Experience Culinary Bliss at This Renowned Italian Chef’s Inn

Chef Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana is among the most coveted dining experiences globally; however, his countryside bed and breakfast, Casa Maria Luigia, offers a unique retreat that feels just like home.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

Experience Casa Maria Luigia

“Don’t hesitate, come to Modena. In the middle of the food valley, we created a beautiful place… in which you’re going to experience the real Italy,” Chef Massimo Bottura stated when welcoming visitors to Casa Maria Luigia for the first time, in 2019. “We want to feed your emotions.”

Renowned worldwide for his three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana (once named the No. 1 restaurant in the world by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants), Bottura runs this elegant country estate with his wife, Lara Gilmore, just outside Modena, Emilia-Romagna, known as Italy’s food capital. The 12-room country house serves as a charming bed and breakfast but is truly much more.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a picturesque, tree-lined driveway leading to the stately 18th-century mansion featuring a creamy facade, sage shutters, and large wooden doors. Notably, oversized gelato sculptures created by Italian artist Giorgio di Palma adorn the entrance, enticing guests with a playful vibe.

Bottura wanted to indicate that a visit to Casa Maria Luigia could include unexpected delights, as Gilmore insists, “This isn’t exactly the Tuscan, old-fashioned villa. Things can get a little funky in here.” This whimsical introduction sets the tone for a delightful stay.

Culinary Delights by Massimo Bottura

Moreover, the inn showcases dynamic rooms filled with a rich blend of vintage and contemporary art, complemented by striking furnishings, photographs, and sculptures from esteemed international artists. In the main living room, a grand, vaulted ceiling adorned with pastel frescos contrasts beautifully with a large, black-and-white Lego triptych from renowned artist Ai Weiwei.

The cocktail lounge offers a vintage charm with a 1950s-style sofa and a self-serve spirits bar, featuring Barbara Kruger’s graphic work, “Stay/Go.” In the music parlor, guests can enjoy lively jazz through a high-quality sound system surrounded by thousands of vinyl albums from Bottura’s personal collection.

Each of the 12 guest rooms and suites, equally unique and stylish, come equipped with high-end amenities, comfortable accommodations, modern bathrooms, and original pieces of artwork adorning the walls. Welcoming snacks, including aged Parmigiano Reggiano and a complimentary minibar stocked with local drinks, delight and pamper every guest.

Exploring the Beautiful Grounds

Visitors can roam freely across 12 acres of impeccably landscaped grounds that include a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a grotto pond, all flanked by tranquil spots and artistic sculptures. A vibrant garden crowns the property, where the majority of the inn’s produce comes. Here, sun-ripened tomatoes, plump eggplants, and fragrant basil flourish.

Consequently, the couple aims to foster a “home away from home” ambience. Guests often gravitate toward the inviting eat-in kitchen, where they can peruse the fridge filled with seasonal delights, light snacks, freshly prepared ricotta, and locally sourced beverages, including bottles of Lambrusco wine, all ready for enjoyment at any moment.

While the spotlight on art, design, and hospitality is apparent, the essence of Casa Maria Luigia lies in the extraordinary culinary offerings, as expected from a distinguished chef. Since featuring in a Netflix episode of “Chef’s Table,” Bottura’s Osteria Francescana has become one of the most exclusive dining experiences worldwide.

Fortunately, guests staying at the inn are guaranteed a reservable seat at Francescana at Maria Luigia. This new dining venue offers a classic Osteria Francescana menu with a more relaxed setting, exchanging the formal atmosphere for communal tables inside a beautifully transformed carriage house that features an open kitchen, adorned with a conceptual Damien Hirst art collection.

Notably, there is just one seating per evening, inviting diners to share their experiences. Throughout this multi-hour service, Bottura, along with Gilmore and head chef Jessica Rosval, captivates guests with personal stories and explanations of each dish. As a result, diners consume Bottura’s vivid memories and emotions expressed vividly through the artistry of culinary presentation, with every visitor encouraged to engage with the kitchen action, take photos, and converse with the team.

During the dining experience, guests savor nine exquisite courses including iconic dishes such as “The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna,” “Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano in Different Textures and Temperatures,” and “Oops! I Dropped the Lemon Tart,” all paired with exceptional Emilia-Romagna wines that further emphasize the local culture.

Furthermore, every morning, the guests are greeted with aromatic scents from freshly baked wood-fired focaccia, cotechino (pork sausage), and roasted vegetables. Breakfast, served in the carriage house, features a sumptuous spread rich in flavors from Emilia-Romagna, including savory gnocco fritto garnished with mortadella, caramelized onion quiche, and luscious peaches served atop yogurt—each item able to be enhanced with Parmigiano Reggiano, Bottura’s aged balsamic vinegar, or a cloud of foamy zabaione.

Conclusively, every intricately curated detail at Casa Maria Luigia signifies an unparalleled quality that fosters an inviting ambiance. Once guests step into this casa, they will find it hard to leave, becoming that cherished houseguest who never wants the experience to end.