Like in Italy, where gelato shops are frequented by people of all ages—from toddlers to nonnas—the newly opened Caffè Panna in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park is visited by ice cream lovers from young to old. It’s a corner shop, so it’s airy and the daylight floods in. One side serves ice cream, while the other has a coffee bar that dishes out affogatos, a decadent Italian dessert of ice cream topped with espresso.
For the owner, Hallie Meyer, opening the business has been a dream: “My whole life, I always wanted to have an ice cream shop,” she said. The Italian influence comes from her many trips to Italy, starting with travels with her family. Meyer is the daughter of Danny Meyer, the restaurateur behind Union Square Hospitality Group.
