Mullixhiu

About Mullixhiu

By the ULTIMATE Tirana Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Mullixhiu, “the miller”, is the most talked-about restaurant in Albania. Chef Bledar Kola researched old recipes, heritage grains and village produce from across the country, and the menu turns them into thoughtful modern dishes, with tasting menus and an à la carte choice. It sits at the edge of the Grand Park, by the Lana. Book well ahead.

The miller’s kitchen

Mullixhiu, “the miller”, sits on Rruga Lazgush Poradeci by the Grand Park, and it has become the restaurant that changed how Albanians and visitors think about Albanian food. Its chef, Bledar Kola, trained in leading kitchens abroad, including Noma in Copenhagen, before coming home to cook the dishes of Albanian villages with fresh eyes.

On the plate

The menu changes with the seasons and leans on produce from small farms around the country: grains milled in the restaurant, mountain cheeses, wild herbs, lamb and seasonal vegetables. Familiar dishes such as fërgesë, jufka pasta, byrek and slow-cooked meat appear in refined but recognisable forms, and there is a tasting menu if you want to let the kitchen lead.

Mullixhiu means “the miller”, and grain and flour are at the heart of the kitchen.

The room

The dining room is rustic and warm, a long way from the formality of many fine-dining restaurants. Service is relaxed and the staff are glad to explain where each ingredient comes from. The wine list includes Albanian bottles from small producers.

Our advice: book a few days ahead, choose the tasting menu with Albanian wine pairing, and walk around the Grand Park lake afterwards.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Mullixhiu before you go.