Agriturismo Il Runch, mountain stay and home cooking
Agriturismo Il Runch di Majrano Luca is a mountain farm stay in Viù, Piedmont, with balcony rooms, a restaurant and a garden. Guests praise the warm welcome, the home cooking and the breakfast jams and honey. Suited to people who want quiet and walks, less so to anyone after nightlife.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
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Where Agriturismo Il Runch is and how to get there
Agriturismo Il Runch di Majrano Luca is in Viù, Piedmont, in the Tornetti hamlet. It sits in the mountain landscape, far from the noise of the city. You arrive by car, and there is private parking on site.
Viù is a valley village from which many walking trails start, and several guests say they reached Il Runch after a walk. Others came by motorbike or after a visit to the Big Bench in Mezzenile. To me it is the kind of place you go to stop, not to rush from one sight to the next.
What it is like to stay at Il Runch
The rooms have a balcony, panoramic views and a private bathroom with bidet and toiletries. Guests describe them as welcoming, in the stone and wood house, as comfortable as a grandmother's home. Wi-Fi is free.
The shared spaces, according to the description, include these.
- A restaurant and a bar.
- A terrace and a garden.
- Private parking on site.
- Bike hire for exploring the area.
Some reviews come from groups who chose Il Runch for retreats and nature activities, a sign that the setting lends itself well to quiet and calm.
What you eat, from breakfast to dinner
The table is one of the reasons the reviews are so warm. The cooking is home-style, rustic and made with zero-kilometre produce, and the wooden dining room has a panoramic view of the mountains.
Guests mention traditional starters, filled lunette with toma di Lanzo, gnocchetti with turgia sauce, polenta with wild boar on request and traditional desserts such as apple crostata, tiramisu and panna cotta. People talk about very generous first courses, so much so that some did not manage to reach the main, and also about a honey ice cream made in-house.
Breakfast includes jams and mountain pasture butter. Some customers bought honey and jams made at home to take away, and for me that is a far more genuine souvenir than a fridge magnet.
What guests say
On Google Il Runch has a rating of 4.2 from 111 reviews. The most recent reviews are very positive and keep coming back to the welcome, the tranquillity and the food.
Many guests speak of a host who is attentive, helpful and almost like family. One group says he served them breakfast at four in the morning on the day of a race, and another guest says he cooked a dish on request. The cleanliness, the fair price for what you eat and the contact with the high pastures, with cows grazing, are also appreciated.
What to know before you book
The criticisms are not absent, although they are few and dated. One review from a long time ago spoke of a disappointing meal, and another criticised a jar of bagna cauda bought at a craft fair rather than a stay. I do not consider them decisive, but I mention them for honesty.
- It is an isolated spot in the mountains, so you need a car or a good appetite for walking.
- The food is simple and Piedmontese. If you are after sophisticated cooking, you may be disappointed.
- I have no information on air conditioning, a lift or opening seasons. Ask before you set off.
- Book dinner in advance, especially if you arrive as a group.
Who it suits
I would recommend Agriturismo Il Runch to people who love walking, cycling or motorbiking, to couples and friends looking for a mountain escape, and to anyone who wants good food without spending too much. It also works for groups and retreats.
It is not the right place if you need nightlife or hotel services. Here you sleep well and eat well, and that is entirely fine.
What to do in Viù and around
Very beautiful walking trails start in Viù, and guests mention the Big Bench in Mezzenile and the views over the mountains. If you want a long ride, you can use the farm's bike hire. For the rest, ask the people who run the place for advice, which by all accounts they give willingly. If you prefer a different base, Stella d'Italia in Sparone, Hotel Giulio Cesare in Turin and Hotel Napoleon in Turin are other places to look at.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
