Gjirokastra Cooking Class in the Old Bazaar — Dromka, Qifqi & a UNESCO Stone-City Lunch
Cook qifqi and dromka in a courtyard in Gjirokastra's UNESCO old town.
Tour Overview
This is a lively, hands-on cooking class in the Old Bazaar of Gjirokastra, the UNESCO-listed stone city in southern Albania. In a leafy courtyard you cook traditional local dishes like qifqi (little fried rice balls) and dromka, guided by a local host.
What happens? The host shows you each dish, you cook together in small groups, and then everyone sits down to a shared lunch of what you made. It is social, friendly and good for families and groups.
Where is it? In the heart of Gjirokastra’s old town, easy to reach on foot and a great thing to do alongside the castle and the old stone houses.
Day Trip Itinerary
Stop 1: Meet in the Old Bazaar
10:00Meet your hosts in Gjirokastra’s UNESCO Old Bazaar and walk to the kitchen; aprons on and an introduction to the two dishes and ingredients.
Stop 2: Handmade dromka pasta
10:15Roll and cut dromka pasta dough by hand while the slow-cooked lamb sauce simmers in the background, tasting as you go.
Stop 3: Shape qifqi rice balls
10:45Shape qifqi — herbed rice balls — the traditional way, with the small technique points that make them work.
Stop 4: Sit down to lunch
11:15Plate up and eat everything you cooked, with seasonal salad, yogurt sauce, bread, water and Gjirokastra’s gliko dessert; finish back in the Old Bazaar around noon.
What's Included
What's Not Included
Price & Booking Details
Pricing coming soon.
Booking: Request to book
Meeting Point, Pickup & Logistics
Transportation: Walking
Who This Tour Is Best For
Audience info coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dishes will I cook?
Two southern-Albanian classics: handmade dromka pasta with slow-cooked lamb, and qifqi (rice balls flavoured with herbs). You roll the pasta, shape the qifqi, and learn the small technique points that make each one work.
Do I need cooking experience?
No. Hosts walk you through every step and the dishes are forgiving — if your pasta cuts are uneven or your qifqi end up oval, it just tastes a little different.
How long does it take?
Two hours total — cooking, lunch and conversation. Most guests stay a little longer because nobody wants to leave the table.
Where is the meeting point?
Inside the Gjirokastra Old Bazaar; the exact spot is confirmed via WhatsApp the day before. Old Town guesthouses are within walking distance.
Is the lunch substantial?
Yes — you eat what you cooked (dromka with lamb and qifqi) plus seasonal salad, yogurt sauce, bread, water and Gjirokastra’s gliko dessert. Most guests do not need dinner.
Can children join?
Yes — particularly children 8+ who enjoy being in a kitchen. Hosts can adapt tasks for younger guests; let us know in advance for family bookings.
Can you handle dietary restrictions?
A vegetarian version is available (qifqi without meat, a vegetable sauce for the pasta) with 48 hours’ notice; vegan is possible with notice. Gluten-free is harder, since the handmade pasta is the centrepiece.
Why "Likely to Sell Out"?
Capped at ten guests per session, in a single kitchen, in one of Albania’s most-visited UNESCO cities. Availability is tight in peak season — book at least a few days ahead.
Verified Customer Reviews
Customer reviews coming soon.
