Sophra started on Sarandë Boulevard in 2019 as a family kitchen with a simple idea: traditional Albanian food, made the way Albanian families actually make it. In 2025, we moved to a new location with more space, natural shade, a full sea view, and a kitchen that is open and visible from every table. The food has not changed. The setting is better.

The New Location: what changed in 2025.

The move from Sarandë Boulevard to the current location near Mango Beach was driven by one clear goal: more space, done properly. The boulevard location worked well for three years, but it had limitations — no dedicated parking, limited terrace space, and less natural shade during the long summer days.

The new location addresses all of that. The terrace is larger, fully outdoors, and has a direct unobstructed view of the Ionian Sea. Natural trees provide shade across most of the terrace without blocking the water view. The kitchen is open and visible from the dining area — guests can see the wood-oven, the clay pots going in and out, and the byrek being prepared. Parking is free and directly below the entrance.

The Food: Albanian cuisine the way it is actually made.

At Sophra, every dish starts with the same question: how would an Albanian family make this at home? The answers to that question define the menu — Tavë Kosi baked for over an hour in clay pots inside the oak wood-oven, byrek hand-rolled every morning before service opens, jufka prepared in the Dibër tradition, and bread kneaded and baked fresh each day.

The menu moves between the two sides of Sarandë’s food culture — traditional Albanian mountain cooking and Ionian coastal seafood — without having to choose between them. One table orders Tavë Kosi. Another shares the Seafood Grill Mix for 2. Both are equally at home on the same terrace.

Albanian Desserts: how every meal ends at Sophra.

Albanian desserts are not an afterthought — they are part of the evening. At Sophra, three of the most important traditional Albanian sweets are on the menu, each made in the kitchen rather than bought in.

Planning Your Visit

Sophra is open daily from 08:00 to 23:30. During peak summer season, we operate walk-in only — tables go to whoever arrives first. The sea view terrace fills up quickly around sunset, so arriving between 19:30 and 20:00 gives you the best chance of a front-row table.

For groups of 10 or more, contact us in advance via WhatsApp to coordinate seating and cooking timelines — some dishes like Jufka with Whole Chicken and Tavë Kosi benefit from being ordered in advance.

We are 10 minutes by car from Ksamil and 10 minutes from Sarandë city centre. Free parking is directly below the entrance — no stress even in August.