Shëtitorja Spile 5 · Himarë · Albania
Finding
Enigma
Number 5 on Shëtitorja Spile — the pedestrian seafront that runs the length of Himarë's town beach. The terrace is under the cream awning, the board hangs over the tables, and the water is a short walk across the paving.
On the paving
- Address
- Shëtitorja Spile 5
- Quarter
- Spile, Himarë 9425
- Region
- Vlorë County, Albania
- Opens
- Daily, from nine in the morning
The walk in
Shëtitorja Spile is a pedestrian promenade, so the last part of the journey is on foot whatever the first part was. Leave the car on the streets behind the seafront and walk out onto the paving; the terraces run in a continuous line, and Enigma's is the one under the cream awning with a hand-painted board hanging over the tables.
The coast road, the SH8, runs through Himarë and the seafront is reached from the centre of town. Coming off the beach instead, walk up the shingle and turn along the promenade — it is the same paving either way.
Several restaurants stand within twenty metres of each other on this stretch. The board is the one to look for.
Spile bay at Himarë — the town the terrace stands in, not the terrace.
Questions
What kind of oven does Enigma use?
A wood-fired masonry dome, built into the wall of the kitchen with its arch and band painted deep red. The fire burns inside the chamber, off to one side, and the pizza bakes in the same space beside it — which is why the base comes out thin and crisp.
Is Enigma only a pizzeria?
No. The board outside reads Restaurant and Pizzeri, in that order, and the kitchen means both. Pizza out of the wood oven is the anchor, but the same kitchen sends out pasta, salads, fish and seafood.
Where is Enigma in Himarë?
On the Spile promenade at number 5 — Shëtitorja Spile, the pedestrian seafront that runs the length of Himarë's town beach. The terrace opens straight onto it, and the water is a short walk across the paving.
When is Enigma open?
Daily from nine in the morning, and late into the night through the season. Himarë is a coastal town and its hours move with the summer, so it is worth a call on the way out of season.
How is Enigma rated?
4.5 out of 5 on Tripadvisor and 4.2 on Google. Reviewers come back to the same things: a thin, crisp base out of the wood oven, generous toppings, and the seafood that goes on top of them.
Can I just walk in at Enigma?
Yes — the terrace takes people off the promenade all day. In high summer the seafront fills from early evening, so arriving before that rush or a little after it is the surer bet for a table under the awning. The telephone is on this page for anyone who would rather ring ahead.
4.5 / 5 on Tripadvisor
4.2 / 5 on Google