9 of the Most Beautiful Restaurants in Albania

Albania is hands down one of the most underrated countries in Europe. From the stunning Santorini-like views, to beaches with crystal clear water, and the breathtaking mountains, there are a lot of places worth seeing here. But one of the true highlights of the country is the Albanian food, which is a delicious fusion of Greek and Mediterranean flavours. During my 10 day road trip along the South Coast, I uncovered some incredible hidden gems. Below, I’ve put together a list of 9 of the most beautiful restaurants in Albania – spots you simply can’t miss if you are planning to travel there.

It is worth bearing in mind that these restaurants are all located along the South Coast of Albania. I did not travel to the mountains so I have only included the restaurants that you may find along the way if you do a similar itinerary to what I did.

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1. Zoe Hora, Dhermi

This is a restaurant that you have probably already seen a million times on social media. Set between the mountains if Dhermi, inside the Zoe Hora hotel, this has to be the most beautiful restaurant in Albania.

The chairs and tables are set up around the pool, as well as upstairs, overlooking the pool. The sunset view from here is magical as you can see it set behind the mountains.The birds flying around the pool and that sunset glow make this the perfect picture perfect spot.

Because of this, you should be prepared to pay a lot more than what you would pay in most restaurants in Albania.We ordered two mains, water, two cocktails and ended up paying £100 total (9900 LEK). This was definitely on the expensive side, but I would easily pay this again to dine with a view like that.

I strongly suggest making a reservation in advance if you want to dine here. We sat at a table by the pool but sitting upstairs is also nice for a view.

2. Guvat Bar, Ksamil

The Guvat Bar is a stunning restaurant right on the coast of Ksamil. It is the perfect spot for lunch as well as dinner. We came here for dinner and the restaurant was absolutely stunning and had the best sunset view. You can see the beach views from the restaurant and admire the turquoise water surrounding it.

The setting is made more unique by the huge terrace that this restaurant has – it has 3 layers, all of them offering amazing views over the sea and the sunset. We sat at the bottom floor of the terrace, and watched the birds fly as the sun set. Sadly we got unlucky as it was very windy but the food was still very good.

The food here is mostly seafood mixed with Mediterranean dishes, such as truffle pasta and the lot. The food was great and relatively affordable – we paid 6,330 LEK between the two of us (around £30 each).

If you want a table by the sunset, I recommend booking this in advance.

3. The Barrels Ms, Gjirokaster

One of the most magical dining experiences in Gjirokaster is having a home made meal at The Barrels Ms. This is a winery located close to Gjirokaster, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Town in Albania.

The setting is amazing – it feels like eating in someone’s back yard. As the sunlight seeps through the vineyards, it creates a golden light which makes for a stunning backdrop. There are chickens and cats running around, and barely any noise in the area, making this a very peaceful escape.

The food is a local, home made cuisine – mostly meat dishes, but also some vegetarian options too. We went with the chicken with pasta which was nice but not my favourite dish to be honest.

But of course, you have to get the local wine. We tried the white wine and it was great.

Since the restaurant is located a bit far from the town, the best way to get here is by car – rent a car here.

The Barrels Ms is not only one of the most beautiful restaurants in Albania, it is also a hotel! And you can stay here for £60 a night. We spent one night here and the breakfast was lovely too. You can book your stay here.

4. Lekuresi Castle, Sarande

If you want jaw dropping sunset scenery, then you absolutely cannot miss the Lekuresi Castle in Sarande. The location of this restaurant is what makes it stand out. It is truly one of the most stunning spots on the south coast of Albania and the sunset views from here will take your breath away.

This spot is a short drive from Sarande, once again I recommend renting a car or getting a taxi to come here.

It is located on a hill and surrounded by mountains. When you arrive here, you will see a restaurant which spreads across the top part of the building. This is the more upscale/proper restaurant. You cannot make a reservation but they welcome walk ins. If you get here around sunset time, then you will find a spot as the restaurants tends to get full much later, around 8-9 pm.

Alternatively, there is a casual pizza eatery downstairs which is where we ate. In my opinion, this is the better place to watch the sunset from as the views are incredible and you can see the whole landscape. Plus, the pizza is very affordable we only paid about £10 each for this.

You could also just come here for a drink – the lowest terrace has a bar and casual beanbags where you can chill out. However, these ones get booked up very quickly so make sure to arrive early to get a good spot.

Just to manage your expectations, this place also gets very crowded as people come here to take pictures. Be prepared for that especially as the sun sets.

5. Fig and Olive, Himare

This gorgeous restaurant in Albania offers amazing views of the Ionian sea and the surrounding hills. The decor is simple but beautiful, with plants everywhere and boho vibes. There is a bar where you can order cocktails, giving it a chic, trendy vibe. The sunset views here are also great.

The food here is great, and it is mostly seafood. The highlights for us were the grilled fish and the watermelon-feta salad. This was seriously one of my favourite dishes I tried while in Albania.

At the end of the meal, we were also given a free dessert – a delicious orange cake, which is a Greek dessert.

The staff here are lovely too – there was some wind where we sat, and a wooden structure fell down next to us and did not harm us at all..but the staff decided to give us our meal for free due to the “inconvenience” caused! This was such a nice gesture and made our visit more memorable.

6. Butterly Cafe, Himare

We stumbled across this stunning cafe when visiting the Himare Castle and honestly, it did not disappoint.

We arrived around lunchtime and we were the only ones here, but the views took our breath away. It really had one of the best views of the sea and the hills that we had seen on the trip!

The restaurant in itself is very small, so they don’t serve any elaborate dishes. Instead, we got offered an eggplant with some greek salad (called village salad in Albania), and some bread. We also ordered ice coffee. The food was honestly so delicious and tasted home made, and the staff were lovely.

If you’re looking for a restaurant which combines great views and delicious food while visiting the Himare Castle, then save the Butterfly Cafe to your list.

7. Elea Restaurant, Himare

Hidden away in the hills of Himare, this is one of the most authentic and delicious restaurants in Albania. The setting is stunning – the blues of the sea combined with the bright pink flower pots planted in the restaurant. It is all an open setting and entering you feel like you have arrived to someone’s home. Once you enter the gate, you will see that it is a true hidden gem.

The owners are from Albania, but have lived in Greece and decided to bring Greek food to Albania. The food includes everything from Greek salad, tzatziki, and moussaka, all of which we tried and loved. It feels really peaceful here, especially on a hot day, as she shaded cover makes for a nice escape from the sun.

8. Tradita e Beratit, Berat

Located in the Gorica neighbourhood of Berat, this is another one of the restaurants in Albania which has become popular on social media. It really is stunning – located across different levels, it offers wonderful views of the bridge and the Old Town.

The most unique part about this traditional restaurant is that there is no a la carte menu. Instead, guests are treated to a £15 per person set menu, which includes a starter, a main and dessert. The menu is crafted by the owner’s mother and is sourced using only local ingredients and serves albanian cuisine. The local specialities include things like byrek, tavë kosi (lamb baked in yogurt), spinach pies, rice balls (qifqi), homemade pickles, cheeses, and seasonal vegetables.

For the drinks, you can enjoy local wine, raki, or cocktails made at the bar.

This is also a lovely spot to come and watch the sunset as they have a bar terrace where you can enjoy a drink and some nibbles.

9. Luciano, Dhermi

Luciano is one of the restaurants in Albania that felt like it was in the French Riviera. It is located right in front of Dhermi Beach, which is a stunning beach with crystal clear water.

When entering the restaurant, you will find Mykonos-style vibes in the decor. You can sit on the terrace to watch the waves and the boats in the distance.

At the restaurant itself, the staff are some of the friendliest we encountered during our Albania road trip. We were very hungry and had to wait a while for a table, and the staff did everything they could to give us a table as soon as possible. The food also came incredibly fast!

The cuisine here is Mediterranean and seafood.I went for a pasta with basil and we also got a tuna and avocado tartar. I have to say that the food here was absolutely amazing!

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I hope that you have found this list of the most beautiful restaurants in Albania useful for planning your trip! Let me know any thoughts or comments down below.