Where to Eat in Tirana
Tirana is an up-and-coming tourist location with a lot to offer. Albanian food is absolutely delicious and the capital city offers an amazing mix of traditional, local food and some new, exciting fusions. Deciding where to eat in Tirana can be tricky as there is so much choice! In this post, we provide our suggestions for different kinds of restaurants, cafes and bars in Tirana. We have, of course, tried all the places we recommend and are still working our way through the ever expanding list of amazing Tirana restaurants.
What is Albanian food
Let’s start from the beginning. Albanian food is an amazing mixture of Mediterranean cuisine and fantastic grilled meats and vegetables. Hospitality is important in Albanian society so a good hearty meal enjoyed with friends is not to be missed. Eating as much delicious food as possible is always high on our to do list when we visit.
Where to Eat in Tirana – Restaurants
As we mentioned, there are so many amazing places to eat in Tirana. Here are some of the highlights and the restaurants we have enjoyed the most so far. Many of these are in the Blloku region of the city. However, we have also included others across the capital to help you decide where to eat in Tirana.
Where to Eat in Tirana – Oda
Let’s start with a traditional Albanian place. Oda offers an awesome menu of authentic, Albanian cuisine. It came recommended to us by a friend so we decided it was worth a visit, we were not disappointed. The cosy rooms are decorated with traditional Albanian pictures, wood panelling, shelves of wines and spirits and rows of garlic.
We hadn’t booked but the waitress kindly arranged a seat for us and we shared a table. In the room next door there was some pretty lively music and enthusiastic dancing which really added to the experience. The food is delicious, especially the Lakror (pie with leek, spinach and filo pastry), stuffed peppers and aubergine stuffed with vegetables.
Rruga Riza Jasa, Tirana, Albania
Restaurant Piceri Era “Blloku”
Era is located in the Blloku region and is definitely one of the best places to eat in Tirana. It also sells traditional Albanian fayre but the restaurant is a lot larger and slightly more expensive than Oda. However, it is still very reasonable compared to European prices.
There is seating outside which is really nice in the summer. If you decide to sit inside, the décor is sophisticated and the service is pretty sharp. We would recommend the Kosovo sausage and the ribs. Don’t forget to finish it all off with a wee glass of Rakia.
Rruga Ismail Qemali, Tirana 1000, Albania
Where to Eat in Tirana – Salt
Salt is another restaurant located in the Blloku region of Tirana. It is one of these places that has become instantly popular. The menu is varied but everything is great quality. You can sit inside or outside on the terrace on the second floor. We have been for brunch a few times and the food is always delicious!
If you go in the evening, smarter clothes are recommended. We would also suggest making a booking in the evenings and at weekends.
Rruga Pjetër Bogdani, Tiranë 1001, Albania
King House Restorant
This was a surprising find for us. Another of Blloku’s great places to eat! We were a little sceptical at first as there seemed to be quite a few tourists in this restaurant. However, the food was really good. Mostly traditional Albanian cuisine, the menu is pretty big, like the portions, and the food was tasty. There were also quite a few beers available.
Presidential Palace of Tirana, Rruga Ibrahim Rugova 12 Ne Bllok Mbrapa, Tirana 1053, Albania
Where to Eat in Tirana – Zgaras
What is a Zgara? Well, basically it’s a grill. If you like a good choice of grilled meats, veg and sometimes cheese, you need to head to a Zgara.
Zgara King Pils
A 10 minute walk from Skanderbeg Square, Zgara King Pils is perfect for a casual meal. The menu is pretty extensive and you can see the meat before it’s cooked. As you can guess from the name, there is Pils on tap as well. We ordered a couple of platters and were not disappointed!
Rruga Fortuzi 67-61, Tiranë, Albania
Where to Eat in Tirana – Zgara Supreme
Another great little grill, this one is open ’til late. After a very delayed flight, we headed out to find something substantial. Around midnight we ordered some delicious grilled chicken kebabs and stuffed peppers. If you’re still out and about late, try this place for some delicious grilled meat and veg.
Kavaja St, Tirana 1019, Albania
Where to Get Coffee in Tirana
Coffee is a big part of Albanian culture. Traditionally, coffee is enjoyed strong and short. However, you can find any kind of coffee you want in Tirana today.
Le Bon
Le Bon is a café chain and can be found around Tirana and other cities in Albania. We went here a few times because the choice of coffees (iced coffees in particular) is great. They also have a phenomenal selection of cakes and beautifully created chocolates. We thoroughly recommend the pistachio croissant if you are there for breakfast.
Mulliri
Mulliri is another Albanian coffee shop chain – don’t judge! They also have a fabulous selection of cakes and pastries, hot and iced coffees as well as other cold drinks such as iced teas. You will find Mulliri all over Tirana so make sure you try it out.
Le Chateau
If you are planning on spending a bit of time relaxing in a café, try Le Chateau – a French inspired coffee house. The relaxed Parisian vibes can be enjoyed while playing a board game or two. If you hit a rainy afternoon in Tirana, this is a good place to go. If the weather is good, there is a gorgeous patio where you can soak up the sun. They serve Julius Meinl coffee and we are big fans!
Where to Eat Ice Cream and Dessert in Tirana
Ok, so there are ice cream places all over Tirana and they are all pretty good. We recommend trying as many as possible! Our current favourite is Ice Cream Mango just near Toptani Mall. The ice cream cost 100Lek per scoop (about €1) and is ridiculously tasty!
Rruga Xhorxh W. Bush, Kamëz, Albania
Where to Go For a Drink in Tirana
If you fancy going out for a few drinks in Tirana, the Blloku area has so many great options. We would recommend trying out Tribeca Bar. The bar is really nicely decorated with a great vibe and there is a nice selection of pretty fancy cocktails.
Rruga Vaso Pasha, Tiranë, Albania
Where to go next
Ready for another adventure? Maybe you have some more time in the city? Check out these amazing Day Trips from Tirana. Perhaps you want to spend more time in the city? Have a look at these amazing Thing to Do in Tirana. There is plenty of history, nature and food to discover in beautiful Albania.
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Tirana or anywhere else in Albania? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
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