Komiteti Bar - Tiranë

""The miniature version of Albania", - this is how Arbër Çepani, the founder of Kafe-Muze Komitet, calls his special bar. The committee is his realization of love, and with it, he may have succeeded in building one of the most attractive places in Tirana. By maintaining the balance of a bar similar to a small museum, as well as a fashionable place where you can hang out without a fuss, Çepani has turned the Committee into a very popular and favorite place. The history of this bar is closely related to that of its founder. Initially conceived as a space where Arbri's private collection of over 17,000 pieces of Albanian history could be exhibited, this bar is now much more than that. Customers can relax and chat in an environment where they are exposed from symbolic and cultural objects, to folk costumes or interesting items that also tell a story. But, as if to precede a question that would not delay, Arbri says that 'nothing is for sale.' Although there is such a rich range of objects, at no time do you feel like you are in a crowded museum. Smartly organized, through a warm atmosphere that cannot be easily duplicated, the Committee offers the perfect opportunity to see and experience Albanian culture. Although most Albanians identify the name and decor of this country with that of the communist period, this is only one of the constituent layers of its character. In fact, the museum tries to reflect a very broad time span of the country's history, and it does so very pleasantly! Beyond the beers or cocktails you can find, the Committee also serves the widest range of types of brandy. Over 50 different bottles of rakish are located behind the counter, and it is really hard to resist the temptation to try one of them. This bar also has its own distillery in Skrapar, which is also the region with the best brandy in the whole country. The drink is then processed in Tirana. Some of the most favorite flavors are those of grape or plum brandy, but Arbri is quick to mention another name, monk brandy, which was once produced in monasteries around the country. He makes sure to keep the tradition alive by always having this flavor in the bar. Finally, here you can also find gliko, or the famous fairy candies, which are an indisputable symbol of another time. Two years ago, the Committee began its expansion. The Committee corner has already opened in the Old Bazaar in Korça, the traditional city of love and serenades. The architecture and decor are in full harmony with the city's elegant past, and everything is made with local products and materials. Every Albanian city has its own history and Arbri aims to tell it, expanding its activity in the two cities known as UNESCO World Heritage, Gjirokastër and Berat. More than just a bar, cafe or museum, the Committee aims to do justice to the name, which, beyond recalling the Central Committee of the ALP of the Communist period, is also a term of Latin origin that means gathering. And right here, locals and foreign tourists, young people but also other age groups, gather and attend the many events, from nights with live music, to nights with movies, documentaries, or various shows. You can visit the Committee and naturally become part of a discussion, observe the Albanian culture, or simply try the brandy made 'with a lot of love', as Arbri likes to call it."

"I've included this one in the guide because: 1. it looks super good from the outside 2. we couldn't get in because a reservation was needed. So please, MAKE A RESERVATION AND GIVE ME A REVIEW. You can also smoke shisha (nargila)"

"The whole atmosphere of the bar makes this place such an attraction. After a day of exploring Tirana, this is definitely a place to come for a few drinks."