Massilia Italian Restaurant - Ranked 4th on the 2025 Best Pizzas in the Asia Pacific @ Bangkok in Thailand

I am not that big a fan when it comes to pizzas but even then; I can't resist clicking the link when it was said to contain a list of 2025 asia pacific's top 50 pizzerias! 

The top ranking pizzeria in Southeast Asia hailed from Bangkok (ranked 4th on the list) and since I was in Thailand's capital city in March, we made a special treat down to Massilia Italian Restaurant (established in 2015), a short walk from Phloen Chit BTS station.

Framed certificate that's proudly on display. Now, my expectation was high since the top pizzeria in Singapore was ranked just 13. Having said that, many of us have preferences when it comes to pizzas, especially dough, and I am not one who blindly follows authenticity. 

Wood-fire oven (said to be crafted in Naples, Italy) with light bouncing off the glistening, golden mosaic tiles, reflecting opulence as compared to the ones we saw at Pizza 4P's near Ben Thanh Market in Vietnam.

Seating wise, there were alfresco seatings which I thought would be suicidal in the hot weather at Bangkok, and we were there for lunch! Maybe only more bearable at night. 

Air-conditioned space would be much preferred and it also helped that the interior was almost like a European palace with antlers lights, wooden dining chairs, patterned wallpaper etc.

Even this faulty clock looked antiquated! Anyway, coming back to food, we were stuck as there six signature pizzas, and 11 classic pizzas, and there were even vegan, gluten free pizzas! Damn, which one should we choose?! 

Singha Beer - whatever the case, a glass of ice cold beer would always be welcome on a hot day! 

Welcome Bread - complimentary bread and I never said no to free stuff so long it's not bribery! Served warm, with saucers filled with what appeared to be coarsely diced tomatoes. 

Hm..... not my cup of tea. The tomatoes were lightly seasoned but strangely, there was a fishy taste to the bite, as if fish oil was added. Honestly, I would be happier with just bread and butter. 

Calamari Fritti - I am guessing fritti means fried stuff and you know what goes best with beer?! Fried squid, although sometimes,it's quite frustrating to be served frozen, tasteless squid, which wasn't the case at Massilia!

Let's douse them with lemon juice first! 

Mmmmmm so good; freshy fried, hot and with a thin batter, each bite had texture that wasn't rubbery and so full of the deliciously sweet and natural squid flavour! This is a must order in my honest opinion! 

Lasagna - if you ask me, I prefer lasagna over pizzas although it's much easier to find a lousy lasagna! But for such a high class restaurant, I doubt it would be a disaster. 

Sadly, it was for me. The lasagna was noticeably burnt, resulting in a bitter aftertaste. In addition, there was just too much meat filling, resulting in excessive salty savouriness that failed to balance with the taste from the layers of pasta! 

Black Truffle Pizza - woah.... I have only seen these on television and on the web, never right in front of me with my own eyes! Yes, they were truffles, said to be the most expensive fungi in the whole world! 

So expensive until I could only afford its shavings; no wonder it cost 1,290 baht! My bad though as the menu clearly indicated "black truffle freshly shaved".

Completed picture of the black truffle pizza, said to contain truffle shavings (duh), pork jowl (looked like ham to me), mozzarella (from cow's milk), extra virgin oil, Italian basil (not Thai basil) and cherry tomatoes. 

Being ignorant, I first took a slice of the truffle shaving. It's like parched paper with a wee, subtle aroma that's way less impactful than the cheaper truffle oil; even the cheese appeared to taste richer of truffle! Pizza dough was chewy with pockets of fluffiness, and had that smacking good yeasty pizza dough taste! 

Pork jowl was too oily and fatty; I think I have cheapo taste buds as Italian hams and salami don't appeal to my taste buds. Alex had it worse; he literally removed the truffle shavings from his slice of pizza and wondering why had to pay so much for this.

Best thing on the pizza; the sweet, cherry tomatoes! 

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It was just too much pizza for just the two of us and while I am glad that we only had one pizza; it's unfortunate that the lasagna was a great disappointment. Would I be back? Maybe for the four cheese pizza and also a serving of fried squid, with a glass of beer. 

p.s. toilet was luxurious max! 

They served hand towels okay? 

Address

15, 1 Soi Ruamrudee Community, Lumphini, 

Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Map

As above. 

Website

https://www.massiliabkk.com/

Menu

As above.

Pricing

Singha Beer - 140 Baht

Welcome Bread - Free

Calamari Fritti - 350 Baht

Lasagna - 450 Baht

Black Truffle Pizza - 1,290 Baht

(Subject to Service Charge and Tax)

Arize Hotel near Phrom Phong BTS Station - Executive Room 736 @ Bangkok in Thailand

I try to stay at different hotels whenever I visit Bangkok, my favorite city. In March, however, we decided to stay at an area that's less familiar yet super near the luxury EM District and Phrom Phong BTS Station (200 meters away).

There were many good star hotels priced beyond my budget and we eventually opted for Arize Hotel, a four-star establishment. Interestingly, I managed to secure a better deal directly with the hotel, via its official website.

Anyway, it was night time when we arrived at Arize Hotel and with a growling stomach looking forward to dinner; it's a necessity to check in as soon as possible! 

To our right would be the lobby, plus a cafe that Alex patronized on a daily basis for his latte. There's a staircase going up to level two, where the hotel breakfast would be served. p.s. our deal didn't come with complimentary breakfast.

On our left, another waiting area.

Albeit slightly poshier with leather chairs.

Lift up to the seventh floor. There were eight floors in total with 151 rooms spread across categories like superior, deluxe, executive, including a family room which can house six adults plus two children.

Room 736

Our executive room, which was really a one-bedroom studio at a spacious 42 square meters that came with a living room, and even a small dining table for two persons. 

So appropriate; menu for room service on the dining table.

For your reference too; quite pricey in my honest opinion but I am a stingy person. Alex is always the one ordering room service which I don't get it! Why spend more than S$10 on French fries?! 

Prefer indulging in the free welcome fruits instead.

Local oranges which were pretty sweet! 

Equipment at the entrance; a large fridge (for a hotel stay), a microwave, a coffee-making machine etc Loving the inclusion of complimentary drinks in the fridge which included beer too! 

Another look in the daytime. Sofa was comfortable and as I was chasing some dramas then, the sofa was literally my favorite spot, especially after I switched on the air-conditioning! 

Using the reflection from hanging decorative light above the dining table.

Now, our bedroom! Looking cozy enough but honestly, the air-conditioning might be a big issue for those who have to sleep in very cold temperature like below 23 degrees celcius. Thankfully, we were quite accustomed to 24-25 degrees celcius air-conditioning.

There's an air purifier in the room too! Another thing to highlight was the severe lack of power sockets! We literally only found one open socket behind the air purifier, and another one behind the sofa in the living room.

Wardrobe for reference. The only one thing I would utilize shall be the in-room safe. Even the umbrella would be somewhat useless for me since I would use bring along a lightweight umbrella. Furthermore, I am known for losing brollies that I can't fold and keep in my backpack.

View from our room, facing DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.

Washroom that came with a bathtub and a separate rainfall shower! As the area we stayed at was popular with Japanese, I was expecting the Japanese bidet, and not the common hand spray. One thing I couldn't stand was that the water will seep out from the shower, flooding the dry area! 

Toilet amenities.

Plus the hairdryer in the bag.

Gymnasium

The decently sized gym on the ground floor, with equipment that did meet my pretty bare requirements. I am only glad that guests didn't seem to use it often, and I hardly had anyone competing with me for the machines, except for one day. 

Swimming Pool

Located on the ground floor was a 10-meter pool that looked pretty without any special feature to entice us to even take a dip, even though we did bring our swimming trunks. 

Honestly, the dart board was more appealing. 

 

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Address

8/8 Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Toei, 

Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Map

As above.

Website

https://www.arizehotel.com/

Pricing

Executive Room - 2,224.96 Baht a Night

(via Arize Hotel website)

Additional Information

Right opposite Arize Hotel, literally across the road, would be Rung Rueang Pork Noodle, a Michelin Bib Gourmand eatery!