A Guide to Eating and Drinking in Tirana

  Barbecued Meat in Tirana

Eating and drinking in Tirana is like all things Albanian - pretty good, and quickly getting even better. Although it isn't quite as cheap as it used to be, a good night out in the city still puts most other cities in Europe to shame, price-wise.

A popular local dish worth seeking out is 'tave kosi' - a tasty mutton and yoghurt combination. Those looking for a traditional breakfast, meanwhile, will find that rice is often on the menu and many locals also swear by 'paca' (a soup made with animals' innards) to set them up for the day.

Those looking to try something typically Albanian that doesn't involve eating body parts for breakfast may wish to plump for 'fergese tirane', a mercifully simple blend of fried meat, eggs and tomatoes.

In addition to the Balkan flavor, many dishes have a strong Turkish influence: meat-eaters on the go, for instance, will be delighted to learn that the kebabs in the country are superb, bearing little resemblance to the greasy fast-food found elsewhere.

For a local tipple, look no further than the aniseed beverage of  'raki' (which is extremely popular in Albania as a whole). For something just a little less anesthetizing, Albanian red and white wines are also good, as is the local cognac.

After a long dinner, the city will be starting to splutter into life - particularly on weekends, when the enthusiastic locals go out most. Nightlife in Tirana is beginning to come into its own, with more bars and clubs opening up all the time, and the quality and variety of music played becoming increasingly good.

Those intent on letting their hair down will find many of the bars and discos located in the center of the Old Town. Here, a couple of places on Rruga Brigada e 8-te Rruga e Dibres make for a decent night out in this enjoyably eccentric city.

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