Restaurants in Kwa Zulu Natal
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
If God were to top off the beauty of the Drakensberg with an artificial gourmet treat, Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse would be it. This luxury retreat is owned by renowned South African chef, Richard Poynton. Guests (a maximum of 24) enjoy a nightly six-course menu of quality produce prepared innovatively and accompanied by rich, creamy sauces. Each of the 11 rooms here is decked out in a theme – from Tuscan to garden – and features quirky touches, such as a picket fence bedhead and Boer memorabilia. The experience comes at a price, though, but this is the one place worth forgetting the wallet…and the calorie count. (As an exception, we have not listed high-season rates her…
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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F
Rosehurst
Behind a rather chintzy gift shop in this lovely Victorian house is a delightful oasis – a quintessential English garden in the middle of ‘Maritzburg – complete with topiary trees, quaint chairs and tables. Relax under blossoms and pink bougainvillea while supping on fresh and very tasty salads, sandwiches and pastries. There’s good breakfasts, too.
reviewed
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Pesto
The red satin underpants and tea-towels in this Italian eatery’s window display would have you think ‘and what’s for pudding?!’ These skimpy items are not alluding to a striptease, but allude – or so we presume – to the washing lines of Italian villages. Needless to reveal, the pasta is fresh, tasty and very saucy.
reviewed
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Crossways
This Hilton pub-restaurant is the area’s original pub built in 1909, at, as the name suggests, the crossroads. It serves up good traditional pub grub with themed nights. Wednesday night is prawn night (R110 for 1kg prawns). An entertainment stage plus a kiddies’ room ensures everyone is happy.
reviewed
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G
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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Eaton’s on Eighty
This is ‘Maritzburg’s choice of gourmands. It’s mellow, romantic and draws a slightly older and sedate crowd, but the menu (which leans towards seafood dishes) is contemporary fusion and the dishes are creative and presented with a colourful zest.
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!)
reviewed
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Silver Spoon Café & Restaurant
Don’t be put off by the shopping-centre location or shop-like atmosphere. This unassuming cafe-restaurant in Hilton serves up a delicious range of snacks and meals. Locals rave about the seafood dishes. It also has internet access (R10 per 10 minutes).
reviewed
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H
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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Braza
Cuisine with a touch of Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique and Angola – at least that’s what this lively place promotes. It translates as good meaty dishes and grills, although a decent vegetarian platter is on offer (but not on the menu).
reviewed
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I
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.
reviewed
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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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Pot & Kettle
This attractive mint-green place draws the crowds who come to eat on one of three delightful outdoor terraces overlooking the valley. It has a large menu, and if you’re here on a Sunday, there’s an all-you-can-eat carvery for R85.
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.
reviewed
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J
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.
reviewed
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K
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.
reviewed
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L
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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Ile Maurice
For a special seaside splurge with a Gallic touch, try this chic eatery; it’s much bon gout (good taste), not to mention its reputation among Durban’s connoisseurs as la-place-to-eat-by-la-mer.
reviewed
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M
Afro Cafe 94
Less patriotic carnivores can get their mouths around 'world African cuisine': from Hluhluwe Impala salad to springbok loin and Cuban oxtail. This friendly African eatery is handy to several sleeping options.
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.
reviewed
