TIRANA - In Your Pocket

24 RESTAURANTS
ABA Fifth
Aba Business Center, Mbi Coin
Rruga Papa Gjon Pali II
Tel: +355 4 450 17 20
Italian
ABA Fifth H-5, Rr. Papa Gjon Pali II, tel. +355 4 450 17
20, fifth@ababusinesscenter.al. This bar and restaurant
is Twentyfirst’s little sister, on the fifth floor above the Coin
Gallery. Its grand patio gives patrons a bird’s eye view of
the Qemal Stafa football stadium as well as a spectacular
three-corner panorama of Tirana. Here you’ll want to stay
for the smoothies or the bargain breakfast or bistro lunch,
or dinner which includes wok dishes. QOpen 07:30 - 24:00.
$$-$$$ PALEGXW
Al Brigantino H-5, Rr. Themistokli Germenji 3/1, tel.
+355 69 224 18 34. A neat Italian restaurant with a seafaring
theme - paintings, nautical maps on the ceiling and a huge
model ship between the tables. The food is fresh and good.
Opposite the Romanian embassy. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00.
$$-$$$ PALGW
Casa di Pasta G-4, Blv. Dëshmorët e 4 Shkurtit,
Taiwan complex, tel. +355 4 225 11 75/+355 4 225
11 78, www.kompleksitaiwan.com. A large Italian
eatery occupying half of the Taiwan complex, and looking
like any neo-rustic restaurant. The open kitchen offers
full views of cooks whacking lamb chops into submission,
spinning pizza dough or preparing the “capricious fish
salad”, and although their efforts result in fine dishes,
the service can be numbingly slow. The huge fruit salad
is recommended on hot days. QOpen 12:00 - 02:00.
$$ PABSW
Delice H-3, Rr. Ismail Qemali 2, tel. +355 4 226 49
56/+355 68 207 75 73. Alas, food is served only at
lunchtime, but the prices are almost half those of its pricey
neighbour, Era, and beats it by a mile in its slick presentation.
Delice offers a satisfying three-course lunch Saturdays and
Sundays. If you want to taste and not gorge on pasta, try
the appetizer-size ravioli or tagliatelle. Otherwise the main
dishes (including goat) should satisfy a lumberjack. QOpen
12:00 - 23:00. $$
Fiore I-5, Rr. Dervish Hima 4, tel. +355 4 223 63
94. The focal point of this old world Italian restaurant is
the open kitchen pizza oven, but customers head for the
fish display case where the catch includes jumbo shrimp,
levrek and barbun, among others, at expected prices.
Otherwise you’ll find the usual pizza, pasta-risotto with
a surprise or two in the meat line-up (roasted rabbit), all
fairly priced, as are the Albanian and Italian wines. QOpen
12:00 - 23:00. $$
Green House G-5, Rr. Jul Varibova 6, tel. +355 4
222 26 32, www.greenhouse.al. A 1930s villa with
a quiet courtyard hidden behind high hedges seems the
perfect place to have Mediterranean meals, accompanied
by a good selection of wines. The outside seating area
has a tropical feel to it, while inside it’s all minimalist
chic with delicate spotlighting. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00.
$$ PALBW
La Cantinella H-4, Rr. Brigada VIII, tel. +355 69
207 00 82. Set back from the street, the courtyard of
this elegant Italian grill house is a pleasant and quiet place
to try a grilled meat or Albanian speciality. Inside, there
are tables with red-cushioned seats, a pot stove, and
wines displayed along the walls. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00.
$$ PAEBS
La Tavernetta H-4, Rr. Dëshmorët e 4 Shkurtit, tel.
+355 4 225 48 34. Lurking in a cellar below a modern
high-rise lies this rustic Albanian tavern with wooden beams,
medallions, large spoons and lutes. The reasonable Italian
food here is complemented by an excellent salad bar. QOpen
12:00 - 23:00. $$ P
Napoli D-2, Rr. Durrësit 79, tel. +355 4 223 15 67,
www.restaurantnapoli.com. One of the first private
restaurants to open in 1991 and strategically placed
near the clutch of embassies along Rr. Skenderbeg,
Napoli is a good spot for diplomats and other passersby.
Its scrumptious pizzas and seafood are conjured up
by a chef who trained in Italy. QOpen 08:00 - 24:00.
$-$$ PAB
Pirro Mani Rr. Ali Demi 131, tel. +355 4 234 75
67/+355 69 202 98 63. Famed locally for the Italian food
on offer, Pirro Mani is named after the celebrity owner and
has no arsonist links whatsoever. There’s a large seating
area in the garden, while the rustic interior is also capable
of holding a wedding party or two. On weekends, call in
advance to check it’s not booked full. Just east of the city
centre. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00. $$ P
Cooks United
Albanian Federation of Cooks (Federata e
Kuzhinierëve Shqiptarë) Tirana, tel. +355 67 262
35 56/+355 69 203 39 22, federata.kuzhinierve.
shqiperi@gmail.com. Two famous local chefs, Dorjan
Belli and Ilir Ndreko started this network of over 40
professional chefs to work on improving local and international
cuisine in Albania, and to organise culinary
charity events. Q V
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