Tirana Agritourism: the Best Agritourism Restaurants Near the City
There are amazing agritourism restaurants near Tirana. Agritourism means farm to table, so these restaurants are in the countryside, but there’s a couple close enough to reach by taxi from Tirana.
Slow food and farm to table eating are traditional in Albania, but it’s only recently that the country has started to recognize it and promote it as agritourism.
I recently rented a car for a few days and ate at as many agritourism restaurants as I could. They were all good, but Blerina Farm was my absolute favourite.
Agritourism restaurants are a bit of an insider secret. While they were all busy with locals, I don’t think I saw one other tourist in any of these.
I hadn’t even heard of agritourism in Albania until my third trip. But now that I know about them, I make it a point to seek them out.
Best Agritourism Restaurants Near Tirana
If you can only go to one agritourism while in Tirana, go to Blerina Farm. It’s exceptional. It’s also the closest to the city, so you can get there by taxi if you don’t have a car.
In Albania I always rent cars through Discover Cars. It’s the best way to compare prices and find a good deal.
Here’s the agritourism restaurants I ate at near Tirana, plus a map to help you decide which ones to visit:
1. Blerina Farm
Blerina Farm is probably the best known agritourism restaurant near Tirana. And for good reason – it’s exceptional. If you only go to one agritourism while in Tirana, make it here.
All ingredients are sourced from the organic farm, even the sourdough bread served with every meal is home made. Food is traditional home style cooking, but excellent home cooking! And the restaurant itself is charming – rustic but beautiful.
This is also the best choice for families. Kids can visit farm animals across the street, and there’s a play area beside the outdoor dining terrace.
The restaurant is part of Blerina Agritourism – they also own a guest house and adults only restaurant across the street, called Toka.
When I made my reservation (yes, you should make one) I didn’t realize there were two restaurants. I ended up at Toka because I saw it first and parked there. During my meal I met Blerina, and she told me about the farm restaurant. So I ended going there after.
2. Toka
This was one of my most memorable meals of my life. Not only was the outdoor courtyard beautiful (the indoor dining room is equally as nice), the food was incredible.
The day I went was a national holiday, Dita e Veres (Summer Day), and Toka had a special multi course menu to celebrate. Every single dish was amazing – each a thoughtful reimagining of traditional Albanian foods.
All ingredients are organic and from the farm. The honey is from their bees, the olive oil pressed onsite with olives from their trees. Diners can stroll the gardens, visit the farm animals and enjoy the natural surroundings.
For the full farm stay experience, Blerina Agritourism has a guesthouse with beautiful rooms overlooking the gardens. I would stay here just for the breakfast, which must be incredible.
3. Uka Farm
This is another well regarded farm to table restaurant and kantina (winery) close to Tirana. I rented a car and drove here, but it’s barely outside the city limits so you could take a taxi.
The menu offers traditional Albanian food and grilled meats (there’s an open brick oven in the dining room), all organic and farm to table.
I love that Uka Farm is also a kantina, so you can tour the cellar and vineyards and have a wine tasting with your meal or appetizers. I had an excellent glass of kallmet with my lunch.
If we’re talking strictly food, I think Blerina Farm is better. But, if you want to do a wine tasting and eat, this agritourism is the better choice – plus it is very close to Tirana.
4. Kantina Enol
Kantina Enol is a winery and agritourism restaurant 24 km from Tirana. I drove right past Preze Castle, so you might want to stop in and check it out. The location is a bit remote, but the views are beautiful. You can see the castle from the restaurant.
The agritourism has a restaurant and winery, so you can eat and do a wine tasting. I was driving and came here to eat, but my server gave me a tour of the cellar while I waited for lunch.
Kantina Enol has the most varied menu I’ve seen in an agritourism restaurant. Lots of pasta, grilled meats, salads, soups, appetizers and traditional dishes. Everything is from the farm (except the meat, but it’s local), even the honey and cheese.
The restaurant has large indoor and outdoor dining, both with views of the vineyards and hills. There’s even a kid’s play area in the outdoor dining section, great for parents. They’re dog friendly too – I brought my dog Watson with me.
There was a steep gravel road to navigate to reach the kantina, but I managed in a compact car. The only issue I had was losing cell service because of the remote location.
5. Agritourism Loka
Agritourism Loka is a charming agritourism 30 km from Tirana, about an hour’s drive. They’re famous for grilled meat, which is cooked in an open fire place. They raise their own chickens and goats, and all meat is dry aged on site.
The restaurant is a little remote, tucked away in the hills near the village of Bubq. On your way you’ll pass Preze Castle, built in the 15th century on the site of an older medieval castle.
The location is beautiful with stunning views of the hills, but very off the beaten path.
I drove here from Kantina Enol over the hills on dirt and gravel roads, which was a bit a nerve wrecking in a compact rental car. But coming from Tirana most of the way will be paved, except for the last part.
The food and wine were very good and inexpensive. There’s no set menu, the chef cooks whatever is seasonal and it changes all the time. Everything I had was delicious and sourced from the farm, including the wine.
There’s a really nice outdoor terrace overlooking the hills, but it was March and still cool when I went, so I ate inside. The dining room was also charming and cozy.
I had limited cell reception here, which sometimes happens in these remote and hilly locations. It came back as soon as I got closer to town.
6. Fustanella Farm
I really wanted to eat here, locals have told me it’s excellent. I haven’t managed to fit it into my itinerary yet, but it’s on the list for a future trip.
From everything I’ve heard and read, Fustanella is a gorgeous property and the food looks incredible. Plus, if Albanians like it you know it must be great since they generally prefer to eat at home.
Fustanella Farm is only 14 km south of Tirana, just 30 minutes drive.
Tips for Visiting an Agritourism Restaurant Near Tirana
Keep these things in mind when visiting agritourism restaurants near Tirana:
- It’s a good idea to make a reservation, especially If you visit on a weekend.
- Agritourisms sometimes have a set menu or limited menu based on what is seasonal and available. The set menus are the best way to try many different foods.
- Try the wine even if the agritourism is not a kantina (winery). It’s often homemade and very good.
- There could be some rough roads and cell reception may not be great, depending on how remote the agritourism is.
- Be prepared to pay cash, not all agritourisms accept credit cards.
- Some are dog friendly, but not all – call ahead if you want to bring your dog with you.
Last Words on Tirana Agritourism: the Best Agritourism Restaurants Near the City
To really experience Albania’s food traditions, a meal at an agritourism is the best way. You’ll get to see a side of the country that is quiet and rural, eat incredibly fresh food and spend time in the countryside.
You don’t have to venture far from Tirana to visit an agritourism. Blerina Farm, Toka, Uka Farm and Fustanella Farm are all close to the city, serving wonderful slow food. Kantina Enol and Agritourism Loka are further out, but you can turn it into a day trip by visiting Preze Castle at the same time.
