Villa Gjecaj

My two friends and me spent three nights in Theth. We ate the three evenings at the restaurant of Villa Gjeçaj. The atmosphere was really nice and the restaurant is easily accessible by foot from the center of Theth. I personally recommend the vegetarian option “Cheese in the oven” that was delicious. If you are not scared of strong alcohols, try a glass of raki at the end of your meal. I want to personally thank Xhoni who was a really nice host with whom you can easily discuss and laugh. Thank you Xhoni.

This is a review of the restaurant. Recommended via Happy Cow for vegetarian/vegan options. This restaurant did not disappoint! We overheard other customers asking for meat-free, so I guess that it has a reputation for such. We shared the beans, roasted potatoes and roasted vegetables. They were all fantastic! Our waiter was nice, spoke good English. We came early (1800), and it was busy. By 1900, all the tables were full. Being on a rainy Wednesday night, I did not expect that. They take reservations, which may be a good idea. Prices were very reasonable!

We had dinner at the restaurant and it was by far the best experience we had in Albania.
From the entrance a manager had us seat with a very nice and welcoming attitude.
We ordered salad, maze, beans and byruk and all of the dishes were very tasty.
Throughout the meal Johnny the waiter was very very helpful, nice and entertaining, while keeping all the costumers in the restaurant happy.
I would defiantly recommend this place for dinner as it had the best food I have had in my trip in Albania.
Thank you very much.

We came here to have dinner after our hike. The host was really pleasant and service was great! We got to wait in line, but they let us wait in the reception area of the villa covered from the cold. The food were tasty and the price is decent. Definitely worth visiting when you are in Theth!

This is for the RESTAURANT only.
WOW! What a fabulous spot, restaurant, service, atmosphere to enjoy a fantastic meal while relaxing and enjoying the spectacular view. The location is sits above Theth and so the views are fantastic. The waiter was warm, friendly and welcoming. After reviewing my meal options I selected a salad, the lamb and a glass of local red wine and everything was fresh and deelishis. The lamb was lightly seasoned that allowed the flavour of the lamb to shine. The spuds too were lightly seasoned, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and paired beautifully with the lamb. The salad was fresh and light. The red wine was yummy as well. My waiter was attentive and polite and allowed me to sit and enjoy the view while finishing my wine. This is the best meal I had in Theth (and Shkoder) hands down and I highly recommend treating yourself to a fantastic meal/experience here.

We ate at the restaurant after a full day of hiking and it was the best food we had in Albania! This place should be the highest rated in Theth. We ate the beans, stuffed aubergine and chicken, all of which were delicious! The waiting staff were super friendly and helpful. They were incredibly busy and we had to wait a while for a table but they served us drinks whilst we waited, checked in on us regularly and the food was definitely worth the wait. 100% recommend this restaurant.

Ida, the owner, welcomed us immediately and warmly. She introduced us to Mario, one of her assistants who not only helped maintain the property, but also adeptly assisted guests with their dining experiences at the restaurant. Mario also was very helpful in guiding us in our local hiking and sightseeing ventures. Our room was very comfortable, clean and simply appointed. Bathroom was well stocked with all the necessities. Our balcony allowed us to view the village of Theth and also gave us a close-up view of the chickens and rabbits who resided there (nice touch). The restaurant cook provided delicious, well planned meals where we ate breakfast and dinner on all three days we were in Theth. Tables were set up in the beautiful little courtyard outside the restaurant which was adorned with lights in the trees for our dinner experience each evening. It was magical! Ida has worked very hard to ensure this was a welcoming getaway for all of her guests. We would love to come back to stay here again someday!

This restaurant is simply amazing! 🍴✨ The food is delicious, fresh, and full of flavor, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.
I especially want to mention our waiter Johnny – he was so kind, attentive, and always with a smile. Thanks to him, we came back twice more, and he truly made our experience special.
Highly recommended! Come enjoy the wonderful food and atmosphere – and if you can, ask for Johnny! 🙌

Stepping into Villa Gjeçaj Restaurant feels like entering a fairytale. The garden setting is pure magic, offering breathtaking views of the Albanian Alps. As you dine, the friendly resident cats and dogs wander by, adding to the warm, homey feel.
The staff is incredibly welcoming and kind, making you feel right at home. And the food? It’s simply amazing. The stuffed peppers were absolutely delicious, and the salad was so fresh you could taste the garden in every bite.
If you're in Theth, this is a must-visit. It's an unforgettable experience of stunning views, genuine hospitality, and incredibly fresh food.

The staff is very friendly and the service is good but I can’t say the same about the food unfortunately. We went to this beautiful restaurant for dinner, all the dishes we ordered were probably precooked and re-heated, they did not taste fresh. We woke up in the middle of the night with a slight food poisoning which we are still going through the next morning. I am pretty sure nothing else has caused it as we have not eaten any cooked meal during the whole day as we were hiking.
I would come back but only if they serve fresh food.

Wonderful place at the most beautiful location! Great food, great views, great service, all in all a great evening!
The place is popular. We chose to wait for a table, approximately 20 minutes, where we decided to have a glass of wine whilst waiting. It was wonderful. Can highly recommend doing so if you do not have a reservation.
Service from Johnny & Mario was great!
We will be coming back!

Delicious food and perfect service (great thanks to our waiter Johnny who took care of us super well 😊). Amazing quality for the price and even more amazing view. Every single thing we tried was perfect. We shared roasted lamb, cheese from the oven, stuffed eggplant and traditional mezze. We were also served free water and a lot of (also delicious) bread. We definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for great food, good vibes and breathtaking views!

The food in this restaurant was to die for. Traditional dishes, simple ingredients, fresh vegetables, and the great service made for an excellent experience. This was the best food we tasted in Albania.
And Mario, the young handsome waiter was awesome! He was very professional and friendly. He was very knowledgeable about the area and Albanian culture and made my kids, my wife, and I feel at home.
We highly recommend this restaurant.

We stayed here 5 nights in July 2025, and our experience was great. The staff was helpful especially considering my partner having a sling. Room has everything you need and warm water.
We thought we’d try other restaurants in the area but the food was so good and the view amazing, we just ate here every day 😄 try their roasted pork 🤤
Big shoutout to Mario who was super attentive, helpful and fun!

My friend and I ate at this restaurant after hiking in Theth. We had salad, lamb and the eggplant. All was very delicious, And my favorite was eggplant. Xhoni was our server and he was very attentive and kind. We had a great experience here on our first day in Theth. I would recommend this restaurant for its ambience, food, hospitality.

My 13-year-old son found this restaurant in a Google search. We are travelling from Canada. He says It’s the best restaurant we’ve eaten at on our 12 day trip. The staff were very friendly and helpful with making selections from the menu. He had the grilled sausages. I ordered three different smaller dishes (without meat) — although I do enjoy meat dishes. My dishes were very flavourful and traditional Albanian dishes. We had lots of leftovers. Highly recommend Pictures.

It was lovely to have dinner here. It’s an amazing place, with a very cosy garden restaurant and great view at the mountains.
It’s run by a family who also shared passionately about the history of Albania. The food is made from local products, is delicious and the prices are very reasonable. Service is also very friendly. Can truly say, it deserves more than five stars.