Restaurants in Durban
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A
Beach Cafe
Durbs’ hot beach hang-out. Soak up the sun in a deck chair or sun lounge, or chill out with a cocktail on the restaurant deck, overlooking the beach and life guards.
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B
Cargo Hold
A seafood encounter of the most novel kind. On the Phantom Ship in uShaka Marina, your dining companions are fish with very large teeth – the glass tank forms one of the walls to a shark aquarium. Well-known for casting some high-quality fish dishes with international flavours.
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C
Zack’s
Offering cafe-style dining, this stylish (chain) eatery serves good bistro fare washed down with a blast of fresh sea air.
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D
Spice
At the time of research, Spice was moving to this new location, but wasn’t yet open. We’ve included it because, in short, those in the cuisine scene simply rave about it. Whether it’s because the likes of Bill Clinton have dined at the establishment’s former premises, or because the imaginative menu – South African and Indian fusion dishes – is so damned good, we’ll have to leave it up to you to decide.
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E
Moyo
The newest kid in the uShaka complex, Moyo is more novelty than quality cuisine and a fun (if noisy) night out. The concept is great – the decor features sculptures and decorations from recycled materials – and there’s face painting, fabulous tableside serenades and bands of a high quality. But the food simply doesn’t match the entertainment pizzazz.
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F
Cafe 1999
This buzzing restaurant serves modern Mediterranean fusion food which comes in ‘bitparts’ – ‘titbit’ and ‘bigbit’. The sweetest part is their desserts – try the triple chocolate brownie with poppy-seed ice cream.
reviewed
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Corner Cafe
This warehouse-style cafe is one of Durbs’ best (note the wonderful blown-up photo of Durbs and its ’burbs). It serves up great cakes and coffee, and free-range foods (a breakfast treat are the dippy eggs – boiled eggs with Marmite soldiers!)
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New Cafe Fish
This distinctive green-and-blue construction looks a bit like an upside-down ship. Its seafood dishes are as appealing as its views of the city and surrounding moored yachts. The best catch is the good-value set menu (four courses for between R150 and R220).
reviewed
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H
Butcher Boys
This stylish ‘meat market’s’ catchphrase ‘grill by design’ refers as much to its clientele as to its menu. The choice cuts (you get to choose) are popular with business people and the ‘it’ market.
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St Tropez
Housed in a former power station, this pleasant sidewalk café-cum-bistro gives a pleasant shock - it has good coffee! Great for a Saturday brunch recharge (it's next to the Essenwood market on Berea Park), it has jazz on Sunday afternoons.
reviewed
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Famous Fish Co
Something of a Durban institution, with a dreamy sea view (and the cargo ships are so close, they're almost on your plate) this reliable fish restaurant has fed such luminaries as Danny Glover, Jimmy Carter and the Springboks.
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Roma Revolving Restaurant
One of only 40 or so revolving restaurants worldwide, and one of the few central restaurants surviving in Durban, this reasonably priced Italian eatery offers stunning views over Durban in its own leaning House of John Ross.
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Spiga D’oro
Locals mention this in the ‘of-course-you-already-know-about-Spiga-D’oro’ tone. It looks like another typical cafe along this strip, yet serves up hearty helpings of Italian food, and good pasta dishes.
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K
Sunrise House of Curries
You don’t come here for the vinyl tablecloths, but for the food – this tiny place serves the cheapest and most satisfying bunny chows, roti wraps and curries. The chip chows will cure the hottest of hangovers.
reviewed
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Cat Man Du
This groovy diner-cum-cocktail bar serves international fusion-style tucker (and Cuban cigars) in barlike surrounds. Carnivores might like the kudu fillet in red wine and vegos are extremely well catered for.
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A Gruta
If you're not heading on to Mozambique (or Portugal for that matter), this is a great place to sample the flavours of Iberia. It fills up at night, making for a nearly authentic Mediterranean-style ambience.
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Luna Blu
Small restaurant, big aromas. Offering a range of gourmet toppings (Thai chicken, gorgonzola, roast lamb), this is the ideal place to order that special takeaway pizza (free delivery).
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M
Europa
This local franchise serves up the best coffee in the area, along with a fabulous range of salads and wraps. You can people-watch from the front verandah and wi-fi is available.
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Trans-Africa Express
Upstairs at the Bat Centre, with terrace views over the docks, this restaurant serves taste-tempting meals from Madagascar to Morocco. Try the Congo crocodile curry.
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Bean Bag Bohemia
The food and flavours are as creative as the mosaics, chandeliers and gothic decor of the artistically hip and elegant restaurant (upstairs) and downstairs cafe-bar.
reviewed
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O
9th Avenue Bistro
The nondescript Avonmore Centre hides a couple of recommended eateries near Joop’s Place, including the highly regarded 9th Avenue Bistro.
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Joop’s Place
In a most unlikely location at the rear of a shopping centre, Durbanites flock to this unpretentious place for its high-quality steaks. Rare indeed.
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Mango Sushi
The nondescript Avonmore Centre hides a couple of recommended eateries near Joop’s Place, including the Mango Sushi.
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Coffee Shoppe
The Royal Hotel has several restaurants including the Coffee Shoppe - great for a luncheon snack or relaxing cuppa.
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The Royal Hotel
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