My husband and I are big foodies and had heard great things about visiting this place. Two months ago we booked a night at the Casa Maria Luigia along with dinner/beverage pairing at Francescana at Maria Luigia as part of a larger trip to Italy from the US. Fast forward 2 months and I am 7 weeks pregnant, sick with the flu (fever/vomiting), and barely able to get to the place (train+taxi) let alone enjoy it. We arrived and let the staff know that only my husband would join for the dinner and that I wasn't feeling well and didn't want to get others sick. Obviously the pregnancy and illness aren't their fault and the terms of the sale indicated it was non-refundable. However, at fine dining establishments in the US they've often had a clause for illness or other reasons to adjust the reservation - I consider this to be a part of great customer service. Considering we paid nearly 2,000 euros for this experience, I was surprised they wouldn't even refund my wine pairing (170 euros) as even if I wasn't sick, I wouldn't have been able to partake in it due to pregnancy. They gave us a credit for future use that expires in one year, which is comical since I will still be pregnant or with a newborn for that full year. Obviously they know how to cook here, but the customer service made what was already a tough day (missing my dream foodie experience and being bed-ridden on a beautiful estate) even more frustrating. read more

This place in countryside of Modena is fantastic! The atmosphere, the details, the hospitality are like no other place I have been. Do stay here more than one night which is what we did. Had I know the gem this place would be we would have stayed longer. We discovered this as an alternative to the massimo restaurant that we tried to get into. You can get all the massimo food here and these scenery! read more

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Allora! Warning: LONG post ahead... Have you ever felt the joy of when your expectations were surpassed by reality? My elation may have been beyond that . Though the memories and emotions from Francescana at Casa Maria Luigia (CML) are permanently branded into my temporal lobe, I'm desperately assuaging my sadness that this incredible experience has come to an end. Thus, an homage to perhaps my favorite (celebrity) couple, Massimo & Lara. The very first episode of the first season of Chef's Table on Netflix was my introduction into the culinary mastery of Chef Massimo Bottura. And honestly, I've been obsessed ever since. So much could be said about his traditional influences while hiding under his nonna's kitchen table to his creative brilliance that at times were shunned by the local Modenese, but since this is an IG post we'll keep it at that. My fiancé and I uncharacteristically planned our trip to Italy only couple months in advance. Understandably and sadly, both Osteria Francescana and Francescana were booked. However, by a stroke of luck there happened to be a single room available for a single night at CML with the option to dine at Francescana. I booked it immediately without hesitation. When we arrived, we were given a tour of our "home away from home" (check my reel for a glimpse into the beautiful stay) and as we were being taken to our room, I recognized Lara immediately. I wasn't sure if either of them would be present but there she was! We wandered the property, eating fresh baked pistachio cookies, gawking at the Ferrari and Ducati collection, sipping on grappa while listening to jazz, just patiently waiting for 7:30 to roll around. Clock struck half past and we eagerly sat while staff promptly poured water and wines for the tasting. Then Lara came around to each table, greeting each guest in such a warm and calming demeanor. I wanted to ask for a picture but was way too shy and ultimately missed my chance ... Then she embarked on the journey of Casa Maria Luigia and the first three courses of the tasting, including an inspiration from a Beetles song, a traditional family dish flipped completely on its head, and an affectionate tribute to the best cheese in the world aged between 24-50 months! The flavors were intense, complex and lingered on your palette just long enough for the next dish. The textures were playful, some dancing, some kicking while others lied dormant in the back of your mouth before it was digested. Maybe an hour and a half in, Chef flew in through the kitchen with his expected jolly and chaotic energy infecting everyone with smiles as he shared in the task of describing the main courses. The fight between siblings for the best part of the lasagna. The flavor packed tortellini that weigh only a single gram each and was recently served to the Prince of Monaco. The conflict of a recently anointed three-Michelin star chef walking into a Burger King to view the newly hung Damien Hirst painting during the London Olympics. My mouth still drools at the thought of these dishes... and chuckles at the stories behind them... and awes at watching Chef at work, splattering various veggie sauces across his plated canvas. Up til now I must admit there is complete adoration for this experience and truly not a single thing I would change about it. And aside from the seventh course, I truly wouldn't. But I must admit, I was not the biggest fan of the North to South which is Chef's desire to bridge the geographic regions of Italy together with a Sicilian blood orange flavored risotto served cold for savory dessert. But, his signature lemon tart and a camouflaged chocolate terrain were as visually stunning as they were stunning to the palate. Not sure what it's like at Osteria Francescana, but can attest that Casa Maria Luigia brings the best of Massimo & Lara into a tangible privilege for the mind, body and community. Hopefully this isn't too hype, but seriously... it's just the best. read more

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Casa Maria Luigia is a bed and breakfast opened up by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore in the quaint countryside of Modena. This really is the complete food and hospitality experience- with the inn, surrounding grounds, curated menu at Francescana, and exceptional staff making for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My wife and I enjoyed a night at Casa Maria and went YOLO with the amazing penthouse 2-level suite. The accommodations were modern and spacious and the best by far of any of our stays in two weeks in Italy (loved the record player and upstairs sitting room, what nice touches!). The 9+ course dinner (and Emilian breakfast) at Francescana is something dreams are made of, and we were fortunate to have Lara on hand to walk us through such a memorable and delicious gastronomical experience. The dinner itself is family style, which was quite fun, and had an open-kitchen concept which really engaged the diners with the star chefs who were preparing and plating the items. Casa Maria Luigia is a DREAM, and I could not recommend staying there (plus dinner at Francescana) any more when passing through Modena, Italy! read more

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I cannot stress how much we loved our stay at casa maria luigia except that we didn't stay one more day. Orignially we only had a reservation at osteria francescana but after hearing about the dinner experience, I knew we had to stay here. We planned our honeymoon to visit modena and dine at these two places. We were not disappointed. Checkin was at 3pm and the staff was extremely helpful both answering questions before arrival and once arriving. When we arived, Lara herself (Massimo's wife) gave us a tour of the grounds. She was so friendly as if she were an old friend we knew. She showed us some of the art and rooms. The entire place is gorgeous. Would expect nothing less, with beautiful art pieces and gucci pillow cases, we were impressed. She showed us the kitchen that is always stocked with food, the pool house, library, the study, gardens, and their balsalmic vinager barrels. She showed us to our stunning suite that was huge and had a piece of reggiano parmigiano waiting for us. We spent the remainder of thr day before dinner eating and exploring the ground. You MUST go to the playground. It is filled with Massimo's cars(custom Lamborghini with an oops i dropped the lemon tart paint, ferrari, ect), motor cycles, exercise equipment, and even an expresso bar. Dinner starts at 730 where you will be seated at a communal table (which we loved meeting other guests) and open kitchen. Dinner is 9 courses serving the best of osteria francescana. It's run by Jessica Rosval and if in town Massimo. Every 3 courses, they talk about the story behind each dish. Since it's an open kitchen, you can watch them plate the food and ask questions. In the description, they focus more on the story rather than the ingredients and cooking. It's a bit more of a fan service than a cooking tutorial however whenever i asked jessica or massimo, they were friendly and answered them! We also met everyone at our table so we had great conversation through the 9 course journey. Each dish was great and you will not be disappointed. I loved all the dishes but mostly the steak, the fish, the reggiano parmigiano 5 ways, and the opps i dropped the lemon tart. I also loved watching them plate each dish. Just good food and good fun. After dinner, there was a nice warm fire which we circled for a few hours before going to bed. The following date check out was at 10 am, breakfast to 1030. The buffet is almost as amazing as dinner. Everything was delicious. I left stuffed. In summary, the place is beautiful and the people friendly. The food great and, if you are a massimo fan, a must try. We went to osteria francescana the following night for the tasting menu too so we can compare the two pretty well. Osteria was more of an avant-garde experience with some hit and miss dishes that were extremely creative and really enjoyed. The taste may not be for everyone, while maria luigia serves the best of in a light and fun environment. My only regrest was not staying another night. Hind sight i wouldve stayed 2 nights at casa and spaced my meal out at osteria francescana 2 nights after. A true highlight. Bravo massimo, lara and jessica and thank you. read more

If your a foodie and a fan of Mossimo Bottura then a stay at Casa Maria Luigia is the ultimate experience. Not only do you get an opportunity to taste his menu if your not lucky enough to get a reservation at Osteria francescana but you also get to stay at a place that he personally curated which showcases some of the modern art pieces that he has collected. Although my wife and i didnt actually stay in the rooms, since we only had a reservation for dinner, we still had the opportunity to walk the grounds and take a tour of the common areas. We were also fortunate enough that Mossimo was there that evening so we got to take pictures with him and watch the master and his team at work as they prepared what was one of the best meals i have ever had. read more

Lara and Massimo have curated a little slice of heaven! The hospitality & food is the epitome of perfection. Warm, friendly vibes the minute you step into this chic hotel. The artwork all around is stunning that just continues to increase the level of experience! I highly recommend booking dinner as it is an experience you certainly do not want to miss... as it is the greatest hits of Osteria Francescana in a communal table setting. It is very tasty and fun dining experience. Massiomo Bottura spent all evening here for dinner and clearly enjoys serving people at their new venture! The breakfast every morning is included as well as mid day snacks that you can help yourself to in the communal kitchen. Needless to say, all of the food you find here is fabulous. We enjoyed our stay so much we extended it (luckily, somehow there was availability!) We love Casa Maria Luigia and cannot wait to be back! read more

Not only was the food amazing, but the dining experience was like none other. They allowed us to enter the kitchen and closely observe the preparation of each course. If you watched the Netflix special, you are also in for a treat. He mixes it up by serving some of the classics and some experimental dishes. This is the main reason I am missing Italy right now. read more

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