Essence Bakery

Essence Bakery Café serves a European-inspired menu with local touches, from breakfast and lunch to pastries and breads. The kitchen makes its pastries and desserts from scratch, using organic flour, seasonal fruit and chocolate, and the bakery is especially known for its Parisian macarons, which won a Best of Phoenix award within its first nine months.

Essence works with local farms and buys organic whenever possible, with eggs and dairy always organic. The café is a casual, sit-down spot for a meal with friends or colleagues. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, with breakfast served until 11 AM on weekdays and all day on weekends, and it sits on East Indian School Road in Phoenix.