Restaurant in Caserta, Italy
Italy's top-ranked pizza. Worth the trip.
Ranked #1 pizzeria in Italy by the 50 Top Pizza guide for 2025 and #9 in OAD Casual Europe, I Masanielli by Francesco Martucci operates at the far end of what pizza can be — tasting menus, serious wine, and a renovated room in central Caserta. Book for dinner if you want the full experience; weekday lunch works for a lower-key visit.
If you are serious about pizza and you are anywhere near Campania, I Masanielli by Francesco Martucci belongs on your itinerary. Ranked #1 pizzeria in Italy by the 50 Leading Pizza guide for 2025 and sitting at #9 in Opinionated About Dining's Casual Europe list the same year, this is not a local favourite that happens to have a following — it is a reference point for the entire category. Book it for a food-focused evening where you want to understand what the format can actually achieve, not just for a convenient dinner near the Royal Palace.
This is the right choice for the food-focused traveller who wants to eat something they cannot replicate elsewhere in the region. If your trip to Caserta is centred on the Royal Palace and you want one genuinely serious meal to anchor it, this is that meal. Dinner on a Friday or Saturday evening is the peak experience — the room is fully operational, the kitchen runs through midnight, and the energy matches the ambition of the menu. Weekday lunch (Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 3 pm) is a lower-key entry point that works well if you want to take your time without the evening buzz. Monday is closed; Sunday is dinner only from 7 pm.
The setting has been renovated into a room that takes itself seriously , contemporary art on the walls, a dedicated private space, and a kitchen that is clearly not treating pizza as a casual transaction. The 50 Leading Pizza guide describes an ever-evolving menu shaped by intercontinental influences, with a tasting menu format sitting alongside the option of ordering a Margherita that, by all credentialed accounts, holds its own against anything more elaborate on the menu. An extensive wine and beer list means this is not a place you drop into for a quick slice , budget time and appetite accordingly.
Francesco Martucci's approach sits at the boundary between traditional Neapolitan pizza and a full gastronomic experience. The 50 Leading Pizza write-up specifically notes the tension between a menu with daring combinations and technique, and a foundation that keeps the product rooted in its pop, accessible origins. For the explorer who wants context with their meal, that duality is the point. For someone who simply wants a reliable pizza close to the city centre, the ambition here may feel like more than they need , in which case a simpler trattoria would serve better.
With a 4.5 Google rating across 6,838 reviews, the consensus from regular diners tracks closely with the critical recognition. That volume of reviews at that score suggests consistency rather than a venue coasting on a single moment of acclaim. The OAD ranking has held steady , #10 in 2023, #12 in 2024, #9 in 2025 , which tells you the kitchen is not declining.
If you find yourself in Caserta more than once, the format here rewards repeat visits. On a first visit, use the tasting menu to understand the range , this gives you the full picture of what Martucci is attempting across ingredients and techniques. On a second visit, go off-menu into the more focused pizza options and test the Margherita against your benchmark. A third visit, if you have it, is the moment to work through the wine and spirits list properly, which the 50 Leading Pizza guide singles out as genuinely extensive. Each visit answers a different question about the venue's range.
Hours: Tuesday 7 pm–midnight; Wednesday–Saturday 12–3 pm and 7 pm–midnight; Sunday 7 pm–midnight; Monday closed. Reservations: Booking is rated Easy , but given the #1 Italy ranking for 2025, dinner slots on weekends will move faster than the difficulty rating suggests; book at least one to two weeks ahead for Friday or Saturday evening. Getting there: The address is Viale Giulio Douhet, 11, Caserta , a short distance from the Royal Palace of Caserta, which makes it a natural anchor for a day trip from Naples. Group size: The private room noted in the 50 Leading Pizza description makes this a reasonable option for small celebrations or groups who want separation from the main dining room , worth requesting at booking. Budget: Price range is not listed in our current data; given the award profile and tasting menu format, expect a spend above the city average for pizza.
For other serious tables in Caserta, Le Colonne and Cambia-Menti di Ciccio Vitiello cover the higher end of the non-pizza category. If you want a lighter spend, Antica Locanda is the accessible Campanian option. The sibling venue I Masanielli by Sasà Martucci , a separate address run by Francesco's brother , is worth comparing if availability is tight here. For the full picture of eating and drinking in the city, see our full Caserta restaurants guide, our Caserta bars guide, and our Caserta hotels guide. If you are building a broader Italy itinerary around serious restaurants, cross-reference with Osteria Francescana in Modena, Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, and Dal Pescatore in Runate. For pizza specifically at an international level of comparison, Ken's Artisan Pizza in Portland and 11th Street Pizza in Miami represent the format at a high level elsewhere.
One to two weeks is enough for most weekday slots. For Friday or Saturday dinner , which is the peak experience , book at least two weeks out. The booking difficulty is rated Easy overall, but the 2025 #1 Italy ranking from 50 Leading Pizza has raised the venue's profile internationally, and weekend evenings will fill faster than that rating implies. Lunch midweek is your leading window if you want flexibility on short notice.
This is not a drop-in pizzeria. The format spans a tasting menu and individual pizzas in a sit-down room with table service, wine, and a kitchen running to midnight. Come hungry, budget generously above the city average, and use the tasting menu on your first visit to get the full range. The #1 ranking in Italy for 2025 means expectations are high , and by all credentialed accounts, the kitchen meets them.
No specific dietary information is listed in our current data. Contact the venue directly before booking if you have specific requirements , given the tasting menu format and the complexity of the menu described in the 50 Leading Pizza write-up, it is worth confirming in advance rather than on arrival.
For pizza specifically, I Masanielli by Sasà Martucci is the closest comparison , same family name, separate venue, different approach. For non-pizza dining at a higher spend, Le Colonne is the Campanian fine-dining option. If you want to spend less and eat locally, Antica Locanda covers that ground. La Bolla is another Caserta option worth checking. See our full Caserta guide for the complete picture.
Dinner is the fuller experience , the room is at its leading in the evening and the kitchen runs to midnight, which gives the meal room to breathe. Lunch (Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 3 pm) is the practical choice if you are combining the visit with a day at the Royal Palace or want a shorter, lower-pressure meal. For a first visit with serious food intent, choose dinner.
Yes, with the right expectations. The venue has a dedicated private room, an extensive wine and spirits list, and a tasting menu format that gives a special occasion structure and weight. It is the right choice if the occasion is food-centred and the group is genuinely interested in what the kitchen is doing. For a more conventional celebration with broader menu options, Le Colonne or Cambia-Menti di Ciccio Vitiello may suit better.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I Masanielli – Francesco Martucci | Pizzeria | Opinionated About Dining Casual in Europe Ranked #9 (2025); I Masanielli by Francesco Martucci is the best pizzeria in Italy for 2025, according to the 50 Top Pizza guide. It is celebrated for its innovative yet perfectly executed pizzas, made with passion and top-tier ingredients, reflecting the master pizzaiolo's "very mine" style.; It's time for Francesco Martucci to take a breath and enjoy the moment. A renovated room rich in contemporary art with works reflecting his restless dark-romantic nature. With a dedicated room as well. An ever-evolving menu that tells of intercontinental journeys, physical experiences, and gastronomic curiosities, of contaminations between cultures and cooking techniques, ingredients and textures, aromas and bitterness (both from the kitchen and from life). A pizza that maintains its pop soul yet flies, without restraint, towards courageous ambitions. Here, where enjoying a "simple" Margherita is equal to being captivated by the most daring combinations on the tasting menu. After a long journey of sacrifices faced head-on and without sparing, Martucci has now reached the border between pizza and gastronomic experience in the broadest sense. Extensive wine and beer list, spirits and delicacies. Efficient service. A temple of the best of Italian gastronomic culture just a stone's throw from the Royal Palace.; Opinionated About Dining Casual in Europe Ranked #12 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Casual in Europe Ranked #10 (2023) | Easy | — |
| Antica Locanda | Campanian | Unknown | — | |
| Le Colonne | Campanian | Unknown | — | |
| Sunrise | Seafood | Unknown | — | |
| Cambia-Menti di Ciccio Vitiello | Unknown | — | ||
| I Masanielli – Sasà Martucci | Unknown | — |
What to weigh when choosing between I Masanielli – Francesco Martucci and alternatives.
Book at least 2-3 weeks in advance, and further out if you're visiting on a Friday or Saturday evening. Ranked #1 pizzeria in Italy by 50 Top Pizza 2025 and sitting at #9 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual Europe list, this place draws serious food travellers from outside Caserta. Lunch service (Wednesday–Saturday) is a useful pressure valve if dinner slots are full.
Go straight for the tasting menu on a first visit — it's the clearest way to understand Martucci's range, from a straightforward Margherita to more technically ambitious combinations. The room is contemporary, art-lined, and has a dedicated private space, so this is not a casual neighbourhood slice stop. Come with time and appetite rather than a quick-dinner mindset.
Dietary accommodation details are not confirmed in the available venue data. Given the tasting menu format and the kitchen's reputation for technical precision, it's worth contacting the restaurant directly before booking to flag any restrictions, particularly if you're committed to the full menu experience.
I Masanielli by Sasà Martucci (Francesco's brother) is the most direct comparison and runs its own serious pizza operation in the city. For non-pizza dining at the higher end, Le Colonne and Cambia-Menti di Ciccio Vitiello cover the fine-dining side of Caserta. If you want something lighter and less format-driven, Antica Locanda and Sunrise are the names that come up locally.
Dinner is the primary format — Tuesday and Sunday are dinner-only — and the full tasting menu experience is best approached when you're not on a clock. Lunch (Wednesday–Saturday, 12–3 pm) is a practical option for travellers passing through Caserta mid-itinerary, but dinner gives you the complete picture of what Martucci is doing.
Yes, with a specific caveat: this works best as a special occasion for people who actually care about pizza as a serious food category. The renovated room, private dining space, extensive wine and beer list, and the #1 Italy ranking from 50 Top Pizza 2025 all support a celebratory booking. For a conventional anniversary dinner crowd, Le Colonne offers a more traditional fine-dining frame.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
