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Tirana Restaurants

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Cafés intro

Cafés intro

All cafes and bars offer espresso (kafe ekspres) or Turkish coffee (kafe turke). More upscale places will also serve American-style coffee (kafe filter). The only Starbucks-type place in town so far is Gregory's.

Tirana | Restaurants | Cafés

A unique, bright and spacious café serving fresh fruit juices and smoothies, coffee, sweet and hearty crepes, sandwiches, pasta, salads and baguettes. Recommended for a healthy snack or lunch, though service can be tediously slow when it's busy.
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Rr. Ismail Qemali 12

tel. +355 68 348 54 90

Open 07:00-24:00,
Sat 07:30-24:00,
Sun 07:30-24:00.

The biggest attraction in 'Black and White' is the huge black-and-white photograph collection of Albanian artist Artur Gorishti. Modem and comfortable, this café serves a damn good cappuccino. Near the corner with Rr. Ismail Qemali. [...]

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Rr. Sami Frashëri

tel. +355 4 224 70 89

Open 07:30-24:00

The walls of this cosy and artsy café halfway down the long street are hung with dozens of cartoon caricatures of local politicians and other media stars; well worth a glance if you're following the Albanian news. There's a selection of wines and some croissants and other snacks. [...]

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Rr. Durrësit 59

tel. +355 69 218 70 66

A relaxed bar near the dictator's old villa that's a cool option for a quiet cup of coffee during the day or for drinks at night when the colourful lights bring out the best of the locals. There's dancing at weekends too. [...]

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Rr. Pjetër Bogdani

Open 07:00-24:00,
Fri 07:00-02:00,
Sat 07:00-02:00.

On the third floor of the Galeria shopping mall, the Central Cafe is a good place for a quick coffee in between your shopping spree. Decked out in trendy orange colours and with a lounge and bar area, it's not your average mall café. [...]

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Blv. Bajram Curri, Galeria mall

tel. +355 69 206 37 17

Open 09:00-22:00

There's an artsy copper theme to the City Lounge where you can head to a relaxing upstairs balcony. As well as the usual range of drinks you can also choose from a very reasonable lunchtime menu of the day. [...]

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Rr. Mustafa Matohiti

tel. +355 69 401 88 99

Open 07:00-23:00

The funkiest café inside the Galeria mall. A popular place with brightly coloured furniture, lounge corners and a small balcony terrace. Coffee and other drinks only. [...]

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Blv. Bajram Curri, Galeria mall

tel. +355 69 330 83 87

A boldly-named, modern coffee house overlooking the Kolonat fast food tent beside the stadium. There's good coffee, and tasty paninis if you're up for a snack. [...]

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Sheshi Italia

Open 07:00-24:00

Delicious home-made cakes and sweet chocolatey things served in a restaurant that also has various Italian dishes on he menu. Perfect for an indulgent lunch. [...]

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Rr. Ismail Qemali 12

tel. +355 4 224 54 24

Open 07:00-23:00

Gregory's Coffee

A modern coffee and sandwich bar on the ground floor of the Twin Towers. Panini fillings include omelet, chicken and Albanian-style meatballs and cheese. Eat/drink in, or take away. Also on the Durrës highway in the Praktiker DIY store.
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Blv. Dëshmorët e Kombit, Twin Towers

Named after a Dubai district and built with Emiratic opulence in mind, Jumeirah is a three-floor complex with plenty of mirrors, fake palm trees and a wonderfully kitsch bar on the top floor. Serving drinks as well as cakes from the ground-floor patisserie, the bar has a nice rooftop terrace. The piano gets tickled in the evening.
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Rr. Presidenti George W. Bush

tel. +355 68 251 56 99

Open 07:00-23:00

Sited in one of the busiest areas of town by the university bookstore, Juna is busy all day long. Could be the location, or the good fresh coffee they serve. [...]

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Rr. Dëshmorët e 4 Shkurtit

Open 08:00-23:30,
Fri 08:00-23:30.

Mojo

Big blurry photos and big lamps set the scene for Mojo's hip crowd. A bright café serving drinks and snacks such as sandwiches and toast, Mojo is officially a no-smoking café even though everyone happily ignores that. From 17:00-20:00 on weekdays, free snacks come with the drinks.
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Rr. Themistokli Gërmenji

Open 07:30-02:00

Overlooking the street from the third floor of the Vesa complex, Noi is a pleasant and modern 'gourmet café' with an amazing range of wood-roasted single-origin and blended coffee on the menu. For something really special try holding down a 1,500 lek cup of Kopi Luwak, Indonesian coffee made from beans that have passed through the bowels of a civet (an animal that looks like a weasel), acquiring a 'strong complex flavour' along the way. In the evening, a buffet of free snacks is offered with the drinks. Bring the kids, there's a Playstation corner. [...]

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Rr. Abdyl Frashëri 5, Vesa Center

tel. +355 4 224 73 53

Open 07:00-24:00

Pastiçeri International

The only thing international about this place might be your presence - but it's still one of the better places to go to get your sugar-and-coffee fix. Wolf down tarts and various other pastries - if you can find a seat, that is. The children will love the small playground in the adjacent park. [...]

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Rr. Abdyl Frashëri

tel. +355 4 225 67 50

Open 07:00-23:00Also on Rr. Durrësit, and Rr. Sami Frashëri.

Pasticeri Twin Towers

A good location in the Twin Towers looking out over the Pyramid, this place is bright, modern and airy. Ice cream and cakes complement the rather overpriced coffee, and you can while away the time enjoying the erratic spellings of the Scotch whisky on the menu. [...]

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Blv. Dëshmorët e Kombit

tel. +355 4 228 02 89

Open 07:00-23:00

Piazza is a great spot to kill time and watch people. The terrace is screened from the traffic by flower beds, palm trees and a fountain and is a better choice than the slightly tacky indoor area. Piazza is one of the few bars that also serves food: sandwiches, pizza and other snacks. [...]

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Rr. Ded Gjo Luli

tel. +355 4 223 07 06

Open 07:00-23:00

A popular café at the bllok's main crossroads. The deep red walls provide the perfect backdrop for the hip, young and rich to do their thang. We recommend ordering a coffee, a pint of hair gel and a clipped goatee. [...]

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Rr. Ismail Qemali 27

tel. +355 4 226 65 90

Open 08:00-23:00

Big windows and a bright interior with lots of light wood ensure that Relax lives up to its name. It's a great place to linger over a cup of coffee and read the paper. If you forgot to bring your own, the café kindly provides a selection for you. [...]

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Rr. Mustafa Matohiti

tel. +355 68 213 86 41

Open 07:00-23:00

The floor of the glass box on top of Albania's highest building revolves slowly to give a 360-degree panorama of the city, electricity permitting. That's also the main reason to come - the coffee and cakes on offer are pricey and no better than those at ground level. [...]

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Rr. Dëshmorët e 4 Shkurtit N°5

tel. +355 4 222 16 66

Open 08:00-23:00

Stephen Center Café

Set up by evangelical missionaries who certainly know how to run a good café, this is one of Tirana's best, a cosmopolitan meeting place for locals and foreigners alike. There's a pleasant terrace and a cosy smoke-free interior with a poster of New York's twin towers. There's free wifi, fresh [...]

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Rr. Hoxha Tahsim 1

tel. +355 4 223 47 48

Open 07:00-23:00,
Sun Closed.

As the name suggests, everything in this cool cafe is done in shades of green. The Valle Verde tart convinced us to make several return visits. Next to the Albanian Radio and TV building. [...]

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Rr. Gjon Pali II, N°11

tel. +355 4 225 84 97

Open 06:00-23:00

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