01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At TEA LAB, the appeal of a cake goes beyond its appearance: there is pleasure in discovering how its flavours come together, too. One visitor who went during the Christmas season chose the Puppy Tree, a tree-shaped strawberry cake filled with strawberry pudding. They were struck not only by its cute design but also by the combination in each bite. The Merry Christmas Shortcake, available around the same time, had chocolate sponge layered with strawberries and chocolate cream. One reviewer found it quite sweet, so it may appeal if you enjoy a more pronounced sweetness.
The seasonal cakes change over time, making it part of the fun to see what is on offer when you visit. Someone who tried a spring shortcake praised its combination of pistachio cream, strawberry cream and strawberries, and enjoyed the flavour as much as its appearance. If you prefer a less sweet option, another visitor described a snowman cake with shortcake inside, lightly sweetened fresh cream and fluffy sponge. It could be a pleasing choice if you like playful designs but prefer your cream on the less-sweet side.
There is a broad selection of drinks to go with the cakes, from tea-based choices to coffee. One diner paired an iced Americano with a cake that layered tiramisu and Basque cheesecake, noting the contrast in texture between its upper and lower layers. A clean-tasting coffee could be a good way to enjoy the cake’s different layers. The menu also includes drinks such as Matcha Cake Milk Tea and Caramel Pudding Milk Tea, along with Milk Foam White Peach Oolong and jasmine tea. There is plenty to choose from whether you want tea to take centre stage or a drink to complement your cake. Listed prices include 550 yen each for the milk-foam drinks, 650 yen for Matcha Cake Milk Tea and 710 yen for Caramel Pudding Milk Tea. Coffee options include staples such as a café latte for 550 yen and a cappuccino for 590 yen, as well as a brown sugar café latte for 690 yen. Choosing between fragrant tea and coffee to match your cake and your tastes is part of the enjoyment.
The café has seating for dining in, though reviewers have described the interior as small, and one mentioned that the tables were small. If you have a particular seasonal cake in mind, it may be worth checking what is available that day and how busy the café is before planning your visit. TEA LAB is in Matsuzaki-cho, Abeno Ward. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00 and closed on Mondays.
