. I visited on Sunday just before 1pm First the staff obviously doesn't want to be there. In the middle of taking my order the woman stopped me to ask her coworker to switch stations with her and then they did. It was super weird. My oat milk chai latte had so little flavor besides the oat milk that I threw it away after a few sips because if I wanted a cup of oat milk I could have opened my own fridge and not paid nearly $8 for it. If it wasn't a to-go order I would have requested a refund without hesitation. The macarons had great flavor but were sloppy. The way they were packaged ruined them. Stacking them in a flimsy too small box so they were smashed and slightly soggy once I got home felt like a middle finger after the chai latte. I honestly don't know if the problems I experienced were because the staff was incompetent or if the owners just don't care anymore since it can ride the coattails of its former reputation. read more

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The croissants here are next level. Honestly, they deserve 5/5 stars. The same can't be said for the coffee which took the staff over 20 minutes to make (mind you it wasn't busy and I only ordered 1 to go). Let's get back to the good stuff. The croissants are perfectly flaky and delicious with a wide selection of flavors to choose from. I can't wait to go back and try the raspberry chocolate next time I'm in Phoenix! read more

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

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The food and this bakery is very good... I would recommend the egg sandwich and the quiche. When it come to the friendliest of the staff it's definitely a hit or miss. The other downside to this place is that if you go after 12pm it's slim pickings of what is offered. read more

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Second time here for lunch and it is AMAZING. So fresh, delicious and a break from chains and average food. Menu is full of extremely fresh combinations and great quality food! The egg salad sandwich with bacon and avocado is SUPREME! read more

Read a review about this place in the AZ republic so we had to try it. Got 3 pastries - a ham and Gruyère, another with olives and of course a chocolate croissant. The butter was overwhelmingly delicious. The pastry was so crispy and light. I thought I was in France while I was eating these amazing treats! read more

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

Fabulous pastries and the chicken salad is also delicious!!!! Staff is very nice and helpful with choices

A high quality bakery with some exceptionally fine pastries: well made, profound flavors, extremely fresh. Unfortunately, the prices at Essence range from above average to exorbitantly ridiculous. I'm willing to pay $5-6 for a really good Pain Au Raisin or Almond Croissant, but there's a box of 2 mini quiches in the To Go cooler for $25. Wow. Service is hit or miss. When the staff can concentrate on the customer and order in front of them, they do fine. But any time there's a line four deep, they tend to hurry, mess things up, and then get all bent out of shape when you bring it to their attention. Consistency is not the mantra at Essence. If you're willing to pay $10 for a pastry and a coffee, Essence is a perfectly fine place during off hours. Otherwise, Essence Bakery is a coin flip. read more

The BEST pastries in Phoenix. Period! And the pastries are fresh, unique, and delicious in every way. I love treating friends and picking up a box for coworkers who are visiting from out of town. read more

staff was honestly not that friendly, ambiance feels hostile as f, I asked what kind of syrups they used and they said "we don't use syrups"... ok... I told them they have syrups for coffee on the menu and then she said it's house made syrups but I saw the barista using a generic bottle of syrup?? the chai looked atrocious and tasted even worse, worst $8 I've ever spent. This place sucks and also why is there coffee grinds at the bottom of my coffee read more

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

I was craving a good Sunday morning pastry and I drove past this place and decided to go in. Their pastry selection is next level. I was salivating just looking at the raspberry brioche pastry. I also also ordered the chai tea latte, which was just ok. I'm really glad I got the macarons to go as there were a nice evening treat. I want to come back and try their entrees because they have a solid lineup. The restaurant was packed so you know it's local hot spot. read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Chocolate and raspberry macarons and a raspberry brioche pastry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Hands-down, best bakery in the valley! Nobody can make a croissant like Chef! We test tasted every croissant in the area. Also, we will not get macarons from any other place. This place has the BEST! We have been going here for years read more

Nice place to hang out with friends! The vanilla macaron was unbelievably delicious!!! Wasn't a fan of the Vanilla Glace drink but my friends Vanilla Iced Latte was very good. read more

Sophia greeted me right away when I walked in, which was awesome and welcoming! She took and made my order. I ordered a Carmel latte which was yummy. This business is nice in and out. You may even sit inside if you like. It looks small from the outside but, is actually pretty big inside. They have reserved parking spots for their establishment in front of the bakery, as well as, there's parking behind the bakery. The pastries looked yummy, although, I didn't purchase any, this visit since I didn't want to ruin my appetite for a huge luncheon I was attending. I definitely recommend stopping here and ask that Sophia make your drink. She's Awesome and deserves a raise!!! It's hard to find great attitudes these days! read more

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Let me tell you something. The macarons!!!! OMG. A hidden gem here in the metro PHX area. Treat yourself

Pro tip: I'm still convinced these are the best macarons I've ever had and I've had A LOT. It looks like the macaron selection changes so just order them all in case they aren't around next time! Highlights: The macarons are impeccable. I also like the concept of their box of treats but each sample is a touch too small for me since I usually share it with my boyfriend - so I wouldn't recommend sharing it. Lowlights: The passionfruit chocolate croissant was a bit of a letdown as there was really no passionfruit flavor at all. I wouldn't order it again. read more

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I had the very best vegetarian Quiche Lorraine this morning! It was absolutely delicious with a flakie crust and a fresh side salad! The veggies were tasty and peWill go back again soon. Highly revise this spot for their amazing pastries and especially the large variety of macaroons read more

All the pastries are amazing. I obsess over the butter croissant and the chocolate raspberry croissant. Macarons are delicious in every flavor. I've had breakfast a few times and it's very French and delicious. I've liked everything I've gotten here. Service is great but it's a small shop so the line can get long. Come early! They'll sell out of things pretty quickly otherwise. If you get anything with bread make sure you get the jam to go with it! I just wish they were also open Mondays and Tuesdays read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Inside - pastry glass with macarons - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I recognized the name of this place and realized I visited the Tempe location like 8-9 years ago before it had closed! My husband and I are trying to find the best croissants in the valley and this is definitely a contender. There was a bit of a line and the parking situation isn't great but it's worth it. I got butter croissants and a mocha. They only serve their mochas iced with cream. It was super rich so I only had half but it was good! The croissants are the stars of the show though. So crisp and flaky on the outside, soft on the inside. Very delicious and complements the mocha well! Would love to come here for lunch sometime read more

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

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A favorite spot in Phoenix, I thought I had found my favorite treat in a chocolate croissant, only to be upstaged by an almost more sophisticated version of itself - a chocolate raspberry croissant. WOW this was absolutely divine. Such a good crunch on the pastry with a wonderful acidic fruity to cut the sweet on the chocolate. The best way to start off a Saturday morning. Coffee here is always solid. I like the iced vanilla glacé more than the caramel, but you really can't go wrong!!! read more

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

Was so excited to try the pastries. But made the mistake of taking home my croissant which was fresh, but a strawberry pastry was at least 5 days old. It was hard as a rock. Very disappointed. Will be going back but will touch my pastry before leaving. read more

Amazing croissants, we got the OG croissant and the raspberry one, they were very good and authentic. My husband couldn't stop talking about the food there. The eggs were amazing, even though it's a very simple food, it was tasty. We'll be coming back to this restaurant for breakfast probably every time we visit phoenix, my husband loves it. Customer service was good, and the food didn't take too long. read more

We've been coming to Essence for years and were quite bummed when they moved from Tempe to the Arcadia area. Much farther from us, but it's a nicer building. The special salad that enticed us to make the drive was perfection: warm bacon with arugula salad, Utah peaches, feta cheese, sun-dried cherries, toasted pecans and a red wine vinaigrette. The combination of ingredients was amazing. Plus, it came with one of their flaky, buttery croissants. One of Essence's specialties is their macaron cookies. We were bummed to see that the case was almost empty. My husband and I split a caramel macaron, a mini chocolate macaron, and a chocolate crinkle cookie. The caramel cookie was good, the mini chocolate macaron was outrageously fantastic, and the crinkle cookie was also extremely amazing. They really know how to do dark chocolate here. Essence may be far from our house, but it's worth coming out here. read more

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Staff are great and helpful, efficient. Pastry are really tasty, and looks really pretty. Tried the croissants(both chocolate and almond, so yummy and crunchy, I think the almond is abit rich for me), macaroons (they are huge and really tasty! Tried pumpkin, chocolate, hazelnut, strawberry .. they are all delicious) Also tried their Apple pie, it's good. They open really early (I was there at 0630!) and they open on time with a bunch of staff serve you with a smile. I noticed there are lunch menu too. Would love to go back and try it again. Even though it's on a pricey side, but everything is good. Would definitely recommend and go back for more! read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - Apple pie, croissants, macaroons - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

First time eating here with my family. Utterly disappointed with the poor customer service. The waffle special was burnt. When we attempted to ask if we could place a new order for waffles that weren't so hard, we were told that it's the batter and we could only exchange it if wanted to pay for a new order. From the cashier to the waitress, bad experience. Food was mediocre and we will never return nor recommend it to anyone. read more

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

Fantastic croissants and French pastries. They make everything fresh in the morning. The almond croissants have a bit of orange zest in them to give them that freshness. Would love to be back for breakfast. Cheers read more

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

This is kind of a big thing to say, but the butter croissant here is the best one I've had, in any major city or when I've been in France even. I am limiting myself to one per week when I'm in the Valley but I can't really get enough. Perfect texture, flavor, all of it. There is often a line on the weekend but it moves quickly. The chocolate raspberry is also a really good croissant. The service isn't the most friendly and doesn't make me want to dine in, so they lose a star, but I will keep coming back for the butter croissant because it's that good. read more

The treats here are amazing, my favorites are the coffee and strawberry and cream macrons. They are the best I've ever had. Everyone who works there is always very nice, and it's such a cute shop! read more

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

Very nice and small bakery. They have great coffee and pastries. They also have some good breakfast and lunch selections. read more

This place is it, there is NO comparison. Essence is on another caliber altogether... the pastry is so rich, the layered flavors are perfectly harmonious. I couldn't decide on one so I tried three of them and they were all amazing. The only other time I've had a pastry this good was at a cafe in Paris. I am excited to have something even more delicious within a ten minute drive from home. Based on their Instagram account it looks like they make different pastries every week. I can't wait to try them all! read more

Essence Bakery Cafe - I couldn't decide so I got three... they were ALL amazing!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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"I've visited here twice in a row, and the service I received from Tenayah has been exceptional. While I can't say the same for others, she has been truly pleasant and welcoming. Thank you!" read more

We've only grabbed coffee and her amazing baked goods but we love this place. She is a French trained pastry chef and the baked goods are outstanding to say the least read more

I have been here dozens times (at one point, weekly) over the past 2 years. Due to the absent-minded service I had twice a few months ago (Fall of 2023), I decided not to return unless there was a reason (craving one of their pastries or macarons). I wasn't just going to give them my money anymore. After my experience today, I'm never coming back. My parents and I came in for breakfast around 09:00. We ordered at the counter, received a number, and sat at a table at the front. We sat down and then realized we were never given the "box of treats" we ordered. It was on our receipt, so we went to the counter to ask. They had completely forgotten to give it to us (evidence: they didn't have it sitting packaged off to the side or anything; it was still in the display case with the other pre-boxed pastry packages) despite giving us the rest of our pastries. Then as we waited for 15 minutes, we realized we never got our coffee orders. Mind you, they were simple black coffees that take about 30 seconds to serve in a to-go cup. After seeing multiple customers who ordered after us get their lattes, etc before us, we asked what happened to our 2 coffees. They immediately brought it out. Then, after another 30 minutes later and seeing 3 other parties (who also ordered their food after us) get their food orders before us, we again went to the counter. They said it would be out "right away." The only food we ordered was the egg sandwich, which probably takes a maximum of 10 minutes to make. Finally, nearly an hour after we had originally ordered, I finally received my squat little sandwich. This experience was terrible. I can't understand how they failed on three accounts and how they never apologized once. For a place that has been around for this long, the job training here must be lacking. There's no accountability for why we had the experience we did. It was abysmal. Over the last two years: FOOD QUALITY: 4 stars. This is some of the best pastries you'll find in Phoenix. But come in the morning or it won't always be fresh. VALUE: 2 stars. The prices here are, undeniably, unjustified. SERVICE: 1 star. Not zero stars. Zero would have been blatantly telling us to bugger off. AMBIANCE: 4 stars. Good vibes and unique art pieces. Tl;dr If you care more about Instagram-worthy photos than value or baseline competent service, then come here on a regular basis. Make sure you get a printed receipt to ensure you get what you ordered. read more

New local favorite!! Came in here today to grab a croissant and left very impressed. Walked in and was immediately impressed by the interior design of this place. The barista who took our order was very nice and gave us recommendations on what she likes to get when we asked. I got the almond croissant and an espresso while my friend got the quiche. The croissant was one of if not the best I have had in Phoenix, and the espresso was strong. I don't know what the deal is with coffee shops in Phoenix serving weak espresso's but you will not have that issue here. My friend enjoyed his quiche and said it was good. Being a Thursday morning it wasn't crazy busy but could see it being much busier on the weekends. I will definitely be back for either a croissant and coffee or a nice breakfast. read more

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In my opinion, this place is just okay. The staff never greets me or seems happy to be helping me. Pricing seems high for the amount of food. Their presentation is nice, restaurant is clean, eggs are always cooked precisely along with their croissants. read more

This was our last stop.. we ordered the waffles and huevos de rancheros.. overall it was okay I ordered a vanilla latte wasn't that great.. the service could have been better the waitress was a little rude and the food took long to get which was understandable since it was Mother's Day.. I wouldn't come out of my way to come back here though read more

Everything at Essence is always top notch. The best pastry I've had there is their new raspberry valrhona croissant, but everything is stellar. Cookies, macarons, bread, croissants, peach pie. All outrageous. The only reason for four stars is their coffee - I ordered a large (mocha glacé; it's ridiculously good with a little cinnamon to it) and the server was walking around with a medium. When I told her I was waiting on a larger size, she dumped the medium in a large to-go cup and topped it off with ice. I understand she was busy, but the ticket was correct and there's a $2+ difference between the medium and the large, so I'd prefer more coffee over more ice. I'll be back anyway and I'll order the coffee again - possibly tomorrow, because chocolate raspberry croissants are back for the weekend! read more

This was my 1st time here and I was excited about it . I was meeting friends here Little did I know that this would be such a battle . So I ordered the egg sandwich with the egg well done . This is exactly what was requested as well as you will see on the receipt as well as a coffee. So I get my meal I am eating it with a knife and fork as I am eating it I notice the egg is runny . So I ask if there could be something done about this since it was ordered well done. I was told once that there is nothing they can do about it . At this point I am over this establishment. Yet still waiting for my friends who are on their way . I tell them what happened they offered to get me something else I refuse because I am pissed . So before I go I get a copy of the receipt just to see what exactly was ordered. So I ask the woman behind the counter where is the disconnect due to the receipt saying the eggs needed to be well done yet they were not how is she going to fix this . She proceeds to tell me they were busy and that happens unfortunately. So then she says let me ask and see what can be done. She comes back and tells me they can give me a well cooked egg. Seriously why would I want a well cooked egg when my sandwich is cold as well as it having a runny egg in it . I said all of this as well as why would you not give me my money back or a sandwich. She then tells me she does not have the authority to do either. I then said well who does I want to talk to them . She then walks around comes back and gives me a card with an email to a Gilles . I told her I don't want the sandwich then took a picture because at this time I am so over this place in every way . As my friends finish their coffee we are leaving and a girl walks over to the table and says egg sandwich and hands me a box,never an apology for any of it . I threw it away I don't even know if it was done correctly this time or not . Just horrible experience seriously. Had the coffee and honestly I have had better for less , perhaps the customer service affected the overall taste of the coffee read more

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Disappointing, I love this place for Saturday breakfast special and pastries. My favs were the almond croissant and the chocolate/almond croissant. On the weekend, it sells out, most of time before I arrive. Several Saturdays ago both were available, I was really happy. I purchased 4 items the pastries were dry and overcooked or a day old. The pastries are not inexpensive but made with great ingredients. Definitely not the same chef/bakery. I called multiply times to talk directly with the owner, no luck. I was provided an email address, no luck. I much prefer to address this with the owner but no luck. I also agree on the service.....never enough staff. If you want a plain coffee not a specialty coffee, good luck on getting it hot with your meal. You want a clean table good luck - only if the staff can get to it. I so love this place and am really sad I was not able to address this directly with the owner. This is Shirley A used Karl I's account, I was unable to login to Yelp. read more