Cafés CLASSIC CAFÉS ARDI BAKERY Anyone walking around the Komuna e Parisit neighbourhood would be hard pressed not to notice the name ‘Ardi’ in numerous locations; Ardi Bakery, Ardi Cafe, Ardi Factory. What started as a simple bread shop is now a cult favourite in the area. The first in Tirana to modernise the simple sandwich, here you can break away from typical fillings and enjoy a honey mustard chicken or tuna salad baguette, or simply enjoy a perfectly roasted coffee.QJ‑2, Rr. Tish Dahia 10. Open 08:00-22:00.
Coffee in a wedding cake
Tirana’s café scene is bigger and better than it ever was before. Just remember to be very precise to specify you want coffee in your cappuccino.
BOOK CAFÉS EPËR7SHME This combined second-hand book and café is an excellent find. Best bring your own book and walk past the curious selection of Albanian-langauge titles to find a gorgeous sheltered garden around the back which is the best place to sit and soak up the atmosphere and caffeine. They stopped serving hot meals unfortunately - drinks only for the moment.QG‑5, Rr. Jul Variboba 1, tel. +355 69 687 3284. Open 07:00-23:00. €. APB MUSIC BOOKS EATERY Set in a small cul-de-sac and boasting a huge outdoor terrace area, during the day Music Books Eatery is the perfect place to wander in and find a quiet spot to read, study or work. At night, things get a bit rowdier with a range of events including art exhibitions, jazz concerts and even sip-and-paint nights. A particular favourite with the expat crowd, every so often you’ll catch a meet-up here on a Friday night. QRr. Ilo Mitkë Qafzezi 2, tel. +355 69 373 70 08, www.musicbookseatery.com. Open 08:00-23:00; Sun 09:00-23:00. €€. PB
PRICE GUIDE For cafes that serve food, we’re indicated the average price of a main course dish, without drinks. € Under 500 lek
€€€ Over 1,000 lek
€€ 500 - 1,000 lek 38 Tirana In Your Pocket
BARDHË E ZI Something of a Tirana institution, the inappropriately named Bardhë e Zi (Black and White) is anything but lacking in colour. Located along one of the busiest streets in the blloku, the mostly 20-something crowd that choose to spend time here are a friendly bunch indeed. Serving great coffee alongside a range of other drinks and snacks, the modern interior is a good place to escape the madness outside, or, if you prefer to imbibe your caffeine in a less peaceful environment, the terrace is a fine location to indulge in a little urban anthropology.QH‑3, Rr. Sami Frashëri, tel. +355 4 222 5547. Open 24hrs. €€. APB CAFÉ BOTANICA Lush green foliage fills the interior and terrace of this buzzing bistro café below the arches of the Palace of Culture. Arrive early for a relaxed breakfast or lunch as you peoplewatch the pedestrians on the main square, drop by later in the day for a wide range of dinner options, cocktails and perhaps a DJ-driven party.QSheshi Skënderbej, tel. +355 69 463 80 00. Open 07:00-24:00. €. APXBE COFFEE-LAB The only cafe in Tirana to roast their own coffee - and these coffee-lovers do it well and are happy to explain the process to visitors. The large space with a wall of windows is infused with the smell of roasting, and offers cakes and pastries besides the coffee and hot drinks.QI‑4, Rr. Nikolla Tupe, tel. +44 75771 96870. Open 07:30-23:00. NPT KEVIN Straddling that old Tirana chestnut between café and bar, Kevin’s wood-panelled interior is a bit too much for some, although it’s the best place in the area around the Ottoman-era Tanners’ Bridge and has a great outdoor terrace. If you drop by during the evening be prepared for the occasional event, which could be anything from a poetry reading to a relaxed performance of classical music.QF‑5/6, Rr. George W. Bush, tel. +355 68 202 2505, www.kevin-bar. business.site. Open 07:00-23:00. PXB KITCHEN BAR With impeccable views of the lake, you can easily waste a few hours in the sunshine here, people and duck watching whilst you sip on your coffee, beer or wine and pound
