Coba Rooftop & Restaurant is the bar locals send you when "the beach clubs are too much, but I still want a real cocktail." It is built into the upper floor of a Himara town-center building — a clean, restrained terrace with deep-house music piped at conversation level, a proper cocktail program, and a view across the bay that captures the sunset just right. With 110+ reviews averaging 4.5 stars, it has been quietly carving a niche between the high-energy beach clubs of Dhermi and the laid-back tavernas on the Spile waterfront.
This is a review, not a placement on a list — what to actually order, what you will spend, and the practical issues (the music style is specific, the dress code is loose-but-aware) that the reviews leave out.
Quick Take
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Type | Rooftop cocktail bar with restaurant menu |
| Location | Himara town center (rooftop access via the building) |
| Coordinates | 40.1007, 19.7468 |
| Music | Deep house, slow electronic, ambient |
| Price range | Cocktails ~1,000 ALL (€10) |
| Best for | Pre-dinner drinks, sunset viewing, slow late evenings |
| Atmosphere | Restrained, no flashy lighting, conversation-level music |
| Dress | Smart-casual; no shorts-and-flip-flops if you want a good table |
| Website | coba.al |
| Rating | 4.5 (110+ reviews) |
| Cash or card | Both accepted |
What Coba Is Not
Two expectations to set.
It is not a beach club. If you want sand-floor dancing, swimsuit dress code, and high-energy daytime DJ sets, Mumbas in Dhermi and the Dhermi beach clubs are the comparable scene. Coba is a rooftop bar — you sit, drink, talk, watch the sun set, and let deep house carry the room.
It is not a late-night club. The vibe is sunset-into-evening, peaking around 9-10:30 PM. By midnight Coba is a slower, conversation-focused space. If you want a 2 AM dance floor, Rescue at the Beach on the sand or the Dhermi club scene is what you want — see our Himara nightlife guide for the late-night map.
What to Order
The cocktail list runs the international classics with a few house signatures. The kitchen menu (the "& Restaurant" half of the name) is competent but not the headline — most regulars come for drinks and a small plate, then go elsewhere for dinner.
The cocktails worth ordering
- Negroni — well-made, balanced, served in proper stemware. Around 1,000 ALL.
- Old Fashioned — Albanian raki-based variations occasionally appear; ask the bartender.
- Aperol spritz — what most tables order at sunset. 800-1,000 ALL.
- House signatures — rotate seasonally; ask the bar what's on this week.
- Albanian wine by the glass — the list is short but well-chosen. See our Albanian wine guide for what to look for.
The food
The kitchen does small plates, sharing boards, and a few mains. Reviews praise the food but rarely call it standout. Treat it as a "we're staying for dinner because the view is worth it" decision rather than a "we came specifically for the food" one.
- Mezze sharing board — olives, cheese, cured meat. 1,500-1,800 ALL.
- Burrata or caprese when in season. 1,200-1,500 ALL.
- Tuna tartare or carpaccio when on the menu. 1,800-2,200 ALL.
What to skip
- The mojito-style sweet cocktails. The bar's strength is classics and amari-driven drinks.
- Heavy mains. The kitchen's pasta and grill plates are fine but you can do better at Bocca on the main street or ELEA up the hill.
What It Costs (May 2026)
Two people, drinks only: two cocktails each plus water — roughly 3,500-4,500 ALL (€35-45) total. With a sharing plate added: 5,500-6,500 ALL (€55-65).
By Himara town-center standards, this is upper-mid pricing. Cocktails at 1,000 ALL each are about 30-40% above casual-bar pricing in town but match the cost level you would find at any decent rooftop bar in southern Europe. You are paying for the view, the bar program, and the room — fair, in our reading.
When to Go
- Sunset window (7:00-9:00 PM in summer) — the room peaks here. Get a terrace table 30-45 minutes before sundown to claim a good spot.
- 9:30-11:00 PM — the deep-house programming hits its rhythm. Dinner-finishing crowds drift in. Best vibe for slow drinks.
- Avoid 11:30 PM onward if you want energy — the bar slows down and conversations dominate.
Coba operates seasonally — typically May through October. Spring evenings are the calmest, with the sea breeze that the August crowd dilutes.
Getting There
Coba is in the heart of Himara town center, a short walk from anywhere central:
- From Spile beach — 8-10 minutes uphill on foot.
- From the bus station — 5 minutes on foot.
- From the castle / old town — 15 minutes downhill.
- From outlying hotels — 5-7 minutes by taxi, 300-500 ALL one way.
Rooftop access is via the building's stair/elevator. The entrance is signposted from the main street. If you are coming from outside Himara, see the drive times matrix for transit times.
Verdict
8.0 / 10. Coba earns its 4.5 rating because it does one specific thing well — restrained, music-led rooftop drinking with a real cocktail program and a real view. The kitchen and the late-night energy are the weaker halves; the bar and the sunset window are why people return. The price is fair for what is genuinely the most sophisticated rooftop in Himara town.
Who it's for: travelers who want an actual cocktail before dinner, couples on a sunset evening, anyone who finds beach-club volume exhausting and wants conversation-level music with a view.
Who it's not for: dance-floor seekers, anyone wanting a full dinner experience (the kitchen is the weakest part), or visitors hoping for a beach-bar vibe — see Manolo Beach Bar for that.
FAQ
Where is Coba Rooftop in Himara?
Coba is on the rooftop of a building in Himara town center, easily walkable from anywhere central. Coordinates: 40.1007, 19.7468. It is signposted from the main street; access is via the building stair or elevator.
What kind of music does Coba Rooftop play?
Deep house, slow electronic, and ambient. The volume is conversation-level — loud enough to set the mood but not loud enough to require shouting. It is intentionally not a club-music environment.
How much do cocktails cost at Coba Rooftop?
Cocktails are around 1,000 ALL (€10) each, putting Coba at the upper-mid pricing tier for Himara. Wine by the glass and beer are cheaper. Two people for drinks-only typically spend €35-45.
Do I need to dress up for Coba Rooftop?
The dress code is smart-casual rather than strict. Beachwear and flip-flops are out of place; jeans, a clean t-shirt, and sneakers are fine. Sunset terrace tables fill up fast — if you want one, arrive 30-45 minutes before sundown.
Is Coba Rooftop open year-round?
No, Coba operates seasonally — typically May through October. Outside that window the rooftop is closed. Confirm via coba.al before traveling in shoulder months.
For the wider Himara nightlife picture, see our nightlife guide, the Himara beach bars by vibe breakdown, and the Dhermi nightlife guide for the more high-energy alternative just up the coast.
