My Favourite Restaurants in Vlore (2026)
On my second trip to Vlore, I decided to cook less and eat out more so I could try the restaurants. Because Vlore is on the sea, there’s lots of great seafood as well as traditional Albanian food.
I went back to some old favourites, and tried lots of new places this time around. Generally, I avoided restaurants directly on the Vlore beach promenade or the main shopping street.
Restaurants that are away from the tourist areas are usually cheaper and have better food.
My Favourite Restaurants in Vlore
These are my favourite Vlore restaurants. When eating out in Albania, I almost always choose traditional food – that is what they do best.
1. Sofra e Lakrorit
This turned out to be my favourite and most memorable restaurant meal in Vlore. If you want to experience authentic Albanian hospitality and food, come here.
Sofra e Lakrorit is a cozy and atmospheric restaurant run by a husband and wife who do all the cooking. The food was delicious, and the lakror (savoury pie) was cooked the traditional way under a heavy iron dome called a ‘sac’, covered in hot ashes.
When I first arrived in Vlore, I tried to go here for dinner and discovered they don’t accept walk-ins. I had to make a reservation on WhatsApp (the number is on Google maps for the restaurant) for the next day. The owner sent me the menu, asking me to pre-order.
A strange procedure, but it was worth it. And to top it off, I was presented with complimentary ravani (cake) and raki at the end of the meal.
2. Taverna Xhakaj
Every time I visit Vlore I eat here, and every time the owners are incredibly welcoming and friendly. The specialty is spit-roasted meat (lamb and goat), but there’s salads and vegetables on the menu too. Everything is delicious and fresh.
Taverna Xhakaj is located in the centre, about 1 km from the Lungomare promenade (so you can walk it off). Just a nice, cozy family run taverna.
If you’re wondering what to eat while in Albania, here’s a list of traditional Albanian foods to try.
3. Gusta la Puglia
This small Italian sandwich shop is a hidden gem tucked away behind the Lungomare beach promenade. It became my favourite place for lunch, and I went a few times.
Gusta la Puglia makes the most incredible sandwiches, bursting with quality meat and cheese. They have about 20 different types, and you can customize them any way you like.
The first time I went I used a ton of napkins because the sandwich was so full it was dripping in truffle tapenade and marinated eggplant – very messy! There’s a few tables set up outside, and you can get a drink or coffee.
4. Restaurant Esmiani
Great neighbourhood restaurant on a side street in the centre. They specialize in seafood and had plenty to choose from, serving it grilled, fried or with linguine or risotto.
There’s a big outdoor terrace and indoor dining room. I was there during the day and the terrace was full of locals having coffee, but the kitchen was more than happy to cook an early lunch for me.
5. Novus Traditional Food Restaurant
This was recommended by my Airbnb host and it turned out to be a great restaurant for something casual and traditional in Vlore. It’s in Lungomare, just behind the promenade.
Like the name says, it’s all traditional food: pasta casseroles, chicken with rice, stuffed peppers and eggplants, tave kose. And plenty of vegetarian options – a rarity in Albanian restaurants.
Food is set out cafeteria style, so you can see everything and choose what you want. Then they serve you at your table. Go for lunch if possible – the first time I went there at 5:30 pm they were already sold out.
6. Adriatik Restaurant
This casual restaurant serves simple, but delicious home-style dishes. I ate here a couple of times and the food was really good. If they have the qofte with rice available, grab it – it’s great.
Each time I was served by the mama who spoke no English, but poured me a very generous glass of wine for 100 lek ($1.20).
It’s located just behind the Lungomare promenade and more budget friendly than the restaurants located directly on the promenade.
7. Traditional Restorant Gent
This is a nice family run restaurant on a side street in the centre. I always like trying restaurants away from the main tourist areas (in this case the Lungomare promenade), the food and prices are usually better and this was true here.
I had the daily specials, quinoa salad and lasagna, and the fish soup to warm up, since it was chilly that day. Everything was delicious and very budget friendly.
8. Restorant 4 Stinet
This restaurant had rave reviews for seafood and pasta, and that’s what I was hoping to get. Unfortunately, I was there in the morning and they were only serving breakfast so I settled for an omelette.
The omelette was fine – nothing extraordinary, but the Turkish coffee and complimentary fresh squeezed orange juice were fantastic. I’d give it a pass for breakfast, but definitely come here for dinner.
It’s a charming little restaurant near Vlore Old Town.
9. Maison des Chefs
This popular restaurant is a bit out of the way on the Plazhi i Vjeter (Old Beach) side of Vlore, but even on a dreary day in March it was filled with locals.
The menu is mostly pasta and seafood with some grilled meats. It wouldn’t be an Albanian restaurant without grilled meat! The food was very good, in fact my salad was so good I would return just for that. The only thing I didn’t like was the portion size of pasta and shrimp – it could have been bigger.
10. Medi Peshk i Fresket
This is a fish shop that sells whatever is caught that day, but they have a small kitchen and will cook to order any seafood you buy. There’s a few tables outside and they also make salad and fried potatoes.
It’s a simple set-up, but the freshness and quality cannot be beat. There’s no menu – you pay by weight for the fish (500 gr of fried kalamari cost 1000 lek or $12 USD), and there’s set prices for the salad and potatoes.
11. Furre Buke Karabash
Excellent bakery with all sorts of cookies, breads, and lunch items like pizza squares and sandwiches. They have a big selection of pastry, and very good gelato. I tried gelato at many different places in Vlore, and Karabash had the best.
Great place to stop for something cheap and quick if you’re in the centre. It’s my favourite bakery in Vlore, and I come here pretty much anytime I’m in the area.
12. Pasticeri Likaj (Lungomare)
I really like this cafe on the Lungomare promenade and always stop here when in Vlore. There’s a smaller location closer to the centre, but this one is a lot nicer.
They have a good selection of pastry and croissants, but are hugely popular because of the large outdoor terrace on the beach promenade. It’s a local favourite.
Last Words on My Favourite Restaurants in Vlore
I always enjoy eating out in Albania. Traditional restaurants source ingredients locally, and while the food may be simple, it is always delicious and fresh.
Vlore is the largest city on the Albanian Riviera, and has plenty of restaurants. Most are family owned and small, but they have the best food.
