No matter your mood or culinary craving, you will find a fabulous restaurant in Durban.
Garden Café: Market
Located in a quiet courtyard behind a classic 1930’s colonial building, Market is one of Durban’s best kept secrets. With locally and organically sourced ingredients, their quality cuisine will please even the most devout gourmet greenies. The menu has everything from vegetarian to succulent seafood dishes, topped off with award winning South African wines, freshly squeezed fruit juices, and coffees. Market is available for parties, functions, and weddings.
Reservations: 031 309 8581 / admin@marketrestaurant.co.za
Address: 40 Marriott Road, Greyville
Bistro: 9th Avenue Bistro
Winner of Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Award for Best Bistro in 2012 and currently ranked as the #1 Durban restaurant on Tripadvisor, 9th Avenue Bistro maintains consistently high standards and is a safe bet for entertaining work associates and overseas guests. The bistro has an upmarket edge while maintaining Durban’s relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy local and international dishes created with the freshest seasonal ingredients. The 6-course set menus are excellent for special occasions; offering great value for money and the chance to sample several dishes.
Reservations: 031 312 9134 / info@9thavenuebistro.co.za
Address: Shop 2, Avonmore Centre Ninth Avenue, Morningside
Italian: Marco Paulo
If you’re looking for an authentic Italian meal, follow the crowds to the buzzing Marco Paulo. With attentive service, fresh cuisine, excellent wines, and good prices for their high standards, there’s no question as to why this little gourmet bistro is so popular. While it has a friendly, down-to-earth vibe, the bright colours, glass and cherry wood tables, and old Persian carpets give Marco Paulo a stylish feel. Try the gourmet pizzas and signature pasta dishes, or opt for their wide variety of mains, including pork saltimbocca, steaks, and even chicken curry.
Reservations: 031 502 2221 / marcopaulo@mweb.co.za
Address: Shop 3, Accord House, 2 Golf Course Drive, Mount Edgecombe
Fine Dining: The Grill Room at The Oyster Box Hotel
For an opulent dining experience, The Grill Room at The Oyster Box Hotel offers first-class cuisine in a swanky setting. Start your evening with sundowners on the terrace before seating yourself on a white leather chair in the formal, yet intimate dining room. Aside from classic dishes like oysters Rockefeller, crayfish cocktail, and confit of duck, The Grill Room is also regarded as one of the best Durban steak houses. Complement your meal with an extensive selection of local wines, French varietals, cocktails, liquors, whiskies, and kir royale.
Reservations: 031 514 5000 / oysterbox@iafrica.com
Address: The Oyster Box Hotel, 2 Lighthouse Road, Umhlanga Rocks
Asian: Spice
While their name may imply that they serve only hot Indian food, Spice caters for all tastes. The menu is appealing and many patrons will tell you that they serve the “best lamb curry in South Africa”. They also have a special vegetarian menu available. The restaurant has a relaxed home-away-from-home atmosphere with a colourfully decorated interior and shady outdoor seating area.
Reservations: 031 303 6375 / spiceonflorida@telkomsa.net
Address: 362 Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere Road), Morningside
If there’s one more recommendation we can make: Book in advance! What restaurants do you recommend in Durban?
Feature image supplied by Market
