Locanda di Casalmustia — Restaurant in Unione dei Comuni Valdichiana Senese

The Locanda di CasalMustia is located in a nice little hilltop town in the Tuscan countryside. Really need a car or scooter to get there because of it's distance from railway stations and the apparent lack of an obvious taxi service (a joining friend arriving via rail in Trequanda got a lift from a local). Once in Castelmuzio however, parking is free and there are a number of parking spots in and around the town. The town itself has a coop (little supermarket/grocery store - hours vary by day), ATM and a few restaurants and bars, the most prominent of which belongs to the CasalMustia. For anything else then Pienza (recommended) is a short distance away and has lots of amenities.||||Hotel itself is ideal for a short stay and as a base from which to explore the surrounding countryside before moving on to Siena, Perugia etc. We stayed for three nights and our room was tidy with comfy beds. Staff kept it clean with a daily service throughout our stay. Bathroom compact but good shower. Also had an AC which was a lifesaver in early September. One point on rooms is guests should try to get one facing away from the church tower - there's a frequent church bell which can be loud if you're facing it.||||Plentiful buffet breakfast (included in our price) is served downstairs in a quirky little restaurant. They offer everything from meats and cheeses through to different cereals along with juices, tea and coffee. The restaurant also does some very good food during the day and evening which isn't included but definitely worth a try. English skills of the staff ranges but we were able to convey almost everything either verbally or by sign language / Google translate, and they were generally helpful throughout.||||All in all, when you take into account the location, rooms, inclusions and quality of service, I'd say it's a very good budget to mid-range hotel considering the average price / night in the...

The Locanda di CasalMustia is located in a nice little hilltop town in the Tuscan countryside. Really need a car or scooter to get there because of it's distance from railway stations and the apparent lack of an obvious taxi service (a joining friend arriving via rail in Trequanda got a lift from a local). Once in Castelmuzio however, parking is free and there are a number of parking spots in and around the town. The town itself has a coop (little supermarket/grocery store - hours vary by day), ATM and a few restaurants and bars, the most prominent of which belongs to the CasalMustia. For anything else then Pienza (recommended) is a short distance away and has lots of amenities.||||Hotel itself is ideal for a short stay and as a base from which to explore the surrounding countryside before moving on to Siena, Perugia etc. We stayed for three nights and our room was tidy with comfy beds. Staff kept it clean with a daily service throughout our stay. Bathroom compact but good shower. Also had an AC which was a lifesaver in early September. One point on rooms is guests should try to get one facing away from the church tower - there's a frequent church bell which can be loud if you're facing it.||||Plentiful buffet breakfast (included in our price) is served downstairs in a quirky little restaurant. They offer everything from meats and cheeses through to different cereals along with juices, tea and coffee. The restaurant also does some very good food during the day and evening which isn't included but definitely worth a try. English skills of the staff ranges but we were able to convey almost everything either verbally or by sign language / Google translate, and they were generally helpful throughout.||||All in all, when you take into account the location, rooms, inclusions and quality of service, I'd say it's a very good budget to mid-range hotel considering the average price / night in the...

One of the great pleasures of staying in Tuscany for an extended period of time is the sense of discovery as you visit new towns, find new vistas and dine at new restaurants. One of these special experiences came in September as we visit Castelmuzio, a lovely hill town northwest of our home base, Montepulicano. The small town offers stunning vistas back to Montepulciano and Pienza and of the lovely tower of S. Anna in Camprena. Our "discovery" was the Locanda di Casalmustia. The inn offers charming rooms as well as stunning views from its rooftop. But the star of the show for us was the food. We dined al fresco on the charming Piazza della Pieve and feasted on course after course. First there was simple Tuscan fare: ribolita and fagoli in olive oil, followed by sunflower stuffed pasta with radicchio, pine nuts and pasta with melted Gorgonzola, walnuts and pears. Yes, both as good as they sound. Our entrees were followed by a dessert confection: a crispy puff pastry filled with cream and topped with raspberries. Coffees, red wine and sparkling water completed a near-perfect dining experience. Visit Tuscany with time to discover dining as it is meant to be: lovely setting, great food, and that feeling of not having to be rushed. Parking is outside the city walls in a spacious lot but a short 5-minute walk through one of the main gates to the Piazza della Pieve where CasalMustia is located. Dining at CasalMustia provided us with a knockout memory of what unusual and fine dining can be in Tuscany within a reasonable budget. And as a bonus you can walk the charming lanes of this authentic hill town without having to worry about congested streets...