Pizzeria CARTA 池袋 at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

NY-style hideaway pizzeria in Ikebukuro with wood-fired pies, T-bone steak and oysters from a century-old fishmonger.

Pizzeria CARTA is an Italian pizzeria tucked into a quiet backstreet near Ikebukuro's west exit, with an industrial, New York-style room of around 10 to 28 seats. The chef trained at a well-known Tokyo hotel, and the kitchen is known for wood-fired pizza alongside a generous T-bone steak and fresh oysters delivered daily from a fishmonger with more than 100 years of history. The pizza menu runs from a classic margherita to seasonal variations, while the meat side offers a 350g T-bone steak that lets diners taste both sirloin and fillet in one cut, and the oysters can be topped with caviar, sea urchin or salmon roe for a richer bite. The shop also runs two-hour all-you-can-drink courses and offers whole-venue hire for parties, with private rooms available; hours vary by day, with lunch on weekends and holidays. For a wood-fired pie, a serious steak or a half-dozen oysters with a glass of wine, CARTA's backstreet room makes a grown-up escape just a short walk from Ikebukuro station. Sink into the sofa or counter seating, let the kitchen send out the dishes it does best and savour a slightly more refined corner of the neighbourhood's Italian scene.