About us
corner of Armenia in the heart of Bolzano
Casa Nur – Gagik Khalatyan’s Armenian dream comes to life in Bolzano.
Casa Nur, an Armenian restaurant born from the heart and vision of Gagik “Gago” Khalatyan, a well-known goldsmith in the city, opens its doors at Via Rovigo 74 in Bolzano. After more than twenty years of dreams and ideas, Gago decided to transform his passion for Armenian culture and cuisine into an authentic, welcoming and meaningful place.
The perfect opportunity arose with the closure of the historic “Persefone” space, which Gago chose to renovate with care and taste, breathing new life into every corner with the desire to make every guest feel at home. Hence the name: “Casa Nur”, where Nur, which means pomegranate in Armenian, symbolises beauty, abundance and the deep roots of a millennial culture.
Casa Nur is not just a restaurant, but a cultural project: a bridge between Armenia and South Tyrol, where every dish tells a story, every detail speaks of home, memory and identity. And while the vision is Gago’s, it is chef Raz Ghazaryan who brings it to the table, sharing the same origins, values and desire to offer a unique gastronomic experience.
Creating Casa Nur was not easy: despite unexpected challenges and difficult days – such as a sudden breakdown on Christmas Day – Gago never gave up. Today, his dream has come true, and Bolzano can finally enjoy an authentic taste of Armenia, one forkful at a time.
Raz Ghazaryan
Raz Ghazaryan is the heart and soul of Trattoria Armena. Born and raised in Armenia, he discovered his love for cooking as a child, within the warm walls of his family’s restaurant and under the expert guidance of his grandmother, the true guardian of Armenian culinary tradition. It was right by her side that he learned the secrets of traditional dishes, the importance of cooking with your heart, and the value of that hidden ingredient that every chef adds to give a unique touch to their creations.
Driven by the desire to turn his passion into a profession, Raz moved to Italy to study at a hotel management school, where he fused his gastronomic heritage with Italian and European cooking techniques. After his studies, he worked in 5-star hotels and refined seaside restaurants, where he honed his technique, elegance and creativity.
His journey then took him to the heart of the Dolomites, where he worked in leading restaurants, specialising in Tyrolean cuisine and bringing a personal touch to gourmet cooking, managing to satisfy even the most demanding and curious customers.
The chef, a true master of Armenian cuisine, succeeds in the difficult task of transporting the palate to the mountains of the Caucasus with every course. Each dish tells a story: genuine ingredients, authentic flavours, techniques that respect tradition without sacrificing a truly surprising personal touch...
Today, Raz is reshaping his career thanks to his collaboration with Gagik Khalatyan. Together, they combine their creativity, experience and common roots to create something truly unique: Casa Nur, a corner of Armenia in the heart of Bolzano. A place where food becomes a story, and every dish is an invitation to travel directly to Armenia, through authentic flavours and a warm, familiar atmosphere, made up of culture, passion and identity.