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Experience the Essence of Unionville - Essence of Unionville, Markham, ON

Essence of Unionville

3.9
3.9
316 Reviews
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Canadian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for brunch
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
Essence of Unionville is a culinary gem led by renowned Chef Jitin Gaba, known for his innovative Canadian coast-to-coast cuisine. Experience a delightful fusion of flavors, inspired by the diverse landscapes of Canada. From hearty breakfasts and brunches to elegant afternoon teas, our menu offers something for every palate.

With a contemporary ambiance, Essence of Unionville is perfect for celebrating special occasions, business dinners, or simply enjoying a delicious meal. Whether it's an intimate gathering or a large celebration, our attentive staff ensures every detail is taken care of.

Discover the Essence of Unionville located inside the iconic Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites hotel. 🖤✨

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    CAN$31 to CAN$50
  • Cuisines
    Canadian, Afternoon Tea, All you can eat/Buffet
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Daily 6:30 am–11:00 am Afternoon Tea Sat, Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (905) 415-7611
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Jitin Gaba
  • Catering
    Ask about customized menu options.
  • Private party facilities
    Group lunches & dinners, celebrating holidays, special occasions, engagements, bridal showers, anniversaries, birthdays and accommodating groups of all sizes.• Private Dining Room - 28 people maximum• The Octagon (Semiprivate Dining Room) - 40 people maximum
  • Private party contact
    Private Event Coordinator: (905) 470-8500 ext. 2067
  • Neighborhood
    Markham
  • Cross street
    HWY 7 & Warden
  • Parking details
    Complimentary parking for dine-in guests.
  • Public transit
    Warden Avenue at Hwy 7
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • The Classic Sunday Brunch

    CA$65.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Our Sunday Market Brunch Buffet offers a different weekly menu featuring salads, charcuterie, Ontario & Quebec cheeses, four live cooking stations (seafood, meat & fish carving, omelet and pasta), mains and Chef's selection of pastries. Every Sunday from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Gather your crew and save 10% on your total bill when you reserve a table for 10+ people! Note: Kids under 5 eat free, and aren't included for this promotion.
    The Classic Sunday Brunch Photo
  • Traditional Afternoon High Tea

    CA$48.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Elevate your weekend Afternoon High Tea experience with friends and family. Delight in a classic, refined afternoon tea experience featuring a curated selection of timeless and inventive bites. Savour freshly baked scones, signature in-house pastries, and a range of luxury teas. Every Saturday & Sunday from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
    Traditional Afternoon High Tea Photo

What 316 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.9
3.9 based on recent ratings
  • 3.8Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.1Ambience
  • 3.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • York

    Great for brunch

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Essence of Unionville offers delightful dining experiences with "delicious food," "very good service," and a "relaxing ambiance." Guests praise the diverse brunch options and special touches like live music. While some find pricing steep, the friendly staff and memorable celebrations make it a "great experience" worth revisiting.

316 Reviews
  1. Linda

    VIP

    Toronto

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Overall, the afternoon tea experience was enjoyable, but there were a few minor issues that affected the experience. The ambiance was pleasant, though the noise from a staff member pushing a heavy-duty floor cleaner across the dining room during tea service was distracting. That said, the service by Paul stood out as exceptional—attentive, professional, and engaging, adding a positive touch to the experience. The food was a highlight, with the sandwiches and desserts being particularly delightful. However, the mention of "warm raisin and plain scones from our bakery" in the menu was a bit misleading, as only one scone (a raisin one) was provided. In situations like this, it would be better for the establishment to substitute with another scone to keep the promise of two. When I asked the server, if the tea should have two scones, as the menu wording seems to indicate two scones with the afternoon tea. They indicated “no, it is only one scone.” The wording should be adjusted to "warm raisin OR plain scone" instead of "AND," which would avoid confusion. Why ask when making the reservation through “Open Table” about the reason for the booking (ie. birthday or anniversary) if the occasion is not acknowledged. It was indicated on my reservation it was my sister’s birthday. A slightly broader tea selection would have been appreciated, but considering the price point, I would still recommend this afternoon tea. It offered good value for money despite the minor hiccups.

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  2. Nila

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an incredible experience at Essence of Unionville. We decided we'd celebrate my mother's birthday with Sunday brunch and could not have been happier with our choice. The staff truly went above and beyond to make sure we had a good time and the food was delicious. There was a wide variety of options to choose from, including an amazing selection of desserts. To top it all off, the staff came over with some birthday cake and even sang happy birthday to my mother. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you to everyone at the Essence of Unionville for making my mother's birthday so special.

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  3. Lynn

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 24, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Very spacious room Was not busy for a Friday night One staff looking after the tables Food was good, risotto with short ribs was a fav, Sea bass was also good Pricing was a little steep but it was a special occasion for so we were treated well! Lighting needs to be adjusted for dining, overhead lighting was too bright like cafeteria lighting :( Otherwise a good time had by all We will be back to try brunch

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  4. Anna

    Toronto

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very good service. Food is good too. Very relaxing evening.

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  5. Sanjukta

    Toronto

    32 reviews

    5.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our high tea experience this afternoon was lovely. Delicious food, good tea, good service and a relaxing ambiance.

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  6. Anson

    VIP

    Toronto

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Basically it was an good experience and food was decent. Is a little bit pricey but overall I think the value is good

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  7. Mert

    Toronto

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 25, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The staff were very friendly and helpful, which is expected from a restaurant located within a hotel. However, considering the price of $100 per person (plus tips and no taxes for now), the selection at the open buffet was underwhelming. The quality of the meat products, charcuterie, and sushi was disappointing. Comparatively, you can find a much wider variety of dishes with better-quality ingredients at places like Dragon Legend or Mandarin, all for about 40% less.

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  8. Peter

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    very good taste, good service, free parking but need to write down the licence plate in the front desk. Will come again.

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  9. Christine

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and arrangement. Food is good and cheese cake is delicious.

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  10. Norma

    Toronto

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 11, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Unfortunately, the limited menu of the Mistletoe Lunch Buffet at $52.00 pp was very disappointing. Mains: The beef rib and pre-sliced turkey are not carved from roast but appeared to have pre-processed or packaged beginnings similar to a diner. The third option was an overcooked fish dish in a sauce. Of the desserts, the mango pudding was good and the apple streusel was flaky. The plain cheesecake had a soggy crust. Would guess that desserts might not be made in house. The restaurant itself is comfortable, attractive and was quiet on a weekday lunch. Sadly, our party of 4 cannot recommend the buffet.

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Essence of Unionville offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (905) 415-7611.

Essence of Unionville is rated 3.9 stars by 316 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Essence of Unionville

Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites, 8500 Warden Avenue, Markham, ON L6G 1A5

Additional information

  • Cross street
    HWY 7 & Warden
  • Neighborhood
    Markham
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Daily 6:30 am–11:00 am Afternoon Tea Sat, Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    CAN$31 to CAN$50
  • Cuisines
    Canadian, Afternoon Tea, All you can eat/Buffet
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Complimentary parking for dine-in guests.
  • Public transit
    Warden Avenue at Hwy 7
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Jitin Gaba
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (905) 415-7611
  • Catering
    Ask about customized menu options.
  • Private party facilities
    Group lunches & dinners, celebrating holidays, special occasions, engagements, bridal showers, anniversaries, birthdays and accommodating groups of all sizes.• Private Dining Room - 28 people maximum• The Octagon (Semiprivate Dining Room) - 40 people maximum
  • Private party contact
    Private Event Coordinator: (905) 470-8500 ext. 2067
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  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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