Our journey

We met in New York in 2002 while working at The Ritz-Carlton Central Park. Both of us came from a background in hospitality, driven by a shared passion for creating exceptional guest experiences.

Gagan, originally from India, studied at international schools in Panchgani, Aurangabad and New Delhi, before earning an MBA in Economics and Marketing. He later specialized in hospitality management in the United States, completing a diploma at the César Ritz Colleges. His career with The Ritz-Carlton took him to Washington D.C., New York and eventually Boston, as a leader of the Food & Beverage team.

Daniela, born and raised in Ticino, graduated from the École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). She moved to New York to begin her career at The New York Palace Hotel, later joining The Ritz-Carlton, where she held leadership roles in both New York and Boston as Director of Rooms.

In 2006 we moved to Ticino to begin a new chapter together. That same year our son Marc was born. In 2007 we took over the Ristorante degli Amici in Vezia, and in 2009 we welcomed our daughter Sara. With our growing family came the desire to build something truly our own: a space that reflected our roots, our values and our vision.

In 2011 we found the historic villa in Montagnola that would become Tabla. It took us a full year to completely renovate and transform the property. On June 4, 2012 we proudly opened our doors: two floors dedicated to the restaurant, with the main dining room on the ground floor and three beautiful private rooms upstairs. The upper levels became our home, a true extension of the life and love we pour into our work.

Today we proudly celebrate 19 years of hospitality in Lugano. This journey has been shaped by hard work, passion and a deep love for what we do. We are endlessly grateful to every guest who has walked through our doors and been part of our story.

With gratitude, Gagan & Daniela