Essence Bakery Cafe

A Delightful Culinary ExperienceWe were thoroughly impressed with our dining experience at Essence Bakery in Arcadia. Every dish we tried was bursting with fresh flavors and showcased a creative twist that elevated the meal beyond our expectations. The menu reflects a thoughtful balance of classic and innovative, making each bite a pleasant surprise.The atmosphere at Essence Bakery is equally appealing, with a cool, clean ambiance that perfectly blends modern design with vintage charm. The attention to detail in both the food and the setting made for a truly enjoyable visit.Whether you're a local or just passing through Phoenix, Essence Bakery is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality food in a stylish, welcoming environment. Cheers!

Date: Sunday, July 2nd, 2023Time: around 12:15pmReason: MacaronsI adore french macarons. Whenever I'm on vacay, I always search bakeries to see if there's a new place that sells them. (Well new to me.) I was having brunch down the street and decided to swing by here first to grab some treats. Unfortunately, I think this is a breakfast spot, so there were not a lot left. I believe I just grabbed one of each flavor and a coffee. The mini macarons were $2 each while the normal sized one - French Chocolate Macaron was $4.25.Texture wise, they had a slight chew. Tho they were very airy and crumbled / broke easily. I can't recall the flavors that day, but I think one of them was lemon which was probably my fav. I adore tart desserts / sweets.I read a lot of good things about their macarons. If I ever find myself in the area early, I'll definitely stop by to see if they have more of a selection then.REVIEW #3459

Essence Bakery is probably one of the most lovely experiences I've had in all my travels. The food was great, pastries were unique flavor combos, and probably the most endearing thing about the visit was the owner and head pastry chef.She was so warm and welcoming. Me and my girlfriend had a lovely conversation with her while we waited, and she was so genuinely invested in our (and every other guest's) experience. I can't recommend this place enough. Well worth a road trip to come here.

The baked good are delish. Passion fruit Crossiant is amazing. Perfectly flaky and light on the sweetness.The freshly squeezed Orange juice is pulpy. If you arent a pulp person, do not recommend. Plenty of seating inside. Parking is avaliable behind the bakery. Only few spots in the front. Fast service, good place but pricey!

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!

What makes a great bakery? Pastries or experience? Or both? Before visiting Essence, I'd say excellent pastries. After breakfast, I say it's both, because Essence's service was lacking. Standing in line on a November Saturday around 9 a.m., the queue went out the door. However, after looking inside, the line wasn't very deep. The line was moving at a sluggish rate due to staff. Even with two people at the register, each order took awhile. Once we finally ordered, the person behind the register seemed rushed. We order brioche French toast, quiche and granola to stay. She left and came back with a bag of dry granola even though it was clear we wanted the granola to eat in restaurant. Once we sat down, it took 40+ minutes for us to get our food. Once we did, it was disappointing. The French toast was soggy and not tasty. I literally thought they ran out of bread so went to the store to get Wonderbread. It was nothing special- not worth the wait. The redeeming factors were my wife me granola. She enjoyed it as did my daughter with her quiche.

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

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.

I have been coming to Essence for more than 15 years and I probably wrote a review for their old location in Tempe way back at the beginning. In my opinion, the croissants here are better than I've had in Paris or Tokyo. I've been fortunate to have the plain croissants from Essence warm from the oven and they're life changing! We came for lunch to get the seasonal salad that had fresh peaches and crispy bacon with a croissant on the side. It was excellent! The smoky-crispy-sweet-juicy texture mix did amazing things with the bitterness of the greens and tang of the dressing. The macarons here are also amazing. There were not many to choose from since they were closing down for vacation, but we grabbed a few of the remaining stock. Chocolate was a favorite. This space is a lot bigger and more modern than the old Tempe location, so the ambience is more "cafe" and less "cafeteria" than it was back then. Nice upgrade!

I've only had breakfast or lunch here a few times, and long ago, so I can't really comment on the full menu. But this is an amazing bakery if you want coffee and a sweet snack. I picked up their amazing almost croissant and a caramel latte this weekend. Latte was not too sweet, so I could actually enjoy the balance of caramel and espresso. Croissant was perfect - flaky, phenomenal almond filling, just amazing. The caramel macaroon there is one of my favorite cookies ever. And if you ever luck out and they are offering the lemon meringue tart, order it! Their meringue has a fluffy, almost marshmallow consistency. It's incredible. And a cute space, lots of seating. Just a neighborhood gem.