Inside Bujtina Sidheri, the first guesthouse and gourmet restaurant in Korça

Ah Korça; city where restaurants offer live music and entertainment during weekends; where pretty houses, chic atmosphere and cozy cafes remind of a small Paris; and where hotels are hosted in true architectural gems. Like Bujtina Sidheri, the first guesthouse in Korça built in 1926 by the Sidheri family, today a stylish stay and gourmet restaurant with a retro-chic vibe. In a few words? The perfect place for a weekend getaway this winter. 

ROOMS

If you’re looking for a little luxury, you’ve come to the right place. Rich fabrics, designer wallpaper and art abound at this boutique guesthouse. Bujtina Sidheri has 8 rooms in total (3 triple and 5 double rooms), all of them come stocked with artisanal items, elegant lamps, traditional rugs, paintings and old pictures. The true selling point, though? The wooden beams ceilings and wooden elements in all of them that give that ‘home away from home’ feeling. 

FOOD & DRINKS

What about breakfast? A mix of Albanian delicacies that includes eggs, homemade jams, fresh fruits, cheese, sausages, fresh baked bread and trahana- a traditional sour soup- is available every morning. Bujtina Sidheri’s Restaurant has been making waves since its opening, plating up a seasonal local menu of farm-fresh produce. Jani Sidheri, the head chef of restaurant and head chef of Albanian government service (for 22 years now), is one of the most prominent and famous chefs in the country. He cooked for all the prime ministers and presidents who have visited Albania in the past years, included George Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, Tony Blair, Silvio Brlusconi, Romani Prodi, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Giorgia Meloni -and still does. His career is full of achievements, including gratitude letters from some the most important governments in the world regarding their unique food experience in Albania. His menu offers a selection of the best of Albanian cuisine, especially from Korça region. Order the Steamed Pork cooked with dry fruits, lamb rolls with mushrooms, baked potatoes and Lakror pie baked in saç. 

EXPERIENCES

Bujtina Sidheri is superbly located in the heart of Korça, just 750 m away from the Orthodox Cathedral (the largest in Albania) and close to all the city landmarks. Bulevardi Republika is practically on your doorstep but make time to zig-zag around this pretty town and reach Pazari i Vjetër home to small cafes, artisan boutiques, and hidden gems. Within a short walk from the hotel you can find National Museum of Medieval Art, a cultural hub with one of the most important collections of medieval items and icons in the country. Korça is a town famed for its coffe culture, so be sure to spend some of your time drinking local coffee and chatting with your family, friends or locals. After a day of visits, come back at Bujtina Sidheri and enjoy your warm room before experience the incredible chef’s cuisine, listen live music from local artists and live one of the best evenings in your life. 

INFORMATION

Find out more about Bujtina Sidheri
Instagram: @bujtinasidheri
Location: Rruga Mbledhja e Beratit, Korça