7 Best Restaurants in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and Durban

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. 

Though you'll be surrounded by the big screens of Hollywood Bets broadcasting live horse races and games, don't be put off. The air-conditioned restaurant, with a large covered deck and dedicated Bunny Bar for takeout, serves some of the best bunny chow in Durban. The mutton curry is hell-fire hot, and the broad beans (try to get there before noon) bunnies are legendary. Prepare to wait for a table, but you won't have to wait for long.

Located in the small suburb of Glenashley, just a short drive south of Umlanga Beach, this restaurant has an elevated position that offers diners a pleasant sea view, but it's the fresh seafood, prepared in unique and traditional ways, that's the drawing card, with excellent service keeping the place busy during lunch and dinner. For starters, opt for the sushi or the grilled Falkland Island calamari, served with your choice of sauce, followed by any of the seafood entrées, and if you have room, round out the meal with a panna cotta—flavors change daily.

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.

An unexpected find within a residential section of the Morningside neighborhood, Mali's is loved by chefs and locals for its broad Indian menu serving specialties from the North and South, like steamed idli with sambar, masala dosa, and vadai—dishes you'll be hard-pressed to find in many Indian eateries. Don't miss the mango lassi and good ol' favorites such as biryanis and tandoori dishes.

Perched at the top of the ever-popular Florida Road, Spiga is something of a Durban institution, and it certainly represents the attitude and overall feeling of Durban—unpretentious with an animated atmosphere that makes diners feel part of the crowd. The Italian menu is not always classical in its interpretation, but you can count on it being delicious and a good value (pasta dishes come in medium or large portions). The bruschetta di pomodoro is a good way to start, with lots of ripe, well-seasoned tomato on grilled bread, and the linguine di casa, made with prawns, olive oil, chili, and a Napoletana sauce, is perennially popular. And, if you enjoy taking your time over a meal, there are no overzealous staff trying to turn your table. Be prepared for a wait.

This beachfront spot serves a solid menu of great breakfasts, burgers, flat hot dogs, freshly pressed juices, and deluxe milkshakes. Try some of their 100% free-range burgers (or the veg options), wood-fired pizzas, or delicious breakfasts, which come in biodegradable cartons, so you can dine at the café or stroll and eat on the promenade.