Himara food budget reality: you can eat well here for 15-20 EUR a day, or spend 60-80 EUR on seafood dinners and cocktails without feeling ripped off. Himara (Greek: Χειμάρρα, Albanian: Himarë) is one of the most affordable coastal towns in the Mediterranean for eating out. A full grilled fish dinner with salad and wine costs 1,500-2,500 ALL (15-25 EUR) per person. A byrek from a bakery costs 100 ALL (1 EUR). An espresso is 100-150 ALL. Even after price increases across the Albanian Riviera in 2024-2025, Himara remains roughly half the price of the Greek islands and a third of Croatia.
The currency is the Albanian lek (ALL). The easiest conversion: 1 EUR = roughly 100 ALL. Euros are widely accepted but you'll get better value paying in lek. For details on ATMs and payment, see our money and ATM guide.
TL;DR: Daily Food Budget
| Tier | Daily Food Spend | What That Gets You |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 1,500-2,000 ALL (15-20 EUR) | Byrek breakfast, gyro lunch, simple restaurant dinner, coffee |
| Mid-range | 3,000-4,500 ALL (30-45 EUR) | Cafe breakfast, restaurant lunch with beer, seafood dinner with wine |
| Splurge | 6,000-8,000 ALL (60-80 EUR) | Brunch, cocktails, fine dining seafood, wine pairings |
These are per-person totals for food and drinks only. For the full picture including accommodation, transport, and activities, see our Himara on a budget guide.
Breakfast Costs
Most hotels include breakfast in the room rate. If yours doesn't, or you want to eat out, here's what to expect.
Bakery Breakfast (100-300 ALL / 1-3 EUR)
The cheapest and most Albanian option. Walk into any bakery (furre buke) and grab a byrek — flaky phyllo pastry filled with cheese (djath), spinach (spinaq), or ground meat (mish). A byrek costs 50-100 ALL. Add a cup of drinking yogurt (kos) for 50-100 ALL and you've eaten for under 200 ALL (2 EUR). Petulla (fried dough fritters with powdered sugar) are another morning staple at 100-150 ALL.
Cafe Breakfast (300-600 ALL / 3-6 EUR)
An espresso or macchiato runs 100-150 ALL at any cafe in town. A cappuccino is 150-200 ALL. Pair it with a pastry or toast and you're at 300-400 ALL. Kafe Pasticeri 1928 is the historic choice — trilece (Albanian tres leches cake) with coffee is 350-500 ALL and genuinely filling.
Brunch Spot (500-1,200 ALL / 5-12 EUR)
Astro Brunch is the main sit-down breakfast option. Egg plates, pancakes, and fresh juice run 500-800 ALL per item. A full brunch with coffee costs 800-1,200 ALL per person. Worth it once, but not a daily budget play.
Lunch Costs
Lunch is where Himara delivers the best value. Portions are generous and prices haven't caught up with dinner menus.
Street Food Lunch (300-600 ALL / 3-6 EUR)
Sufllaqe — the Albanian gyro — is your best budget lunch. Grilled meat, vegetables, tzatziki, and fries wrapped in flatbread for 300-500 ALL. Brothers Grill, rated 4.9 stars, does some of the best in town. A whole pizza from Pizzeria Napoli runs 500-800 ALL. Qofte (grilled meatballs) with bread and a side salad cost 400-600 ALL at most casual spots.
Casual Restaurant Lunch (800-1,500 ALL / 8-15 EUR)
A sit-down lunch at a beachside restaurant — pasta, grilled meat, or a salad with a beer — runs 800-1,500 ALL. The Jester's Taverna on Livadhi Beach is a solid choice here: average meal 800-2,000 ALL with views of the bay. Lunch menus tend to be 20-30% cheaper than the same dishes at dinner, and restaurants are less crowded.
Seafood Lunch (1,200-2,000 ALL / 12-20 EUR)
Ordering grilled fish or octopus at lunch is a smart move. Same quality, less markup. A whole grilled branzino or dorado at Taverna Lefteri runs 1,000-1,500 ALL. Add a Greek salad (400-500 ALL) and bread (free at most places) and you've had a proper seafood meal for under 2,000 ALL.
Dinner Costs
Dinner is the main event in Himara. The promenade along Spile Beach fills up after 8 PM, and most restaurants are at their best in the evening.
Mid-Range Dinner (1,200-2,500 ALL / 12-25 EUR per person)
The sweet spot. A main course at most promenade restaurants runs 800-1,500 ALL. Add a starter (400-600 ALL), a beer or glass of wine (200-400 ALL), and you're at 1,500-2,500 ALL per person. Taverna Lefteri averages 1,200-2,500 ALL per person for seafood. Bocca Restaurant does creative Mediterranean mains in the same range.
Seafood Dinner (2,000-3,500 ALL / 20-35 EUR per person)
For a proper seafood spread — grilled octopus starter, whole fish main, salad, and a carafe of wine — expect 2,000-3,500 ALL per person. LaMer Restaurant has a perfect 5.0 rating and averages 1,500-3,000 ALL per person. Taverna Velco in Potam is family-run, quieter, and slightly cheaper with equally excellent fish. A dinner for two with wine at either spot typically runs 4,000-6,000 ALL (40-60 EUR).
Splurge Dinner (3,000-5,000 ALL / 30-50 EUR per person)
Tramonto Ristorante offers cliff-edge sunset dining with upscale seafood and wine. Restaurant Himara 28 is another higher-end option. A three-course dinner with a good bottle of wine runs 3,000-5,000 ALL per person. Even at the top end, a splurge dinner for two rarely exceeds 10,000 ALL (100 EUR) — a fraction of what you'd spend in Dubrovnik or Santorini.
Drinks and Coffee Prices
Albanians take their coffee seriously and their prices casually. Drinking is cheap.
| Drink | Price (ALL) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 100-150 ALL | 1-1.50 EUR |
| Macchiato | 100-150 ALL | 1-1.50 EUR |
| Cappuccino | 150-200 ALL | 1.50-2 EUR |
| Freddo espresso (iced) | 200-250 ALL | 2-2.50 EUR |
| Beer (Korce or Tirana, draft) | 200-300 ALL | 2-3 EUR |
| Beer (imported/craft) | 300-500 ALL | 3-5 EUR |
| Cocktail | 500-800 ALL | 5-8 EUR |
| Glass of house wine | 200-400 ALL | 2-4 EUR |
| Bottle of Albanian wine | 800-1,500 ALL | 8-15 EUR |
| Raki (shot, often free) | 0-150 ALL | 0-1.50 EUR |
| Soft drink / juice | 150-250 ALL | 1.50-2.50 EUR |
| Water (500ml, from shop) | 50-80 ALL | 0.50-0.80 EUR |
Raki — the Albanian grape brandy — is often served free after a meal at traditional tavernas. Don't refuse it. Beer is dominated by local brands Korce and Tirana, both solid lagers at 200-300 ALL on draft. Obelix Beer N' Burger is the go-to for craft beer and casual drinks. Cocktails at beach bars like Manolo Beach Bar run 500-800 ALL — roughly half the price of a cocktail in Barcelona.
Grocery and Self-Catering Prices
If you're staying in an apartment with a kitchen, self-catering can cut your food bill in half. Himara has several mini-markets in the town center. For a full rundown of where to shop, see our grocery and pharmacy guide.
| Item | Price (ALL) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Bread (loaf) | 100-150 ALL | 1-1.50 EUR |
| Eggs (6) | 150-200 ALL | 1.50-2 EUR |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | 100-200 ALL | 1-2 EUR |
| Cucumbers (1 kg) | 80-150 ALL | 0.80-1.50 EUR |
| Local white cheese (feta-style, 500g) | 250-400 ALL | 2.50-4 EUR |
| Olive oil (1L, local) | 600-1,000 ALL | 6-10 EUR |
| Watermelon (whole, in season) | 200-400 ALL | 2-4 EUR |
| Milk (1L) | 150-200 ALL | 1.50-2 EUR |
| Pasta (500g) | 100-150 ALL | 1-1.50 EUR |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | 50-100 ALL | 0.50-1 EUR |
| Beer (500ml can, shop) | 100-200 ALL | 1-2 EUR |
| Wine (bottle, Albanian) | 400-800 ALL | 4-8 EUR |
Fruit and vegetables are cheap and excellent in summer — local tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and stone fruit are at peak quality from June through September. Albanian olive oil from the Riviera region is genuinely world-class and a fraction of the price you'd pay for Italian oil.
Complete Price Comparison Table
| Item | Price (ALL) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Byrek (bakery) | 50-100 ALL | 0.50-1 EUR |
| Espresso | 100-150 ALL | 1-1.50 EUR |
| Gyro / sufllaqe | 300-500 ALL | 3-5 EUR |
| Pizza (whole) | 500-800 ALL | 5-8 EUR |
| Restaurant main course | 800-1,500 ALL | 8-15 EUR |
| Grilled fish (whole) | 1,000-1,500 ALL | 10-15 EUR |
| Grilled octopus | 800-1,200 ALL | 8-12 EUR |
| Seafood platter | 1,200-2,000 ALL | 12-20 EUR |
| Fine dining main | 2,000-3,000 ALL | 20-30 EUR |
| Beer (draft, at bar) | 200-300 ALL | 2-3 EUR |
| Cocktail | 500-800 ALL | 5-8 EUR |
| Glass of wine | 200-400 ALL | 2-4 EUR |
| Gelato (1 scoop) | 150-250 ALL | 1.50-2.50 EUR |
| Bottle of water (shop) | 50-80 ALL | 0.50-0.80 EUR |
Daily Budget Breakdown: Three Tiers
Budget: 1,500-2,000 ALL (15-20 EUR/day)
- Breakfast: Byrek + yogurt from bakery — 150 ALL
- Coffee: Espresso at a cafe — 100 ALL
- Lunch: Gyro from Brothers Grill — 400 ALL
- Afternoon: Gelato — 200 ALL
- Dinner: Pasta or grilled meat at a casual restaurant — 800 ALL
- Drink: One beer — 250 ALL
- Total: ~1,900 ALL (19 EUR)
This is comfortable, not miserable. You're eating real meals at real restaurants, just skipping the seafood splurges and cocktails.
Mid-Range: 3,000-4,500 ALL (30-45 EUR/day)
- Breakfast: Cafe eggs and toast + cappuccino — 500 ALL
- Lunch: Grilled fish with salad at Taverna Lefteri + beer — 1,800 ALL
- Afternoon: Coffee — 150 ALL
- Dinner: Two-course dinner at Bocca or Jester's Taverna + wine — 2,000 ALL
- Total: ~4,450 ALL (44 EUR)
The sweet spot for most travelers. You eat seafood regularly, drink wine with dinner, and don't think twice about ordering dessert.
Splurge: 6,000-8,000 ALL (60-80 EUR/day)
- Brunch: Full brunch at Astro Brunch with juice — 1,200 ALL
- Afternoon: Cocktail at Manolo Beach Bar — 700 ALL
- Dinner: Three-course seafood dinner at LaMer with bottle of wine — 5,000 ALL
- After dinner: Raki or digestif — 200 ALL
- Total: ~7,100 ALL (71 EUR)
This is the luxury tier by Himara standards, and it's still under 80 EUR. You'd pay this for a single main course at a waterfront restaurant in Mykonos. For more context on where this fits in the overall trip budget, see our full Himara on a budget breakdown.
Money-Saving Tips
Eat your big meal at lunch. Many restaurants serve the same dishes at lunch and dinner, but lunch portions at beachside spots are just as generous with shorter waits and a more relaxed atmosphere. A seafood lunch at Taverna Lefteri runs 1,200-1,800 ALL; the same meal at dinner is 1,500-2,500 ALL.
Start mornings at the bakery. A byrek and a yogurt for 150 ALL is the most cost-effective breakfast in town. Save cafe breakfasts for when you actually want to sit and linger.
Drink local. Korce beer on draft (200-250 ALL) costs half the price of imported bottles. Albanian wine is good and cheap — 200-400 ALL by the glass versus 500+ for anything Italian. Raki after dinner is almost always complimentary at traditional tavernas.
Buy fruit from mini-markets. Summer fruit — watermelon, peaches, figs — is absurdly cheap and excellent. A whole watermelon for 300 ALL beats a 200 ALL gelato for afternoon snacking.
Skip the tourist-facing restaurants directly on the promenade. Places one street back or in the Potam area — like Taverna Velco or Lui Potam — tend to be 10-20% cheaper with equal or better quality. The best food in Himara isn't always at the most visible spot.
Tap water is safe to drink in Himara. Some restaurants will bring bottled water automatically — ask for tap (uje te rubineti) if you want to skip the 100-200 ALL charge. Not every restaurant will oblige, but many will.
Book apartments with kitchens. Self-catering breakfast and lunch while eating dinner out drops daily food costs to 1,000-1,500 ALL easily. See our where to stay guide for apartment options.
For more on what dishes to order, see our Albanian food guide and seafood guide. For restaurant-by-restaurant recommendations, see our best restaurants guide and the full restaurant directory. For the full money picture including ATM tips and card acceptance, see our money guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is food expensive in Himara?
No. Himara is one of the cheapest coastal dining destinations in Europe. A full restaurant meal costs 800-1,500 ALL (8-15 EUR) per person. Even a seafood dinner with wine rarely exceeds 3,000 ALL (30 EUR). Prices have risen 15-20% since 2023, but Himara remains roughly half the cost of the Greek islands and significantly cheaper than Croatia or Montenegro.
How much should I budget for food per day in Himara?
Budget travelers can eat well on 1,500-2,000 ALL (15-20 EUR) per day. Mid-range spending of 3,000-4,500 ALL (30-45 EUR) covers restaurant meals with seafood and wine. Even splurging on fine dining and cocktails, it's hard to spend more than 8,000 ALL (80 EUR) per day on food alone.
Should I pay in lek or euros at restaurants?
Pay in lek whenever possible. Restaurants that accept euros typically use a round conversion (100 ALL = 1 EUR) or slightly worse. Withdrawing lek from an ATM in town gets you the real exchange rate. For card acceptance details, see our money guide.
Do I need to tip in Himara restaurants?
Tipping is not expected in Albania. Service charge is not added to bills. If you had genuinely good service, leaving 5-10% is appreciated but entirely optional. Nobody will chase you down or give you a look for not tipping.
Are restaurant prices higher in peak season?
Some restaurants raise prices 10-15% in July and August compared to June and September. The difference isn't dramatic, but it exists. Drink prices at beach bars show the biggest seasonal markup. Visiting in June or September gets you the same food quality at slightly lower prices and much smaller crowds.
