Are you into classic style guesthouses? The ones that offer not just a homemade breakfast with the best cherry jam, but also have one of the oldest restaurants in town, ran by one of the best chefs of the country?
The city of Korce offers you one of the most known places, Sidheri Guesthouse, to amaze you not only with a warm welcome, but with some very delicious food and traditional live music. This isn’t any place. Jim Belushi, the famous Hollywood actor, with Albanian origin, second cousin of the owners, has visited the guesthouse and enjoyed the best dishes of the restaurant. Various celebrities and politicians have also been welcomed in this very special place.
We went there to explore it all and we want to share our impressions with you. At the end of this article, you will also find our Youtube video, to introduce you better with the guesthouse.
First thing you need to know is that even though it is mostly a winter accommodation, as it has the fireplace area and it is well isolated, Sidheri Guesthouse is a very fresh place to stay on summer too. The way this place is constructed, early a home for the Sidheri family, is makes the rooms remain cool on summer and warm on winter.
As a guesthouse, it has only a few rooms available, double ones and twin rooms. The common thing of most of the rooms is the set up. The sink and the shower place are part of the room, while the bathrooms are in a separate area within the room.
Something you will really love about it, are two nice patios on the second and the third floor. You can enjoy a morning coffee or an evening drink in the tranquility of the city with a new view of the old neighbourhoods of Korce.
Going around the guesthouse, exploring the rooms and the halls, you will also find relaxing spots, to read a book, have a long conversation or even be able to work without being disturbed. You can also find time to call your family back at home and let them know about your best impressions of Korce.
The decor is nicely done by the owners, Jovan and Brikena Sidheri, who have their own room in this guesthouse and you will get a chance to meet them and learn more about the story of their businnes since 1992. The furniture and every object are part of their collections that have a really high value, not only a sentimental one. Besides the paintings with which you can’t do much but enjoy their art, there is this special collections of guitars that are used time to time to bring some romantic Korce vibes with serenades and traditional music.
When the evening comes, you might hear some pans moving in the kitchen, while Jovan and his team are preparing delicious traditional dishes brought in a modern way for the guest and others who come to enjoy the dinner. So even if you are not sleeping at Sidheri, you can always book your table at the restaurant during the weekend.
If you are lucky enough, you will get to meet Jovan, the head chef and the owner of Sidheri Guesthouse, and learn about his family story from the village of Qyteza and their way to Chicago.
Overall, Sidheri is a great experience to enjoy while visiting Korce and it adds so much to your Albanian memories and good times in the southeastern part of the country.