Mullixhiu: where traditional cuisine meets innovation and creativity

Albania’s capital’s food and drink scene is finally going global, with returning chefs bringing new tastes and flavours, and opening exciting new restaurants. Tirana’s fine-dining recently started to be recognized on the world stage, thanks in large part to chefs like Bledar Kola. After emigrating from Albania at a very young age, he worked in London, Copenhagen (Noma) and Sweden (Favinken). Then, a few years ago, he came back home to open Mullixhiu, considered by the critics one of the most exciting and original restaurants on the European food scene. 

ATMOSPHERE

The restaurant is located a few steps away from the Artificial Lake of Tirana, right in the edge of the Grand Park. The atmosphere will make you fall in love with Mullixhiu immediately. The restaurant is designed in a rustic-style with wood elements, homemade pasta and corns dried everywhere, a traditional grain mill and a festive big room always full of people having fun. It is the perfect place to discover the tradition and values of Albanian culture while tasting the best of Albanian gastronomy. 

THE FOOD

Mullixhiu’s menu is a mix of modern dishes and traditional flavors inspired by the history of Albanian villages cooking. Ducks are baked in clay, pasta is dried in the sun, sausages are homemade. From the cheeses to wild fishes and traditional desserts like qumështor and kadaif, everything at Mullixhiu is fresh and seasonal and part of a project to show the rustic roots of Albanian cuisine transformed as fine dining. For something with a local yet modern twist, try the seven-course tasting menu Metamorphosis made with the best ingredients bought from local farmers and producers. It changes seasonally but popular choices include arapash, Albanian polenta with liver and kidney, fli with sour cream and chestnut honey, and trahana, wheat grains, fermented with yoghurt and crumbled into a coarse powder. 

THE DRINKS

Wines at Mullixhiu are selected from the best Albanian vineyards –Kantina Kallmeti, Nurellari, Kokomani, Arbëri, Belba and Bardha. The drinks menu has a great selection of raki, alcoholic drink made of twice-distilled grapes or other fruits, too. For those not drinking alcohol, bozë is a juice made with fermented corn. The waiters offer a welcoming pomegranate juice prepared at the moment. 

INFORMATION

Find out more about Mullixhiu
Location: Lasgush Poradeci Bulevard, Tirana
Cost: From 15€