In reaction to the article published on 11.11.2025 on Corriere del TicinoI confirm that I have signed an agreement with Guido Sassi to take over the company Sasscafé 2 SA of Lugano, effective January 1, 2026.
After the relaunch of the Federal (today FEDERAL 1855) and after having also transferred the META restaurant which, despite the change of location and Chef, has just received the confirmation of its prestigious Michelin Star, I welcome the arrival of the Sass Café into the family, which has grown since 2002 thanks to the authoritative guidance of Guido Sassi.
It was his explicit wish to leave his restaurant in the hands of a Lugano native who could ensure the continuity of his project, and he really worked hard to engage me and convince me of his vision.
Guido is a lifelong friend and a master in the challenging world of catering. I promised him I would resume his business with due respect and the guarantee of the continued employment of all the staff he hired.
Piazza della Riforma was my playground as a child and where I grew up as a young man, and it was where my grandfather Vittorio Vanini and his brother Sandro operated, owning the premises then called Federale and Piccolo Federale. Today, those two businesses are effectively back in the family, and, together with my entire team, we will take great care of them.
They were the ones who played a key role in making the Piazza the “living room” of Lugano, launching, among other initiatives, the Vanini cycling GP and the “painters in the Piazza” competition.
From today, it will be up to me, my family, and our entire team to infuse this place of socialization, encounters, and conviviality with new energies that can convey the identity and roots of this wonderful city.
Hospitality is our profession, and hosting people and companies from all over the world is a privilege.
There are organizations that must continue to represent and defend the identity of our beautiful city.
I look forward to seeing you at Federale 1855, META, and Sass Café in Piazza Riforma, ready, along with my family and our team, to reciprocate the pleasure of your visit.
