Helmed by executive chef Daniele Cason, The Pizza Bar on 38th was named Asia-Pacific’s best pizzeria in the 2023 50 Top Pizza ranking. Last year, the restaurant also ranked as one of the world's 100 best pizzerias, coming in as the top Tokyo restaurant at No 16. What’s more, the restaurant has also been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand honour for six years in a row as well as the Gambero Rosso Three Slices award for four years straight.
You'll find the pizzeria inside the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, but it’s not your average hotel restaurant. Home to just eight counter seats, you’re guaranteed to get a front row view of the pizza-making action. Pizzas are served fresh from the brick oven with simple, traditional toppings like buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil.
Cason's pizza dough is particularly noteworthy, made with organic Italian flour and just one gram of yeast. The dough then goes through a lengthy 48-hour fermentation period to help create the lightest, most delectable crust.
The Pizza Bar on 38th is open for lunch and dinner, with a special omakase course (¥13,200 per person, subject to 15 percent service charge) also available in the evening. This set includes an appetiser, eight different slices of pizza and a dessert. The pizzas included in the omakase course will change seasonally depending on ingredients, but you can look forward to classics such as the marinara topped with simple tomato sauce and the Pizzino, which includes mascarpone, olives and truffle essence.