Casa al Taverni, B&B and restaurant in the Alpe di Catenaia
Casa al Taverni is a mountain B&B in Subbiano, Tuscany, in the Alpe di Catenaia area, with a restaurant, a wood-fired hot tub and a garden. It suits those looking for quiet, woods and rustic food, perhaps with friends. It is not for anyone wanting hotel comforts or an easy road.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Casa al Taverni.
Where Casa al Taverni is and how to get there
Casa al Taverni is in the countryside of Subbiano, in the province of Arezzo, in the middle of the woods of the Alpe di Catenaia. The address is Località Geppino. Some listings give the name Falciano, but it is the same area. It is not somewhere you stumble upon by chance: you go there on purpose.
The road is the first thing to know. Some guests talk of a gravel road with many potholes and wonder how anyone manages to climb it in winter. One review also points out that times and distances given online did not match reality. I would allow more margin than you think, especially if you arrive in the dark or are not used to unpaved roads.
The rooms and what the property offers
Casa al Taverni is a bed and breakfast with a restaurant, closer to a mountain refuge than to a hotel. The rooms have a private bathroom with bidet and hairdryer, and the strong point lies outside, not inside.
- Rooms and bathrooms. Those who have stayed talk of spacious rooms with clean bathrooms. One less happy guest asks for more care with the cleaning.
- Private kitchens. One review mentions them as a convenience for those staying several days. Ask the property how they work before counting on them.
- Hot tub. It is heated with wood and looks out onto the woods. For several guests it is the best part of the stay.
- Garden and parking. There is a well-kept garden and free private parking, useful since you cannot get around here without a car.
- Breakfast. It is included in the stay. One guest found it acceptable and would have preferred homemade cakes to packaged ones.
What guests say about Casa al Taverni
On Google the rating is 4.4 out of 5, from 141 opinions, and most are very positive. What stands out is that the restaurant carries as much weight as the overnight stay: many reviews talk about lunches and dinners more than nights.
Several people praise the genuine cooking, the handmade pasta, the ravioli, the game and the boards of cured meats and cheeses. One vegetarian guest found good dishes without any trouble, and some appreciate the local ingredients. The host comes up in many comments as a welcoming and helpful person, and several groups of friends celebrated a birthday there.
The tone is rustic, and even the most satisfied guests say so. Paper plates and cups, a short menu and service that is a little slow to start. One guest says you need a jumper in the evening outdoors. The place happily welcomes animals.
What to know before you book
The criticisms focus on three things: the road, value for money and the waits at the restaurant. They are few compared with the good comments, but they are consistent with each other, so I would take them seriously.
| Aspect | What guests like | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Woods, quiet, paths nearby | Rough gravel road, uncertain in winter |
| Restaurant | Homestyle cooking, local produce | Short menu, paper tableware, and for some the portions and the bill are out of proportion |
| Rooms | Spacious, private bathroom, outdoor tub | Cleaning to improve for one guest, simple breakfast |
| Service | Welcoming host | Long waits for mains on one evening |
One guest judged the price of both the room and the restaurant too high for what was offered. Others, though, talk of fair prices. My advice is to ask in advance for the menu and to find out what is included.
Who Casa al Taverni is for, and who it is not for
I would choose it for a weekend with friends, a birthday in good company or a break of walks and simple cooking, with the hot tub in the evening. It also works well for those travelling with a pet, since the place accepts them.
I would not recommend it to anyone looking for hotel services, elaborate plating, or who does not enjoy driving on gravel roads. If you have only one night and arrive tired after a long journey, think carefully about the last stretch.
What to do around Subbiano
Here the answer is simple: walk. The Alpe di Catenaia has many paths around the property, and one guest recounts arriving by chance during a walk towards the Sasso della Regina. Then you have lunch, or dinner, right at Casa al Taverni.
If you want to mix woods and town, Tuscany has other places I have on file, for example Alla Battuta in Sansepolcro, B&B Cavour 10 in Florence and Hotel Locanda degli Artisti in Borgo San Lorenzo. I give you only their name and town, because here I am talking about Casa al Taverni.
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.
