Like any excellent tourist location, Durban has fantastic places to eat. There are incredible restaurants and cafes where you can find foods that will leave your taste buds dying for more. It does not matter what type of food you are looking for; you can be sure that Durban has what you are looking for.
The question is, what exactly are you looking for? Many great places would suit the palette of the most discriminant eater, but not everyone wants to eat the same things as others. Some like seafood, others like spicier foods, while others are looking for more Western-style foods. It can make your stay quite challenging to find the very best places to go to.
While this is not a complete list by any stretch of the imagination, here are some great places to find fine dining. The list should have one or two that suit anyone’s needs or desires.
Ile Maurice
If you are looking for a taste of the French Bayou, this restaurant is for you. This is a very trendy restaurant in Durban that features authentic Creole dishes.
While the flavour is spot on, the amount of spice added will not send you running for the nearest firehose to douse that hot spice. You can get the dishes much spicier, but the taste is made to give you the great flavour without the five-alarm fire in your stomach later on.
This is a very romantic restaurant to take that special someone to, and you will also love the wine selection. The location provides a great view of the water, and you will not find better service anywhere.
Bel Punto
If you are looking for a more casual-style restaurant with excellent cuisine, then here is the spot for you. Bel Punto has a great Sunday lunch, but all their other meal times are extraordinary as well. You will love the Italian cuisine at a price that will not hurt your vacation budget.
The restaurant is located right along the beach, so you get a great view, and you will love that you don’t have to come in looking fancy to enjoy the fantastic food. The Prawns Padella is a real specialty there, and you can be sure that the prawns come as fresh as you can imagine.
Moyo
If you are looking for genuine, authentic African cuisine, then this is the place for you. This is a great African Grill that provides authentic Moroccan and South African dishes. The food comes piping hot to your table, and the staff is amicable. This is a little more on the pricy side regarding cost, but it is well worth the experience. You will love the service, and the food is something special.
African Peninsula Restaurant
While the food is fantastic here, the view is even more spectacular. Built so that it looks right over the peninsula, you will love the cuisine and nature. Serving authentic dishes from the continent and fresh seafood, this is truly heaven on earth. The cost is also pretty reasonable for the service and food you get, and you will not find many better places to eat in the city.
Craft
If you are looking for one of the most out of place restaurants in Durban, Craft is it. It is not that it does not have good food. It is that this looks more like a Swiss Chalet than an African restaurant. This is also an excellent place for fine Italian cuisine, and you will love the seafood options here.
All of the pizzas are named after Saints, and this is a trendy place to go to, especially if you are a Christian. You will love the ambience and enjoy that you don’t have to go below zero to get this kind of atmosphere.
Café 1999
Café 1999 has been a favourite for decades, as they serve incredible meals in a very casual environment. You will find authentic Mediterranean cuisine here that is to die for. The grilled entrees are fabulous, and the way that their chefs can integrate ricotta cheese into dishes is something you have to taste to believe.
The atmosphere is also fun, as they play a wide variety of music from the region, and the restaurant itself has a very old-fashioned look. You will love it.
Impulse by the Sea
If you are a lookout for authentic Indian food, then here is your stop. Many people are unaware of this, but Durban has the largest Indian population outside of India. That means you can usually find great shops and restaurants serving authentic Indian dishes. This is the very best of them all.
The prawn curry is fantastic, and there are many tables on the sun deck where you can watch the sea as you eat. The atmosphere, food, and service make this a five-star affair for sure.
9th Avenue Bistro
An authentic bistro is heaven to many people, and this is one of the best. Located in the heart of Durban’s entertainment district, this is a great place to go to before you go to a show or after visiting a museum or gallery. This is the place where you will not go home hungry as their six-course tasting menu allows you to taste a whole lot of food items. You will be plenty full, and it is all good.
This restaurant has won several awards and with good reason. The dishes are unique, look spectacular, and the atmosphere is sensational.
Roma Revolving Restaurant
Like so many restaurants in Durban, it is the view that almost surpasses the meal itself. This is an excellent example of that. The Roma Revolving Restaurant is an authentic Italian eatery where the restaurant rotates as you dine. You will love that there is the most incredible view while you eat. Whether going here for dinner or lunch, you will not be disappointed in the sites.
