Mensa Hamburg Tirana – home-cooked comfort food

restaurants
Restaurants
"The food here is simple - classic dishes cooked to perfection by the team of grandmas behind the hatch and served as you would at home with no bells and whistles."

This one is for those of you who really want to feel like a local! Located in the heart of Tirana’s Qyteti Studenti (Student City), Mensa Hamburg provides comfort food for all.

I was recently introduced to this quaint little cafeteria serving the most warming and delicious home-cooked meals by a team of missionaries from Norway who had made it their local during their time in Tirana. The simple cafeteria is nostalgic and takes you back to simpler times. I would note that none of the staff speaks English, so make sure you have a local or Google translate to hand if you don’t speak Albanian.

While I have described a lot of places in Tirana as serving traditional food, generally, the other areas tend to provide still very tasty but more ‘fancy’ versions of dishes; I say this with love, but this is not something that Mensa does at all! The food here is simple - classic dishes cooked to perfection by the team of grandmas behind the hatch and served as you would at home with no bells and whistles.

The food at Mensa is also very reasonable - on my most recent visit, I tucked into a bowl of Tasqebap, pilaf and turns, and I don’t think I spent a penny over 600lek.

About this spot

8RCM+GPQ

Lek

no-price

There’s so much more to discover

Discover more in Tirana

marinelagogo

Proper Pizza – Most famous pizza in town

"Proper Pizza" is the most famous pizza in Tirana. Between different combinations, I always prefer the spicy ones, so I'll always go for Pizza Loca...

restaurants
Restaurants

By

Marinela

Gogo

kleavyshka

COD – Get into the Prime Ministry building!

"COD", or the Centre for Openness and Dialogue in Tirana, is a new initiative in Albanian cultural life. I love coming here to work or curl up with a book.

arts&culture
Art & culture

By

Klea

Vyshka

marinelagogo

Oda – A toast to traditions

"Oda" in Tirana is a typical 'museum restaurant' -- the whole decoration has a lot to say about Albanian customs and traditions. Suitable for vegetarians!

restaurants
Restaurants

By

Marinela

Gogo

marinelagogo

Nona (Plot me Gjona) – Come out to "grandma"

"Nona (plot me Gjona)" in Tirana is a cafe and buffet kind of restaurant I visit when I'm hungry and in a hurry. I just hope my grandma never reads this!

coffee&tea
Coffee & tea
restaurants
Restaurants

By

Marinela

Gogo

d85_5260-scaled-e1714138142862

Rubi Cakes & Specialty Coffee – A true hidden gem

The cakes, cheesecakes, and cupcakes are all made with hand-picked ingredients from all over the world, and have some interesting flavor combinations.

coffee&tea
Coffee & tea

By

Ingrid

Xhaja

gentianagjyshka

The Plaza Hotel – The View Lounge

This 23rd-floor bar is a hidden gem, offering a breathtaking view of the entire city, especially at night when the city lights illuminate the skyline.

bars
Bars

By

Gentiana

Gjyshka

kleavyshka

Velur Spa – Relaxing time in a Turkish bath

"Velur Spa" in Tirana is one of my favorite spots to relax at. Their Turkish bath is the best, the staff is very polite the prices very reasonable!

relaxing
Relaxing

By

Klea

Vyshka

adelahoxhallari-1

Lift Steak & Rooftop Bar – Terrazza Aperol vibes

"Lift Steak & Rooftop Bar" is one of the newest steakhouse and rooftop bars in Tirana! Kind of reminds me of Terraza Aperol in Milano...

bars
Bars
restaurants
Restaurants

By

Adela

Hoxhallari

arditapuma

Bar My Way – "Like Frankie said I did it my way!"

"Bar My Way" in Tirana is my definitely my go-to bar. Inexpensive drinks, well-prepared, simple snacks, polite waiters, animal friendliness... what more?!

bars
Bars
coffee&tea
Coffee & tea
snacks
Snacks

By

Ardita

Puma

kleavyshka

Bonaparte Wine Bar – A hidden gem

"Bonaparte Wine Bar" in Tirana is my favorite hidden, cosy, refreshing bar! I like to refer to its wine menu as classic. They've got great variety, too!

bars
Bars
coffee&tea
Coffee & tea
snacks
Snacks

By

Klea

Vyshka

gentianagjyshka

Reka – A Taste of Traditional Albanian Cakes

The cakes have distinctive Albanian names and flavors that will transport you back in time and there is a cake for every taste preference!

snacks
Snacks

By

Gentiana

Gjyshka

adelahoxhallari-1

Kosherja – Real taste of tapas

"Kosherja" in Tirana is a tapas restaurant shaped like a beehive on one of the city's best-known streets & frequented by the city's youth!

restaurants
Restaurants

By

Adela

Hoxhallari

Download our app now and know your way!

Our Spotters' Local Favorites Only. Skip the Tourist Traps.

Find Nearby Spots and Navigate with Ease

Save Your Favorites and See Them on the Map

Know your way in Restaurants and navigate with ease!

✓ Full access to 0 local favorites. Zero tourist highlights.

✓ Get to know our 0 Spotters and ♥ their recommendations.

✓ Save favorites and show them on the map.

Our local team in Tirana

Get to know our Spotters from Tirana