Durban - For the longest time, Florida Road has been feeling the love as Durban’s main street.
Even artist Lvovo Derrango said that if he could, he would buy Florida Road.
That’s just how popular it is and it has come to define Durban and the city’s night life.
But there is another gem of a street and it’s a five minute walk from Florida Road – Lilian Ngoyi Road – formerly Windermere Road. Named after the struggle hero, Lilian Ngoyi, who led a women’s march along with Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn during the historic August 9 march in 1956.
Here are FOUR reasons why you should spend more time in Lilian Ngoyi Road.
l Churchill House – 93 Churchill Road (off Lilian Ngoyi Road)
For some of the best coffee, food and quirky vintage finds, the Churchill House complex is a favourite for many Durbanites.
It’s where Italian hospitality meets a Bohemian vintage feel, with the Antique Cafe and its really good coffee and food.
A photo posted by Mague (@maguedesigns) on Feb 11, 2016 at 4:21am PST
Love shopping? The shops at Churchill House include Cadman & Bailey – vintage clothing and accessories; Flower Power with the most incredible flower arrangements; TBL Couture for vintage clothing and accessories and Vintage & Collectibles for antique furniture, vintage jewellery and collectible items.
For many it is Durban’s best kept secret.
l Love Coffee– 484 Lilian Ngoyi Road
As you drive up Lilian Ngoyi, you might miss a small wooden shop with a yellow heart on top.
But if you’re a coffee fiend, you know that’s where you get some of the best coffee in Durban.
For your to-go coffee, Love Coffee is the shop for you.
The service is quick, plus if you want more than coffee, you can get some of the best pastries and sandwiches supplied by some of Durban’s most respected pastry suppliers (Margaret Wasserfall is one).
Or try their new addition to the menu, their toasted vegan pulled “pork” baguette – a spicy BBQ pulled pork-style Jack Fruit with caramelised red onion and greens.
l Restaurants
Do you think Florida Road gets packed on Fridays and that they have the best restaurants?
Then you haven’t seen Lilian Ngoyi on a Monday evening.
Depending on your taste, you could go to Casablanca, The Address, New York, Luna Blue, Comida or Indian Connection. There’s also a quaint restaurant – The Barefoot Chef, which serves traditional African food.
Judging from how packed these restaurants are on weekday evenings, it seems Lilian Ngoyi Road is rapidly becoming more popular for the variety of restaurants that it has.
l Fashion
Granted, people love shopping at malls. It’s easier and there’s everything you need, but if you didn’t already know, Lilian Ngoyi has a number of great clothing stores, like Anthology and Willow at Windermere shopping centre, and Silomo’s Boutique at 453 Lilian Ngoyi Road – which caters for plus size women.
So, forget what people have said about there only being one street in Durban with everything you may need.
Lilian Ngoyi is enjoying popularity from the discerning, young and urban set.
Sunday Tribune