Where to Eat in Ksamil & What it Cost (2026)
I ate out quite a bit during my week in Ksamil, and learned that figuring out where to eat is part of the adventure. Between exploring beaches and researching where to stay in Ksamil, I didn’t have much time for cooking.
There are plenty of places to eat in Ksamil (it is the most popular destination on the Albanian Riviera), but most restaurants only operate during the main tourist season, May to October. I’ve visited in late March before, and it felt like a ghost town. Almost nothing was open!
Where to Eat in Ksamil & What it Cost
These are the places where I ate in Ksamil. In general I avoided restaurants in heavy tourist areas, but I did end up eating at a couple.
I always prefer eating where locals eat, but in Ksamil that was difficult. I hardly saw any locals eating in the restaurants. I have a feeling most of them eat at places outside of town, but you need a car for those (which I didn’t have).
If you’re planning your holiday, my guide to Ksamil has lots of helpful information.
1. Garden Mix Grill
This was one of my favourite places to eat in Ksamil. The food was excellent, service friendly and helpful, and I loved the unique garden atmosphere.
I ordered patellxhane te mbushur (stuffed eggplant), fried potatoes, beet salad, and grilled kalamari. Everything (except for the beet salad which was just okay) was amazing, even the bread. In total it cost 2500 lek ($29 USD).
I was going to order fried kalamari, but the server suggested grilled and it was incredible. He made a good call!
Garden Mix Grill has indoor seating, a large covered patio and a huge garden with seating – probably really nice in the evening.
2. Island Restaurant & Pizza
I stopped here for breakfast one morning lured by the quiet jazz music playing. After hearing techno music blaring from some spots along the beach (at 8:30 am), this sounded perfect!
It’s a nice outdoor restaurant with huge covered patio. I ate breakfast, but they serve pizza, pasta, seafood, and traditional Albanian and Greek dishes.
Service was friendly. Greek salad, Greek coffee, specialty omelet and basket of bread came to 1050 lek ($12.30 USD). Everything was good, especially the Greek salad.
3. Basilico Restaurant
This is one of my favourite restaurants in Ksamil. The ambience, food, and service are all very good.
It’s in the busier tourist area, but not on the main road. The restaurant is outdoors with a large and comfortable terrace. The menu is varied: fish, meats, traditional foods, salads, soup, pasta.
My Basilico salad, a generous serving of crab with an amazing sauce and basket of bread came to 1450 lek ($17 USD). At the end they brought me a complimentary panna cotta.
4. Restaurant Traditional Geri
I came here because I was craving moussaka and it had good reviews. The restaurant is on a main street in the tourist area. It’s a busy location, but convenient if you’re coming back from Bora Bora Beach.
The moussaka and fries were okay, but not amazing. I wasn’t a fan of the Albanian pop music and touristy vibe.
5. Restaurant Fredi Fresh Fish
My Airbnb host recommended this fish restaurant. It’s one of the places that sells fish also, so you know it’s going to be super fresh. I ate at fish restaurants in Durres and Tirana like that – those are always the best ones.
You can also buy fish and have them grill it for you, so you don’t have to cook it yourself.
The sea bream had just come in when I was there, so that’s what I ordered with kalamari and Greek salad. It came to 2320 lek ($27 USD). The fish was amazing. The restaurant is nice too – large and open, away from the crowds.
6. Bega Guesthouse Restaurant
This casual neighbourhood restaurant is off the beaten path in Ksamil.
A much more authentic atmosphere and prices were a lot less than the restaurants closer to the main road. For example, moussaka was 650 lek here, and I just paid 1000 lek two days ago for a mediocre moussaka in the tourist area.
Portions were generous, service friendly and quick. Food was excellent. Definitely a winner!
7. Taverna Beshiku
A local taverna in the quieter area of Ksamil, away from the tourists and hiked up prices. There’s a large indoor dining room and small street side dining area.
The menu is varied with traditional Albanian dishes, grilled meats, soups, pizza and breakfast.
My Greek salad and moussaka were both excellent. And the serving of moussaka could have fed 2 people – it was massive. Greek salad, huge portion of moussaka and bread cost 1200 lek ($14 USD).
8. Pasticeri Bleta
I went here on the recommendation of my Airbnb host’s young daughter. I thought it was just a pastry shop, but they also sell bread, cookies, chocolate, byrek, sandwiches and gelato.
There’s a whole other section in the back with a cafeteria style breakfast and lunch set up. It’s a lot like Le Bon, one of my favourite places to eat in Tirana, but not as good.
9. Bakery Primera Food House
As you arrive in Ksamil on SH81, this bakery is on the right side (from Saranda). They were open early at 7 am.
They sell byrek, pizza, sweet and savoury pastries (like rolls baked with hot dogs that are so popular in the Balkans), and coffee.
There are quite a few places like this around Ksamil where you can eat a breakfast pastry and grab a coffee, and this one was pretty good.
Last Words on Where to Eat in Ksamil & What it Cost (2026)
While I wasn’t a fan of the tourist vibe most restaurants had (or the tourist prices), I did eat well in Ksamil. The seafood in particular was excellent.
If you’re visiting Ksamil’s beaches, there are lots of beachfront restaurants all along the water. Unless you go off season, you’ll have no problem finding places to eat in Ksamil.
