They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I could not agree more. These 10 breakfast spots in KwaZulu Natal serve artisanal coffee, plates of decadent breakfast meals, and that relaxed KZN vibe. What’s almost better than an indulgent flapjack stack dripping in sticky syrup, is Durban’s warm tropical weather or the cool country air of the Drakensberg.
Also read: Top 10 romantic getaways in KwaZulu Natal
Sagewood Cafe, Pietermaritzburg
If you’ve joined the ever-growing group of ‘crazy plant people,’ then you might be in trouble when visiting Sagewood Cafe. You’ll need to walk through the Blackwoods Nursery brimming with all assortments of plants and flowers to get to the cafe.
A foodie’s paradise with a unique and delicious menu of breakfast items. If you’re more of a baked goods kind of person, their cake selection will have you salivating. This colourful, quirky, riverside cafe is the perfect Saturday morning breakfast spot.
- Location: Blackwood’s Home of Gardening Centre, 97 Chatterton Road, Pietermaritzburg
- Operating hours: Monday – Saturday | 8:00 – 16:00; Sunday | 8:00 – 15:00
- Website: sagewoodcafe.co.za
Make sure you also check out the best Hillcrest restaurants.
Freedom Cafe, Durban
Described as the heart of the Concierge Boutique Hotel, Freedom Cafe is quirky enough for a Mad Hatters Tea Party and classy enough for High Tea.
This restaurant is comprised of old shipping containers painted red and set between huge fig trees. The staff is friendly and the WiFi is strong, so you know where to go when loadshedding starts to get the best of you.
- Location: 37-42 St Marys Avenue. Greyville, Durban
- Operating hours: Tuesday – Sunday | 7:00 – 20:00
- Website: facebook.com/freedomcafedurban/
Also read: A foodie’s guide to Durban: 7 Restaurants and cafes to visit
Before we go on, you can also get breakfast at one of the spots on this list of the top Hillcrest restaurants!
But let’s continue.
The Olde Duck, Underberg
I grew up visiting Duck and Do Little on every Underberg holiday, a sweet restaurant with an animal farm worthy of a kid’s dreams.
It’s since been renovated and renamed the Olde Duck. There are fewer animals, but it still hasn’t lost its country feel. I have a few favourite breakfast spots in KwaZulu Natal, and this is definitely on this list. Set beneath big oak trees that change colour with the seasons and rolling fields spotted with dairy cows, you’ll love spending a morning at the Olde Duck.
- Location: Marlin Farm 3257, Underberg
- Operating hours: Monday – Sunday | 8:00 – 16:00
- Website: facebook.com/theoldeduck/
Foam
Whether you’ve chosen a smoothie, a simple avo on toast, or a decadent croissant, you’ll be eating your breakfast to the soundtrack of the ocean. This pet-friendly spot is situated almost on the beach and keeps going during loadshedding (a definite win).
Foam serves a delicious cup of coffee to enjoy with your breakfast, and the relaxed beach vibes will make you feel as though you are on holiday, rather than just out for breakfast.
- Location: 31 North Beach Road, Umdloti Beach, South Africa
- Operating hours: Monday – Sunday | 6:30 – 5:30
- Website: facebook.com/foamumdloti/
Valley Bakery
Picture: Valley Bakery
If you’re in the beautiful northern Drakensberg, then you’ll definitely want to stop at the Valley Bakery. Between large hydrangea bushes and tall trees, the restaurant/ deli is a relaxing place to spend a long, lazy morning. Sip on copious amounts of coffee, while enjoying a farm-style breakfast that needs to include their freshly-baked sourdough bread.
- Location: Valley Bakery, Cathkin Park, Champagne Valley
- Operating hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 – 17:00; Saturday | 8:00 – 14:00
- Website: facebook.com/ValleyBakery1
Neighbourhood Cafe
Picture: Neighbourhood Cafe
Within a boutique hotel in La Lucia lies a very Neighbourhood Cafe that serves an array of bagels, toasties, fry-ups, and fruity granola bowls. What makes this one of the best breakfast spots in KwaZulu Natal even better is that it has collaborated with its neighbour, Gatvol Coffee. Grab a skillfully-made creamy cappuccino, and then head to Neighbourhood Cafe for one of their delicious breakfast items.
- Location: 30 Braemar Avenue, La Lucia, Durban
- Operating hours: Tuesday – Sunday | 7:00 – 16:00
- Website: facebook.com/Neighbourhoodcafeandbar/
Beaver Creek
Picture: Beaver Creek
A trip to Beaver Creek must definitely be added to the itinerary if you’re ever in the South Coast. Not only will you be able to tuck into a delectable breakfast of your choice, but you will also be able to experience the coffee process from crop to cup through the tours they offer on the estate.
- Location: Beaver Creek Estate, Izingolweni Road, Port Edward
- Operating hours: Monday – Sunday | 8:00 – 16:00
- Website: beavercreek.co.za
Skyline
Skyline is a pet-friendly cafe with free fibre WiFi, made even better by its selection of pastries, baked goods, toasted sarmies, avocado on toast, bagels, smoothies, and more. It’s a trendy little cafe within Sage Centre in Salt Rock, always buzzing with friends catching up, families running in to buy the pre-school dropoff cup of coffee, and remote workers making use of the WiFi and relaxed atmosphere.
- Location: 1 Old Fort Road, Salt Rock
- Operating hours: Monday – Friday | 6:30 – 15:00; Saturday – Sunday | 6:30 – 12:00
- Website: skylinecoffee.co.za
Old Town Italy
Escape the country for a morning, or at least feel like you have, at Old Town Italy. This roadside restaurant serves a cracker of an egg’s benedict, scrumptious cronuts, and authentic Italian dishes. It’s not just about the food, as ‘here is where you truly experience the feeling of Old Town.
- Location: 39 Meridian Drive, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban
- Operating hours: Wednesday – Saturday | 07:00-21:00; Sunday – Tuesday | 07:00-17:00
- Website: oldtown.co.za
Mocha Mocha
Picture: Daddy’s Deals
This is one of those one-stop breakfast spots in KwaZulu Natal that you’ll definitely want to visit for a tasty meal. Situated in the Berea, Durban, they serve warm cups of cappuccino and delicious baked goods.
With its wonderful service, scrumptious meals, and stylish setting, you’ll definitely be back at Mocha Mocha soon after tucking into a delicious breakfast here.
- Location: 490 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Durban
- Operating hours: Tuesday – Thursday | 10:00 – 18:00; Friday | 14:00 – 22:00; Saturday | 10:00 – 22:00; Sunday 10:00 – 20:00
- Website: instagram.com/mochamocha.dbn
If you visit Mocha Mocha before 30 June 2023, you can enjoy two Village Breakfasts and a cappuccino for only R99 (real value: R130) on Daddy’s Deals.
Pictures: Jordyn Johnson
DEAL: A delicious breakfast for 2 in Berea
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