Coastal Italian Restaurant Florence by the Water Opens at Hotel Figueroa

The new restaurant is an extension of the operator's Florence Osteria & Piano Bar concept, featuring a Tuscan-inspired menu and poolside views.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A new coastal Italian restaurant called Florence by the Water has opened inside Downtown Los Angeles's Hotel Figueroa. The restaurant is an extension of the operator's existing Florence Osteria & Piano Bar concept, featuring a Tuscan-inspired menu created by Puglia-born chef Giuseppe Gentile. The menu includes dishes like whole Argentine prawns, grilled calamari, and a whole branzino with Meyer lemon herb relish.

Why it matters

The opening of Florence by the Water comes as Hotel Figueroa celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a significant milestone for the iconic Downtown LA hotel. The new restaurant also represents the continued growth of the city's Italian dining scene, with the operator behind the popular L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele expanding their footprint.

The details

Florence by the Water is now open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant overlooks the hotel's outdoor pool and features a menu focused on coastal Italian cuisine, with starters like wagyu souvlaki and whipped ricotta, as well as pastas, pizzas, and mains like chicken Milanese.

  • Florence by the Water opened on February 13, 2026 to coincide with Hotel Figueroa's 100th anniversary.

The players

Hotel Figueroa

An iconic Downtown Los Angeles hotel that is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Giuseppe Gentile

The Puglia-born chef who helms the kitchen at Florence by the Water, bringing his coastal Italian expertise to the new restaurant.

L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele

A popular Italian restaurant concept that is also operated by the same group behind Florence by the Water and Florence Osteria & Piano Bar.

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What’s next

Florence by the Water is now open and accepting reservations through OpenTable.

The takeaway

The opening of Florence by the Water at Hotel Figueroa represents the continued evolution of Los Angeles's Italian dining scene, with established operators expanding their footprint and bringing new coastal Italian concepts to the city.