The people of Korca pride themselves on their sophistication, and the Life Gallery Hotel is suitably chic – in fact, it might just be the coolest hotel in Albania.
Its 19 bedrooms are spread across two 1920s villas, with a courtyard and pool in between.
There are three bars, each with a different vibe. The Oriental Bar has an Eastern Ottoman-esque style, complete with shisha. Avenue 55 is an American-style cocktail bar, and is a popular venue for celebrations. Finally, Beer 55 has a wide selection of brews from across Albania and all over the world, with a grill menu to keep carnivores happy.
Korca is conveniently located near both Lake Ohrid and Voskopojë, but poor road links with the rest of Albania make it difficult to include on a ‘circuit’. Having said that, we reckon the (mostly asphalt) SH75 to Permet is one of the most beautiful roads in Albania and well worth driving if you’re on a road trip (though we’d recommend stopping overnight en route.)