San Babila Café Opens Second Upper East Side Location

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — San Babila, a Milan-inspired cafe on the Upper East Side, is opening its second location in the neighborhood this Wednesday, its owners told Patch.

The new space, which will serve the cafe's iconic Italian pastries, specialty coffee and gelato, will open at 1247 Third Ave., near East 72nd Street.

The new cafe will operate out of the storefront previously occupied by Le Fournil, which was open for around a month before abruptly closing in April. Before Le Fournil, the space held Julien Boulangerie.

The new San Babila Café is designed as an all-day operation, serving breakfast, lunch, coffee and desserts.

It's opening just one block away from San Babila Café's first restaurant at 1355 Second Ave., between East 72nd Street and East 71st Street. The first café opened in May 2025.

"With San Babila, the goal has always been to create a place that feels welcoming, energetic, and rooted in the kind of hospitality people remember," owner Gianmarco Di Michele said.

In addition to classic café fare, the space will serve Italian frozen yogurt, macarons, and its "Croissant Gelato Cone," a butter croissant baked into the shape of a cone, filled to order with Italian gelato and finished with a variety of toppings.

The café will also serve topped focaccias and create customizable cakes made to order.

"This new location brings together everything we love about Italian café culture — from exceptional coffee and pastries to the feeling of taking a moment to slow down and enjoy where you are," Di Michele said.

After moving permanently to the United States in 2015, Di Michele worked alongside his grandmother, whose hospitality business includes the Numero 28 restaurant brand.

Currently, Di Michele's restaurant portfolio includes Papi at Moxy Times Square, Pandoro in Bryant Park, Zeppola NY and Zeppola Venetian, as well as San Babila Café's two locations.

To celebrate the grand opening, the café will give away complimentary gelato croissants to the first 200 customers on Wednesday.

The new location will be open weekdays beginning at 7 a.m. and weekends beginning at 8 a.m.

Know of a business opening or closing on the Upper East Side? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.