I Masanielli – Francesco Martucci

The Verdict

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.

Who Should Book and When

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, 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 Portrait

The setting has been renovated into a room that takes itself seriously, contemporary art on the walls, a dedicated private space, 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, 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.

The OAD ranking has held steady, #10 in 2023, #12 in 2024, #9 in 2025, which tells you the kitchen is not declining.

A Multi-Visit Strategy

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.

Practical Details

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.

How It Compares

Also Worth Knowing

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.