Durban’s restaurant scene is defined by its Indian heritage. The Indian community - descended from indentured labourers brought by the British in the 1860s - created a distinct curry culture that has evolved independently from subcontinental Indian cooking. Durban curries are hotter, more tomato-forward, and served in formats unique to this city. The bunny chow (a hollowed bread loaf filled with curry) is the city’s signature contribution to food history. Beyond curry, Florida Road and the Umhlanga strip offer a full range of restaurant styles. For the food culture background, see the Durban food guide.
The Curry Institutions
Goundens - Grey Street, Indian Quarter
The most cited bunny chow institution in Durban. A counter-service takeaway in the heart of Grey Street, operating since the 1940s. Queue, point at what you want (quarter, half, or full; bean, chicken, mutton, or prawn), pay, eat standing up. A quarter bean bunny from approximately ZAR 45 (as of 2026). No frills; genuine.
The surroundings are working Grey Street - not a tourist precinct - but perfectly safe during daytime. Part of the experience is the setting.
Patel’s Vegetarian Restaurant - Grey Street
The definitive vegetarian Indian restaurant in Durban, operating from Grey Street since the 1970s. Bean curry bunnies and vegetarian thalis at ZAR 60–100 per person. The bean quarter bunny here is widely regarded as the standard. Longer queues at lunch. Consistently recommended by Durban locals for authentic cooking.
Britannia Hotel Restaurant - Point Road
One of the oldest restaurants in Durban, operating from the Britannia Hotel in the Point area. Established curry house with a long reputation for consistent cooking. Bunny chow from ZAR 50; sit-down curry meals ZAR 100–180. The colonial-era building has character; the food is reliable without being innovative.
Victoria Street Market Curry Stalls
The market’s upper floor has several curry counter stalls serving bunny chow and curry plates at market prices (ZAR 45–80). Not the best curry in Durban, but genuinely decent and very accessible for visitors already exploring the market.
Mid-Range and Fine Dining
The Chairman - Morningside
A creative tasting menu restaurant on Florida Road focussed on South African ingredients and technique - KwaZulu-Natal prawns, Midlands game, coastal fish. The best fine dining in Durban for visitors interested in SA cuisine as a contemporary subject rather than a heritage one. From ZAR 600–900 per person. Booking essential; small covers, frequently full.
Bean Bag Bohemia - Morningside, Florida Road
An eclectic, long-running Florida Road institution - heavy furniture, world music, a menu spanning burgers, curries, pasta, and salads. ZAR 180–320 per person. More relaxed than the Chairman; the kind of place where you stay for hours. Popular with a mixed local crowd. Good cocktail list.
The Grill House - Umhlanga
A reliable steakhouse in Umhlanga with South African dry-aged beef and a broad menu including seafood and salads. ZAR 300–500 per person. Popular with Umhlanga’s hotel guests and local families. Good wine list, predominantly South African.
Roma Revolving Restaurant - City Hall area, CBD
On the 32nd floor of John Ross House - a slowly rotating restaurant with 360-degree views over Durban Harbour, the Golden Mile, and the hills behind the city. The rotation completes in approximately 45 minutes. The menu is Italian-international: pasta, seafood, steaks, at ZAR 250–450 per person.
The food is good rather than exceptional - you’re paying significantly for the view, which is worth it once. Best at sunset or after dark when the city is lit. Booking recommended, particularly for window tables (which all tables become, as the restaurant rotates).
Tashas - Umhlanga (La Lucia Mall)
A premium café chain with a good Umhlanga branch - breakfast, brunch, and lunch in a polished setting. ZAR 150–250 per person. Reliable for a good breakfast before a beach day. Popular with Umhlanga’s hotel crowd.
The Sugar Club - Beverly Hills Hotel, Umhlanga
The Beverly Hills Hotel’s flagship restaurant - refined East African coastal cuisine with a strong focus on local seafood. ZAR 400–600 per person. Best for a special-occasion dinner in Umhlanga. The views are part of the proposition.
Budget and Casual Dining
BAZ Bar - Florida Road
A Florida Road bar and kitchen with a casual menu (burgers, wings, wraps, salads at ZAR 80–150) and a reliably social atmosphere. Popular with the backpacker and young traveller crowd - many staying at Tekweni Eco Backpackers walk here for the evening. Good beer selection, affordable for Durban.
Spiga d’Oro - Florida Road
A solid Italian restaurant on Florida Road - pasta, pizza, and a reliable wine list. ZAR 180–300 per person. Good for a break from curry culture or a straightforward dinner without booking far ahead.
Indian Sweet Shops - Grey Street and Fordsburg
Not a restaurant, but an essential stop: the Indian sweet shops along Grey Street sell mithai (Indian sweets - barfi, gulab jamun, jalebi) for ZAR 5–20 per piece. Also samoosas (ZAR 8–12 each), which are the best value snack food in the city.
The Oyster Box Sunday Curry Buffet
A Durban institution that deserves its own mention. The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga runs a Sunday curry buffet that has been operating for decades - a broad spread of Durban-style curries, condiments, and sambals at around ZAR 350–400 per person (as of 2026). Non-guests can reserve a table. The setting - pool terrace, lighthouse view - matches the food. Book ahead; it fills up consistently.
Take a Guided Food Tour of Durban
Durban’s curry culture is unlike anything else in South Africa — and navigating it on your own (especially Grey Street and the Indian Quarter) is harder than it looks. The streets around Victoria Street Market and the mosque are perfectly safe in daytime, but knowing which counter to queue at, what to order at Goundens versus Patel’s, and how to find the best bean quarter can take several visits to work out. A guided food tour of Durban takes you through the Grey Street curry institutions, explains the history of why Indian indenture workers created this specific style of cooking, and typically includes a bunny chow tasting, a stop at the sweet shops for mithai, and a look at the Victoria Street Market spice stalls. It’s one of the most underrated food tour experiences in South Africa. See Tours & Activities in Durban to find available food and cultural tours.
Ready to plan your trip? Tours & Activities in Durban or eSIM for South Africa.
Quick Reference
| Restaurant | Area | Type | Approx cost per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goundens | Grey Street | Bunny chow takeaway | ZAR 45–80 |
| Patel’s Vegetarian | Grey Street | Indian vegetarian | ZAR 60–100 |
| Britannia Hotel | Point Road | Curry house | ZAR 100–180 |
| The Chairman | Florida Road | SA fine dining | ZAR 600–900 |
| Bean Bag Bohemia | Florida Road | Eclectic, casual | ZAR 180–320 |
| The Grill House | Umhlanga | Steakhouse | ZAR 300–500 |
| Roma Revolving | CBD | Italian/views | ZAR 250–450 |
| Oyster Box Buffet | Umhlanga | Sunday curry buffet | ZAR 350–400 |
| BAZ Bar | Florida Road | Bar kitchen, casual | ZAR 80–150 |
For more on Durban’s food culture, see the Durban food guide. For where to stay near Florida Road and the Golden Mile, see where to stay in Durban. Curious about Cape Town’s food scene? The Cape Town food guide covers the very different culinary culture on the other coast.