Durban is quickly becoming known as a coffee connoisseur’s town with an explosion of top-notch coffee shops that serve some of the best cups of coffee on the east coast. If you’re heading to the seaside town and need a cup of java we suggest you visit our list of top ten coffee shops in Durban.
Tucked away in the scenic hills of Hillcrest is a magical coffee place that coffee lovers swear by. Started by Craig Charity in 2012, the brand boasts its own coffee roaster with its own coffee brand; Lineage Coffee. The airy interior with rustic wooden finishes has a distinct steampunk vibe that fits in perfectly with the green hills of Hillcrest. The coffee shop boasts an array of awards including first place in Durban’s coveted KZN Café Society Awards for the best coffee in 2016 and best barista personality. Described as a coffee with a “chocolatey aftertaste” that stays in your mouth long after you finish, this coffee shop is well worth the drive into the hills.
If you’re at one of the two gyms located at Moses Mabhdia Stadium, chances are you’ve caught a whiff of the great coffee at Jacksonville. Their beans are sourced from a roaster coffee merchant, and with excellent coffee that’s not milky and served in Crueset crockery, you can be sure you’re sipping on some of Durban’s finest. Silbert the barista is a hit with customers and the service is always friendly and fresh. They open super early for those heading to the gym and offer a range of healthy snacks. They have a branch in Durban’s Florida Road too.
This quirky little coffeeshop with a quaint garden is fast gaining traction as a coffee hotspot in Durban. Located in the trendy area between suburban Morningside and the vibey Station Precinct, this adorable coffee shop has quickly become a local favorite. With mismatched antique cutlery and crockery, a beautiful little garden, detailed wallpaper, and a series of bookshelves for perusing, this is one coffee shop in Durban that has gone out of its way to make the entire coffee shop experience a real journey. And beside the spectacular décor, the menu is a treat with not only healthy options but interesting meals, with Moroccan lamb flatbreads, spicy chicken salads, and sweet potato chips to die for. But, of course, it’s really only the coffee that matters, and with the best chocochino and beesting cake in the city and a second place position in the KZN Café Society Awards for best coffee, Antiques is well on its way to being the number one spot in Durban for coffee with a touch of quirk.
Another popular coffee spot in Durban is Bean Green, which has consistently featured throughout the years in the KZN Café Society Awards for best cappuccino. This father-daughter duo roast their own Ethiopian beans on site, so that you can taste the smell even from across the road. Located on trendy Helen Joseph Road, this quirky little shop boasts art work for sale, wooden finishes, and a great barista. Daughter Mel even started a national coffee magazine popular in most coffee shops. It’s a rock solid coffee place in the heart of Durban.
While it’s still fairly new to the coffee scene, Bike & Bean has become a well-known fixture on the Durban beachfront near the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Taking advantage of the reinvigorated Durban landscape and the world cup developments, this kiosk offers bike rental and good coffee, which you can make the most of on Durban’s beachfront promenade. With consistently good coffee sourced from roasters like Colombo, this unassuming coffee spot not only offers a good cuppa but also one of the best views in the city.
This funky little coffee shop in the heart of suburban Glenwood has built up a reputation for consistently good coffee with a great vibe and friendly staff. Located below a block of flats, this residential coffee spot is a quiet retreat from the business of everyday life with quirky interiors that include a rustic coffee bar interior and an eco-friendly conscience. This laid-back spot is small with a range of light snacks but its full of heart and has a regular customer base. They also have a branch in Umhlali down the coast in Ballito.
The ultimate coffee shop, this roaster now based in Durban North has everything a coffee lover would want. First there’s the excellent coffee and then there’s a range of coffee equipment and beans on sale. The friendly staff are always willing to explain the coffee process to you and offer tours, cuppings, french press, cold brews, and well, any coffee information you require. It’s good coffee with a laid-back atmosphere and free wifi.
A surprise winner, this new burger joint in Musgrave has been known for consistently good burgers but coffee lovers swear by their coffee, with the owners investing in professional barista training and good coffee beans sourced from roasters. With a laid-back funky vibe and some kick-ass cronuts (that sell out early), this little shop is quickly making a name for itself for not only good food but also good coffee.
Coffee connoisseurs swear by this low-key little street shop in Windermere Road. With edgy décor, wooden finishings, and a little garden in the back, this coffee shop boasts a consistently perfect flat white that keeps its customers coming back. While the staff could be a little more friendly, we think the cool snacks and consistently great coffee make up for it.
Noble Coffee is a specialty coffee bar and roaster hidden in the bustling streets of the city off Umgeni road on the first floor in one of the city’s oldest art galleries, artSpace. You can smell the aroma of the coffee as you climb the stairs to the entrance. Part of the grab-and-grow coffee culture in Durban, this vibey coffee spot boats minimalist interiors with large factory windows that look into the gallery and keep the factory atmosphere. It’s good strong coffee with an artsy edge.
