Albanian cuisine is one of the Mediterranean's best-kept secrets, blending Greek, Italian, Turkish and Balkan influences into something uniquely its own. Sarandë, positioned between the Ionian Sea and a fertile green hinterland, serves up some of the finest food in the country — and often at prices that feel like a genuine surprise.
This guide walks you through the dishes worth seeking out, and where to find them, on a food lover's tour of the Albanian Riviera. It pairs well with our complete guide to things to do in Sarandë if you are planning your days around long lunches and late dinners.
Fresh Seafood: The Star of the Table
Seafood is the headline act of Sarandë's culinary scene. Freshly caught fish, grilled octopus and prawn risotto appear on almost every menu, usually landed the same morning by local fishermen and cooked simply to let the freshness speak. At our own restaurant, the day's catch is prepared with Mediterranean herbs and locally pressed olive oil and served on a terrace over the bay.
Dishes to Order
Salt-baked sea bass
Whole fish baked in a salt crust that keeps it impossibly moist, then cracked open at the table for two to share.
Grilled octopus
Charred over coals and dressed with olive oil, lemon and herbs — tender inside, smoky outside, and a Riviera staple.
Mussels saganaki
Served bubbling in a clay dish with tomato and a hint of chilli, perfect with crusty bread to mop up the sauce.
Traditional Albanian Dishes
Beyond the coast, Albania's inland kitchen is hearty, homely and built around slow cooking, yoghurt, cheese and fresh vegetables.
Tavë Kosi (National Dish)
No visit is complete without tavë kosi, a baked lamb and yoghurt casserole with a rich, creamy texture and a golden, souffléd crust. It is comfort food at its best and found in traditional restaurants throughout the region. Order it with a simple tomato-and-cucumber salad dressed only in olive oil and sea salt.
Byrek
Byrek is Albania's beloved savoury pastry — flaky layers of phyllo wrapped around cheese, spinach or meat. It is the perfect snack or light lunch, sold from bakeries on almost every corner, and ideal to grab on the way to the beach. Locals have strong opinions about which shop does it best.
Fërgesë and Grilled Meats
Fërgesë, a hearty dish of peppers, tomato and cottage cheese baked together, is a staple of the inland kitchen, while grilled lamb, veal and qofte (spiced meatballs) are everywhere and reliably excellent — great after a day exploring the mountains or Butrint.
Breakfast, Desserts and Sweets
Breakfast in Albania is a highlight in its own right — fresh bread, local honey, tangy goat cheese, figs straight from the tree and strong mountain coffee. For dessert, look out for two favourites in particular.
Trilece
A creamy three-milk sponge soaked in caramel that has become a national obsession; ideal with a strong espresso after dinner.
Baklava
An Ottoman legacy, often made here with walnuts rather than the pistachios more common further east, and served at celebrations and holidays.
What to Drink
Albanians take their drinks as seriously as their food, and both wine and spirits have deep roots here.
Albanian Wine
Albania's wine tradition stretches back thousands of years, and native grapes like Kallmet (red) and Shesh i Bardhë (white) offer flavours you will not find elsewhere. Many restaurants feature family-owned producers, and cellar-door tastings are available within a short drive of Sarandë — a lovely way to spend a slower afternoon.
Raki
Raki, the clear grape brandy, punctuates every Albanian meal — offered as a welcome drink, a digestif or simply a gesture of hospitality. Sip it slowly; it is stronger than it looks, and sharing a glass is how friendships are sealed across the Riviera. You will often meet it again over drinks along the Sarandë promenade.
How to Eat Like a Local
Knowing a few local rhythms makes eating in Sarandë far more enjoyable — and helps you find the meals that visitors often miss.
Eat late
Albanians dine late, especially in summer. Restaurants fill from around 8pm, and a table by the water at 9pm, after the heat has gone, is the local way to do dinner.
Visit the market
Sarandë's morning market is the place to buy figs, cherries, olives, honey and local cheese. Even if you are not self-catering, it is a wonderful, inexpensive way to taste the region and pick up a picnic for the beach.
Embrace coffee culture
Coffee is a social ritual, not a takeaway habit. A slow espresso or macchiato on the promenade, watched over the sea, is part of daily life — and remarkably cheap by European standards.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but modest; rounding up the bill or leaving around 10% for good service is normal rather than expected.
Where to Enjoy the Local Table
Some of the best meals happen away from the busiest tourist strips — in family-run konbas in the backstreets, at seafront tavernas in Ksamil, and on hotel terraces overlooking the bay. Our own restaurant leans into the same philosophy: the day's catch, local olive oil and Albanian wine, served with the sea in view. Wherever you eat, ordering the daily specials rather than the printed menu is usually the route to the freshest plate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What food is Albania known for?
Albania is known for fresh Mediterranean seafood, its national dish tavë kosi (baked lamb with yoghurt), flaky byrek pastries, grilled meats, fërgesë, and sweets like trilece and baklava, all often accompanied by raki.
What is the national dish of Albania?
The national dish is tavë kosi — lamb baked in a tangy yoghurt-and-egg custard with a golden crust. It is rich, creamy and widely available in traditional restaurants.
Is Albanian food similar to Greek or Italian food?
It shares a lot with both. Coastal Albanian cooking uses plenty of olive oil, seafood, tomatoes and herbs like Greek and Italian food, but it also has strong Turkish and Balkan influences in dishes like byrek, baklava and grilled meats.
Is Albania good for seafood?
Excellent. Towns like Sarandë sit right on the Ionian Sea, so fish, octopus, mussels and prawns are landed daily and served very fresh, often at lower prices than in neighbouring countries.
What should I drink in Albania?
Try local wines made from native grapes such as Shesh i Bardhë and Kallmet, and raki, the traditional grape brandy served before or after meals. Albanian coffee culture is also strong, with excellent espresso everywhere.
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