Fun and entertainment Albania

We love the local "Old Mill" coffee chain for one simple reason: the coffee is ground on site, in each of the 12 Tirana establishments. Unsurprisingly, it's very good. The Albanians are great fans of true Italian-style coffee, strong but well-dosed and prepared at the right temperature. All kinds of coffees and hot drinks are available, as well as ice creams and snacks. Such is the success of this brand that it has opened establishments in Durrës, Vlora, Kosovo, and even in Northern Macedonia and Egypt.

Established in 2021, this microbrewery is located near the National Sport Park complex and produces three craft beers: Siringha (blonde), Vagabondi (India Pale Ale) and a raspberry porter (brown). There really is something for everyone! This address is not only a pub, but also a small production site that you can visit. A welcome change from Tirana's four industrial breweries: Birra Tirana, Birra Stela, Birra Kaon and Birra Elbar. A must for all beer lovers.

This shisha bar is one of the busiest in Tirana. The hookahs are Turkish models imported at a high price from Germany, and over 200 flavors are offered. Customers also appreciate the subdued atmosphere, the comfortable armchairs and sofas for smoking, the music and the junk food on the menu (sandwiches, fried chicken wings, etc.). We think it's a nice place, but the prices are high: hookahs start at 2,000 leks, some cocktails with alcohol cost more than 2,000 leks... Practically Parisian prices.

Bar by day and club by night. In fact, it's one of the few places in central Tirana where you can dance until very late. Because of the rise in rents caused by the construction of the "mafia towers", the locals now prefer to party in the lounge bars in their neighborhoods, far from the city center. Here, it's very small and quickly crowded in the evening. And as the bouncers don't easily let in unaccompanied foreign male customers, it's best to book on Instagram (thecodetirana).

This open-air cinema is located in the northern part of the Grand Parc, slightly below the Teatri Veror (summer theater). All summer long, films are shown at dusk, mostly foreign productions (sometimes in French) with Albanian subtitles. There's a great atmosphere: you can sit on big cushions, buy ice cream, popcorn, hot dogs or beer, and sometimes there's a little party after the film. Tip: arrive at least 30 minutes before the film starts.

This panoramic bar is located at the top of a thirteen-storey building, on the corner of Rue de Dibra (Rruga e Dibrës) coming from Place Skanderbeg. It serves uninteresting wines, charcuterie plates and cocktails that are a little more expensive than elsewhere, but the place is especially worth a visit for its 360-degree views over the city. Okay, Tirana isn't beautiful. But sipping a daiquiri with a view of Mount Dajti at sunset is priceless!

The National Opera and Ballet Theatre or TKOB (Teatri Kombëtar i Operas dhe Baletit) groups together several troupes within the Palace of Culture. They give performances here - generally of very high quality - every month except August. You can attend operas, classical and traditional dance performances, or classical music concerts. For the full program, visit our website. Tickets on sale on site the day before performances. English-speaking box office staff.

Housed in a former apparatchik's villa, this Blloku bar doubles as a concert venue. Although it can accommodate up to 500 people, it's often full on Friday and Saturday nights. Since 2003, Albanian and Kosovar rock, pop and electro bands have been performing here. There are also romantic singers, jazz, gypsy music, foreign guests (Deep Purple's drummer even jammed here in 2009) and, on Wednesday evenings, Latin dancing. Garden, cocktails and a small food menu.

This is the biggest nightclub (and dayclub) on the Albanian Riviera, operating almost 24 hours a day. It has its own beach bar, restaurant, lounge area and more.

We may be in one of Tirana's most upscale districts, but this corner of the city nevertheless cultivates a certain taste for alternative culture, with the country's first nightclub and burger joint opening right after the fall of the Communist regime. A stone's throw from the Republican Guard barracks and hidden in the greenery of the park, behind a hairdresser's shop, the Public House bar wisely maintains the underground spirit: dreadlocked waiters, techno and rock programming and low-priced drinks in a friendly atmosphere with a shaded terrace in summer.

This panoramic (and revolving) bar-restaurant is located on the top floor (the seventeenth) of one of the Block's towers. Needless to say, the view of the city and its surroundings is magnificent, both during the day and in the evening. The experience starts with the transparent elevator! As far as decoration is concerned, nothing spectacular, the address is worth it, once again, especially for what happens outside. Catering is available (international and Albanian dishes will not surprise you more than the view). We recommend that you go there for coffee and dessert.

Attention, chic café, or one that wants to be so. This is a very classic and clean café with theatrical masks on the walls and very well dressed waiters. The main reason to come here is its location and the view that goes with it on the Sheshi Skënderbej, the Skanderbeg square. That said, the espressos are not bad and one is also surprised, it is true, to observe the customers and the beautiful local society. And nothing forbids, if it's hot, to take a bottle of local beer, Korça or Tirana, to quench your thirst while watching the people pass by.

Near the crossing with Ibrahim Rugova street, here is an old neo-classical house with a cocktail bar and a very nice terrace. Still today, it is one of the most popular addresses in Blloku. Opened in 2012 right next to the Hôtel de Paris, the Pepper Lounge offers breakfast, an all-you-can-eat buffet at lunchtime (500 lek) and live evenings (jazz and DJ, in particular). So we can spend the whole day there. In the morning or in the afternoon, you can enjoy its pleasant wooden terraces where you can sit down for a while.