The best Albanian restaurants Albania

A very popular address. But why "G & T"? Because this restaurant plays on the traditions of the Guègues (northern Albanians) and the Tosques (southern Albanians). Housed in a ^17th-century house, the restaurant offers specialties from all over the country. Meats and cheeses come from the Theth region, and all kinds of rakis are served, including that of the owner, Djon. In winter, you'll be seated in a vast dining room with a huge fireplace. What's more, this establishment boasts some very attractive rooms.

Located in an elegant house near the Palace of Justice, between the Bratko and Medieval Art museums, this is Korça's most famous restaurant. Carefully prepared traditional cuisine, a few vegetarian dishes, a pleasant garden, live music at weekends, a warm atmosphere and plates of cold meats to enjoy with a rakia e pjekur (raki with cinnamon and honey). Not everything is perfect, however: service is sketchy, there are too many sauces and, above all, too many private parties. But if it's open, don't sulk.

Right in the heart of Përmet's restaurant district, this excellent restaurant is run by chef Urim Jaçe, who launched the slow food movement in Albania in the 2010s. In a slightly kitsch décor reminiscent of a Greek temple, you'll find traditional regional dishes such assalcë shakulli (sheep's belly stuffed with dried yoghurt) orkofshë qingji e mbushur (leg of lamb stuffed with almonds), as well as wild boar, rabbit and fish from the Vjosa... Well-presented plates, organic house wines and service sometimes in French.

We recommend this restaurant only for one thing: its pleasant shaded terrace which offers a splendid view on the lauze roofs of the old town. For the rest, it is an address for tourists. But for patient tourists (the service is slow) and not too much in search of an amazing culinary experience, because the cuisine is decent, without more (grills, salads). However, with a small glass of local wine (not bad at all by the way) and a ray of sunshine, one spends a good moment here. And if it's just for a coffee break, then it will be perfect.

One of the last popular offal restaurants in Tirana. It's located in the "bicycle district" (Tregu i Biçikletave), at the intersection of the street leading from the Pazari i Ri market. In the early hours of the morning, locals come here to eat soups made from offal and the less noble parts of beef or lamb. Don't worry: you can make yourself understood if you want to avoid pieces of brain or heart. Sprinkled with chilli and accompanied by a pilaf, it's really good, even for breakfast.

Located in a cobblestone quarter dating from the late ^19th century, this restaurant had its heyday during the Communist era, when foreign delegations would visit the French Lycée opposite, where Enver Hoxha was a student and later a teacher. Now out of fashion, this "lycée inn" is still a good address, just a stone's throw from Republika Boulevard. The cuisine is simple and quite decent (grills, soups, salads). You'll appreciate the rustic fireside setting in winter and the garden under the arbour in summer.

It is one of the most charming restaurants in the area. Located at the top of the site of Apollonia of Illyria, it bears the name of the French archaeologist who excavated the site from 1924 to 1938. The building was built by his team to serve as a shelter for the site and one can still meet archaeologists working on the site. Daily dishes are served in the room decorated with photos of the first excavations or on the terrace, under the olive trees, with a view of the ruins and the Vjosa delta. Near the monastery, the Apollonia restaurant offers a more touristy menu.

This popular traditional rotisserie(zgara) offers inexpensive grilled meats (lamb chops, sausages, pork, etc.) and fergëse (stews). It has two addresses in the lively Kavaja street. The one closest to Skanderbeg square (Zgara e Tironës by Le Noir) offers a slightly cold, fast-food atmosphere, close to the Tirana Backpacker Hostel. The second (Tek Zgara e Tironës), 250 m further along the same sidewalk, is our favorite, with its rustic decor, terrace and checked tablecloths.

This traditional restaurant is well placed for partying in the Blloku district, as there are several well-known bars nearby. The establishment is a piceri (pizzeria), but it offers a wide range of local specialties: soups, various fërgesa (simmered tomato and cheese dishes), meatballs in tomato sauce, pickled vegetables, salads, grilled meats... It's not haute cuisine, but it's a good introduction to local gastronomy. Another address is on rue Papa-Gjon-Pali-II, near the national stadium.

Located in an alleyway off the main street, the "Trefoil" restaurant takes its name from the Greek name Përmet bore in ancient times. It offers some very good, purely local specialities: salcë shakulli (sheep's belly stuffed with dried yoghurt), kolloface (pork sausage), pulë me përshesh ("whole chicken" cooked with cornmeal crumble), kofshë qingji e mbushur (leg of lamb stuffed with almonds), shqeto përmeti (milk, flour, egg and lamb soup), and finally gliko (candied fruit or vegetables) for dessert.

Opened in 2017, this tavern has yet to disappoint. Far from it. In fact, it's become our favorite Korça address. Terrace right in the middle of the Old Bazaar, neat decor, homemade sausages, very good family specials (rarely on the menu elsewhere) and, upstairs, an open kitchen with a few tables. The team running the place is friendly and the prices very reasonable given the quality. Our only regret is that the red wine comes from Montenegro. But this could change, as there is an increasingly interesting production around Korça.

Located in a beautiful setting at the foot of Mount Dajti, this restaurant is named after its owner, Ceren Ismet Shehu, a renowned chef who offers traditional Albanian cuisine using natural farm produce. The set menu changes with the seasons, with plenty of starters, cheeses, desserts and a meat dish to choose from. It's fresh, hearty and the lamb is very good. It's such a success that Ceren has opened another restaurant of the same name in the center of town, at "Tirana Castle", but this one is disappointing.

Përmet's Table" is the town's busiest restaurant. On the terrace along the main street or in the dining room, you'll find plenty of traditional Albanian dishes(tavë, dolma, fasule, paçe, pilaf, byrek...), local meats and cheeses, trout from the Vjosa, Italian-style pasta and, by reservation, whole chicken with walnuts or rice for 3 or 4 people. There are also plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans: tavë me perime (baked vegetable casserole), mbushura (peppers stuffed with rice), salads, etc.

This traditional restaurant has a certain charm. Housed in a beautiful wood and stone building, it serves good meat grilled directly over an open fire. The welcome is rustic to say the least (no one here speaks English, French or even Italian), but with a few smiles and glasses of raki, you'll soon make yourself understood. The establishment also offers inexpensive accommodation (small wooden chalets and camping pitches) and even a mini-ski resort with a slope and a t-bar.

This establishment is both a restaurant and a winery. Set in the magnificent Sharka Valley, you can enjoy a host of organic products from neighboring villages or from the estate: red wines, antipasti, cheeses, pastas, cold meats and superb grilled meats cooked on mini-barbecues that the waiters bring to the tables. In winter, you can enjoy the fireplace in the large room on the first floor. In summer, the terrace offers a splendid view of the fortress mosque and vineyards.

This is the restaurant of the Hôtel Élysée, 80 m away on rue Themistokli-Gërmenji. It's not really a garden, but rather a shady courtyard with plants and a fountain, as well as a plainly decorated interior room. The welcome is friendly and there's even a very exotic French menu (mimosa eggs, filet mignon, pain perdu...). Otherwise, the menu features mainly Albanian and Italian specialties: meatballs with tomato, tavë dheu, fasule, various types of risottos and pasta. Suitable and reasonably priced.