The best seafood restaurants Albania

Housed in the former summer residence of dictator Enver Hoxha, this restaurant enjoys an enchanting setting under the trees of Drilon Park. The menu offers a wide choice of fish (eel, trout from Lake Ohrid...) and salads. In summer, a few tables are set up in the garden. But the most coveted seats are on the Drilon River, in the little wooden boxes on stilts, in the shade of weeping willows and among the swans. There are also six pleasant guest rooms. Parking.

The bay of Porto Palermo has only two restaurants (the second, the Panorama, is located south of the bay). This very rustic but superbly located one offers fish and shellfish that come directly from the fishing port or the fish farm, both located opposite: oysters (gocë deti, 2,400 lek/kg), red mullet (barbuni, 3,600 lek/kg) and other fish (from 700 lek/piece). It also serves salads, pasta and risottos and solid breakfasts. Best to book in the middle of summer.

This Italian fish restaurant is run by an Albanian. But visitors from across the Adriatic are fans: here, in this basement on the boulevard bordering the Lana, they find the same flavors as at home, but at a much better price. Chef Aldo Trebicka carefully prepares extra-fresh fish and seafood, varied and colorful small assortments, pastas and risottos, a luxurious whole lobster or very simple, perfect little anchovies.

Located on the Patok dike, this fine fish restaurant offers a magnificent panorama of the lagoon, its houses on stilts and its small fishing boats. You'll appreciate the wide variety of fresh fish caught in the Adriatic or in the lagoon: koce (sea bream), barbun (red mullet), levrek (sea bass), lojb (liche, cousin of horse mackerel), merluc (hake), ngjale (eel), qefull (mullet), romb (brill), burdullak (gobie-lote). We regret, however, that kitchen wastewater is discharged directly into the lagoon.

Durrës is full of good fish restaurants. This one is popular and inexpensive. You'll still enjoy a fine view of the shoreline and a no-fuss terrace in front of the first large beach to the south-east of the port. You can choose your meal from the stalls: sea bass, red mullet, sole, squid, clams, crabs or prawns... Raw or cooked, they're very good. Also some Italian specialties: bruschetta, spaghetti alle vongole or risotto al mare. With a large plate of Butrint mussels, you'll get away with an unbeatable price.

Nestled at the bottom of a narrow street and a staircase, the restaurant "la mouette" is not easy to find. However, it is clearly worth the detour. You can find very good fresh fish (a bit expensive compared to local standards), an interesting 10-course menu, Italian cuisine as on the other side of the Straits of Otranto (linguini with prawns and dried ink, squid with tomato sauce cooked in the oven, successful panna cotta, etc.), neat presentation. Professional service, but sometimes a long wait.

Chic fish restaurant in the lively street of Kavaja. It's a branch of a well-known Durrës establishment. Everything is fresh and well presented. Specializing in raw assortments served on ice, including rare Adriatic sea urchins and a squid ceviche with Peruvian lemon and green anise, but also whole grilled fish, small fried dishes, octopus, lobster, Butrint mussels, oysters, Italian-style pasta, authentic mozzarella di buffala... Only the service is a little disappointing. Reservations recommended.

An elegant gourmet fish restaurant, a little pricey but very good, with a chic terrace and a beautiful view of the waves. Everything is fresh and well presented. Raw assortments served on ice, including rare Adriatic sea urchins, squid ceviche with Peruvian lemon and green anise, grilled whole fish, small fried dishes, lobster, Butrint mussels, oysters, Italian-style pasta recipes, authentic mozzarella di buffala... Only the service is a little disappointing. The restaurant is very popular, so we recommend you make a reservation!

A big advantage of Shëgjin is that good, very fresh fish is eaten here, directly from the fishing port. Well, okay, there is nothing romantic about the environment, since this establishment is stuck between the Rozafa cooperative/creek (which supplies the whole country with fish) and the fishing port (about twenty trawlers). But we love the quality of the seafood and the low prices. Mostly frequented by the locals and the Kosovar clientele of the seaside resort, this establishment is also a hotel (large apartments with kitchen for 3-4 people).

5 km east of downtown, you will find it in the Drilon Park, on the right bank after the footbridge. In our opinion, it is probably one of the most pleasant restaurants in the city, located under the trees by the springs of the Drilon. Local specialties such as koran, a typical fish from Lake Ohrid, which is either fried or baked in a tavë (a terracotta dish) with a spicy sauce, are served here. The wine list gives pride of place to wines from Northern Macedonia (generally better than those from Albania).

In the traditional street of fish restaurants, this is now the most prominent. You can choose from a selection of 30 different fish from the Adriatic, Aegean and Atlantic. Small sardines and squid are deep-fried, while sea bass is cooked in a salt crust. There are also shrimps and mussel soup, as well as, in the more expensive categories, langoustines and the slightly more expensive wild toothfish. And also: some meats, desserts, Albanian, Italian and French wines.