Create meetup in Pietermaritzburgchevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
explore Pietermaritzburg Guides
bar_chart Trends in Pietermaritzburg
Best Food in Pietermaritzburg (2026)
Begin your culinary tour in the city center at The Tasty Table, 123 Church Street. This popular spot serves modern South African cuisine with mains averaging R150-R250. It's openβ¦ π½οΈ Where to Start
Begin your culinary tour in the city center at The Tasty Table, 123 Church Street. This popular spot serves modern South African cuisine with mains averaging R150-R250. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 9pm.
π₯ Street Food Favorites
Don't miss the bunny chow at Gounden's Takeaway, 45 Victoria Road. A hollowed-out loaf filled with curry costs just R45 and is a local institution. For samoosa lovers, the stall outside the City Hall on Longmarket Street sells three for R10.
π Hidden Neighborhood Gems
In the Scottsville neighborhood, find The Curry House at 78 Golf Road, serving authentic Durban-style curries from R80. Another gem is Mama's Kitchen in Woodlands, 12 Pine Street, offering hearty home-style meals like oxtail stew for R120.
π° Local Prices
A typical meal at a mid-range restaurant costs between R100 and R200 per person. Street food options like bunny chow or samoosas are under R50. Budget-friendly eateries in the CBD offer lunch specials for around R60.
π Getting Around
The city's minibus taxis are the cheapest way to reach food spots, with fares around R10-R15 per ride. For a more comfortable option, use Uber or Bolt, which cost roughly R30-R60 for short trips within the city center.
π Best Evening Spots
For dinner with a view, head to The View Restaurant at 1 President Road, open until 10pm. Their grilled linefish with lemon butter is a standout at R180. Alternatively, try The Local Grill on Boshoff Street, known for its steaks and craft beer selection, with mains from R160.
π° Sweet Treats
Indulge in a slice of milk tart at The Daily Bread Bakery, 67 Burger Street, for R25. For artisanal ice cream, visit Sweet Earth on Church Street, where a double scoop costs R35 and flavors include amarula and rooibos.
π₯ Vegetarian Options
The Green Bowl at 34 Loop Street offers a rotating menu of vegan and vegetarian dishes, with mains around R90. Their Buddha bowl is a favorite. Another option is Earth Cafe on Commercial Road, serving plant-based burgers and smoothies from R70.
nice guide, covers the basics well. one thing i'd add for the scottsville crowd is the bunny chow at Patel's on Boom Street, like someone mentioned, but also their dhal soup on a rainy day is legit - R20 for a bowl and they'll throw in a roti if you ask nice
for breakfast, skip The Daily Bread and go to The Batch on Boshoff Street like that other person said, but also their bacon and egg roll is R35 and they use proper free-range eggs from a farm outside town. opens at 6am weekdays so it's good before work
the green bowl is decent but if you're vegetarian and want something heartier, try the veggie curry at The Curry House on Golf Road - they do a thali for R85 that comes with three veg curries, rice, roti, and a little bit of sweet dhal. fills you up proper
one spot the guide totally missed is the pie shop on Burger Street near the taxi rank, been there for 30 years. their steak and kidney pie is R22 and they still make the pastry by hand. cash only though so come prepared
The guide's got it right about Gounden's, but if you're after bunny chow on a Sunday when they're closed, head to Patel's on Boom Street. Their mutton curry is slightly sweeter than Gounden's, and they'll do a half-bunny for R25 if you're not starving.
One thing missing from the street food section is the samoosas from the Muslim community on Victoria Road near the mosque on Fridays after prayers. They're smaller than the City Hall ones, about R1 each, and the mince filling has a proper kick to it. Get there before 1pm or they sell out.
For sweet treats, I'd swap The Daily Bread for The Batch on Boshoff Street. Their koeksisters are R15 each and they make them fresh every morning, sticky enough to ruin your shirt but worth it.
solid guide honestly, the Tasty Table is good but if you want proper value for money hit up The Curry House on a Tuesday - they do a lunch special for R70 that includes rice, a curry, and a side of sambals. that's basically half price compared to their regular menu and the portions are huge
also worth mentioning is the roti from the little halal spot on Church Street opposite the library, it's not in the guide but they make them fresh to order for R15 each and the dhal puri is the best i've had outside Durban. opens at 7am weekdays and there's always a queue by 8
for the evening crowd, The Local Grill is solid but honestly the steak at The Butcher's Block on Langalibalele Street is better and about R20 cheaper - their ribeye at R140 comes with a proper salad and chips, no weird add-on charges like some places do
Getting around Pietermaritzburg next month
honestly minibus taxis are a vibe if you know where ur going and can handle the chaos, but for a visitor they're a headache unless you've got a local friend to guide you. uber is solid for most of the main areas like the city centre, boshoff street, and even up to chase valley, but it gets iffy after 9pm or if you're heading into the townships. if you're here for a week, just grab a rental from the airport or the one on commercial road, it's like R300 a day and you'll have way more freedom to hit places like the botanical gardens or a quick drive up to howick falls
Uber works fine in the city centre and Cleland area but gets spotty closer to Edendale or Imbali. Minibus taxis are cheap and everywhere but they have fixed routes and can be chaotic if you don't know the stops. Honestly if you're only here for a week just stick with Uber or rent a car from the airport, it'll save you time and confusion
tbh if you're comfortable with a bit of a learning curve the minibus taxis are dirt cheap like R10 a ride and they run everywhere but yeah you gotta know the route numbers or you'll end up lost. uber is fine for most spots but it's not as quick as the taxis during peak times. if you're staying near the city centre you could even walk to a lot of stuff like the old jail or the museum, just keep an eye out after dark