Giancarlo Pagani: The New Era of Hollywood and Downtown Dining
Thu Jan 29 2026
In Los Angeles, the ground floor is often where the identity of a neighborhood is established. In this episode, I sit down with Giancarlo Pagani, founder of Pagani Hospitality and Managing Partner of Mother Wolf Group, to discuss the mechanics of hospitality and his approach to creating local institutions that build community.
Giancarlo is a second-generation LA restaurateur, practically growing up at the Beverly Wilshire and celebrating milestones at iconic establishments like Mr. Chow. His early exposure to fine dining shaped his focus on creating the next generation of iconic Los Angeles restaurants. He describes his philosophy on sustainable restaurant growth, specifically through the lens of licensing deals. He’s currently partnering with international brands like Maximal Concepts Group and The Good People Group, bringing world-class dining to Los Angeles while utilizing existing operational support and infrastructure.
We also discuss the realities of the LA real estate market from a tenant's perspective. Giancarlo outlines his firm stance on lease negotiations, including why he considers personal guarantees a hard stop for his group. Plus, he shares his vision for the future of the city center and his optimism for Hollywood and Downtown revitalization.
Episode Outline
(02:24) Lessons in longevity and building restaurants that stand the test of time
(08:01) The strategic value of licensing international brands versus developing original IP
(11:31) Raising capital and the current state of the hospitality investment landscape
(18:55) Quick Fire Round: The most overrated menu items in LA and local favorites
(27:32) Giancarlo’s perspective on lease negotiation and tenant curation
(32:36) Navigating the current policy environment and labor cost increases in Los Angeles
(34:28) Upcoming projects: The expansion of Miznon and the LA debut of Malka
Resources Mentioned
Mother Wolf
Mott 32
Miznon
Malka
Mr. Chow
Musso and Frank
Spago
Felix
Funke
Genghis Cohen
Ka’Teen
Horses
The Benjamin
LAMILL Coffee
25 Degrees
Islands
Guest Info
Connect with Giancarlo on a...
More
In Los Angeles, the ground floor is often where the identity of a neighborhood is established. In this episode, I sit down with Giancarlo Pagani, founder of Pagani Hospitality and Managing Partner of Mother Wolf Group, to discuss the mechanics of hospitality and his approach to creating local institutions that build community. Giancarlo is a second-generation LA restaurateur, practically growing up at the Beverly Wilshire and celebrating milestones at iconic establishments like Mr. Chow. His early exposure to fine dining shaped his focus on creating the next generation of iconic Los Angeles restaurants. He describes his philosophy on sustainable restaurant growth, specifically through the lens of licensing deals. He’s currently partnering with international brands like Maximal Concepts Group and The Good People Group, bringing world-class dining to Los Angeles while utilizing existing operational support and infrastructure. We also discuss the realities of the LA real estate market from a tenant's perspective. Giancarlo outlines his firm stance on lease negotiations, including why he considers personal guarantees a hard stop for his group. Plus, he shares his vision for the future of the city center and his optimism for Hollywood and Downtown revitalization. Episode Outline (02:24) Lessons in longevity and building restaurants that stand the test of time (08:01) The strategic value of licensing international brands versus developing original IP (11:31) Raising capital and the current state of the hospitality investment landscape (18:55) Quick Fire Round: The most overrated menu items in LA and local favorites (27:32) Giancarlo’s perspective on lease negotiation and tenant curation (32:36) Navigating the current policy environment and labor cost increases in Los Angeles (34:28) Upcoming projects: The expansion of Miznon and the LA debut of Malka Resources Mentioned Mother Wolf Mott 32 Miznon Malka Mr. Chow Musso and Frank Spago Felix Funke Genghis Cohen Ka’Teen Horses The Benjamin LAMILL Coffee 25 Degrees Islands Guest Info Connect with Giancarlo on a...