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  • 1 $ 79.80 L
  • 1 € 91.39 L
  • 1 £ 106.50 L
  • Tirana 19°
  • Durrës 20°
  • Sarandë 21°
  • Sea, Sarandë 26°
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updated · weather: open-meteo · rate: ExchangeRate-API

Albania Guidebook

Where to eat in Albania

Restaurants, cafes, wine bars, bakeries and markets - by city. Each place has its address, hours, our honest write-up and a link to the map.

What to try in Albania: a guide to the cuisine
City
Cuisine
Price level

Price level: € - cheap, €€ - mid-range, €€€ - above average.

Places shown: 20

Tirana

Era

Blloku Albanian & Mediterranean €€

A busy, reliable restaurant in the heart of Blloku serving Albanian and Mediterranean dishes on a terrace made for people-watching, with a menu wide enough to please a table that cannot agree.

A dependable Blloku all-rounder for Albanian and Mediterranean cooking - rated above 4★ across Google, Tripadvisor and local guides

Verified · July 16, 2026 On the map Website
Photo: Klein Muçi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (illustrative - bottles of Albanian raki) ( source)
Illustration

Komiteti - Kafe Muzeum

Behind the Pyramid, near Blloku Café & raki bar €€

A café-bar behind the Pyramid crammed with communist-era bric-a-brac, known for one of Albania’s widest raki selections alongside espresso and mountain tea.

A characterful café-bar and local institution - rated above 4★ on Tripadvisor and praised across Tirana city guides

Verified · June 22, 2026 On the map

Kripe dhe Piper

Near Blloku, off Rruga Sami Frashëri Seafood €€

A plain-talking seafood spot near Blloku that lets the fresh catch carry the plate - grilled fish of the day, a seafood platter and octopus, with whole fish sold by weight.

One of the highest-rated seafood tables in the city - rated above 4★ across Google, Tripadvisor and local guides

Verified · July 16, 2026 On the map
Photo: MirelaAndoni / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (illustrative - tavë kosi, a classic Albanian dish) ( source)
Illustration

Mullixhiu

Grand Park, by the Artificial Lake Modern Albanian €€€

Chef Bledar Kola’s celebrated farm-to-table restaurant in the Grand Park, reimagining traditional Albanian recipes as a tasting-menu journey from locally sourced ingredients.

Albania’s best-known modern restaurant abroad - listed by World’s 50 Best Discovery and rated above 4★ on Google and Restaurant Guru

Verified · June 22, 2026 On the map Website
Photo: Leeturtle / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (illustrative - fërgesë, a classic Albanian dish) ( source)
Illustration

Oda

City centre, off Rruga Luigj Gurakuqi Traditional Albanian €€

A homely, lamp-lit traditional restaurant tucked off Rruga Luigj Gurakuqi, set in an old Tirana house with low tables and warm Ottoman-tinged Albanian home cooking.

A long-standing favourite for traditional cooking - rated above 4★ across Tripadvisor, Restaurant Guru and other guides, on a deep base of reviews

Verified · June 22, 2026 On the map

Qofte Tradita Met Kodra

Pazari i Ri, near Avni Rustemi Square Qofte counter (street food) €

A tiny, decades-old qofte counter by the New Bazaar where you order the small herby meatballs by the piece or in a bread sandwich with raw onion. Cash only, and usually a lunchtime queue.

Prices for main dishes · a guideline, check on site

  • Qofte (per piece) 35-40 lek
  • Qofte sandwich (four in bread) ~150 lek

A decades-old budget qofte institution - rated above 4★ across Google, Tripadvisor and local guides

Verified · July 16, 2026 On the map

Salt

Blloku Contemporary European €€€

A sleek contemporary restaurant in Blloku doing steaks, sushi and a proper wine list - where Tirana comes to mark an occasion without leaving the going-out district.

A polished contemporary table where Tirana marks an occasion - rated above 4★ across Google, Tripadvisor and local guides

Verified · July 16, 2026 On the map

Tek Zgara Tironës

Off Rruga e Kavajës, near the centre Albanian grill (zgara) €

A no-frills grill house off Kavaja Street doing a mixed grill of qofte, chops and chicken in a room full of locals rather than tourists. Cash-friendly and completely unpretentious.

Prices for main dishes · a guideline, check on site

  • Mixed grill (qofte, chops, chicken) 550-1,100 lek

A no-frills local grill favourite - rated above 4★ across Google, Tripadvisor and local guides

Verified · July 16, 2026 On the map

Durrës

Aragosta Restaurant

South beach Seafood & Mediterranean €€€

A seafood restaurant on the southern beach strip, known for lobster, fish and Mediterranean plates with sea views.

Picked as the slightly upscale seafood option south of the main beach crowds.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Bar Restaurant Belvedere

Hillside above beach Albanian & grill €€

A hillside restaurant with panoramic bay views, serving Albanian grills and seafood above the beach strip.

Picked for the hillside view over the bay when the promenade feels too flat and crowded.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

OMA Restaurant & Beach Lounge

Beach zone Beach club dining €€€

A beach lounge combining seafood, grills and cocktails with sunbed service on the Durrës coast.

Picked for a beach-lounge dinner when you want music, cocktails and seafood on the same bill.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Rizai Bar & Restaurant

East Durrës Albanian & pizza €€

A bar-restaurant with Albanian grills, pizza and pasta in a lively room on the eastern side of the city.

Picked for a mixed menu east of the centre when your group splits between pizza and Albanian grills.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Te Nona N'Durres

Beachfront Albanian seafood €€

A beachfront restaurant serving grilled fish and Albanian seafood classics on the Durrës promenade.

Picked for a dependable seafood terrace on the promenade when you want grilled catch without leaving the beach strip.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Traditional Restaurant LIRIADA

Central Durrës Traditional Albanian €€

A traditional restaurant focusing on Albanian classics - baked dishes, grills and salads - a block inland from the beach.

Picked for tavë, byrek and home-style Albanian plates away from the pure seafood terraces.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Sarandë

Alban restaurant

South promenade Albanian & Mediterranean €€

A southern promenade restaurant mixing Albanian grills with Mediterranean seafood away from the noisiest bars.

Picked for a slightly quieter terrace south of the busiest bar strip.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Bar-Restorant Qesari

Promenade Seafood grill €€

A promenade bar-restaurant grilling fish and seafood with tables facing the Ionian.

Picked for straightforward grilled fish on the promenade without the full lounge markup.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Observatory Restaurant Saranda

Hill above town Seafood & cocktails €€€

A hilltop restaurant pairing seafood plates and cocktails with panoramic views over Sarandë and the Ionian.

Picked for sunset cocktails and seafood with the widest view over the bay.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Restaurant Gostivari Saranda

Central Sarandë Albanian & grill €€

A central grill restaurant with Albanian meats, salads and pasta a few streets back from the promenade.

Picked for a central grill house when the waterfront terraces are fully booked.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

Restorant Isufi

Waterfront Albanian seafood €€

A family-run waterfront restaurant serving grilled fish, seafood risotto and Albanian starters on the Sarandë promenade.

Picked as a family-run waterfront option with simple fish and Albanian sides.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map

SOPHRA

Waterfront Traditional Albanian €€

A traditional Albanian restaurant on the Sarandë waterfront, serving tavë, grills and local wine with Ionian views.

Picked for Albanian classics on the waterfront when you want tavë and grilled meats with a sea breeze.

Verified · August 25, 2026 On the map