La Fattoria Bellandi, farm stay with restaurant in Contignano
La Fattoria Bellandi is a farm stay with a restaurant in Contignano, in the province of Siena, in the Val d'Orcia area. It offers spacious rooms, a garden with a play area and home-style cooking. It suits those who want peace and honest food, less so those who expect flawless service every time.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Ristorante La Fattoria Bellandi.
Where La Fattoria Bellandi is
La Fattoria Bellandi is in Contignano, in the province of Siena, on Via del Borgo. Reviews place it in the Val d'Orcia, somewhere quiet and far from the crowds. To get a sense of what kind of base it is, you arrive by car, park in the private car park and have the landscape all around you.
The property lists Monte Amiata as a day trip, about 31 km away, and the Bagni San Filippo hot springs, about 15 km away. One guest writes that it is handy for visiting the villages nearby, and another chose it to escape the tourist bustle of Pienza. You need a car, but the location is the reason you would pick it.
How the rooms are and what there is on the farm
The rooms are designed to be comfortable, with a private bathroom, bidet, toiletry set, hairdryer and slippers. Guests describe them as spacious and clean. Two couples mention double rooms with the bathroom in the attic, so if you do not get on with low ceilings, keep that in mind.
- The restaurant. Local, home-style cooking, with homemade pasta.
- Shared spaces. A bar, a panoramic terrace and a well-kept garden with a play area for children.
- Breakfast. Italian, vegetarian and gluten-free options. One review mentions homemade cakes, farm yoghurt and a cappuccino made to order.
- Facilities. Free WiFi in all areas and a private car park.
What to eat in the restaurant
Food is the reason many people come, even just for lunch or dinner. Guests mention the pici several times, with wild boar sauce, ragù or cacio e pepe, and talk about traditional dishes, generous portions and fresh produce.
Several people ate here on consecutive evenings during their stay, and for me that is the most honest sign. One passing guest says they found it by chance at lunchtime, looking for a place off the tourist trail, and found it very genuine. They talk about fair prices for the quality.
What guests say, the praise and the criticism
On Google it has 4.5 out of 5 from 156 reviews. Most are very positive, but there are also negative voices, and I report them honestly because you should know them.
| What guests liked | What did not convince |
|---|---|
| Warm welcome from the owners | One guest complains of an unfriendly welcome, in a review from several years ago |
| Homemade cooking and a generous breakfast | A dinner of pasta and meat judged below expectations |
| Spacious rooms and quiet | An attic room that was not clean, according to an old review |
| Dogs welcome, according to some guests | Free-roaming cats between the tables, which disturbed two diners |
The overall picture is of a family-run place, where the heart is there but the execution is not always the same.
What to know before you book
If you book, go in with the right expectations. This is a farm stay with a restaurant, not a perfectly standardised hotel, and the criticism shows it.
- Cats and dogs. Two guests describe cats wandering through the dining rooms. If you have a lively dog or are sensitive to hygiene or allergies, ask first. Another guest, by contrast, appreciated the welcome given to their dog.
- Service can vary. The negative reviews talk about dishes and the owners' attitude, while most praise the hospitality. Keep in mind that some of the criticism is old.
- The attic bathroom. In some rooms the ceilings are sloped.
Who it suits and what to see nearby
I would choose it for couples and families who want to eat well without moving around, for those who love the Tuscan countryside, and for those looking for a base near the Bagni San Filippo hot springs and the Val d'Orcia.
I would not recommend it to anyone wanting perfect, uniform service, or to anyone who wants to walk to bars and shops. If you want to compare other places in the area, see Agriturismo Corvaia Val d'Orcia in Radicofani or La Magica Torre in Pitigliano. For a stay of pici, quiet and views, La Fattoria Bellandi in Contignano remains an honest choice, if you accept its imperfections.
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.
