Himara has the best food on the Albanian Riviera. The Greek-Albanian culinary tradition here produces grilled seafood, fresh salads, hearty taverna cooking, and street food that's better than what you'll find in Saranda or Ksamil — at lower prices. A full dinner for two with wine rarely exceeds 5,000 lek (50€). Here's where to eat.
Quick Picks
| Craving | Go To | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall dinner | Taverna Lefteri | Moderate | Waterfront seafood, grilled octopus |
| Best fine dining | LaMer Restaurant | Moderate-Upscale | Perfect 5.0 rating, fresh fish |
| Best street food | Brothers Grill | Budget | 4.9 stars, gyros and grilled meats |
| Best brunch | Astro Brunch | Moderate | Breakfast plates, cocktails |
| Best pizza | Pizzeria Napoli | Budget | Neapolitan pizza, 4.8 stars |
| Best views | Tramonto Ristorante | Moderate-Upscale | Cliff-edge sunset dining |
| Best historic cafe | Kafe Pasticeri 1928 | Budget | ~100 years old, trilece and baklava |
| Best beachfront | The Jester's Taverna | Moderate | Right on Livadhi Beach |
Seafood Tavernas
This is what Himara does best. The Greek-Albanian taverna tradition means grilled fish, octopus, calamari, and mezze platters served with views of the Ionian Sea. Most of these places get their fish from local boats.
Taverna Lefteri
Rating: 4.5 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: Spile Beach waterfront
The quintessential Himara meal. Lefteri sits right on the water at Spile Beach with a deck that practically hangs over the sea. The grilled octopus is the signature dish — tender, charred, and served with lemon and olive oil. Order the Greek salad, fresh grilled fish of the day, and a carafe of house wine. A meal for two runs about 3,000-4,000 lek (30€-40).
Order this: Grilled octopus, daily catch, horiatiki salad.
LaMer Restaurant
Rating: 5.0 stars | Price: Moderate-Upscale | Location: Rruga Vangjel Zoto
A perfect rating is rare, and LaMer earns it. The seafood is impeccable — the owner selects the fish daily — and Italian influences add finesse to the Albanian-Mediterranean cooking. Expect to spend 2,000-2,500 ALL per person. Reservations recommended in July-August.
Order this: Chef's fish selection, seafood risotto.
Taverna Velco
Rating: 4.9 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: Potam
Family-run, Greek-leaning, and quietly excellent. Velco doesn't get the foot traffic of the promenade restaurants, which means more attention to each table. The grilled fish and Greek-style preparations are outstanding. Feels like eating at a Greek island taverna.
Order this: Grilled fish, tzatziki, grilled vegetables.
Lui Potam
Rating: 4.8 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: Potam Beach
The fish here is exceptionally fresh — some of the best on the coast. Potam Beach location keeps it slightly off the tourist radar. Simple preparations that let the quality of the ingredients speak.
Order this: Whatever the fisherman brought in today.
Merluc Fish Shop
Rating: 4.4 stars | Price: Budget-Moderate | Location: Spile
The owner catches the fish himself. That's the whole pitch, and it's a good one. No pretension, just extremely fresh seafood at fair prices. Cash only.
Order this: Daily catch, fried calamari.
Mediterranean & European
Bocca Restaurant
Rating: 4.8 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: Main Street
European-Albanian fusion that works. Bocca stands out for doing something slightly different from the taverna norm without losing the local character. Good wine list, creative presentations, quality ingredients.
Order this: Daily specials — they change frequently.
Restaurant Himara 28
Rating: 4.4 stars | Price: Moderate-Upscale | Location: Promenade
Mediterranean-Albanian cooking with careful attention to sourcing and presentation. The promenade location is prime for people-watching over dinner.
Order this: Seafood platter, lamb dishes.
ELEA Restaurant
Rating: 4.7 stars | Price: Moderate-Upscale | Location: SH8
Greek-Mediterranean cooking with a modern edge. ELEA leans into the Greek side of Himara's dual culinary identity with refined takes on classic dishes.
Order this: Grilled octopus, Greek-style lamb.
Soren Restaurant
Rating: 4.5 stars | Price: Moderate-Upscale | Location: Spile/Potam
Run by a chef from Hell's Kitchen Albania. Fish and Italian pasta are the strengths. Higher-end for Himara but the cooking justifies it.
Order this: Pasta dishes, fresh fish.
Fig and Olive Bistro
Rating: 4.8 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: Livadh Road
Seasonal menu with a focus on European-style seafood. The name gives away the Mediterranean sensibility. Only open in season — check if they're serving before you trek out.
Order this: Seasonal specials, seafood.
With a View
Tramonto Ristorante
Rating: 4.5 stars | Price: Moderate-Upscale | Location: Cliff-edge
The name means "sunset" in Italian, and the cliff-edge location delivers exactly that. Book a table for golden hour and you'll understand why people come here for the setting as much as the food. Mediterranean menu, around 3,000 ALL per meal.
Order this: Anything, but time your reservation for sunset.
Arxontiko Restaurant
Rating: 4.8 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: SH8 hilltop
Panoramic views from the hilltop position. Greek-Albanian cooking with generous portions. Cash only. Worth the drive up for the views alone.
Order this: Mixed grill, grilled vegetables, local wine.
Cafe Butterfly
Rating: Budget | Location: Castle walls
Coffee and light food with castle-wall views overlooking the coast. Not a full restaurant, but the panoramic setting makes it worth a stop during an Old Town walk.
Pizza & Italian
Pizzeria Napoli
Rating: 4.8 stars | Price: Budget | Location: Himara center
Real Neapolitan pizza in a small Albanian beach town. The dough is right, the toppings are fresh, and the price is hard to beat. Best quick meal in Himara.
Order this: Margherita or Napoli.
Piazza Restaurant
Rating: 4.5 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: SH8 center
Wood-fired pizza, pasta, and seafood. A solid all-rounder when your group can't agree on a cuisine. The pizza competes with Napoli for best in town.
Order this: Wood-fired pizza, seafood pasta.
Enigma Pizzeria
Rating: 4.2 stars | Price: Budget | Location: Promenade
Basic Italian pizza on the promenade. Not the best, but convenient and cheap. Good for a quick bite between beach sessions.
Street Food & Quick Bites
Brothers Grill
Rating: 4.9 stars | Price: Budget | Location: Himara center
The highest-rated street food in Himara. Gyros, souvlaki, and grilled meats done to perfection. Under 500 lek for a filling meal. There's almost always a line, and it moves fast.
Order this: Gyros wrap, mixed grill plate.
I Love Souvlaki
Rating: 4.5 stars | Price: Budget | Location: SH8
Solid souvlaki wraps. Hits the spot after a beach day when you want something quick and satisfying. Not fancy, not trying to be.
Order this: Souvlaki wrap with everything.
Obelix Beer N' Burger
Rating: 4.7 stars | Price: Budget-Moderate | Location: Spile beachfront
Craft burgers and draft beer right on the beach. The burger game is strong — proper patties, good buns, creative toppings. Best non-Mediterranean option in town.
Order this: Signature burger, draft beer.
Happy Crepes
Rating: 5.0 stars | Price: Budget | Location: Waterfront
Perfect-rated and deserving. Sweet and savory crepes on the waterfront. The Nutella-banana crepe is lethal. Great for a dessert walk.
Order this: Nutella-banana crepe, savory ham and cheese.
Iceland Gelato
Rating: 4.8 stars | Price: Budget | Location: Spile, SH8
Artisanal gelato with rotating flavors. The pistachio is the standout. Perfect post-beach stop.
Brunch & Cafes
Astro Brunch
Rating: 4.8 stars | Price: Moderate | Location: Potam
The best breakfast in Himara. Proper brunch plates, good coffee, cocktails if you're feeling it. A morning here sets up the whole day.
Order this: Full breakfast plate, fresh juice.
Tonea's Brunch
Rating: Budget-Moderate | Location: Livadhi Beach
Fluffy pancakes, smoothie bowls, and beach-adjacent vibes. Livadhi Beach location means you can roll from brunch to the beach in 30 seconds.
Order this: Pancakes, smoothie bowl.
Kafe Pasticeri 1928
Rating: Budget | Location: Town center
Nearly a century old and still the best pastry shop in town. Trilece (Albanian tres leches), baklava, and strong coffee in a setting that hasn't changed much in decades. This is where locals start their morning.
Order this: Trilece, Turkish coffee.
Anemone
Rating: Budget-Moderate | Location: Spile
Laid-back cafe with quality coffee. Popular with digital nomads who camp out with laptops. Good WiFi, relaxed atmosphere, nothing rushed.
Greek-Albanian Taverna Cooking
The Greek influence in Himara runs deep. Many locals are bilingual, and the food reflects it.
Guma Restorant
Rating: 4.7 stars | Price: Budget-Moderate | Location: Promenade
Greek-Albanian home cooking at fair prices. Guma is the kind of place where the portions are generous, the flavors are honest, and the bill is a pleasant surprise. Good for families.
To Steki sti Gonia
Rating: 4.6 stars | Price: Budget-Moderate | Location: Spile promenade
The name is Greek — "the corner spot" — and the food is too. Greek grill, straightforward and well-executed. Cash only.
Taverna Pirosia
Rating: 4.7 stars | Price: Budget-Moderate | Location: SH8 south
Greek cooking with garden-grown produce. Strong vegetarian options. The setting feels more countryside than beach town — quiet, with garden tables.
Price Guide
| Category | Per Person | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 500-1,000 ALL (5€-10) | Street food, pizza, gyros |
| Mid-range | 1,500-2,500 ALL (15€-25) | Full taverna meal with wine |
| Upscale | 3,000-5,000 ALL (30€-50) | Seafood dinner, fine dining |
Tipping: 5-10% is appreciated but not mandatory. Many locals round up to the nearest 100 lek.
Reservations: Only needed at LaMer, Soren, and Tramonto during July-August. Everything else is walk-in.
Cash: Most restaurants are cash-only. A few upscale spots accept cards. Always have lek on hand. See our practical guide for ATM and currency tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Himara?
Taverna Lefteri is the best all-around dining experience — waterfront location, excellent grilled seafood, and fair prices. For the highest-rated food specifically, LaMer and Restaurant Himara 28 both hold perfect 5.0 ratings.
How much does dinner cost in Himara?
A full dinner for two with drinks costs 2,000-5,000 lek (20€-50) depending on the restaurant. Street food runs under 500 lek per person. Himara is roughly 40-60% cheaper than similar quality dining in Greek island towns.
Do I need reservations?
Not usually. In July-August, book ahead at LaMer, Soren, and Tramonto. Everything else is walk-in. Outside peak season, you'll never wait.
Do restaurants accept credit cards?
Most don't. Carry Albanian lek in cash. Some higher-end restaurants accept cards, but don't count on it. See our money tips for details.
What should I try in Himara?
Start with grilled octopus at any seafood taverna. Then: horiatiki (Greek salad), fresh fish of the day (peshku i dites), byrek (savory pastry), tave kosi (baked lamb with yogurt), and trilece (Albanian tres leches) for dessert. End every meal with free raki from the restaurant — it's tradition.
