The story
Hidden in the Marche woods near Mercatello sul Metauro, La Grotta dei Folletti is a rustic agriturismo that feels like a secret worth sharing. “We ate EVERYTHING that was in this secret cave!” exclaims Sentieri Golosi, who documented the endless fixed menu. For a flat €38 per person, the kitchen sends out a parade of homemade items—from focaccia and a tagliere of cured meats and cheeses to crostino with colombaccio pâté, lumache (snails), and carciofo with guanciale. The pasta course features tagliatelle with ragù, followed by game like faraona and cinghiale, and finishing with a tortino of pastry cream, chocolate, and coconut.
Everything at this family-friendly farmstay is made in-house: the preserves, the cheeses, the pasta. The balanced, traditional dishes reflect the landscape itself, with standout bites like zuppa di ceci e castagne and fagioli con la cotica. With outdoor seating and a hidden-gem vibe, La Grotta dei Folletti offers an authentic, immersive dive into Marche hospitality—no menu choices required, just a willingness to surrender to the flow.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2026.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 12 dish mentions say about the food
Reviewers praise the Faraona as a standout, while the overall vibe is one of rustic, warm comfort that feels like a hidden gem.
“I almost got third-degree burns, but it's very flavorful, well seasoned with herbs and garlic, soft and juicy, not dry at all. The roasted potato is also very good. The breast part is a bit drier but still very tasty.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered La Grotta dei Folletti. Most active: Sentieri Golosi
- Sentieri GolosiLoved
Abbiamo mangiato TUTTO quello che c'era in questa GROTTA SEGRETA! 😱 (menù infinito) · @ 1:37
A magical, rustic agriturismo hidden in the Marche woods where everything is homemade — from the cured meats and cheeses to the pasta and preserves — offering an endless fixed menu of traditional, balanced, and delicious dishes for €38 per person.
Dishes mentioned
Focaccia
This focaccia is dangerously good — it's oily inside, so it slides down your throat, and the outside is super crunchy. I'm moving it away from me or I'll finish it all. It's soft inside, crunchy outside, top tier. It makes me so happy.
Tagliere di Salumi e Formaggi
We start with a board of cured meats and cheeses, all homemade. There's lonzino — perfectly balanced, not too salty, the fat melts in your mouth like butter. The coratella is creamy but very flavorful, good milk taste. The pecorino is medium-aged, very tasty and creamy. I'm a big fan of pecorino and this one pushes hard.
Crostino con Patè di Colombaccio, Pomodoro e Primo Sale
The crostino with colombaccio pâté is extraordinary — the bread is crunchy, the pâté is moist and very tasty. The tomato one is also interesting, it's a preserved tomato they make in summer. The primo sale cheese is fresh, light, and flavorful, it makes a nice sound when you eat it.
Insalata con Aceto Balsamico e Mele
I don't usually like raw apples, but these are incredibly fragrant, really good. The radicchio contrasts the sweetness of the balsamic and the apple. It's simple but very tasty. I thought I tasted rose, but they said it's just the apple's flavor — the apple is that aromatic.
Fagioli con la Cotica
This dish is amazing — the flavor is so good, it warms your heart and soul. The cotica is pork skin, collagen, very tasty. I could eat it all. It's comforting, really comforting. I even did the 'scarpetta' to clean the plate.
