Brunch in Tirana: My Favourite Spots for Breakfast & Brunch
Fancy brunch is kind of a new concept in Tirana, but I think the city has really embraced the idea!
Restaurants that used to serve only lunch and dinner are now offering brunch dishes too. As someone always looking for good places to eat in Tirana, I love having the option of brunch.
During the week most Albanians prefer a quick byrek on the street, but on the weekend these brunch spots are busy with just as many locals as tourists.
The Best Breakfasts & Brunches in Tirana
I enjoyed all my brunches in Tirana. But if I had to pick my absolute favourites, they are:
Tony’s Coffee Shop & Restaurant (overall favourite)
TeDuKtu (best inventive menu)
In’s Myslym Shyri (best variety)
Mulliri Gourmet (best outdoor terrace and opens at 6:30 am)
Bitter Bisto Bar & Restaurant (bottomless mimosas)
1. TeDuKtu
I had one of my favourite brunches in Tirana at TeDuKtu. This was also the only restaurant in Tirana I saw someone working online. So I guess that’s okay.
The menu gets very creative with traditional breakfast foods, like my salty pancakes with salmon, avocado and cream cheese. Another must have item is the French toast with custard and stuffed bananas.
There’s a big outdoor terrace in the back. With minimal street signage it’s easy to miss TeDuKtu, but it is exactly where Google maps shows!
Rruga Mustafa Matohiti, Tirana (opens at 9 am)
2. Tony’s Coffee Shop & Restaurant
Tony’s is my favourite breakfast and brunch eatery in Tirana. Looking at the menu you’d think you were in the US: pancakes, waffles, breakfast sandwiches, omelets and Tex-Mex. It’s all good, but whatever you order, get the hash browns. They’re seriously the best!
There’s two locations, and I usually go to the Pyramid one. It’s perfect actually, you can climb the Pyramid (one of the must see sites of Tirana), and then have breakfast at Tony’s.
Rruga Papa Gjon Pali II 13, Tirana (opens at 8 am)
Rruga Sami Frasheri, Tirana (opens at 8 am)
3. In’s Myslym Shyri
This is a really popular neighbourhood restaurant, famous with locals for brunch and breakfast.
They also have a very creative menu, but offer omelets and your basic eggs and sausage for anyone not so adventurous. I love my breakfasts here. This is one of those places I go to regularly when in Tirana.
The restaurant signage is jn’s – not the full name. I almost missed it the first time.
Rruga Sami Frasheri, Tirana (opens at 8 am)
4. Lift Steak & Rooftop Bar
As you probably guessed from the name, Lift Steak & Rooftop Bar specializes in steak, but they recently added brunch to their menu.
This is one of the more upscale restaurants in Tirana, so prices are higher, but so is the service and quality of food. The brunch menu is a little limited, but offers all the standards and salads, which I loved.
I enjoyed the rooftop terrace with views of Tirana, and the soft piano music playing in the background.
ABA Business Center, Rruga Papa Gjon Pali II, Tirana (opens at 9 am)
5. Mulliri Gourmet
I love Mulliri Gourmet in Blloku because it has such a nice outdoor terrace full of greenery, and they play good music! Plus the coffee is the best!
Mulliri is an upscale Albanian coffee chain, so their coffee is always excellent. They make a cappuccino with the richest foam I have ever tasted!
They sell coffee beans too. I always buy them here when in Tirana.
There are several Mulliri Gourmet locations in Tirana, but go to the Blloku one. It’s much nicer and opens very early. They make fancy cocktails too!
Rruga Pjeter Bogdani, Tirana (Blloku neighbourhood) (opens at 6:30 am)
6. Painted Black
I ate some of the most delicious brunch dishes I’ve had in Tirana at Painted Black. The last time I was in Tirana for a couple of days, my Airbnb was on the same street, a happy coincidence.
It’s a very contemporary restaurant, with a dark interior and no terrace. It feels like a lounge (which I think it is, after dinner), and I’m sure they make terrific cocktails.
Personally I prefer something brighter and not so… noir… in the morning. But the food is great.
Rruga Hajdar Hidi 5-8, Tirana (opens at 11 am, closed Sunday)
7. OTTOS Restocafe
There was a lot I liked about OTTOS Restocafe, and I can see why it’s so popular.
The location is great just off Rruga Durresit (one of the best areas to stay in Tirana). They have a large indoor and outdoor space, and street side cafe tables. The menu has traditional Albanian specialties and more mainstream choices.
The two dishes I tried were both delicious and high quality, but portions were small for the price. Even the carrot cake I ordered was very petite. So really good food, but maybe not the best choice if you’re a big eater.
Rruga Mihal Duri 1001, Tirana (opens at 7 am)
8. Bitter Bistro Bar & Restaurant
Very centrally located is this Tirana expat brunch favourite. The menu has a great selection including sweet and savoury pancakes, French toast, traditional eggs and sausage, and a breakfast charcuterie board for 2 or 4 people.
My favourite thing on the brunch menu is the bottomless mimosas! That alone is worth coming to Bitter. Food is very good, and portions are generous.
Bulevardi Zogu 1, Tirana (opens at 7 am)
Last Words on Brunch in Tirana: My Favourite Spots for Breakfast & Brunch
Enjoy Tirana’s brunch scene! Whether you’re a super early bird (or super jet lagged) (go to Mulliri Gourmet), if prefer a later brunch with a fancy cocktail (go to Painted Black), in the mood for bottomless mimosas (go to Bitter Bisto Bar & Restaurant), there’s a perfect brunch for you.
