MGallery Launches Boutique Hotel on Albania’s Coast
Accor’s boutique brand enters Albania with a wellness-driven Riviera retreat as new infrastructure and investment put the country on the luxury map.
Photo: Courtesy of MGallery
MGallery Collection has unveiled its first property in Albania, opening the doors to the Green Coast Hotel – MGallery Collection on the country’s southern Ionian coast. Set between the rugged mountains and turquoise waters of Palasë Beach, the resort marks a new chapter for Accor’s boutique luxury brand—and for Albania’s fast-rising status on the European travel map.
The hotel’s launch coincides with a major shift in regional accessibility and investment. A new international airport in nearby Vlora is expected to open by year’s end, providing direct access to Albania’s Riviera and accelerating its emergence as a luxury travel destination. Bloomberg recently reported that the airport, built on the site of a former military airstrip, is part of a larger plan to attract elite tourism, with foreign investment pouring into the region. This includes a $1.4 billion luxury resort planned for nearby Sazan Island.
The 131-room property is designed with a focus on wellness and local character. Architectural elements draw from Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences, with natural materials and a neutral palette used throughout. The five suites highlight Albanian craftsmanship, featuring handwoven textiles, carved stone, and locally made ceramics.
F&B is another standout. The all-day Mosaic restaurant serves seasonal cuisine with influences from Albania, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East—think local fish ceviche and chicken tawook with paprika and cumin. The reception bar, Mente, offers small plates and cocktails, including the hotel’s signature Golden Laurel, crafted with rosemary- and sage-infused Albanian raki.
The hotel’s wellness offering includes a five-story spa complex with panoramic sea views, fitness and treatment facilities, and outdoor programs like full-moon beach yoga and guided hikes along the Caesar Trail. The brand’s signature “M Moment” invites guests to begin the day with a mountaintop breakfast before paragliding down to the coast for a champagne toast near the site of the Julius Caesar giant coin monument.
The Green Coast Hotel also features indoor-outdoor meeting spaces with views of the Ionian coast and has partnered with the local chapter of UN Women to support gender equity and inclusive tourism initiatives.
With international arrivals to Albania up sharply in 2025—particularly from Germany, France, and Israel—the debut of MGallery’s latest outpost is well-timed. As travelers look beyond the well-trodden Mediterranean paths this summer, Albania is quickly stepping into the spotlight.
