Hotel Restaurant Bujtina e Gjelit

A bit dismal. Breakfast was lackluster. Rooms are a bit grim. Price was reasonable -found a much better place for a little bit more money and a better part of town. The place looks like it’s historical but it was actually built in the 1990s so the charm is not exactly authentic.

My wife and I stayed here for 3 nights in late September, ‘23. It was chosen by our tour company for a small-group visit to the Balkans, but it is the kind of place we would very likely consider if we had been on our own, and we recommend it highly. The Bujtina & Gjelit is in a pleasant residential area about 15 minutes by taxi from the main square. The hotel management was very helpful in arranging taxis for us, including to the airport for an early flight. Given the horrendous traffic in Tirana, driving ourselves would have been very difficult. The fares were very reasonable, about 5 euro to the square and 20 euro to the airport. The location shouldn’t deter anyone from using the Bujtina & Gjelit as a base for exploring Tirana. (We highly recommend the “Free” walking tour that departs from the main square – it was very informative and enjoyable.) The hotel has a cute, rustic design that we thought was very charming. The wings of the hotel form an open air atrium with an attractive swimming pool in the center. Weather permitting, the restaurant tables are arranged around the edges of the atrium. The restaurant is excellent and we wound up eating dinner there three times, as well as breakfast. There are other restaurants nearby that might be good alternatives. Our room (313) was reached by taking an elevator up one floor, then a short flight of stairs to another floor. This odd arrangement was probably the result of an expansion into adjoining buildings at one point in the hotel’s history. The room was very large and attractive, with wood paneling and open beams. There were windows on one side overlooking the side street by the hotel and on the opposite side overlooking the hotel roof top and atrium. There were two double beds, night stands with outlets, a desk, a small refrigerator, and a built-in armoire. Wifi was weak in the room but ok downstairs. The wall mounted a.c. was quiet, effective, and best of all not directed at the beds. The bathroom was very large and had an open tub/shower that unfortunately made it difficult to not get water on the surrounding floor. There were shelves on either side of the sink plus a large flat area for storage. The staff was very friendly, welcoming, and helpful. The included breakfast was pretty good – some pastries, juices, packaged yogurt, veggies, meats, and fried eggs that would have been better if they were kept warm. The made-to-order coffee was very good. Overall we enjoyed our stay at the Bujtina & Gjelit and recommend it if you like a comfortable, friendly place with lots of character.

Wonderful stay. This is a lovely hotel that is even more beautiful than the pictures online suggest. Friendly staff, spotlessly clean rooms and delicious food. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff and they go out of their way to help you to relax. The rooms are really unusual which adds to the enjoyment of this quirky place.

If you want to experience a little piece of paradise in lousy Tirana this is the place to be. A pool, a lot of green , traditional cuisine and not only a very proffesional and polite staff. Quiteness and perfect for family . A family of turtles will accompany you during your staying

Honestly I wish I could take this place and it’s people with me for the rest of my trip. There is not a thing I do not love about the property…the food, the grounds, the tortoises in the grounds, art down the halls and yes the rooms may not seem modern, but they are spotless and I slept like a baby. You would not know the hustle of Tirana is outside. The people speak good English and will help you with anything you want!

Value for money. Excellent service even in the night hours. Very convenient for a stroller and near enough to other restaurants. The hotel breakfast is home made and we love it! We recommend it as a family of a toddler

It's our first trip to Albania, and what a wonderful way to begin our adventure! The hotel is very easy to get to from the airport by car. The bed is extremely comfortable, and the wooden beams make the room feel unique and timeless. Ours was overlooking the beautiful central courtyard and pool and we could hear the birds in the morning. The rest of the hotel is so special, it really feels like we are staying in a family compound. There are open hearths for cooking and wood fired ovens and bric a brac scattered around the place. Oh and the tortoises wandering around by the courtyard are pretty cool too! Most importantly for us, the food. My god the food is delicious! I would say it is worth staying here just for the food alone. We had grilled piglet, baked cheese, mixed roasted vegetables, and also a late night pizza (awesome). Finally the staff were so helpful and friendly. If you want to have an Albanian experience in Tirana, you simply must visit Bujtina e Gjelit!