Taverna Velco is the kind of place locals send you when you ask "where do you eat?" — a Greek-leaning seafood taverna a few kilometers south of Himara town, on the road that drops down to Potam Beach. It does not market itself, the website is not slick, and the staff will hand you a menu in Greek before they hand you one in English. None of that is a strike against it. The grilled fish is fresh, the portions are generous, and the seafront positioning at sunset is the kind of detail that gets remembered weeks after the trip ends.
This is a review, not a placement on a list — what to actually order, what you will spend, and the gotchas (it can be busy, the service can lag) that the 4.8-star average rating glosses over.
Quick Take
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Cuisine | Greek, seafood, mezze, grilled |
| Location | Potam, Himara — about 4 km south of town center |
| Coordinates | 40.0947, 19.7589 |
| Price range | Moderate (€€) |
| Best for | Grilled fish, family lunches, sunset dinners with a view |
| Must try | Grilled octopus, karkalek saganaki, seafood platter |
| Reservations | Recommended in July-August, especially for sunset |
| Phone | +355 69 478 6857 |
| Rating | 4.8 (134+ reviews) |
| Cash or card | Card accepted, cash preferred |
What Velco Is Not
Before we get to what to order, two things to manage expectations.
It is not in Himara town center. Velco sits in Potam, a small settlement on the coastal road south of Himara — about 10 minutes by taxi or 15-25 minutes on foot if you are staying near Spile beach. If you are walking, the coastal walks guide covers the path. If you want a town-center seafood taverna with sea views and no transport, Taverna Lefteri on Spile is the closer comparable.
It is also not the only "Velco" in the area. The same family runs Velco BB rooms a stone's throw from the taverna, and the names blur online. If you are booking a meal, the taverna is the seaside building right above the Potam beach pebbles. The B&B is up the hill.
What to Order
Velco is a grill house first and a kitchen second. The list below is what showed up on our table over two visits in April and May 2026, and what regulars have told us never disappoints.
The fish-grill core
- Grilled octopus (pulpo / oktapodi). Charred edges, tender inside. This is the dish people fly back for. Around 1,800-2,200 ALL.
- Whole grilled fish by weight (typically sea bream, sea bass, or merluc). Priced per kilo — see our Albanian fish vocabulary guide for menu translation. Expect 4,500-7,000 ALL/kg depending on species and size.
- Grilled seafood platter (mixed). Octopus, prawns, squid, plus the fish of the day. Around 4,500-5,500 ALL for two.
The mezze and starters
- Karkalek saganaki — shrimp baked in tomato sauce with melted feta. About 1,500-1,800 ALL.
- Greek salad — and we mean a proper Greek salad: a slab of feta on top, oregano, no lettuce. Around 700-900 ALL.
- Tzatziki, taramasalata, melitzanosalata — the standard mezze trio. 400-600 ALL each.
- Fried calamari — light batter, well-rested. 1,400-1,600 ALL.
What to skip
- The pasta dishes are competent but not why you came. If you want seafood linguine or a non-Greek pasta, Bocca Restaurant on Main Street does that better.
- House wine is fine but the bottle list is short. Bring an Albanian wine recommendation in mind if you want something specific.
What It Costs (May 2026)
Two people, dinner with a shared starter, a whole grilled sea bream, a side, two glasses of wine, and water: roughly 3,800-4,500 ALL (€38-45) per person. Less if you skip the whole fish and order grilled octopus + sides + salad: closer to 2,500-3,000 ALL (€25-30) per person.
That puts Velco at the upper end of "casual" and the lower end of "fine dining" by Riviera 2026 prices. Compared to where locals eat in Himara, Velco is a step up in setting and a step up in price — but not in cuisine type. You are paying for the location and the consistency, not for the kitchen doing anything experimental.
When to Go
- Sunset (7:30-9:00 PM in summer) — the western-facing terrace catches the full Ionian sundown. This is also the busiest slot. Reserve.
- Lunch (1:00-3:30 PM) — far quieter, and the seafood selection is freshest right after the morning catch is delivered.
- Avoid 9:30 PM onward in August — the kitchen can run out of certain fish, and the wait for a table stretches.
The taverna is closed November through March. May and October are the sweet spot for atmosphere — open, warm enough to eat outside, but not yet jammed.
Getting There
From Himara town center: 4 km south on the SH8 coastal road. Options:
- Taxi — about 500-700 ALL one way, 5-7 minutes. See Himara taxi guide.
- Walk — 25-35 minutes from Spile via the coastal road. Pleasant in cool hours, hot at midday.
- Scooter — easy 10-minute ride. See scooter rental.
- Drive — small parking lot above the taverna. Tight in August.
If you are coming from Dhermi or further north, the Llogara Tunnel route puts you in Himara in about 1 hour 30 minutes (see drive times matrix) and Potam is just on the other side of town.
Verdict
8.5 / 10. Velco earns the high local rating because it gets the fundamentals right — fresh fish, charcoal, generous mezze, sunset over the Ionian. It is not innovative, but it is exactly what a Riviera Greek taverna is supposed to be. The price is fair for what you get, and the consistency across visits is the rarest thing on the Albanian coast right now.
Who it's for: travelers who want the "real" Riviera Greek-taverna experience without the tourist-trap markup of Saranda or Ksamil. Couples on a sunset evening. Families willing to drive 5 minutes south.
Who it's not for: anyone needing fast service when busy, anyone who wants pasta or non-grilled food, anyone allergic to "the menu is mostly fish."
FAQ
Is Taverna Velco the same as Velco BB hotel?
Same family, same name, different buildings. The taverna is on the seafront at Potam Beach. The B&B (Velco BB) is up the hill on the access road. You can stay at one and eat at the other, but they are run as separate operations.
Do I need to reserve at Taverna Velco?
In July and August, yes — especially for the sunset window (7:30-9:00 PM). Call +355 69 478 6857 the day before. In May, June, and September walk-ins are usually fine outside peak hours.
What's the best dish at Taverna Velco?
The grilled octopus is the most-recommended single dish. For a fuller experience, order the karkalek saganaki (shrimp saganaki), a Greek salad, and either grilled octopus or a whole grilled fish by weight. The seafood platter for two is also a solid choice if you want variety.
How much does dinner cost at Taverna Velco?
Expect €25-45 per person for dinner with seafood, depending on whether you order whole fish (priced per kilo) or stick to the grilled platters and mezze. Lunch can be done for €15-25 per person on lighter dishes.
Does Taverna Velco accept credit cards?
Yes, cards are accepted, but cash is preferred. ATMs are available in Himara town. See our Himara ATM and money guide for cash logistics.
For more local-favorite seafood spots, see where locals eat in Himara and the full Himara seafood guide. For the menu-translation help when ordering whole fish by name, see the Albanian fish vocabulary guide.
