The specialty Italian marketplace and international culinary destination Eataly opens its newest flagship at CityPlace in West Palm Beach this Friday, December 5, marking the brand’s debut in Palm Beach County. Before opening day, we caught up with its manager Antoine Czarnecka, about what locals can expect from the long-anticipated debut.
How long have you been with Eataly?
I’ve been with Eataly for almost a year and a half now. Coming from a background in hospitality, I started my Eataly journey as Director of Store Operations at Eataly SoHo in New York City. I was there for a year before making the transition to lead our West Palm Beach team ahead of the Grand Opening.
What drew Eataly to West Palm Beach?
West Palm Beach is a growing and dynamic city, and we are excited to be a part of the community here. We are situated in an incredible location in the heart of downtown at CityPlace, a neighborhood full of unique experiences from dining to retail destinations and beyond.
Will the WPB location offer the same selection and services as the Flagship store in NYC?
Each of our Eataly stores is unique, but we aim to provide the same iconic experiences – with our motto of “eat, shop, and learn” – across all locations. For Eataly West Palm Beach, we have two restaurants, La Pizza & La Pasta and Il Pastaio, several quick service counters for a bite to-go, a retail selection full of authentic Italian delicacies, and a cooking school.
Dry Goods, Take-away, Gift Baskets, Cooking Classes?
Yes, our retail selection includes both dry and fresh goods – from extra virgin olive oil and artisanal pasta to premium meats and freshly cut salumi and formaggi. This winter season, we’ll have a collection of holiday gift boxes and giftable items, including a selection of panettoni and indulgent chocolates. We have a dedicated cooking school, La Scuola, which will kick off programming in the coming weeks.
Will you carry wine and spirits?
Our wine selection will include 200 labels from all 20 regions of Italy, with the addition of domestic and Italian beers.
Will you offer delivery to Palm Beach Island?
Delivery services will launch soon, so stay tuned for updates.
Antoine Czarnecka
Will there be fine dining? A cafe?
There are two sit-down restaurants onsite. La Pizza & La Pasta is focused on Neapolitan-style pizza and artisanal pasta, while Il Pastaio is dedicated to the art of fresh pasta making. We also have several quick service counters offering gelato, pastries, pizza and more, plus the Lavazza counter, which is an all-day caffè from the renowned Italian coffee brand.
What’s your favorite order?
My go-to order at Eataly is our Spaghetti al Pomodoro.
Will there be valet parking?
Yes, valet parking is available at CityPlace.
We expect you to be very busy? How does one make a reservation?
We hope to be very busy, and I imagine so with the holiday season now here! Reservations can be made via Open Table, and you can find more information on our restaurants here.
What are looking forward to doing on your days off in Palm Beach? I am looking forward to taking my dog to the beach and enjoying the culinary scene in West Palm Beach.
Beach or pool? Beach!
Is there anything you’d like to add? Starting from Saturday, December 6, we’ll continue the Grand Opening celebrations with a 10-day schedule of product sampling, entertainment, and other activations scheduled for each afternoon. We encourage the community to come check it out!