Hotel Epidamn Restaurant & Garden - One Week A luxurious modern boutique hotel in Venetian and Baroque style, it is located in the heart of Durres and has a wonderfully warm and friendly vibe. The rooms are very spacious, we booked a room with a balcony overlooking Durres, the room was spacious with the most incredible balcony. Highest quality of linens and heavenly beds, we definitely slept peacefully each night. There is a restaurant with the most delicious food, we dined most days during our stay. Menu caters for all, including traditional Albanian cuisine and Asian delights, including Sushi. The à la carte breakfasts were amazing with a great selection of choices, one of the best breakfasts we have been lucky enough to enjoy in Albania. In addition to the restaurant, there is the most wonderful indoor garden that oozes excellent design, a real hidden gem, and a palm tree-lined outdoor dining area to enjoy the local life. It is also fantastic for coffee and cocktails. We enjoyed our week, and feeling the warmth of the team every day, they were full of smiles and excellent service. You won't be disappointed in choosing Hotel Epidamn for your stay in Durres. We loved it so much that we extended our stay by three days.

Faraone Bar Restaurant - One visit UPDATE 2024: Now closed. We were very excited about visiting this restaurant, a prime location with a magnificent sunset view across the sea. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations, we always order wine first, and were offered a choice of 3 bottles they had in stock (which were well overpriced for the quality at 3000 ALL for a mediocre white wine). They only had a limited menu, most options were not available and the items they did have available that we ordered were not very fresh. We also asked for some music, as the atmosphere was very quiet, and unfortunately the music equipment was out of action. Hopefully, this restaurant reaches its full potential once tourism kicks off again in Durres.

Proper Pizza - One visit Great value pizzas with a twist. All toppings were fresh, and the pizzas were delicious and available in various sizes. Service is friendly and fast, and restaurants are clean and modern. Delivery, pickup, and dine-in are available and are in the heart of Durres.

Flok Stil Cimi - 2 visits There are fantastic barbers in Durres, great decor, excellent haircuts and a clean salon. Both Wayne and I visited the salon for a trim and they were the first barber since Morocco to say 'yes' to me, not many accept women, and I have a boy's cut, so Barbers are perfect! Great value only €6 each and no waiting time, there was always a queue and a friendly team available. Definitely recommend, they also have a great selection of men's hair products by American Crew.

Portiku Wine Bar & Bistro - One visit Exceptional service, food and wine. We decided on Portiku for our Friday lazy lunch, and it exceeded our expectations. If you are a meat lover, this is the place for you. From the excellent wine list, warm and friendly service, and mouthwatering food, we chose this restaurant for the steak (and, of course, the wine), and it was incredible. We felt at home and received more Albanian generosity and kindness; we enjoyed our lazy lunch!! We kicked off with some delicious champagne. As we ordered steak, we were happy to see they also had a selection of half bottles, so we enjoyed a delicious red wine. The restaurant is surrounded by the original city wall, which runs straight through it. You even have glass-covered floors to enjoy the historical digs. I highly recommend dining at Portiku, an extraordinary place in Durres, and the food was a culinary journey.

Zins - One visit The place to be in Durres is this beautiful restaurant on the beach with stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. You can enjoy a lazy afternoon soaking up the sunshine, which has a great beach club vibe. The food was delicious. We opted for Sushi, along with deep-fried shrimp and spring rolls, and were not disappointed. We were also spoilt with a 10-year Barolo wine for great value. The service was exceptional and we were very well taken care of throughout the day by Perparim, he was very attentive. To finish the day, we enjoyed cocktails and a magical sunset. It's a great place to meet friends, listen to music, have a shisha, and socialise.

Envy Hotel - 2 nights We couldn't leave Durres without experiencing this stunning hotel across the road, a brand new boutique hotel just recently opened in early 2021. Beautiful Italian design exudes luxury. The rooms are heavenly, we loved the music playing in the bathroom. The Artwork displayed in the hotel is also the owner's collection. Staff throughout the hotel are absolutely gorgeous and you feel at home, there is a family vibe and everyone works seamlessly together. A special thank you to the lovely Redona who manages the hotel and was an absolute star, she was very helpful and made sure your stay exceeded all your expectations. The restaurant just opened, we were the first customers and enjoyed the most wonderful dining experience. The food was exceptional with a fabulous selection of vintage Italian wines from the owner's collection. Service is also excellent. Breakfast is available throughout the hotel, your room, the lounge, the rooftop, and the restaurant, providing flexibility and where you are most comfortable. The rooftop is perfect for morning coffees and afternoon cocktails. You have 360-degree views over Durres, so it's the perfect spot for sunrises and sunsets. The team also delights you with incredible cocktails and little treats. This is the ideal hotel for a weekend getaway. It is wholly luxurious, and with only six rooms, you will be guaranteed your own space.

Pampas restaurant - Three visits The New Pampas restaurant is located on the waterfront in Durres. First, the warm welcome you receive when you arrive makes you know you will be back. This is a new restaurant from Bar Restaurant Pizzeria Pampas, a great beach club restaurant in Durres. The food was exceptional; we enjoyed many dishes and were incredibly impressed. Excellent seafood, pasta and pizzas were on another level. It is the perfect restaurant for a long lazy lunch, dining all day long with delicious food. Quality wines, especially French wines, also have a selection of half bottles. You will be blessed with stunning sunsets to make your dining experience more memorable. The team is beautiful, full of smiles, and provides the best service. Thank you, Pampas Restaurant, for the incredible dining experience, your kindness, generosity, food, team, and wines. You made our visit to Durres one that we hold close to our hearts.

LA Suite Boutique Hotel - 4 nights A beautiful boutique hotel located in a quiet alley in the centre of Tirana in the business area on Jul Variboba Street. You are steps away from everything and only a short walk into the Blloku, the city's heart. This is a luxury hotel, and the rooms are beautiful, exactly as the pictures describe. They are very comfortable and spacious, with high-quality finishings and linen. Each room has a large balcony to enjoy the fresh air. The hotel has a lovely restaurant and cafe, and the staff are delightful. You receive breakfast with your booking, which can be delivered to your room. It is a la carte, and there is a great selection available. I recommend the LA Suite Hotel for your stay in Tirana and booking directly with the hotel for the most competitive price.

100° Lounge Bar - 1 visit A great nightspot for a drink and shisha, located in the heart of the business district in Tirana. The team is warm and friendly and makes you feel at home. We enjoyed our evening relaxing in this bar with a few G&T's listening to great tunes. They were also kind enough to play our wedding song, Lola's Theme, by Shapeshifters. Great value for everyone, cheap drinks, and lots of cozy spots to relax with your friends, we were also gifted with a shot from the owners, just incredible hospitality in Tirane.