I get this question more often than you might think.
Usually not from tourists — they already know the answer halfway through their first meal — but from clients who are considering buying property here. They ask it casually, almost as an afterthought. “By the way… how’s the food in Albania?”
I usually smile.
Because if you’re coming to Saranda, Ksamil, or anywhere along the Albanian Riviera, food quietly becomes part of your decision whether you want it to or not.
And yes. Albanian food is not just good.
It’s comforting, generous, seasonal, and deeply tied to how we live here.
A Mediterranean Cuisine With Its Own Personality
Let’s start with the obvious.
Southern Albania sits right on the Ionian Sea. Our food reflects that. Fresh fish, olive oil, vegetables that actually taste like vegetables, grilled meats, herbs, lemons, tomatoes warmed by the sun.
People often describe Albanian cuisine as a mix of Italian and Greek food. That’s not wrong. But it’s also incomplete.
Yes, we share influences — pasta, seafood, grilled dishes, olive oil everywhere. But Albanian food has its own rhythm. It’s heavier in some places, simpler in others, and always made to be shared.
Meals here are not rushed.
You don’t “grab something quick” the way you might elsewhere. Even a simple lunch turns into a table full of plates.
The Dishes You Have to Try
If you spend any real time here, there are certain dishes that will keep coming back to your table whether you order them or not.
Tavë kosi is one of them.
Baked lamb with rice and yogurt, slightly tangy, warm, filling. It’s one of those dishes that doesn’t photograph particularly well, but once you taste it, you understand why Albanians are proud of it.
Speca të mbushura — stuffed peppers — are another favorite.
Usually filled with rice, herbs, sometimes meat, slow-cooked until everything melts together. It’s simple food, but done right, it’s perfect.
And then there’s byrek.
Everyone talks about byrek. Spinach, cheese, meat. Crispy on the outside, soft inside. You’ll find it in bakeries, small shops, homes. Some of the best byrek I’ve ever eaten wasn’t from a restaurant at all, but from a woman selling it early in the morning near the Saranda market. Still warm. Wrapped in paper.
These dishes are not trends.
They’ve been around forever. And they’re still here because they work.
Food, Property Viewings, and Real Life
I’ll tell you something that doesn’t make it into brochures.
A lot of property decisions here are influenced by food — indirectly, but very real.
Just recently, I was showing a client apartments in Ksamil. We finished the viewing, and instead of rushing to the next one, we stopped at a small family-run place nearby. No sign. No Instagram page. Just a few tables and the smell of grilled fish.
They ordered seafood pasta, fresh salad, local wine.
Halfway through the meal, the conversation shifted. Suddenly the apartment wasn’t just an investment. It was a place to come back to.
That’s how it usually happens.
Local Spots You Won’t Find Online
Tourists often stick to places they see online. Locals don’t.
There’s a small restaurant just above the Saranda promenade, a bit away from the noise, where the owner still brings you extra salad without asking. Or a spot near Ksamil where they serve grilled octopus the same way every summer, and they’ve never felt the need to change it.
In Borsh, if you drive a few minutes inland from the beach, there’s a place where lunch starts whenever the food is ready — not when the menu says so. It’s places like these that clients remember long after the property viewing is over.
And these moments matter when people start looking seriously at Saranda apartments for sale or seaview apartments along the coast.
Why Food and Real Estate Are More Connected Than You Think
Here’s a small tangent — but it matters.
When people buy property abroad, they’re not just buying walls and square meters. They’re buying a lifestyle.
Food is a big part of that lifestyle.
In Saranda and Ksamil, food supports daily life in a very natural way. You eat better without trying. You spend less without sacrificing quality. Fresh fish is cheaper than imported frozen meat. Local vegetables are everywhere.
That’s one of the reasons why this region still offers affordable properties compared to the rest of the Mediterranean — not because it lacks quality, but because life here is still honest.
Quiet Luxury, On the Plate and at Home
I see the same philosophy reflected in the properties people choose.
Some clients fall in love with quiet, refined places — modern, calm, close to the sea, but not flashy. The same way they prefer a small restaurant with perfect food over a loud, trendy one.
That’s why a brand-new 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil, finished in summer 2025, with a shared private pool for residents, in a quiet new neighborhood, just seven minutes from the beach, resonates with the right buyer.
It’s the kind of place you imagine returning to after dinner. Not showing off — just living well.
(If you’re curious, this is one of those homes you notice quietly:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/modern-1-bedroom-apartment-in-ksamil-62m2)
The same goes for seaview apartments in Saranda — especially in calm areas like Skënderbeu Street. A fully furnished 1+1 apartment, private pool, uninterrupted sea view. Safe, peaceful, well-built.
You can live there comfortably, or rent it out. Both make sense.
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-skenderbeu-street-fully-furnished
Ksamil: Where Food, Beach, and Property Meet
Ksamil deserves special mention.
Not just for the beaches, but for how compact everything is. You can walk to the sea, walk to dinner, walk back home. That’s rare.
In places like White Residence, where new buildings were finished in summer 2025, residents share a private pool, enjoy quiet surroundings, and still reach the beach in under ten minutes.
There’s a balance there that people appreciate — especially families or investors looking for long-term value.
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-ksamil-65m2
And for those who want more space, more privacy, and higher returns, the new luxury duplexes in Ksamil offer something special. Two swimming pools — one private, one shared — underground parking, security, privacy, and just 300 meters from the beach and the center.
They’re not loud about it, but the ROI can reach up to 16% per year.
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2
A Bigger Table, A Slower Life
One thing you’ll notice quickly in Albania: people eat together.
Meals stretch. Conversations wander. Coffee comes after food, not instead of it.
It’s common for a neighbor to invite you over unexpectedly. Or for lunch to turn into dinner. These habits shape how people feel about living here.
I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast.
Not just because of beachfront property prices or sea views — but because daily life here still feels human.
Final Thought
So, is Albanian food good?
Yes.
But more importantly, it fits the way life works here.
It’s honest food, shared slowly, in places that don’t try too hard. Just like the best properties in the south of Albania — calm, well-built, quietly valuable.
And once you experience that combination — food, sea, community — it’s very hard not to imagine yourself staying a little longer.
