2 Best Restaurants in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and Durban

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Durban's dining public is fickle by nature, and restaurants tend to change hands fairly often. But don't be discouraged—Durban offers some superb dining options, provided you eat to its strengths. Thanks to a huge Indian population, it has some of the best curry restaurants in the country.

Durbanites eat lunch and dinner relatively early because they're early risers, particularly in summer, when it's light soon after 4. They're also generally casual dressers—you'll rarely need a jacket and tie, and jeans are rarely frowned upon.

9th Avenue Waterside Restaurant and Cocktail Bar

$$$$ | Victoria Embankment Fodor's Choice

Durban desperately needed a first-rate seafood offering, and this upmarket restaurant perched at the scenic harbor delivers. Think crispy fried calamari with black garlic aioli and pickled cauliflower, grilled baby crayfish with passion fruit and lemon verbena coconut broth, and magnificent seafood pasta. The chefs also cater beautifully to vegetarians with dishes such as exotic mushroom and butternut cavatelli with vanilla and maple sauce, and mushroom gnocchi with sun-dried tomato foam. Everything—purées, clamshell bisque, cilantro gel—is made from scratch in the open kitchen, and seasonal sustainability is a core focus, with meat sourced from the Midlands, fish freshly line-caught from this very coast, and the comprehensive wine list supports female winemakers. It's one of Durban's finest gastronomic experiences, with excellent service to match. 

European Fodor's Choice $$$$ Lunch Dinner
9th Avenue Waterside, Durban, South Africa
031-940–4628
www.9thavewaterside.co.za
Known For
  • Harbor views
  • Fine dining
  • Seasonal cuisine
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon.
No kids under 12 during dinner service

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Mahā Café

$ | Beachfront Fodor's Choice

This casual café in the reinvigorated Point Waterfront district is great for coffee (especially if you’re averse to the crowds of uShaka Marine World) and a fancy breakfast that won't break the bank. Vegetarians will love mixed mushrooms with dune spinach on sourdough with nasturtium and sunflower seed pesto, while classic orderers might enjoy the herby pork sausage or generous croque monsieur, and the counter is always stacked with pastries and tarts.