Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Gjirokastër

The gastronomy of Gjirokastër is an integral part of the local identity, the fruit of a long family tradition. The Gjirokastër audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this generous cuisine, between Ottoman influences and flavours of southern Albania.

The traditional flavours of southern Albania

In Gjirokastër, cuisine is an integral part of the local identity and reflects a long family tradition passed down from generation to generation. Heir to the Ottoman, Mediterranean and Balkan influences, the gastronomy of the region honours the local products, olive oil, vegetables, dairy products and meats. Gjirokastër has its own specialities, like qifqi, small rice balls flavoured with herbs, a pride of the town, or oshaf, a dessert based on figs and sheep's milk. Prepared with care and shared with family, these authentic dishes recount the history and the art of living of the stone town. Tasting the local cuisine is a fine way to discover Gjirokastër.

What to see

Here you savour the specialities of Gjirokastër, heir to the Ottoman and Balkan influences: the qifqi, small rice balls with herbs, the oshaf, a dessert with figs and sheep's milk, and the local products, in a family and authentic cuisine. Gastronomy reveals the identity of the stone town. It is a gourmet stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The gastronomy of Gjirokastër is discovered in the traditional restaurants and taverns of the old town, reachable on foot. The establishments follow their own hours, which vary. It is best to favour seasonal products and local specialities.

What are the specialities of Gjirokastër?

The qifqi, small rice balls flavoured with herbs, a pride of the town, and the oshaf, a dessert based on figs and sheep's milk, as well as the local products, in a cuisine heir to the Ottoman and Balkan influences.

Where to discover the gastronomy of Gjirokastër?

In the traditional restaurants and taverns of the old town of Gjirokastër, in Albania.