Lower town · Albanian
Restorant Kufoi
Home-style cooking and vegetable dishes provide an alternative to the crowded Old Bazaar lanes.
Rruga Doktor Vasil Laboviti, Gjirokastër, Albania
ALBANIA · THE FOOD EDIT
Gjirokastër,
one bite at a time.
The old bazaar is made for a relaxed lunch of qifqi and home-style dishes. The lower town offers a different, everyday dining rhythm.
5dining options5rated choicesALLlocal currency
Researched 17 October 2026 · Ratings may change. Prices marked as estimates are planning ranges. Confirm menus, opening hours and booking terms with the venue.
GJIROKASTËR · THE RESTAURANT EDIT
Find your kind of table.
From local comfort food to neighbourhood cafés and tasting menus. Compare a researched selection, then open a place for its menu, hours, photos and booking details.
6selected placesALL · LOCAL CURRENCY
Dunavat · Albanian
Taverna Tradicionale KARDHASHI
Traditional cooking and terrace seating make this a relaxed meal after exploring the historic town.
Rruga Bule Naipi Dunavat 1, Gjirokastër 6001, Albania
Old Bazaar · Albanian
Vojsava Restaurant
A compact family-run kitchen serving traditional dishes on the atmospheric lanes below the castle.
Rruga Gjin Bue Shpata, Gjirokastër 6000, Albania
Old Bazaar · Albanian
Restaurant Tradicional Odaja
An upstairs setting for hearty local mountain dishes during a slower Old Bazaar lunch.
Rruga Gjin Bue Shpata, Gjirokastër, Albania
Old Bazaar · Seasonal Albanian
Edua Gjirokaster
Seasonal dishes and a small local-products shop offer a useful introduction to regional ingredients.
Rruga Gjin Bue Shpata, Gjirokastër 6001, Albania
Rruga Alqi Kondi · Albanian / International
Val-Mar
A local dining option with traditional dishes, pasta and chicken dishes explicitly described as halal in its official menu.
Rruga Alqi Kondi, Gjirokastër, Albania
A little too specific?
No places match all your filters. A missing verified option is not proof that none exists in the city.
Know what you’re comparing.
Ratings are dated snapshots, not a live feed. Check the named source and observation date. Budget tiers are editorial guidance; menus, hours and prices can change.
Dietary options reflect the linked source, not independent certification. Confirm your exact requirements.
Source dates appear with ratings and on each detail page. Directions use the listed address; nearby towns remain identified in the address and notes.
02 / GJIROKASTËR FOOD GUIDE
Five local tastes to remember.
What to order, where to look and how much to set aside. Photographs illustrate the named food; they are not promises of a particular restaurant’s presentation.
Local specialty
Qifqi
Herbed rice-and-egg balls associated with Gjirokastër; order a small plate to share.
Editorial planning estimate: 400–800 ALL
- Where to try it
- Kujtimi, Old Bazaar
- When to go
- Lunch or early dinner
Local specialty
Byrek
Flaky savoury pastry; fillings vary between bakeries and batches.
Editorial planning estimate: 100–250 ALL
- Where to try it
- Bakeries in 18 Shtatori
- When to go
- Morning
Local specialty
Tavë kosi
Yogurt-baked lamb is a hearty Albanian classic available on traditional menus.
Editorial planning estimate: 800–1,500 ALL
- Where to try it
- Old Bazaar restaurants
- When to go
- Lunch or early dinner
Local specialty
Oshaf
A traditional dessert combining dried figs and sheep milk; ask whether it is available that day.
Editorial planning estimate: 300–600 ALL
- Where to try it
- Traditional kitchens in the Old Bazaar
- When to go
- Dessert
Local specialty
Pasha qofte
Small meatballs in a light soup; availability varies, so check the daily menu.
Editorial planning estimate: 500–900 ALL
- Where to try it
- Home-style restaurants in the bazaar
- When to go
- Lunch or early dinner
03 / GJIROKASTËR FOOD GUIDE
Local hubs & hidden corners.
Areas to browse, pause and choose a meal. Nearby towns are identified where relevant.
Explore locally
Old Bazaar
Compact lanes for qifqi, coffee and a sit-down lunch.
- Address / area
- Qafa e Pazarit, Gjirokastër
- When to go
- Lunch before or after the castle
Explore locally
18 Shtatori
The lower town has everyday cafés and restaurants beyond the visitor lanes.
- Address / area
- 18 Shtatori, Gjirokastër
- When to go
- Breakfast and lunch
Explore locally
Palorto
Higher lanes suit an unhurried meal; allow for the steep walk back.
- Address / area
- Palorto, Gjirokastër
- When to go
- Late afternoon
04 / GJIROKASTËR FOOD GUIDE
Good food, on the go.
Quick bites and informal stops, with locations and sources to check before you visit.
Explore locally
Morning byrek
Look for the morning batch in the lower town. This is a bakery-area suggestion.
Editorial planning estimate: 100–250 ALL
- Address / area
- 18 Shtatori, Gjirokastër
- Opening information
- Check the linked operator before visiting; kitchen hours may differ.
Explore locally
Qifqi lunch at Kujtimi
Try the city’s rice-ball specialty as part of a small lunch rather than assuming it is a takeaway stall.
Editorial planning estimate: 400–800 ALL
- Address / area
- Old Bazaar, Gjirokastër
- Opening information
- Check the linked operator before visiting; kitchen hours may differ.
05 / GJIROKASTËR FOOD GUIDE
Make an evening of it.
Higher-budget restaurants and special-occasion meals. Check tasting-menu prices and booking terms directly.
No separate upscale or luxury venue has been verified in this destination. Use the restaurant finder above for local alternatives.
06 / GJIROKASTËR FOOD GUIDE
Big flavour. Smaller bill.
Budget picks from the researched shortlist. Fewer entries means fewer verified options, not a made-up top five.
Budget · Albanian
Restorant Kufoi
Home-style cooking and vegetable dishes provide an alternative to the crowded Old Bazaar lanes.
Budget · check the current menu
- Address / area
- Rruga Doktor Vasil Laboviti, Gjirokastër, Albania
- Before you go
- Check today’s hours, menu and reservation availability with the venue.
Budget · Albanian
Restaurant Tradicional Odaja
An upstairs setting for hearty local mountain dishes during a slower Old Bazaar lunch.
Budget · check the current menu
- Address / area
- Rruga Gjin Bue Shpata, Gjirokastër, Albania
- Before you go
- Check today’s hours, menu and reservation availability with the venue.
07 / GJIROKASTËR FOOD GUIDE
Groceries & everyday essentials.
Compare larger supermarkets for a full basket and convenience stores for a few items. Branch hours and Sunday rules matter.
Explore locally
Lower-town grocery shops
Buy water, fruit and breakfast basics before climbing to the old town. No specific cheapest shop verified.
- Address / area
- 18 Shtatori, Gjirokastër
- Opening information
- Ask locally; no 24-hour branch verified.
Explore locally
Old-bazaar small shops
Convenient for a few essentials; compare with lower-town prices for a larger basket.
- Address / area
- Old Bazaar, Gjirokastër
- Opening information
- Shop-specific; no verified overnight opening.
A little planning makes a better meal.
Dietary needs
Ask about ingredients, stocks and cross-contact. Confirm vegetarian, vegan, allergen and halal requirements directly with the venue.
With children
Check smaller portions, highchairs, pushchair space and age restrictions before reserving. A relaxed lunch may be easier than a long tasting menu.
Before booking
Check service charges, deposits and cancellation terms. Confirm the exact branch and address, especially for places outside the centre.
Sources, photos & how we choose
We researched public review aggregates and destination/operator sources. Scores and counts are attributed to the source shown on each card; they are not a live Google connection. Ratings alone do not guarantee a good meal. Price tiers are editorial, relative to the destination and independent of review scores.
Dish photos are illustrative and credited to their original source. A venue photo is labelled as such; no unrelated photograph is presented as a specific restaurant. Unknown hours and prices remain marked for checking. Nearby alternatives are identified by their area or address.