If you’re thinking about visiting Shkoder, this guide is everything you need to know for finding the best cafes in Shkoder. I’ll also give you a rundown of what Shkoder nightlife is like and where to find the best nightlife in Shkoder.
Best Cafes In Shkoder Albania
Albanians are known for loving coffee, for most it’s an important daily ritual to partake in. It has a lot to do with participating in community and even doing business deals.
So it makes sense why there are so many cool cafes in Shkoder to try. I didn’t know this before I moved to Shkoder, but there is so much good food in Shkoder!
Many cafes serve light lunch or brunch as well as coffee and tea. If you want a guide to places to do for dinner and such, make sure to check out my guide to the best restaurants in Shkoder too. If you don’t have much time, just check out this Shkoder cafe summary:
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Shkoder Cafe Top Picks
- Best Brunch – Stolia Coffeehouse
- Best Lunch – Dream Food
- Best Sitdown Pasticeri – La Mola
- Best for working online – Stolia / Dream Food
- Best green vibe – Minimal
- Best views – Meridian
Where To Go In Shkoder For Coffee, Brunch & Lunch
Whether with friends, reading, or digitally working in Shkoder, there are some great options! At first glance, you might not think there’s much – I didn’t realize either until I spent more time here.
Trying out lots of places has helped me figure out where to go depending on the vibe and food you want. Here’s a breakdown.
1. Stolia Coffeehouse
Stolia is one of my favorite cafes in Shkoder – they’re just doing everything right. The setting is aesthetic, I always bring my visitors here. Plus, they use high-quality ingredients, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
The servers are so nice and polite (this isn’t always a given here), and if you’re a foreigner, they have menus in English.
Stolia is great if you want a specialty coffee and croissant (but the croissants sell out fast so try to go early morning) or if you want a light brunch because they have light salads, toast combinations, granola and yogurt, etc.
It is really popular here so sometimes they can be busy and there might be a wait time, especially on weekends and mornings.
2. Çoçja Boutique Hotel
Not far away is Cocja, which you can find listed as a boutique hotel online but there is also a cafe. I haven’t been here yet so I can’t speak on quality but it’s aesthetic and the food looks great.
Lots of people like to take IG photos – the courtyard is quite nice and great to enjoy on a sunny day.
3. Nur
Located right on the pedonale area (pedestrian area of the city center), Nur is one of the newer cafes with beautiful decor. It’s on Gjudahol Road, with tables on the side to enjoy the sunshine.
They also have a gorgeous interior for having drinks in case you want to experience Shkoder nightlife.
4. Instant
Just a few steps away on Gjuhadol is another great cafe in Shkoder. Nur has a more modern vibe and Instant has a more traditional rustic charm, plus it’s smaller and more intimate! There are still usually a few tables to sit outside as well.
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5. La Mola
Opposite from Kisha e Madhe (the nickname for the large yellow church), La Mola is another newer cafe with some artsy decor.
Not only is it a good place to people watch, but their desserts are amazing. They have some fancy treats you won’t be able to resist.
6. Cafe Sol
Close to where Kole Idromeno Street ends and where Gjuhadol Street begins is Sol Cafe. They have a wide variety of things here so it’s good stop by if your group might want different things.
You can have coffee and other drinks, desserts, ice cream, as well regular food like paninis and pizzas. They are pretty good and make an affordable lunch.
7. Dream Food
A new cafe at the end of Gjuhadol, near Kisha e Madhe, Dream Food is a combination of cafe and restaurant. It’s in a space with big beautiful wooden windows that provide lots of natural light.
By the windows are large wooden tables that are great for working on your laptop. Both the coffee and food are great – the lunch options are less like brunch and more hardy which is nice if you are quite hungry.
8. Eko Club
Located just off another part of the pedonale on Besnik Syka road, Eko Club is a unique cafe with ecological and ethnographic decor.
With the quirky interior, it makes your morning coffee more fun. You can also try some traditional and bio/organic drinks here.
9. Cliche
Nearby on Nentori road is Cliche, a lunch spot with a wide variety of meals to try. It’s a popular place – an IG hotspot as well. There’s some outside seating surrounded by glass which is nice to enjoy during any weather.
10. Minimal
My friend took me to Minimal a few months ago, otherwise, I’d have no idea it existed. It’s tucked away on a side street, which is nice because it has a chill atmosphere. My favorite is the outdoor seating, in a courtyard style with lots of greenery around.
Looking for places to stay? Check out this review of the 10 best hotels in Shkoder✔️
11. Hotel Chicago Bar
Hotel Chicago has a bar on the top floor of the building, which makes for a great view of the Pedonale, Ebu Bekr mosque, and the surrounding city. You can get coffee, desserts, and cocktails.
12. Hotel Colosseo Bar
You can look out from Chicago Bar and see the Colosseo Bar right across from the other. They are very close to each other, so they have just about the same view and offer similar drinks and desserts.
13. Meridian
Right by the university here in Shkoder, Meridian is another high-rise cafe. It is one of the best cafes in Shkoder simply for the view because it is higher up and more panoramic. It is a little bit out of the way, so it’s normally quiet too.
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14. Arbri Restaurant
If you have access to a car or a bicycle, you can head out of town towards the lake village of Shiroka. On the way, there are many places to stop – my favorite is Arbri Restaurant to have a coffee.
It’s a wonderful place to read a book, birdwatch and enjoy the lake and mountain views. There are some other better places nearby to eat fish if you want a full meal – just head into the actual fishing village, Shiroka.
Guide To Nightlife In Shkoder
Photo by Ergys Shehu
Now, Shkoder is nowhere near the nightlife that you’ll find in Tirana – especially if you come during the winter.
You shouldn’t be too concerned – most people visit in the summer anyway and it is always booming with tourists and Albanians who live abroad coming back for vacation. In general, what you probably know as “clubbing” doesn’t exist here.
It is rare for dancing to happen (like club dancing), even though the setting is exactly for that. If you see people dancing, they are other foreigners most likely.
In Tirana, there are more clubs and it’s more open-minded so you’re more likely to find dancing. Check my list of the best hostels in Tirana and best day trips from Tirana.
In Shkoder, you’ll most likely see men and women sitting in groups separately (there’s not so much mixing in friend groups) or perhaps you’ll see couples.
Mostly people will sit, talk, play on their phones, take IG pictures, and stare at other people (there’s a big staring culture). Here’s a quick overview of the best bars in Shkoder:
My Top Picks For Shkodra Nightlife
- Best cocktails – Manifatura
- Best low-key vibe – Goje Gaditese
- Most alternative vibe – Back Room Shkoder
- Most “club” like in the city centre – Bed Station Bar
- Most “club” like – MAD Summer Club
Best Places For Nightlife In Shkoder
If you walk along the main streets and are looking for nightlife in Shkoder, you will see there is no shortage of places to go for coffee, beer or cocktails.
Here are some of the places that have stood out to me and become my favorite bars in Shkoder.
1. Manifatura
Right on the pedonale across from Cliche, this place is a great new addition to Shkoder. It’s a restaurant and bar based in a renovated textile building that is listed with national historical significance.
Three friends started this place as a dedication to showing Shkoder’s rich cultural heritage. You can get amazing pizza, and I have to emphasize how good the cocktails are.
It’s probably the best I’ve had so far in Shkoder. It’s a nice place to hang out in the evening – sometimes they have live music too.
2. Goje Gaditese
Located on Gjuhadol, Goje Gaditese is a cafe and bar that has trendy decor and a cool vibe. Of course, you can also visit for a coffee, but my favorite is going for a drink in the evening when they have live music or a DJ.
3. Bed Station Bar
Bed Station is a hostel and bar combination. The bar is in a small courtyard area with a stage for when they have DJs, which is usually on weekend nights.
They play house music, so not exactly a club vibe that you might expect but some people might actually dance at the fron near the DJ.
The entrance is right off the Kolë Idromeno street (pedonale). Make sure to check out the best hostels in Shkoder too.
4. Back Room Shkoder
Back Room is a little out of the way but can be fun when they have a DJ. Again it will be house music but there is definitely more dancing usually.
This place has a more alternative vibe compared with the cafes on the pedonale where people sit and star at those walking by.
5. MAD Summer Club
Located outside of the city, on the road to Shiroka, Mad Summer Club is really the only true “club”, at least that I know of.
Most people don’t dance much at clubs, so it might be what you expect when you go. If there are other foreigners, they will be more likely to dance.
Cafes In Shkoder – FAQs
Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding cafes in Shkoder and nightlife in Shkoder.
Where to go in Shkoder for the best views?
If you want to have a drink with a view, you need to check out these places in Shkoder!
Hotel Chicago Bar and Hotel Colosseo Bar are both close to each other on the Pedonale. On a clear day, you get city and mountain views.
Meridian is a few minutes walking away, slightly off the tourist path – it has a better, 180-degree view of Shkoder and the mountains, probably because it’s higher than the others.
There are plenty of cafes near Shkodra Lake, my favorite just happens to be Arbri Restaurant for its amazing macchiato (the food is overpriced though I wouldn’t recommend it).
Wondering where to go swimming near Shkoder? Check out this awesome sand dune beach - Rana e Hedhun or the crystal clear water at Shala River!
Are there any places to go dancing in Shkoder?
As I mentioned before, Albania doesn’t have a big “dancing” scene at its clubs. Sometimes a few people dance at Bed Station Bar and Back Room when there’s a DJ.
You might also find some dancing at MAD Summer Club located out of the city on Lake Shkodra.
Is it safe to be out late in Shkoder?
For the most part, yes it’s safe to be out late. In the wintertime, there are fewer people out so it can feel a little bit sketchy but it should be ok.
If you are walking out of the city center to a place you’re staying, it might not be as safe depending on the area. If you can, get a guy to walk you home.
Is Shkoder Safe? Here's what you need to know!
Cafes In Shkoder – Final Thoughts
I hope this guide to the best cafes in Shkoder has helped you plan your trip to Albania’s “Ancient City”. There are so many amazing places to go for drinks and brunch, hopefully, you can fit a lot of them in!