ALEXANDRIA, VA — A Washington, D.C., Italian restaurant that has served diners for nearly five decades is closing its longtime location and moving to Old Town Alexandria.
Floriana, which opened in Dupont Circle in 1979, announced on Wednesday that it will close its Dupont location at the end of the year and relocate to 277 S. Washington St. in Alexandria.
The restaurant will move into Old Town's Atrium Building.
Floriana's arrival was first announced in December 2025 as an expansion that would give the restaurant two locations in the Washington area. Wednesday's announcement confirms that instead, the Alexandria restaurant will replace the longtime D.C. location.
"After nearly five decades in Washington, DC, we're preparing to say goodbye to our longtime home on 17th Street as we look ahead to a new chapter in Old Town Alexandria, VA," the restaurant said in its announcement.
Floriana has become known for its handmade pasta, Northern Italian dishes and intimate dining atmosphere.
The restaurant has earned local honors over the years, including being named Best Date Restaurant in the Washington Blade's Best of Gay D.C. readers' poll in both 2010 and 2011.
Floriana also received a Best Restaurant recognition for Dupont Circle in the 2021 D.C. Holiday Lights competition.
The Alexandria restaurant is expected to offer a broader dining menu than the D.C. location, according to reporting from the Washington Business Journal, with plans for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as pizza, a raw bar and happy hour specials.
The Old Town location will include seating in the restaurant, atrium and outdoor patio.
The opening of the new location has been delayed: originally, the restaurant had targeted a late summer opening. A new opening date has not been announced.
Floriana said existing gift cards will be honored at the new Alexandria restaurant.
In addition to its Washington-area operation, Floriana has a restaurant in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has announced plans for another location in Huntsville, Alabama.
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