The heart of Durban’s entertainment world has a superb range of restaurants and pubs.
For a long time now, Florida Road in Morningside has been at the heart of Durban’s entertainment world. Over the past few years, it’s been undergoing not only a facelift, but also a change of heart.
Like all popular areas, Florida Road has had its fair share of ups and downs. Given that the road is almost an arterial route from Mitchell Park all the way down to Umgeni, it’s not only an entertainment strip, but also a busy thoroughfare. Add to that a slowly disappearing residential component as zoning changes are implemented, and an increasing commercial, retail, and hospitality component, and it’s no wonder this area is a high-energy precinct.
“Let’s go to Florida Road” has long been the suggestion for those planning a night out. The road has always had a range of superb restaurants and pubs, some with al fresco settings – from ice cream parlours to co¬ffee shops.
Jonny Friedman, CEO, Urban Lime Properties, has big dreams for the precinct in its entirety. Urban Lime Properties is working extensively with all players – particularly the successful Urban Improvement Precincts (UIP) programme – to introduce traffic calming measures, such as reducing lanes from double to single, extending public spaces, increasing parking and installing speed bumps. The company aims to raise safety and perceptions around security.
“We’re starting with the buildings we own, then examining the public spaces and how they can be employed in a public-friendly way. The Florida Road UIP has made great strides in cleaning up the area and promoting new ways of using public spaces with events like First Thursdays.”
His background and success stories around urban regeneration of no-go areas – from Shoreditch in east London (UK) to Bree Street in Cape Town – are legendary. Florida Road certainly wasn’t a no-go area, but it had lost its shine. Jonny has not only purchased numerous key buildings in the area (Florida Road has many beautifully restored listed buildings), but he’s repurposing many of them to fi t contemporary work practices and breathing new commercial life into small offices, communal work facilities and other buildings.
Residential property is largely in the upper part of Florida Road, mostly apartments and sectional title units. When you live in an entertainment belt, noise is inevitable, but that upper stretch has many commercial office buildings, so other than traffic, noise dies down after 5pm.
It’s exciting to see Florida Road reenergised and the mixed-use concept being reworked to meet 21st century needs – now young entrepreneurs have a place where they can make their dreams come true.
I’ve lived here for over 10 years now, and it suits me perfectly. I walk the dog in Jameson Park, I work five minutes away from here on foot, and, being on my own, I love to be in the heart of the action.
- Caron Smythe, resident.
Where to eat in Florida Road, Durban
- Spiga D’Oro: for contemporary Italian fare
- Dropkick Murphys: for a truly Irish experience
- Mozambik: for Portuguese cuisine
- Butcher Boys: for mouth-watering steaks
- Charlie’s Cafe and Bistro: for delicious breakfasts
- LoveCoffee: for great coffee and a game of 30 Seconds
- Lola’s Bistro: for locally sourced foods and craft beers
Florida Road attractions:
- Elizabeth Gordon Gallery
- Cecile and Boyd Interior Design Studio
- Mitchell Park
- Jameson Park
- Egg Designs
- African Art Gallery
Top schools near Florida Road:
- Durban Girls’ College
- Clifton Preparatory
- Clifton College
- Maris Stella School
- Durban Preparatory High School
- Gordon Road Girls’ School
- Morningside Primary School
- Curro Embury College
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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