Vila 31

We received extraordinary hospitality at this charming, home-style dining establishment. It was challenging to find, as the restaurant's entrance is set back from the road (see photo which illustrates). It's as though you are going into the back entrance to someone's home (which, essentially, you are). Unbeknownst to us, we arrived 45 minutes before the restaurant was officially open. Not wanting to impose, we offered to return later, but we were kindly assured it was no problem. The day's menu's hadn't been printed yet, but an English speaking member of the team graciously offered examples of what they had available. In learning that we are vegetarian, they enthusiastically offered to bring us a selection of their vegetarian selections. We were treated to a delicious array of local cheeses, perfectly grilled vegetables, salads, and yogurt. The ambiance feels as though you are have traveled back in time to a family member's home. The central fireplace was crackling with fresh wood, bringing comfortable warmth to a chilly night. We highly recommend this restaurant for their service, the ambiance, and especially the delicious traditional Albanian food!

Nice lunch of Albanian traditional Tave dish in the pleasant garden. Water was pleasant and helpful in English. The place was hard to find because it is off the main street of Kavalje. The Tirana tourist guide book helped us find it. This book rated it tops in the city. We would not go thst far although it was good.

My wife and I had an absolutely outstanding experience tonight at Vila 31. We were looking for a traditional Albanian restaurant, and found this restaurant on Google Maps. We actually arrived early - 6:30 pm (18:30): the restaurant was not open. However, the staff couldn't have been nicer. They let us sit down and explained - in English, mind you - that while they have not created the menu for the evening, they were more than happy to serve us. They took our dietary preferences of being vegetarians into account, and curated a fantastic and delishous meal. It was also affordable. The restaurant had a lovely ambiance: the circular fire place provided a romantic and warm atmosphere. It was a little harder to find, but a must if you are in Tirana. We cannot say enough good things about Vila 31. The food was great, and the service set it apart from everywhere else in the city. :)