LUMIO: Nello Cassese’s next table in Rio

A decade in another city can change how a chef reads his own beginnings. Nello Cassese’s LUMIO project, announced for November 2026 at Copacabana Palace, connects his Neapolitan roots with the ingredients and producers encountered in Brazil.

The restaurant is planned for the Edifício Piscina, with one tasting menu and thirty-eight places each evening. Head sommelier Ed Arruda’s wine selection and three pairing options give the service a defined structure.

The concept brings Rio and Naples together through the sea, light and the rituals of a meal. Its Italian basis is intended to remain recognisable while Brazilian ingredients alter what arrives on the plate.

The opening is still ahead. The proposition, however, is clear: a chef’s next restaurant need not abandon his origins to show how a place has changed his work. It can make that encounter its organising idea.