Io e Luna

The story

Io e Luna, Alba – Michelin-Recommended Contemporary Italian in Guarene

Chef Davide Odore

Davide Odore’s passion for cooking began in childhood. Born in 1982, he turned that early fascination into a profession, eventually becoming Executive Chef at the Castello di Guarene luxury hotel in 2014. But his heart belonged to his own small restaurant, and in 2017 he returned to Io e Luna, bringing fresh ideas and a deepened commitment to the essence of Piedmontese tradition. His dishes, he says, are the result of continuous research aimed at the soul of tradition, presented with refined simplicity and careful attention. The result is a tasting experience that honors every single ingredient.

At the Foot of Guarene

Io e Luna sits among the Roero hills, at the foot of the medieval village of Guarene, in an ancient inn that has been restored into an intimate, welcoming restaurant. From the outside, it appears as a modern, colorful villa with a spectacular view over the vineyards and orchards that surround it. Inside, a veranda and a spacious terrace allow the landscape—ever-changing with the seasons—to become part of the meal. The atmosphere is warm and calm, a place where you can listen to the silence and smell the air perfumed by vines and aromatic herbs.

The Garden and Pastry Shop

A small kitchen garden, tended by Simone, supplies the restaurant with a rich variety of vegetables, sprouts, and aromatic herbs. This garden directly inspires one of the seasonal menus. Chef Odore’s love for sweets led to an unexpected development: the petits fours served with coffee after dinner proved so popular that guests began asking to take them home. That demand grew into a full pastry shop, where traditional Italian cakes and pastries are made with the same care as the savory dishes.

The Menus

Two tasting paths reflect the restaurant’s philosophy. “I Sapori di una Volta” (The Flavors of the Past) reinterprets great traditional dishes—such as ravioli del plin filled with liquid gorgonzola and a veal stew in a royal sauce—for €60. “Orto e Natura” (Garden and Nature) highlights vegetables and herbs from the garden, paired with ingredients like asparagus, marinated red prawns, and guinea fowl cooked with garden herbs, at €55. Both begin with a welcome appetizer and end with a dessert.

Michelin’s recognition, with a Recommended award for 2026, confirms what regulars already know: Io e Luna is a place where contemporary Italian cuisine stays rooted in the land, the seasons, and a chef’s genuine passion.