Essen Bakery North

After years of working in some of America’s most iconic restaurants, Chef Tova du Plessis decided to go back to her roots when she opened her first bakery. She took inspiration from the fresh baked bread and pastries she would make alongside her mother as a child. Her food reflects her heritage while being heavily influenced by her technical training.

Essen Bakery is a cozy and bustling neighborhood spot in South Philly. Open Wednesdays through Sundays, you can find us making sandwiches on pillowy bagels and breads, grinding freshly roasted coffee beans and boxing up buttery pastries. We bake everything from scratch every day from the best ingredients we can find. From the very first year in operation, Tova was nominated for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker for four consecutive years. Essen Bakery continues to garner rave reviews from local and national publications, and has established a loyal following of local fans.