A cute cafe in the lobby of an apartment/hotel complex. The pastries all looked delicious and there were plenty of unique drink options. The service was quick and friendly, the barista described the options available and had good recommendations! Good study space with WiFi, bathrooms, and a water fountain around the corner. Just be prepared to wear a jacket on either end of the cafe near the doors, can get windy upon opening! Thai Tea Caramel Canelé {5/5}: The best canelé I've ever had (okay, I admit, I've only had maybe 6 in my life). Great caramel and good Thai tea flavor. The texture was AMAZING with a nice slight crisp and chewy outside and almost custard-like inside. I got 2 more before I left Green Onion Kouign-Amann {4/5}: A caramel shell outside of this very flakey pastry that I had plenty of green onions mixed within the dough. It was a great play on sweet and salty flavors with delicious flakey layers Jade Cloud {3/5}: Peach oolong tea with matcha cold foam. Just a personal preference thing, but the flavor combination of peach, oolong, and matcha was not my favorite. I can see how someone who likes this flavor profile would find this drink refreshing! read more

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Stopped in this summer while visiting a friend. She's raved about Bakelab for ages, and I was excited to try it. The pastry selection was amazing. We got a couple of croissants and a canele, and we each ordered an espresso drink. It was everything she promised - and more. The croissant was flaky and buttery. The canele had the signature caramelized exterior and soft inside. I intended to only have a bite and save the rest for later, but I couldn't resist finishing it. Would definitely come back on my next visit. In the meantime, I'll just have to ask my friend to bring pastries to me when she visits! read more

The espresso coffees are the stars here, and they rotate through various seasonal drinks. Every kind of flavored syrup you could imagine. Pricier than other places, especially the teas. They have a few premade sandwiches (nothing vegan), and a nice selection of sweet pastries, definitely a cut above other cafes. Variations on pastel de nata I've never seen anywhere else. No fake colored artificial stuff here: real nuts, pastry cream, etc. I really appreciate that they list ingredients for those with allergies, and items are stored separately rather than all bunched together. Unfortunately no ceramics, everything is paper or plastic here. Friendly staff, and they're hiring! Outdoor seating, indoor seating, restroom, water fountain, wall outlets. read more

Bakelab - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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They have some of the best coffee and croissants that I've ever had in my entire life. First of all, I'm addicted to their basic drip coffee, which is the best I've found in this city. It's pricey for a reason (and justifiably so). When I'm in town I get a cup to start my morning whenever I can. Also - I've been blessed with a wife who really loves French pastries, so I've had thousands in my life so far. The ones they make here at Bakelab rank in the top 5% easily. Truly excellent croissants. I'd invest good money to have this recreated in Memphis where I live. Seriously. read more

Bakelab - High quality coffee cups - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

I am a long time bakelab fan! We went to the location on Neil street for the first time and I was not disappointed! I got the miss my ex matcha which was a new take on an old classic, while It wouldn't replace my normal order it was definitely a fun experience! I also got the salmon sandwhich and OMG, it was seriously so amazing. Their bakery items are also to die for, a personal favorite is the strawberry ube! They place is so friendly and Innovative I love that they have two locations read more

Bakelab - Matcha and Salmon sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Bakelab checks off all the boxes for me when it comes to a coffee shop! I ordered a flat white and it was made exactly the way I like it. Half sweetened with hazelnut, whole milk, extra hot. Beautiful m latte art which is always a nice touch. The service was on point -- very friendly and helpful. And the baked goods were top notch! We were blown away. We tried their almond croissant, blueberry danish, and a fruit danish. Their pastries are made in house and they were absolutely delicious. So flakey, perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. The coffee shop itself is great for catching up with friends, a coffee date or getting some studying/work done. Lots of natural light. 10/10 would recommend. Too bad we were only in town visiting, otherwise I would be here all the time. Check them out! read more

Bakelab - Fresh pastries made in house! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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From Chicago, met some new friends here for coffee. Great ambiance for hanging out. Lots of college aged students doing homework. But don't go for the coffee. There's a reason they call this place Bakelab, not Coffeelab. The baked goods are incredible! Highly recommended. read more

Bakelab - Mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

C'est délicieux ! Am I in Champaign or Paris ?!? All the folks working were extremely nice and helpful. The drip coffee was slightly cooler than we preferred and they made a whole new pot! The pastries were all freaking amazing. We had the bacon quiche and good morning croissant and ended with a breakfast dessert of the pistachio croissant. I would order everything again. Very cozy spot good for working or studying. Cute clean bathrooms. read more

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It was my first time trying Bakelab and it did not disappoint! I ordered the black sesame matcha latte and it was perfect. Not too sweet and not much of the "grassy" taste that some matcha have. I also got the pistachio croissant which was super crunchy and fresh. I will definitely be coming back here again! read more

Bakelab - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Some of their pastries seem too gorgeous to eat...until the first bite. A tad pricey but what you get is extraordinary.

Such a charming cute Café located on Lincoln Ave. They have a variety of coffee beverages and pastries. I'm not big on coffee but I did order their premium orange juice, their quiche, and their strawberry cake box. I really enjoyed everything, I just wish they warmed up my quiche a little more! It's such a cute Café for college students. The atmosphere is nice and relaxed. The shop itself is updated and modern. I also enjoy how they have an order window, where you can just walk up and order your meal, with a staff member. Quite convenient if you're in a hurry and don't have time to stand inside. The staff was so incredible! I actually forgot my wallet like an idiot, and after panicking I walked back the BakeLab and they had it secured in a drawer. I was so grateful, and am so thankful to whoever turned it in. Disaster averted! I would highly, highly, highly recommend this café! read more

Bakelab - Quiche, premium OJ, and strawberry cake box. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

The restaurant was very clean and there was a spacious outdoor seating area. I was pleasantly surprised by how busy it was inside, but the line went by very quickly! I got a pain au chocolate and it was so buttery, flaky, and chocolatey! My boyfriend got the danish and he also loved it. The coffee prices were also very inexpensive so we will be back one day to try their coffee! read more

Bakelab - Pain au chocolate and fresh fruit danish - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Can't miss with this place. Coffee was great. We had open faced breakfast croissants. One was spinach, mushrooms and cheese, and the other one was mozzarella cheese, tomato slice and pesto. Both very flavorful and warmed up to perfection. Split an almond croissant for breakfast dessert ... wonderful. The place is small, well run and very busy. Parking was a challenge but worth it. Lots of options on the menu. Highly recommend without any reservations. Enjoy read more

BakeLab easily has the best croissants I've had in years. Every croissant is fluffy and crinkly with layers you can taste. The pastries are creative with new flavors and fusions I haven't seen before and the drinks are always refreshing. Today I want to call out the barista, Emily, who was extra kind and fun to meet. read more

One of the best croissants in town. Closer to what you'd expect for buttery, flakey laminated dough goodness. We ordered a chocolate, almond, and butter. The chocolate croissant had very little chocolate in it but it was somewhat proprtion to the dough. Almond was just enough sweetness. The buttery plain was solid. The bright side is you can order a whole bunch to try since the pastries are on the petite side. There's ample place to sit and if you wanted to study, there's room for that. Parking is easy (there's a lot in the back). If you didn't want to walk inside they have a window that opens up. Wish it could've been a drive thru window for convenience. They offer coffee and drinks as any cafe would. Staff was friendly. read more

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Super lovely little bakery. The croissant is out of the world. Coffee drinks are great too. Staff are super friendly. It's located in a student living building - the vibe is nice but not lots of seats like other coffee shops. Still highly recommended! read more

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I would recommend it as a nice place to study! The coffee was okay and the desserts looked amazing. The croissants is literally delicious and worths trying. I chose a chocolate one, of which the skin was very crispy, but there was only a little chocolate inside, which might make it less surprising. By the way, I do think the cheesecake had some taste of egg, which tasted not so good in the whole. I'm so sorry that I am somewhat strict with the standard of bakery or desserts, I'll give this place a 4-star. In addition, I'll go there on another day to check other kinds of items and give a new review at that time! read more

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Hubby and I were in town visiting a friend and decided to make a pitstop at Bakelab and I am so glad we did! I was impressed by the spacious and modern interior. There is also an area that can be used as a lounge or study space. I had the hazelnut and chocolate croissant and a matcha latte. The croissant was flakey but not too buttery like other croissants I have previously had. The hazelnut/chocolate filling was also just right (not under or over filled). The matcha latte was blended well and not powdery at the bottom. It was flavorful and went well with the desserts. I also split a strawberry cake box with my little. I had to stop her half way through otherwise she would have devoured the entire thing in no time! The strawberry cake box was beautifully presented and tasted just as great. It reminds me of a strawberry shortcake and wasn't overly sweet. I wish we came earlier since I know some of their more popular desserts sell out quickly. We will be back if we make another trip to Champaign! read more

I want to taste everything in their bakery case. It all looks so delicious. Every item I have tried here is amazing

WOW! What else can I say. Incredible pastries. We loved the vanilla cinnamon cruffin and coffee croissant. Each one was crispy and light with complimentary flavors. A must stop in Champaign. read more

Bakelab - Cruffins - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Best coffee in town! The pastries are phenomenal and the workers are always so friendly, pleasant and extremely helpful. One if the best dessert places I the area. read more

Bakelab - Blueberry cream danish - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

If you are looking for a place to order a custom cake for your special occasion, I HIGHLY recommend Bakelab! I have been a fan of Bakelab pastries for a long time, so I decided to try ordering a custom cake from Bakealb as well. This cake order for my graduation and I had the most amazing experience working with Stacey, the head pastry chef at Bakelab. First, Stacey is super sweet and very accommodating! She was open to all of my custom requests. she created the most beautiful strawberry shortcake that I have ever seen! The outside of the cake was decorated with white+pink tissue paper to create a flowery effect, which I really liked. The packaging of the cake (while not pictured) was absolutely stunning as well. It was packaged in a clear, transparent box with 2-3 kinds of ribbons. The cake is definitely prettier in-person, I wish that I could've captured it better on camera! The taste was divine--the cake was very soft, moist, and not too sweet. My friends and I were almost gonna finish this cake in one sitting because of how light it was!! Overall, I was very happy with my cake and I know where I will place my next custom cake order;) read more

Bakelab - Custom Strawberry shortcake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Came here for the pastries and they didn't disappoint! I wish I was in town for longer so I could try each and everyone of them. Very friendly baristas and a nice setting to enjoy our coffee and baked goods. My iced latte was on the milky side, I'll ask for an extra shot next time. They also use Counter Culture coffee which is a very reputable roastery. read more

BakeLab is perfection! Love it. Honestly the best peach iced tea I've ever had-anywhere! They must be meticulous about keeping their dispenser clean and brewing method because it is consistently the best. I order iced tea everywhere I travel and theirs is exactly right. Tried several of their coffee drinks which are great, too. The pastries are always on point. Almond croissant is amazing. Many places have pastries that look pretty but don't taste great or don't have the proper texture but they're always good at BakeLab! The staff is always friendly, the space is pretty and cozy and there is parking. read more

This place was nice. Very comfy seating, nice staff. Good coffee! A great place to focus and get some work done.

Wow. What a great pastry shop in Champaign. I can't wait to go back again. Even as a write this review, I'm already thinking of what to order next time. My wife and I ordered a few pastries to sample, and we selected Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish, Chocolate & Raspberry Croissant, Pain au Chocolate Croissant, and Strawberry & Pistachio Danish. All were so delicious and scrumptious! The croissant and danish texture was phenomenal, as each bite came with a crisp crunch through the many thin layers of dough! My wife kept saying, "Wow. This is incredible." All the pastries had the right amount of sweetness, which I'm thankful for. Also, they serve coffee/tea drinks. The coffee is sourced from Counter Culture Coffee. We had a chance to talk to the pastry chef and owner, and told her we could tell she takes pride in her craft. Bakelab is nestled on the first floor of an apartment complex, so don't expect it to be in a shopping plaza. Bakelab is a great place for a date with your significant other! We will be back again! read more

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My barista Nate made me a believer in the esprOJ! So refreshing and a delicious drink . Ask about it on the secret menu. read more

Bakelab - EsprOJ on a hot day, the perfect pick me up - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Classic French pastries with an Asian spin and coffee drinks. I was there early on a Saturday morning and had seating all to myself. Most of the customers came and went. I tried the lychee and pistachio croissant, which was perfection. All of the employees are friendly and the decor is beautiful. It is possible to enjoy a good pastry AND good coffee. Well done! read more

Bakelab - Seating, lychee and pistachio croissant, cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

I think I found my perfect bakery in Urbana. My favorite French pastry are Caneles. It's hard to find a place where they make them well and now my search is complete because they make the best Caneles I've ever had! Plus their bakes aren't too sweet which I appreciate. I also love how they experiment with different flavors for their croissants. Everyone is super friendly and never had a bad experience here. :) read more

Bakelab - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

This is a unique modern bakery on the first floor of a residence hall/hotel/air bnb. Superb service with the barrista showing us all the trays of freshly baked unique pastries! Pork Cake! Macha Cream Puff! PB&J&Bacon Croissant! Sunrise Croissant! I wanted to try them all. There must be a pastry artist in that kitchen. read more

Bakelab - Sunrise croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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We found this cute cafe while heading home from visiting U of I. They have the prettiest and appetizing display! The croissants are flaky, buttery, and beautiful. They have all the typical cafe drinks and specials. We tried the cappuccino and ube latte, super creamy and delicious. The almond croissant was to die for, so yummy! My regret was not ordering another before they sold out! read more

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The ONLY place in CU where the pastries look and taste like they do in France. Delectable and delicious delicacies!

We came here 2 days in a row. The baked goods are just amazing. Nothing we had was bad. Very interesting and modern bathroom. Most of the espresso based drinks are not like your typical 16 oz cups. You can ask for starbucks style though but maybe try it the way it was intended. 1 day the line was long the next very short. We got enough bakery and coffee for 4 adults and 4 kids but it didn't take long. The people working there will give recommendations if you need it. read more

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Excellent pastries. Ordered savory and sweet and they were a hit with everyone. Might say split the sweet ones. They are so rich. Ordered online for pickup and they were nicely boxed and ready in the ten minutes it took to get there. read more

So glad Bakelab opened before I graduated! I passed the cafe a couple of times going around campus and finally got to check them out (and then kept checking them out after my first visit haha). Bakelab's pastry selection is an 11/10. You will not and can not find this selection elsewhere on campus or remotely near. Their pastries include the traditional French pastries but with a twist and they have an amazing selection of Asian buns. I love their matcha red bean bun, almond croissant, cream cheese croissant with cinnamon sugar (basically everything I tried I love)! Their cold brew is the same roast as BrewLab (sister company)--notable notes include smooth milk chocolate. The only downside is that THEY SELL OUT FAST because their pastries are so good! I tried going in to try their matcha croissant but they were sold out by the time I went which was around 2 pm (they probably sold out way before that though). read more

The coffee is not high quality. employees use unsanitary practices and food was not fresh

Out. Of. This. World. These are exquisite, beautiful, VERY special pastries. This is artistry. read more

Stopped in for a quick drink and ended up leaving with two additional items to eat. I ended up getting the ube bae matcha latte, a baked cheesecake, and a dark chocolate raspberry croissant. The ube bae matcha latte was a unique take with matcha with highlights of coconut and mildly sweet. Outside there were signs of the best croissant in the area and they are definitely correct. The only reason we took off a star was the cheesecake was burnt and we were unable to finish it. We will be back again to try the croissant sandwiches and danish pastries. read more

Coffee is not taste.... and so price. Bakers are okay at the high price. Hope their coffee will be better than now. And the space is limited! read more

The almond croissant was amazing, fresh flaky and somewhat of an emotional experience with each chew. The americano coffee was really tasty too. read more