2 Best Restaurants in Albania

Well worth a slight detour from the port's main drag, this cheerful, sea-themed hotel dining room combines a splendid outdoor terrace with sweeping views of the port, friendly, attentive service, and some of the best food in town. Riffs on traditional Mediterranean dishes, with an emphasis on fish, are always fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and beautifully presented: red peppers stuffed with spiced lamb and pignoli nuts served with a minted yogurt sauce; grilled jumbo shrimp with fresh basil risotto and mesclun salad; whole grilled fish with tomato coulis. Desserts are equally scrumptious, and sometimes include homemade ice cream and strawberries fresh from the chef's garden.

Just across the street from the beach, the sea views and breezes perfectly complement this seafood-centric dining room with a little something for everyone, from the most voracious meat-eater to strictest vegetarian. A cut above even the more ambitious Saranda restaurants, the chef takes pride in serving only the freshest daily catch—spiced grilled shrimp, linguine with tiny calamari, whole grilled sea bass—all with a welcome panache. Chicken breasts stuffed with herbs and honey, zucchini fritters, and tender marinated lamb are some of the other house specialties, served with crusty, locally made bread—and all for a shockingly reasonable price.