The Country House Montali, Perugia Review

The Country House Montali Hotel is Italy’s first vegetarian hotel. Although this may seem like a definite way to limit one’s audience, it is actually safe to say that the Country House Hotel is a paradise for both vegetarians and, well, anyone who appreciates fine food.

The Country House Montali is situated in the most stunning of locations. Located on a plateau of the hillside, the hotel boasts breathtaking panoramic views of the Umbrian hills. Lying within a 25-acre olive ground surrounded by evergreen wood, this hotel encompasses rural, rustic Italy at its very best. Being just a 20-minute drive from Lake Trasimeno, further beauty is close-by. Although instead of driving, we would certainly recommend a walk across the hills and right down to the shores of the lake.

The hotel itself is boutique, in that it actually only has nine bedrooms. I suppose a more appropriate way to describe the Country House Montali would be as a restaurant with rooms. Simple and homely in design, each of the rooms is very spacious and adorned with beautiful antique furniture.

The hotel boasts an amazing swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers amongst the olive trees. It is one of the most peaceful and tranquil places we have ever experienced.

“Each menu is a culinary journey…”

The location and scenery would be enough to sell this hotel, however the moment the hotel really shows what it has to offer is at dinnertime. Each menu is a culinary journey prepared by a team of young professional Chefs whose passion you can taste in their work; this was one journey we were delighted to be a part of.

Dinner is served at 8pm and guests are encouraged to gather outside for an aperitif. After which, the host appears outside and rings a bell, letting you know it’s time to commence inside and begin the main event.

The restaurant itself has a homely atmosphere with traditional Italian décor. We were lucky enough to have a table looking into the kitchen and were able to experience the magic. Menus consist of an appetister, first course and main course, followed by dessert. Each dish was an absolute delight, and we felt privileged to experience such traditional homemade Italian cuisine. The menu changes daily, meaning each evening is as surprising as the last.

After the meal a good night’s sleep is easy to achieve in Country House Montali’s extremely comfortable beds. After dreaming of last night’s food, we were only too happy to wake up and head straight for breakfast.

Breakfast is served between 8.30 and 9.30am when guests get to sample the fresh creations of the day; our favourite being the home baked museli.

We would go as far as to say that the Country House Montali has become one of our firm favourites. The hotel offers the perfect escape, with a stunning location, the most tranquil setting and some of the best food we have ever experienced. It certainly comes highly recommended by us for both vegetarians and meat eaters alike. It comes as no surprise to us that press such as the Belgian De Standaar have acclaimed the Country House Montali as the Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the World.