Sapori Veri - Two visits An excellent Italian deli and wine shop with a great selection of Italian meats, pasta, sauces, wine and chocolates. They also serve fresh-made sandwiches with delicious fillings. It is located on the corner of a busy street where you can enjoy the sunshine whilst sampling the beautiful Italian wines and watching the world go by. The owners were incredibly kind, warm and friendly. Excellent value and great prices.

Casa della Pasta - 1 visit It is an excellent place to have a quick and cheerful lunch in the park at Taiwan Komplex. Lovely outdoor dining to enjoy the park views and watch the world go by is perfect on a sunny day. We enjoyed a delicious authentic pizza with good service and excellent value pricing.

Klinika dentare Dr. Erta Xhanari - 1 visit After three years of travelling, we were well overdue for a visit to the dentist. After much research, we found Dr. Erta in Tirana. Like most visits to the dentist, they are always stressful, so it was important we find a gentle and caring dentist. Dr. Erta Xhanari is an excellent and knowledgeable dentist with a great facility with es and clean equipment. She made the visit completely painless. We had a checkup and cleaning, and she was very efficient and relieved our stress with her excellent English and bedside manner. Her nurse was also lovely; you know you are in good hands. I recommend visiting Dr Erta for peace of mind and a health check on your teeth. It's very affordable—only $40AUD for a checkup and cleaning. It's easy to book by emailing directly. She was very responsive and was able to schedule us in a few days. Don't be alarmed by the entrance to her clinic. You will be pleasantly surprised as you enter.

Amorino Lounge Bar - 1 visit It is a hidden gem across from Taiwan Pool, a quaint little lounge bar with splendid views of the mountains and Tirana. Escape the busy streets and enjoy a Gin & Tonic on the cute balcony on Level 1 to enjoy the views of Tirane. Very impressed with the Gin & Tonics for only $3AUD, served in a balloon gin glass with garnish. The lounge bar is very clean, with lovely decor and your drinks served with a smile.

La Vita e Bella - 1 visit The generosity and kindness of the Albanians is incredible. Wayne and I have been walking by this new restaurant for the past month and checking in to see when it will open. It looks fantastic! We dropped in yesterday to see how they were progressing. It was still one week away, but they were testing and finalising the menu, so instead of sending us away, they invited us in to enjoy a glass of wine and a snack on the house (we just needed to be seated around the corner where it wasn't obvious they were serving us). The food and wine were divine, and we also experienced amberjack fish for the first time, which was super impressive; even Wayne loved it!! The service was impeccable, warm, and friendly, and you truly felt like family. There is a fantastic outdoor dining space for long, lazy lunches or dinners and areas to lounge and enjoy an afternoon wine in the sun. The restaurant indoors is beautifully designed. Upstairs, there are private dining rooms great for celebrations and functions. These rooms are equipped with balconies, restrooms, and a personal entrance, so you don't have to walk through the main restaurant. After our snack, we visited the new restaurant for a tour and met the owner and the kitchen crew. We were so impressed with the stunning renovation, unique artwork, and quality decor that we wished we had stayed longer in Tirana. We had a magical day and genuinely love the culture and incredible kindness we receive from the beautiful Albanians.

LIFT Steak & Rooftop Bar - One visit This new rooftop restaurant was a very nice surprise. We stumbled onto it and booked our last long lunch in Tirana immediately. It's a fantastic rooftop with great views from the 4th floor; it's an oasis! Beautiful decor and design throughout the restaurant, indoors and outdoors. The staff were all incredibly welcoming and full of character, we all had fun. The food was perfection, I really enjoyed all our meals, especially the grilled salmon, mouthwatering with the most sublime lemon jus. Excellent cocktail and wine list, also some exciting creations of their own. Great place to spend the afternoon with friends, make sure to stay for the magical sunsets too.

Otium - One Visit Something unique about randomly walking past and seeing a restaurant and spontaneously deciding to go in and find an absolute gem. This French restaurant offers fabulous fine dining at its best. Michael, who manages the front of the house, has worked around the world and helped us navigate the wine list and menu; he was also a pleasure to chat with. The food presentation was impeccable, and the flavours and quality were perfect. We were also spoilt with a dessert platter at the end; it was an absolute delight—a big thank you from both of us. The restaurant is very cosy and perfect for a long, lazy lunch or dinner. It is tucked away in a side street in the heart of Tirana. We will be revisiting this restaurant in Tirane.

Design loft @ Botanic Garden - Two weeks A heavenly oasis, you will be overwhelmed! The best Airbnb in Tirana. This home will exceed your expectations; it is spacious and beautifully designed. The outdoor area is private and perfect for morning coffee and afternoon wine. It is fully equipped with everything you need for your stay. It is very well located, with a short taxi or walk to the city centre; you have everything at your doorstep. There is a supermarket directly downstairs for all your essentials and more. It's the perfect place to relax and is very comfortable, too. Gaz and the team are an absolute delight to communicate with. No request is too much. We even needed wine glasses, and they were delivered within minutes, along with a local bio wine as a treat. You will not be disappointed to book the Botanic Loft unless you have booked it for longer.

Arté Boutique Hotel - Three Nights This stylish boutique hotel is in Tirana's restaurant, bar and club scene. The rooms were spacious and comfortable and in a beautiful building. It is the perfect location to explore Tirana, with a great vibe and a team that will ensure your stay is memorable. This place has a jazz club underneath; however, due to COVID-19, it wasn't operating because of the 10 p.m. curfew. There are plenty of places to work, sit outside, people-watch, or chill out in the lounge bar. We ate at their in-house restaurant, and the quality of the food was excellent. The daily breakfast was one of the best I've had for a while.

Arté Restaurant - Two Visits This restaurant is located in the Arte Hotel, and the food and service were excellent. The menu is a mix of Italian with an Asian twist.