Florida Road, Durban

Harvey's, a popular restaurant on Florida Road.

© Dianne Tipping-Woods

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With its warm street vibe and unique, historic architecture, spending time on Florida Road in Durban is an atmospheric experience. Home to a range of restaurants, galleries, boutiques, studios and bars, Florida Road has earned its reputation as one of they city's trendiest streets, where people gather to shop, eat, drink, meet and hang out.

Stretching from Sandile Thusi Road to Innes Road, there are dozens of carefully preserved historic buildings on Florida Road, including typical Edwardian structures that are more than 100 years old. Contrasting with the urban buzz that emanates from the street's many restaurants and cafés, the nostalgic charm of these old buildings is another distinctive feature of this fashionable Durban street.

Many of Durban’s best-loved restaurants have a Florida Road address. Some well-known establishments are the Mexican-inspired Taco Zulu, RJ’s Midnight Grill, a great spot for late night dining, and House of Curries, where you can enjoy some of the authentic Indian cuisine for which Durban is famous. Harvey’s, opposite Mitchell Park at the top of Florida Road, is a good spot for afternoon drinks and cocktails that turn into dinner. In fact, there are more than 30 restaurants to choose from in the area. 

When the kitchens' close, the bars and clubs on Florida Road come into their own. You can choose between laid-back, bohemian vibes, chic sophistication and techno temptations at venues that stay open until the early hours of the morning. Take the same sensible precautions you would when out late in any big city.

Along with all the dining and entertainment establishments on Florida Road, boutiques such as Gorgeous and Luna offer fashion-lovers a wide variety of clothing to choose from, including collections from South African designers. The Stock Market, a gentleman’s boutique, is known to stock brands like Alexander McQueen and Puma, while Fashion TV on Florida Road is a café, restaurant, bar, lounge, nightclub and in-house retail store. Art lovers can explore the African Art Centre, the Artisan Contemporary Gallery and the Elizabeth Gordon Gallery on Florida Road or get a tattoo at Body Art, an up-market piercing and tattoo studio. There are also salons like Africare, where you can indulge in pampering spa treatments.

All these venues are just a taste of what this iconic street has to offer. Like the vibrant city of Durban itself , Florida Road is changing all the time.