Eating in Tirana: from our door to the mountain and the sea
Where to eat, from right outside our clinic to Mount Dajti and the sea at Durrës, with walking times and map links.
Good food is part of a good stay. Here is a selection of well-reviewed places to eat, starting right outside our clinic on Rruga Mine Peza and going all the way to Mount Dajti and the beach at Durrës. Each place shows how far it is from the clinic, its price level and a map link.
Every place on this list is well rated on Google and liked by our team and our patients. It is a selection, not a ranking — Tirana has many more good places, and we have no connection with any of them.
Photo: Regularcheese, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: Leeturtle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Just had treatment? Ask us what you can eat and when. We'll point you to soft, gentle choices from this list. After surgery your mouth needs soft, cold food for a few days, so some of these places will have to wait. Ask us first — we will tell you what you can eat, and when.
Price levels: € budget · €€ mid-range · €€€ fine dining, as shown on Google Maps. Some small places take cash only; we mark them.
Right outside our door
1–2 minutes on foot.
Bati 1 Seafood
Rruga Mine Peza · €€ · 1 min walk from the clinic · Map
Fresh fish and seafood a few steps from the clinic. Guests love the octopus with mashed potatoes and the fish soup. Cards accepted. Book at weekends.
Jarna Traditional Restaurant
Rruga Fortuzi · €€ · 2 min walk from the clinic · Map
Traditional Albanian cooking done well: baked beans (pllaqi), fërgesë, grilled kërnacka and warm homemade bread. Good vegetarian choices, too.
Pasta e Basta
Rruga Mine Peza · € · 2 min walk from the clinic · Map
Fresh homemade pasta at fair prices — the carbonara is a favourite. Closed on Sundays.
STANI Restaurant
Rruga Mine Peza · € · 1 min walk from the clinic · Map
A simple, friendly grill with sizzling-hot plates, like a whole roast chicken with potatoes. Casual, with a billiards table.
Byrektore
Rruga Mihal Duri · € · 2 min walk from the clinic · Map
A tiny local bakery for fresh byrek — try the small triangles. Perfect for breakfast. Closed on Sundays.
Mulliri
Rruga e Durrësit · € · 1 min walk from the clinic · Map
A popular Albanian coffee chain: good coffee, pastries and croissant sandwiches. Opens at 7:00.
Photo: Benreis, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: Marcos Escudero Olano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
A short walk
5–10 minutes on foot.
Restorant Tymi
Rruga e Kavajës · €€ · 5 min walk from the clinic · Map
Retro 1980s décor and music, with Albanian grill dishes. Very popular — expect a short wait for a table.
Fish Grill Hidri
Rruga Mine Peza 71 · €€ · cash only · 6 min walk from the clinic · Map
A small, homely fish grill. Try the octopus salad, grilled fish or seafood linguine.
Varkat Fish Restaurant
Rruga Petro Marko · €€ · cash only · 6 min walk from the clinic · Map
One of the best-rated fish restaurants in town: fish soup, sea bream, octopus carpaccio. Closed on Mondays. Book in summer.
Tradition Albania
Rruga Çamëria · € · 9 min walk from the clinic · Map
Home-style Albanian dishes like tavë kosi, meatballs in sauce and stuffed eggplant, with a pleasant garden.
Photo: Berishasinan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: Gertjan R., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Inside Tirana Castle
15–17 minutes on foot. Easy to combine with Day 2 of our week plan.
Ceren Ismet Shehu
Rruga Murat Toptani · €€ · 17 min walk from the clinic · Map
One of Tirana's best-known restaurants. Order the set menu — salad, cheese, starters, kebab and lamb or beef ribs, brought in stages. Very big portions, so come hungry or share. Always busy — book ahead.
n'Mes
Rruga Murat Toptani · €€ · 15 min walk from the clinic · Map
Local Albanian food in a stylish space with a garden. The hot starter platter is a great way to try many dishes at once.
Lezet
Rruga Murat Toptani · €€ · 17 min walk from the clinic · Map
Albanian and Turkish dishes, from a big breakfast to tavë dheu and lamb. Opens at 7:00.
La Fortezza
inside the castle walls · €€ · 17 min walk from the clinic · Map
Italian pizza and pasta with fresh dough, in an elegant setting.
Cioccolatitaliani
Rruga Murat Toptani · € · 17 min walk from the clinic · Map
Italian gelato, cakes and thick hot chocolate by the castle walls. A good sweet break.
Photo: E4024, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: Berishasinan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Around the New Bazaar
About 17–19 minutes on foot, or a short taxi ride. Easy to combine with Day 5 of our week plan.
Odas Garden
Rruga Shenasi Dishnica · €€ · 17 min walk from the clinic · Map
Traditional rooms and a lovely garden, with live Albanian music on some evenings. Big portions — don't over-order. Book ahead.
Gjeli i Pazarit
Rruga Shenasi Dishnica · €€ · 17 min walk from the clinic · Map
A local feel and fresh cooking. The stuffed eggplant is the star. Prices are clearly listed.
Tradita te Meri Garden
Rruga Jani Vreto · € · 19 min walk from the clinic · Map
Tasty traditional food at good prices: tavë kosi, byrek and Tirana's tavë dheu. Cards accepted.
Photo: Beseni2022, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: MirelaAndoni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Near the Pyramid and in Blloku
15–21 minutes on foot, or a short taxi ride.
Restorant Tradita Shqiptare
Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta 11 · €€ · 15 min walk from the clinic · Map
A cosy basement run by a husband and wife who happily explain every dish. A great place to try tavë kosi.
Komiteti
Rruga Papa Gjon Pali II · €€ · 20 min walk from the clinic · Map
A quirky café-bar full of old objects. Come for a raki tasting and small plates.
Artigiano at Vila
Rruga Papa Gjon Pali II 9 · €€ · 21 min walk from the clinic · Map
A very popular Italian restaurant: pizza, pasta and steaks. Often fully booked — reserve.
Era Blloku
Rruga Ismail Qemali · €€ · 20 min walk from the clinic · Map
A Tirana classic for Albanian food. Order the meatballs with pistachio and yogurt. Book, or expect a queue.
Otium
Rruga Brigada VIII · €€ · 17 min walk from the clinic · Map
A chef-led tasting menu with wine pairing, at a fair price. Closed on Sundays. Book ahead.
Salt
Rruga Pjetër Bogdani · 18 min walk from the clinic · Map
Sushi, steaks and a stylish rooftop bar. Smart-casual dress.
In's Blloku
Rruga Ismail Qemali · € · 20 min walk from the clinic · Map
Breakfast and brunch: healthy bowls, French toast, avocado toast.
D'Angelo Chocolate & Coffee
Rruga Muhamet Gjollesha · 13 min walk from the clinic · Map
A much-loved chocolate and dessert house: waffles, crêpes, cakes and good coffee, from early morning until late. This is the branch closest to us; there are more across the city, including one in Blloku.
Photo: Ardianlumi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Fine dining by the lake
Mullixhiu
Grand Park, by the lake · €€€ · a short taxi ride from the clinic · Map
Chef Bledar Kola's modern take on Albanian food, with a tasting menu and local wines. Book ahead.
Up on Mount Dajti
Take the Dajti Ekspres cable car, 20–30 min by taxi from the clinic. See Day 4 of our week plan.
Dajti Balcony's
Mount Dajti · €€ · at the top of the cable car · Map
Big windows over Tirana and the mountains. Try the fërgesë. Open only when the cable car runs — closed on Tuesdays.
Gurra e Përrisë
Mount Dajti road · €€ · by car or taxi · Map
A peaceful restaurant on a mountain stream, known for its trout and cornbread with yogurt.
Photo: Rrezjaediellit, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: E4024, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
On the way to the airport
Uka Farm
Laknas · €€ · near the airport, about 30 min by taxi · Map
A working organic farm and winery, minutes from Tirana Airport. Farm-fresh lamb, vegetables and their own Kallmet wine. A lovely last lunch before your flight.
In Durrës
35–50 minutes west. See Day 7 of our week plan.
Kimera
Rruga Kalasë, next to the amphitheatre · €€ · Map
A warm welcome and good food a few steps from the Roman amphitheatre: seafood linguine, tacos, ravioli.
Traditional Restaurant Liriada
Rruga Ismail Beja · € · Map
Where locals eat: tavë kosi, stuffed peppers and beef soup, at very low prices. Cards accepted.
Il Pescatore
Rruga Currila · €€ · Map
Fresh fish sold by weight, with a sea view and a beautiful sunset.
Photo: Nabeftemire, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Photo: Violetamyftari, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
Albanian dishes to try
Tavë kosi — lamb baked with rice under a yogurt and egg topping; the national dish. Fërgesë — peppers, tomatoes and cottage cheese, cooked soft. Great with bread. Byrek — flaky pie with cheese, spinach or meat. A breakfast favourite. Qofte — grilled meatballs; qofte me lëng come in a sauce. Pllaqi — beans baked in the oven. Speca të mbushura — stuffed peppers. Tavë dheu — Tirana's clay-pot dish with liver, meat and cottage cheese. Trileçe — sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk, with caramel. Dhallë — a salty yogurt drink. Çaj mali — mountain tea. Raki — the local spirit, usually made from grapes.
Plan your visit
See also our guide “A week in Tirana”. Call or write to us before you book your flights. +355 67 566 9542 · +355 4 223 0703 · [email protected]
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