As part of the Tirana City Hall staff and a popular figure in the streets of the capital, Rezart Cenaj really knows Tirana like the back of his hand. Follow his guide around the best foods, hidden shopping corners, and personal tidbits about Albania’s capital.

Café

Tirana is full of interesting places which you can fortunately find in clusters! So, in a short 5-10 minute walk, chances are that, each time, you will find the best coffee in Albania or even southeastern Europe. There are too many nice cafés and, in all honesty, I cannot choose just one. All I can say is that the view is as important to me as the coffee. In the 3-4 minutes of this morning ritual, I like to see the city waking up, buzzing, running, ready to devour the day. 

Landmark

References points are especially important in my case, as Tirana is not my hometown. I think the Pyramid is one of the city’s most emblematic monuments. This structure is like a phoenix, it is continuously extinguished only to re-emerge more powerful than before. It gathers people of all ages and has served as the starting point of most other structures and projects that have forever changed the social and cultural fabric of Tirana.

Random spot

A place that naturally and consistently pulls me in is the narrow path between the municipal building and Et’hem Bey Mosque. It interweaves several epochs of the city, from the most conservative to the most avant-garde.

Go-To Lunch Restaurant

In Tirana, you can try a new place each day and always be satisfied with your choice: from the Italian pastas and pizzas to the contemporary twists on Albanian dishes. One of the best food areas is the one around Stadium Selman Stërmasi. From the delicious pasta of Pasta da Pucci to Amor’s sophisticated cuisine, Drin’s fresh fish or Saporita’s pizzas, there’s something for everyone.

Favorite Dish

There is nothing like my mom’s byrek. But, you can find a great one with cheese (gjizë) from a kiosk in the Agimi Buildings, near Blloku. It is the best one ever!

Happy Hour Drink

Aperol Spritz, anywhere and everywhere. Be it in the most popular places spots in town, like Blloku or the area around the Pyramid, or in the new renovated spaces like the New Bazaar and Castle of Tirana.

Guilty Pleasure

It is not guilty but the greatest pleasure I have is seeing young people return from abroad and applying all they learned there to the growth of this city. There’s really nothing quite like their passion and dedication.

Culture Spot

I particularly like scouring the small antique shops in the New Bazaar area. You can find some real gems there!

Go-To Dinner Restaurant

I have not dined out much since the birth of my second child! But, I always found the new Castle of Tirana passageway to have some of the best dining options in town.

Bar/Club

Blloku has the most legendary bars of the entire capital, the pioneers of Tirana’s nightlife in the last 15 years. It’s always there, a great option to enjoy any evening and night. Tribeca, Radio, Kino, Check Point Charlie – these are some of my trusted favorites. Then, there’s the area behind the Pyramid and Kont Urani Street with the fresh and bold additions to Tirana’s nightlife, always with great professional service.