Alter Ego was first helmed by the chef Yoji Tokuyoshi, who honed his skills at Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, as Massimo Bottura's right-hand man. His successor is his former deputy, Hidehito Hirayama, who explains, “The idea is not just to make typical Italian food with Japanese ingredients. We want to create Italian cuisine that can only be found here.” Inspired by both countries, Alter Ego serves tuna sashimi in a soy-based marinade draped with ribbons of prosciutto, after the Italian pairing of mountain and sea, and tender beef tongue simmered with daikon, a twist on Italian bollito misto and oden, a Japanese soup.

Helmed by executive chef Daniele Cason, The Pizza Bar on 38th has solidified its place as one of the world’s best pizzerias in this year’s 50 Top Pizza ranking. In fact, the restaurant ranks the highest out of all four Tokyo spots on the 100 best pizzeria list, coming in at No 16 for 2022. On top of making the best pizzeria list, the restaurant has also been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand honour for six years in a row as well as theGambero Rosso Three Slices award for four years straight.

While it’s fair to say that Neapolitan pizzerias are ruling the streets of Tokyo, Pizza Bar on 38th is doing everything it can to keep the crispy Roma-style pizza legacy alive. Here the dough is fermented for over 48 hours, meaning every slice of this delicious pie sits atop one of the crispiest bases in all of Japan. Seating only eight people at a time, this intimate pizza haven is arguably one of the finest pizza dining experiences you can have in Tokyo.

Stealing the number one slot on the 50 Top Pizza list for the Asia-Pacific region in 2023, Pizza Bar tends to attract serious pizza fans in search of something different. Daniele Cason created the place inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Nihonbashi with the idea of serving his elevated pies in the intimate, personal style of sushi or kaiseki. The distinctive bases are made with a ratio of 80 per cent water to 20 per cent flour and fermented for two days, resulting in an exceedingly crisp and airy baked crust.

Not many Tokyo pizza places are more lauded than L’Insieme, but The Pizza Bar on 38th is one of the very few that hold this distinction. Located on the 38th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, The Pizza Bar on 38th needs no explanation. Many gourmet publications routinely call it the best pizza in Japan, if not the world, and it certainly has the accolades to match: 50 Top Pizza named it the best pizza in the whole Asia-Pacific region in both 2023 and 2024, and the third-best pizza in the entire world.

Located on the 38th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Nihonbashi, this world-renowned pizza bar takes pizzas to a whole new dimension. A marble L-shaped counter in the corner seats eight guests, who are able to watch the pizzaiolo beautifully create each dish from scratch and bake pizzas in the kiln. The dough is made with a blend of flours, San Pellegrino sparkling water, organic olive oil, and Sicilian salt, with different recipes used for tomato- and cheese-based pizzas.

Located on the top floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Nihonbashi, The Pizza Bar on 38th is also listed as a Bib Gourmand selection in the Michelin Guide (though prices are more in the one-or-two-star range). Normally, the restaurant, run by Rome-born Chef Daniele Cason, can only accommodate eight guests around its marble-top counter. However, when we ate there for Sunday brunch last month, it had expanded beyond this setup.

The Pizza Bar on 38th is run by Rome-native Daniele Cason and makes up part of the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo in Nihonbashi. In the past year, Cason has introduced an omakase-style menu to his pizzeria: eight guests are invited to the counter to try eight pizzas for the day. Cason serves pan-style pizza in a sophisticated, gourmet fashion, with high-quality ingredients, making an unforgettable culinary experience.

Pizza may not be an obvious choice when dining in Japan, but be prepared for a (very) pleasant surprise. Located on the 38th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Nihonbashi, The Pizza Bar consists of an L-shaped marble counter in the corner with eight seats overlooking the pizza kiln. Guests can watch the pizzaiolo (professional pizza maker) beautifully create each pizza from flour and water.

Head to the 38th floor on the Mandarin Oriental for an Italian twist on the chef’s table: you’ll dine at an eight-seat marble top bar right in front of the pizza oven. Get a full view of the master pizza maker (pizzaiolo) as he creates your pie. Highlights include the classic Bufala, with simple traditional flavours made with fresh Buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil.

Eight seats, eight pies, eight slices, and just one seating. The Pizza Bar on 38th incorporates the rustic whimsy of New York pizza parlors with the elegance of countertop omakase in a way that only Tokyo could. This petite venue's sought-after seats occupy the 38th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo in Nihombashi.

2-chōme-1-1 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-8328, Japan. The Pizza Bar on 38th is a small counter-style spot in the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, with just a few seats. Chef Daniele Cason creates Neapolitan-inspired pizzas known for their crisp, airy crust—a result of a high-hydration dough.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. The Pizza Bar on 38th uses only a brick oven to make the crispiest pizzas in the area. They use Italian organic flour that is fermented for 48 hours to make sure it produces the perfect crust.

The number one restaurant in Asia-Pacific, The Pizza Bar on 38th, is located in the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. It also ranked third in the world, placing it alongside elite names in Naples and Caserta.

Another visit with the owner of the best Pizza place in Poland. He was impressed and so was I. Daniele had been to 富士山 to collect some fresh mushrooms and the seasonal pizza was sublime.