There are so many amazing places to eat in Albania’s capital city, it’s hard to narrow down the best restaurants in Tirana! We spent 1 month exploring the city and trying out lots of different cafes, restaurants and bars in Tirana. The cuisine in Tirana is super varied. You can eat pizza one night, Greek the next, then Chinese at the weekend.
There is also the choice of ‘Zgaras’ which are local grill houses and fast-food outlets to more commercialised and fine dining options. You can certainly eat well in the restaurants in Tirana.
So, ahead of your visit, I’ve put together a blog of my favourite restaurants in Tirana Albania to give you a starting point.
If you’re planning a trip to Tirana, have a look at my post on my favourite Tirana Hotels, as well as my top things to do in Tirana to provide some inspiration for your trip!
Heading to Tirana? Check out my other blogs below!
- My Guide to the Best Bars in Tirana
- My Top 15 Hotels in Tirana (and neighbourhood guide!)
- My Favourite Things to Do in Tirana
- Guide to Bunk Art 1 & Bunk Art 2
- Want to head further afield? Check out my favourite tours in Albania.
Best Restaurants in Tirana for Pizza
Pizza is popular all over the world and that is certainly the case in Tirana! You will find pizzas on most menus but if you want some really good pizzas, try these two options.
Grano Tenero
Located in the Zone 1 area, Grano Tenero is just a short walk from the New Bazaar is this small unassuming café. It looks like a small café as you walk past, but it was one of the best restaurants in Tirana for pizza!
There is a huge amount of choice when it comes to toppings, and the pizzas are offered in many sizes (regular and large). Beware, the large pizza is family sized, as we found out one evening! I regret nothing. With a thin crust and a generous amount of topping, it was the best pizza in Tirana.
You can get a Margherita pizza and a coke here for 400Lek (£3/$3.50) which is excellent value. However, the pizzas on the menu aren’t expensive so you can get what you want without spending too much money.
There is also a lovely guy that works there, and it’s a very chill and friendly vibe based just outside of the bustle of the centre.
Pizzarte
Another great option for the best pizza in Tirana is Pizzarte. Based on the main road between Skanderbeg Square and the New Bazaar, this place doesn’t look much from the outside, but the pizzas are spectacular.
They are also available for delivery; you just send them a WhatsApp and they deliver to you if you live close enough. These pizzas are a very, very thin base but lots of cheese and tomato goodness on top.
Best Restaurants in Tirana for Traditional Albanian Cuisine
If you want to sample some local Albanian food then here are some of my favourite places! You will find a great local atmosphere in these places and always a friendly welcome!
Oda Restaurant Tirana
One of the best restaurants in Tirana for traditional cuisine has to be Oda Restaurant Tirana.
You will find Oda hidden down a narrow side street, which is currently also hidden by scaffolding. It is really easy to miss unless you’re looking for it. The indoor restaurant is nothing to shout about, and as I walked through; I couldn’t help but wonder why this place was so highly rated.
However, all becomes apparent when you enter the courtyard. Live, traditional music plays in the corner, and the tables are all placed under trees and fairy lights. It felt like a very authentic experience and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy your food.
The menu was short, but with some great options. We went with our friends, so we ordered a few small plates and shared these like tapas. However, these plates were actually quite big so you probably wouldn’t want to order more than three between two people.
We went all out and ordered rice balls, stuffed peppers, stuffed vine leaves, lamb and a salad to share. The food was delicious and the staff were super welcoming despite it being very busy.
On that note, I would advise booking a table here in high season as it seems to be frequented by both tourists and locals. A must-try on any visit to Tirana.
Era Restaurant Tirana
Era Restaurant Tirana is another one of the best Tirana restaurants for local food.
It’s based in Blloku and therefore, it’s slightly more upmarket and has a more polished feel than you get in Oda Restaurant Tirana.
Once you’re full, head next door to Radio Bar, one of our favourite bars in Tirana for a cocktail!
Best Restaurants in Tirana for a Treat
If you are in Tirana for a short period of time, or just want to treat yourself, then here are two of my favourite treat restaurants.
They may be slightly more expensive than other restaurants in Tirana but the food and the experience are certainly worth it!
Mullixhiu Tirana
Mullixhiu is a beautiful traditional Albanian restaurant with a modern interior and twist. It’s pronounced ‘moo-leed-joo’. All of their ingredients are sourced from small farms across Albania, so everything is really fresh!
You should definitely order the homemade meatballs to start. There was a large bowl and these could easily be shared between 2-4 people.
For main, if you’re a meat eater, you must try the beef cheek. It was so tender and just fell apart in your mouth. We also tried the chicken rosnica to sample some local and traditional food.
Whilst rosnica was listed under the ‘pasta’ section, it is actually a mixture of flour, salt and egg mixed together into fine grains which are then fried. It is then cooked with, in this case, chicken, lemon, garlic and stock. It’s almost like eating a savoury porridge! It was an unusual flavour but was really tasty!
If you want to try a bit of everything then take a look at the two tasting menu options. These are available every evening for dinner. Take a look at the menus here.
Mullixhiu Tirana is in the beautiful Grand Park of Tirana and so combines great food with a beautiful setting. Go for a post-dinner stroll whilst you let your dinner go down or for a nightcap at one of the lakeside bars.
Tartuf Shop
One of my favourites and definitely one of the best restaurants in Tirana is Tartuf Shop. Tartuf means truffle in English, and all the dishes centre around this ingredient.
I had never tried truffle before but WOW this place is amazing and the flavours are incredible. I had the chicken roll with truffle oil and Aaron had the Asian rice dish. Both were amazing, and I could have eaten them all over again.
We ordered the burrata to start and it was the biggest I have ever seen. You get excellent value and quality for your money here. It’s the perfect location for a special occasion, a date night or a meal with friends.
Tartuf Shop is located on Toptani Street, in the Tirana castle. There are lots of shops, bars and restaurants to visit here. It’s a lovely place just to walk through, with cobbled streets and away from the city centre.
Best Restaurants in Tirana for Italian
There are strong historical and cultural links between Albania and Italy and this certainly translates into the cuisine. The majority of local restaurants in Tirana will serve good pasta dishes and Italian salads.
However, if you want the full Italian experience then here are a couple of my favourite Italian restaurants in Tirana.
Artigiano
If you love pasta, Artigiano is the place to go. Its name means ‘Artisan,’ and everything here is homemade, including the delicious pasta which is made on-site every morning.
The salmon and shrimp strozzapreti was a particular highlight and definitely the dish I would recommend if you like seafood. Similarly, the cod croquettes with avocado cream we’re amazing to start.
There are a couple of Artigiano’s in Blloku and they aren’t too far from each other. We went to the one next door to the one on Rruga Papa Gjon Pali II, opposite the Pyramid of Tirana. It’s a beautiful restaurant and the service was really good too.
Ejona
Ejona is pronounced ‘Ey-ona’ and means ‘Ours’ in Albanian and is one of the best restaurants Tirana has to offer. It’s a little off the beaten track (or as far as you can be in the centre of a city!). It is located behind the popular Rruga Pjetër Bogdani street.
When you do find it, you will be greeted by a beautiful indoor and outdoor area tucked away from the main road.
To start, Aaron and I shared some Albanian Doughnuts. These were flavoured dough balls with different savoury dips – they were incredible!
For main, we both opted for pasta and both dishes were so tasty. There are lots of vegetarian options on this menu and it’s a great place to come for breakfast.
Want to know more about Tirana? Check out my other blogs:
- My Guide to the Best Bars in Tirana
- My Top 15 Hotels in Tirana (and neighbourhood guide!)
- My Favourite Things to Do in Tirana
Best Zgaras in Tirana
Zgara means ‘grill’ in Albanian. There are plenty of Zgaras dotted around the city serving lamb, chicken and pork all grilled or cooked on the spit. Zgaras are some of the best restaurants in Tirana for dining with locals in a relaxed atmosphere.
You won’t find fine dining here, but you can pick up a good meal for just a couple of pounds/dollars.
Here are a couple of our favourites.
Tek Zgara Tirones
This cool little zgara is based near the Tregu Can area of Tirana. Here you will find some good, cheap grill options.
The service is friendly and the food is fast. There are lots of grilled meat options including chicken souvlaki, lamb and qofte (meatballs). There are also a few veggie options with stuffed peppers and grilled vegetables.
Beers and cans of soft drinks round off the menu. If you are looking for a quick, cheap, authentic bite then this is a great option.
Zgara Te Pazari
This zgara is based just off the New Bazaar so it’s a wonderful place to eat, people watch and go for a drink afterwards.
The food here was really good and fresh. The staff are really friendly and helpful with the menu. As this zgara is tucked away from the main road, there are a lot more locals here which give it an authentic charm. It also means it is less crowded and rushed so you can sit and enjoy watching the world go by.
I would definitely recommend trying the qoftes if you eat meat. If you prefer veggies, then go for the stuffed peppers and the rucola (rocket) salad.
Best Restaurants in Tirana for Seafood
There is always a risk with seafood restaurants when you are not by the sea! Luckily, Tirana has a few great seafood places for you to try. Here I have picked out some of my favourite restaurants in Tirana for seafood.
Rozafa Seafood
For excellent value seafood then I would definitely head to Rozafa. Rozafa is a small restaurant located just off Skanderbeg Square. It can be easily missed in amongst the other shops and restaurants on the street, but I definitely recommend a stop if you want some good seafood.
The menu is pretty simple but has everything from salads and pasta to grilled meats and fish. We went with the grilled salmon and tried to the grilled bass (levrek). Both were well cooked and had good portion sizes.
There is seating out the front, under a covered area, or inside if you prefer the air conditioning. The prices were good, the service was friendly and the food was delicious.
Their full menu and regular updates are available on their Facebook page.
Fishop Tirana
Fishop is probably the most popular fish restaurant in Tirana and for good reason!
The fish is always fresh and this translates to the plates. The menu has a lot of fish options from grilled fish to various fish pasta. The staff are really friendly and welcoming. The local wine is delicious and complements the fish dishes well.
The prices at Fishop Tirana are reasonable for what you get, which is the freshest fish in town. Ask for the fish and pasta of the day for more guaranteed freshness!
Best Restaurants in Tirana for fast food
If you have a craving for fast food then it is tempting to head to the well-known chains. You will find some of these in Tirana but I have picked out a couple of local options to try as well.
Opa
My favourite place for Greek fast food and for a quick bite in Tirana is Opa! I haven’t linked to a specific restaurant because you’ll find them dotted all over Tirana so you’ll definitely walk past one or find one nearby.
Specialising in Greek street food, it’s a great place to pop in if you’re hungry. Big portions, tasty food and super speedy service!
They do souvlaki, fries, gyros and for dessert, traditional loukoumades which are little round doughnuts soaked in honey and sugar!
Pop Art Tirana
Pop Art Tirana is certainly one of the coolest fast-food restaurants in Tirana! As the name suggests, the restaurant pays homage to the pop art era with a lot of bright colours and quirky designs!
Pop Art put a lot of love and care into their burgers. They use fresh ingredients with bread baked daily. Pop Art has their own sauces and a huge range of different flavours. They also have great pizzas, crepes, salads and sweet treats.
You can order in-store or head to their website for home delivery!
Restaurants with the Best Views in Tirana
Until recently, there were not many skyscrapers in Tirana. As a result, there are lots of rooftop bars and viewpoints around the city which offer fantastic views over to the mountains beyond.
Here are a couple of great spots to dine whilst enjoying these amazing views.
Lift Steak and Rooftop Bar
If you want the ultimate treat meal in Tirana then consider a trip to Lift!
Lift is located in the iconic Aba business centre near Blloku. Its rooftop location provides beautiful views over the city, the park and the mountains. It is a beautiful place at any time of day but particularly magical at sunset!
If the views sound good, wait until you see the menu! This is certainly at the fine dining end of the restaurant spectrum in Tirana. But we all need a treat sometimes right?
As the name suggests, meat and steaks are the focus. However, there are a lot of seafood and vegetarian options on the menu as well.
Whether you are after oysters and caviar or carpaccio and a tomahawk steak, Lift has you covered.
You can expect, of course, to pay more for the food here than at the average restaurant in Tirana. That said, the prices are not crazy compared to UK/US prices. Take a look at their menu for the full range.
Ballkoni Dajti
If you are going to travel up the Dajti express then there is only one place to dine! The incredible Dajti Balcony restaurant is located at the top of the Dajti Express.
Ballkoni Dajti is on the side of the mountain with glass walls and offers incredible views back over Tirana. It also has an outdoor vantage point for more beautiful photos.
The food inside is excellent quality and not at all expensive. This is surprising given its location and the fact it is the only restaurant at the top of the Dajti Express.
The food is local and authentic although with enough choice for everyone. You can order salads and sides. There are lots of grilled options including steaks. Local Albanian oven dishes are available and there are even desserts if you have space afterwards!
I would definitely recommend calling in if you head up the Dajti Express. It is a good spot for lunch, or to catch the sunset at dinner.
Heading to the Albanian Riviera from Tirana? Check out my other blogs:
- Guide to the best Ksamil Beaches
- My Guide to the Best Beaches in Saranda & Ksamil
- The Ultimate Guide to Saranda Beach
Best Restaurants for Burgers
Sometimes you cannot beat a good burger! Fortunately, Tirana has some great burger joints for you to try.
Tony’s American Restaurant
Tony’s American restaurant is exactly what you would expect. It is a fun, excellent-quality American restaurant located near Grand Park Tirana.
Tony’s doesn’t just limit itself to burgers. But those burgers are worth talking about! Expect thick burgers with plenty of filling and soft doughy buns!
Tony’s also serves everything we love from American diners. Pop in for breakfast and a coffee, for a shake or try the ribs. The menu is extensive, the food is delicious and the service is wonderful.
Delibros
This may be the best restaurant in Tirana for burgers! If you are looking for statement burgers then Delibros is the place to go.
The brioche buns are delicious and even embossed with the Delibros logo! The inside of the burgers is equally impressive. The menu caters for everyone. There are basic burgers for those that like it simple. You can upgrade with pastrami or go for the triple cheeseburger if you want something bigger! They even have delicious veggie burgers on the menu.
You can either eat in or take away here. Delibros has a growing reputation as the best restaurant in Tirana for burgers and it is easy to see why.
Let’s Eat!
One of the things that amazed me when we arrived in Tirana was the amount and the variety of the restaurants available.
There are so many places to try that I couldn’t fit them all on this blog! Hopefully, I have given you some ideas of where to eat in Tirana. If you’d like my recommendations of where to go for drinks, check out my blog on the best bars in Tirana.
If you have any questions then drop me a comment below or get in touch on social media.
Otherwise, enjoy the food in this incredible city!
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