Why Albanians Still Eat Together: The Art of the Long Lunch

There’s something wonderfully inconvenient about trying to get anything done in Albania between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Shops close. People vanish from offices. Even the government buildings feel a bit… quiet. At first, it feels odd—like, where is everyone?

But then you realize: they’re all at the table.

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Lunch Isn’t Just Lunch

Here on the Albanian Riviera, especially in places like Saranda and the villages just outside, lunch is not a pit stop. It’s the main event.

We don’t just eat. We gather. We talk. Sometimes we argue a little. We pass the bread, pour the wine, and share plates like it’s a ceremony.

And the best part? It’s not a special occasion. It’s just… Tuesday.

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A Real Estate Tangent (Sort Of)

You’d be surprised how often these long lunches end up shaping real estate decisions.

Last week, after showing a client a sleek seaview apartment in Saranda, just 60 meters from the beach (this one right here), we sat down for lunch at a small family-run place tucked just behind the promenade.

Two hours in, after grilled seabass, fresh tomatoes with goat cheese, and a glass of homemade raki (maybe two), the client leaned back and said, “I’m not sure what it is about this place, but I don’t want to leave.”

I just smiled. “That’s lunch working its magic.”

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More Than a Meal

There’s an unspoken rhythm to it.

You start with a few cold dishes—tarator, olives, maybe some pickled peppers. Then comes the grilled meat or fresh seafood. Someone always insists on salad, even if no one touches it right away. The bread disappears faster than you expect.

And at some point, the conversation shifts from small talk to something deeper.

That’s when I’ve heard clients say things like:

“I want to raise my kids here.”

“This reminds me of how my grandmother used to live.”

Or even just, “Life feels more real here.”

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Borsh Knows Best

If you really want to see the art of the long lunch in action, head to Borsh. Especially on a Sunday.

There’s this little taverna by the beach—locals know the one. No printed menu. Just whatever they’ve cooked that day. Usually lamb or stuffed peppers.

I was down there recently visiting the site of our newest project, the White Residence Villas in Borsh(you can see them here). The air smelled like rosemary and grilled eggplant. We didn’t talk about square meters or ROI. We just shared food.

And you know what? That’s when you really understand the value of a place.

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Ksamil’s Flavor

Ksamil’s the same, just with a slightly different vibe. More seafood. More sea breeze. Still the same slow pace.

We’ve got a great hotel-apartment style project there—White Residence Ksamil (you can take a peek here). But honestly, what I remember more vividly than the building is the grilled octopus I had with a client at a beachside restaurant afterward.

We talked for hours. Not just about real estate, but about life. Family. How many things we miss by rushing all the time.

And he said something I still think about:

“Lunch here isn’t just food—it’s a reminder to slow down.”

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