Searching for the best coffee and coolest cafés in Tirana? I’ve curated this list of my favorite cafés in the Albanian capital.

Albania, like the Balkans in general, has a reputation for potent coffee. And, Tirana’s café scene exemplifies this. It’s reported that there are 654 coffeehouses per 100,000 inhabitants in Albania, making it the world leader in coffee shops per capita. On my inaugural trip to Tirana, I spent two very caffeinated days exploring, eager to see as much of the city as possible. During that time, I managed to squeeze in a lot of good coffee, vibey cafés, and delicious baked goods. I’ve taken all the cafés I’ve made it to and curated this guide to the best coffee shops in Tirana.

A brief history of coffee in Albania ↴

While the hipster café and specialty coffee shop scene may be burgeoning in Albania, coffee culture is nothing new. In fact, Albania has loved coffee for over 600 years.

Around 1540, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire introduced “black liquid” to the nobles of the empire, which at the time included what is now Albania. It rapidly grew in popularity so that even the common people were consuming large quantities of “kahve” (coffee). Traditional Albanian, Greek, Bosnian, and Turkish coffee because they all inherited the ritual of coffee under the Ottomans. It’s important to note that “Turkish coffee” listed on Albanian menus doesn’t mean the coffee was grown or roasted there. “Turkish coffee” actually refers to the brewing methodology. Which (you may have guessed) is the same as traditional Bosnian coffee and traditional Albanian coffee.

Today, most modern cafés feature espresso drinks like cappuccinos, macchiatos, and flat whites. But, plenty of coffeehouses on every street remain true to Albania’s coffee roots. And, as a bonus (in my opinion), there are no Starbucks in Albania. The brand couldn’t compete with the affordable, and frankly better tasting, coffee Albania offers.

pistachio muffin and iced latte from Rubi

best cafés + coffee in Tirana ↴

Rubi cakes + specialty coffee

Colorful espresso machines are typically a red flag for coffee connoisseurs, and as good as my iced latte was, the friendly barista did tell us Rubi specializes in matcha! The vibrant interior, counter covered in scrumptious baked goods, and helpful barista won me over. The millennial pink café is spattered with red design touches, like cherry tables. On its shelves, I found coffee and matcha for sale, which would make a great souvenir. I had a pistachio cupcake; another recommendation from the barista. It was soft, flavorful, and had the “correct” frosting to cake ratio (heavy on the frosting).

📍Kompleksi Kika 2, Rruga Anton Lufi, Tiranë

Antigua Specialty coffee

Antigua is the café for coffee lovers. The best coffee I had in Tirana was at Antigua Specialty Coffee the morning of my departure. This was also the final stop of my self-guided Tirana coffee tour, remarkably close to my Airbnb. I got here just after it opened for the day, and the barista kindly walked me through the menu and signature offerings. In the end, I grabbed a flat white, a mango kombucha, and a thick slice of carrot cake. It may not have been a nutritious start to the day, but it was absolutely 10/10 scrumptious. I licked my plate clean and almost ordered a second coffee to take to the airport.

📍Rruga Perlat Rexhepi 1001, Tiranë

Hana Corner Café

Overall, my favorite café in Tirana is Hana Corner Café, if for no other reason than I got to do my favorite thing in the world: enjoy a beautiful barista-made drink and a pastry in a courtyard filled with two-seater tables, shaded by trees. I had a massive serving of cheesecake covered in fresh blueberries and tried the matcha latte, which was recommended to me by the barista. I’m still learning to love matcha, but I slurped up Hana’s in record time! I could easily see myself tapping away on my laptop here.

📍Rruga Gjin Bue Shpata 4, Tiranë 1001

Radio Bar Tirana

Radio Bar is not just another trendy café in the Blloku neighborhood. Filled with funky, vintage decor, Radio Bar has a unique atmosphere, unlike any other establishment I visited in Tirana. The interiors are decorated with radios, televisions, and quirky memorabilia, some of which come from Albania’s Communist era. Radio Bar is definitely more of a bar than a café, but they serve espresso drinks for those who need a jolt of caffeine. As far as the food menu is concerned, I devoured my vegetarian quesadilla. I know that sounds so random, but the food was served hot, tasted fresh, and was great value for money.

📍Rruga Ismail Qemali, Tiranë 1000

505 café

I started my final morning in Tirana at 505 Café. It was relatively close to Skanderbeg Square, which made it easy to find. 505 reminded me of Maison de Boony Café in Ho Chi Minh. The café looks like the inside of someone’s house, with photos and art hung on the walls. Balanced barista-style coffee is served in mismatched porcelain cups, adding to the homey feel. I could have spent an entire morning slow-sipping my flat white, reading a book in my cozy little corner of 505. I have read that 505 often organizes community events on their Instagram, so if you’re in Tirana for a while, check out what they have going on!

📍Rruga Ylbere Bylykbashi, Tirana 1001

sophie caffe

Sophie Caffe is an Albanian coffee chain, but the coffee here is quality. Sophie comes from the Greek word “Sophos” meaning knowledge, and if there is one thing Sophie knows, it’s how to deliver consistently good coffee at very affordable prices. Truthfully, I didn’t go to Sophie Caffe in Tirana, but I did grab a pistachio muffin and espresso from their Old Town Vlorë location. I’m still thinking about the pistachio muffin’s surprise filling and size!

📍multiple locations across Tirana

mon cheri

I didn’t make it to Mon Cheri in Tirana, but I did stop in for an espresso dopio in Vlorë. While it is very similar to Sophie Caffe, the main difference in my opinion was that Mon Cheri served a lot of frappe-style beverages.

📍multiple locations across Tirana

Small Tirana

Small was on my list, but I didn’t make it here. As its name suggests, Small is a tiny café and bar housed inside a compact wooden cabin. Similarly to Radio Bar, Small feels more like a bar that also does coffee. I can imagine visiting during the colder months and drinking a hot chocolate outside the cabin café. Still, everything I read online suggested Small for cocktails before I knew they served coffee. So possibly go for the atmosphere, not expertly brewed espresso.

📍Rruga Pjeter Bogdani, Tiranë

where to stay in Tirana ↴

I found Tirana very easy to get around, whether on foot or by taxi, but I do think where you stay in the city matters. The taxis were very reasonably priced, and any I took accepted both Euros and Albanian Lek cash payments.

best neighborhoods in Tirana

Blloku | Blloku was once an area reserved for members of the Communist Party. Today, most of Tirana’s third-wave coffee shops and modern, aesthetic cafés are in Blloku. It’s the creative and gastronomical hub of Tirana. It’s where my friends and I stayed during our time in Tirana. This is a great area for social travelers to stay in.
Tregu Çam | Also known as the city center, Tregu Çam is Found in the city center, this neighborhood is home to almost all famous museums and landmarks – the National Historical Museum in Skanderbeg Square, BunkArt2, House of Leaves, Mosque Et’Hem Bey, and the Orthodox Cathedral of Tirana. It is one of the best places in Tirana for those looking to dig into the culture.

best hotels in Tirana

The Plaza | New to the city, 190 modern rooms set in Tirana’s shopping district
Hilton Garden Inn Tirana | Standard Hilton hotel rooms and amenities, close to Skanderbeg Square and less than10 miles from the airport
Arté Boutique Hotel | Artsy design rooms in the heart of Tirana
Central Chic Apartments | Contemporary apartment hotel rooms for as little as USD $70 per night