Search this site

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.

Tomahawk Tirane - Four Visits This new restaurant is a hidden gem that will soon become very popular. Excellent quality meat, cooked to perfection, served with minimal fuss, and very clean. The service was warm and friendly, and very attentive. Beautiful outdoor dining decor and furniture, including excellent table heaters to keep you warm during the colder months. They have a great wine list, and the location is also perfect for sitting back and enjoying a long, lazy lunch—fantastic value for money.

Mullixhiu - One Visit A destination and experience restaurant, be warned you need to book to ensure you get a table. We had Mullixhiu on our Google Maps list of restaurants in Albania and decided to celebrate Sal's birthday lunch there; we were incredibly impressed not only for the warm and friendly service but also a big thank you to Bledar for taking the time to share your philosophy and wonderful experiences. The owner and executive chef Bledar's philosophy is to showcase more of Albania's traditional style of food; it truly is authentic, but never. Never have we felt so wonderful after a four-course meal. Bledar was trained at Noma, Pied à Terre, and Le Gavroche, is a member of the Slow Food Cooks' Alliance, and worked alongside an Australian chef in the UK, so they recognised us immediately as Aussies. We were also gifted a beautiful birthday dessert and homemade Rijeka - a perfect birthday lunch. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The food was excellent, and the local wines were great value. We walked out with spring in our step. The food was definitely filling but light and all-natural.

TRIBE Urban Gastronomy - One Visit This restaurant has so much going on, including its location, interior, style, live music, food, and wine list, that it should just work. But it doesn't, unfortunately, the service lets it down. With so much going on you need to be on form, so while the back of house delivers on the food, the front of house fails. The food was incredible. Walking inside, you'll feel like you're in a restaurant on the Las Vegas strip (without the level of service). The edgy decor and design were an unexpected bonus, and the live music was a bonus. We were celebrating a birthday, so we wanted this restaurant to deliver on its promise and recommendations from locals, but it failed. The floor team didn't know their champagnes or wines, and once the restaurant became busy, the servers simply got swamped, and service levels dropped. It took well over 20 minutes to deliver the wine, and there was ample staff rostered. Just to put this into perspective, we paid over €350 for dinner, which is well into fine-dining service levels. Excuse the colour of the photographs; it was the lighting inside.

Vena Vinoteka - One Visit Wine lover heaven. This restaurant/wine bar is impressive, with a fantastic French, Italian and New World wine collection. The staff was very attentive and friendly, and they were also very knowledgeable when choosing your wine. They serve tapas-style meals, and it's simply the best place to share a bottle of wine with friends while discussing life, travel and family.

Padam Restaurant - Three Visits Another restaurant that shows how great the fine dining scene is in Albania. We stumbled upon a perfect restaurant for a long, lazy lunch. The interior design is unique and attached to a boutique hotel (six rooms). Delicious fresh food and the most extensive wine list we've found in years, 500+ wines often in verticals - something for everyone's price range. The Executive Chef is Fundim Gjepali, who started cooking at 14. You'll experience some fine Italian and international cuisine. Super friendly staff went out of their way to explain the wines and food and share ideas on where to visit in Albania. A special thank you to Albi and Alfred for the outstanding service. We loved Padam so much that we have booked ourselves to stay for a few days next week. They have beautiful, cosy rooms with balconies, a great cocktail bar, and a wonderful deli.