Durbans Florida Road
Florida Road, a street of more than 30 restaurants, bombards the senses with the foods of just about every culture that has set foot in this port city. If you could reduce Durbans restaurant scene like a well concentrated stock, Florida Road would be the result, a delicious complexity of flavours and experiences with extra spice.
Mmm, delicious
Here you will find long standing institutions such as Christina Martins highly respected cooking academy and the eccentric Bean Bag Bohemia, and everything in between. Theres classic Italian at Marcos, Spiga dOro and Papa Giovannis, seafood at A Gruta, Asian fusion at Mo s Noodles and Baanthai, and a well aged steak at Butcher Boys. And it doesnt end there.
But dont blink, because this is an ever changing landscape of trendy eateries, cafes and bars. Yes, the stalwarts have their regular clientele built up over the years and are here to stay. However, the taste buds of Durbans young suburban set are fickle and quickly hunger for something new. Restaurant names, themes and colour schemes change regularly and what was the French Bistro last week could today be American diner.
Eat Beat
Perhaps South Africa is still unearthing its true food culture and this is as much about discovery as it is about marketing.
Only in the last 15 years or so has the pavement cafe society truly established itself. Before that, strict liquor licence legislation kept patrons off the pavement. Once those were relaxed, it was not long before restaurants spilled out into the subtropical sunshine.
Cafe society hits the streets
Florida Road rose to the challenge, built in 1890 and home two years later to South Africas first municipal horse drawn tram, it began as a residential area. However, over the last ten years a mixture of small businesses squeezed into many of the Victorian houses. A sensible town planning strategy ensured some fine examples of architecture were preserved.
Today you have many choices of where to watch the sunset through your tequila sunrise. Perch on a barstool at Goo Chi to the buzz of the Argyle Road intersection. Find sanctuary in Quarters elegant courtyard. Or slow the pace with a view of Mitchell Park from a wicker chair at Grill Room Cafe.
You may not get to try everything, but you certainly wont leave hungry
Mmm, delicious
Here you will find long standing institutions such as Christina Martins highly respected cooking academy and the eccentric Bean Bag Bohemia, and everything in between. Theres classic Italian at Marcos, Spiga dOro and Papa Giovannis, seafood at A Gruta, Asian fusion at Mo s Noodles and Baanthai, and a well aged steak at Butcher Boys. And it doesnt end there.
But dont blink, because this is an ever changing landscape of trendy eateries, cafes and bars. Yes, the stalwarts have their regular clientele built up over the years and are here to stay. However, the taste buds of Durbans young suburban set are fickle and quickly hunger for something new. Restaurant names, themes and colour schemes change regularly and what was the French Bistro last week could today be American diner.
Eat Beat
Perhaps South Africa is still unearthing its true food culture and this is as much about discovery as it is about marketing.
Only in the last 15 years or so has the pavement cafe society truly established itself. Before that, strict liquor licence legislation kept patrons off the pavement. Once those were relaxed, it was not long before restaurants spilled out into the subtropical sunshine.
Cafe society hits the streets
Florida Road rose to the challenge, built in 1890 and home two years later to South Africas first municipal horse drawn tram, it began as a residential area. However, over the last ten years a mixture of small businesses squeezed into many of the Victorian houses. A sensible town planning strategy ensured some fine examples of architecture were preserved.
Today you have many choices of where to watch the sunset through your tequila sunrise. Perch on a barstool at Goo Chi to the buzz of the Argyle Road intersection. Find sanctuary in Quarters elegant courtyard. Or slow the pace with a view of Mitchell Park from a wicker chair at Grill Room Cafe.
You may not get to try everything, but you certainly wont leave hungry