Britannia Hotel
A Durban Indian restaurant and pub famous for mutton curry and full bunnies — a city institution since 1962.
Trip Role
Ideal stay
Best for
Our take
The Britannia Hotel is a historic Durban institution that serves a reliable, classic mutton bunny chow. It offers a more formal, sit-down environment than the city's typical takeaway hatches, making it a comfortable entry point for the dish.
The Britannia Hotel is a historic Durban institution that serves a reliable, classic mutton bunny chow. It offers a more formal, sit-down environment than the city's typical takeaway hatches, making it a comfortable entry point for the dish.
- Trip Role
- Day Trip
- Ideal Stay
- 60 to 90 minutes
- Best For
- a sit-down introduction to bunny chow, historical atmosphere, mutton curry
- Skip If
- travellers seeking a quick, cheap takeaway or a modern fine-dining experience
- Go If
- You want a sit-down experience to try Durban's signature curry-in-a-loaf without the frantic pace of a takeaway counter. It suits travellers who value historical context alongside their meal.
Why it's worth your time
Durban's oldest Indian restaurant and pub — mutton curry and a bunny chow that's the city's reference point.
What we love
The setting distinguishes this place from the city's many lino-floored bunny dens. You eat your curry in a room with chandeliers and wallpaper, a nod to the building's past as a genteel hotel, which provides a unique, slightly surreal contrast to the messy, hands-on nature of the food.
What to know
The menu is extensive, featuring over a dozen varieties of bunny chow, including bone-on mutton chops. Expect your meal to arrive covered with a clear plastic dome. It is a sit-down restaurant, so service is slower than at a takeaway hatch. Check if you need a reservation, as this varies by day and time.
The full guide
The dining experience
Visiting the Britannia Hotel feels like stepping into a different era of Durban. Unlike the utilitarian takeaway spots scattered across the city, this is a proper restaurant with a history that stretches back decades. You will find yourself in a room that leans into its hotel heritage, complete with chandeliers and traditional decor. It is a place where you are expected to sit, order from a menu, and wait for your food to be brought to your table. The atmosphere is far more relaxed than the bustling queues found at smaller, street-side joints. It is an ideal spot if you want to take your time, enjoy a cold drink, and eat your bunny chow without the pressure of a crowd waiting for your seat.
The menu and the kitchen
The kitchen is famous for its mutton curry, which serves as the foundation for their signature bunny chows. The recipes are long-standing, passed down through the Moodley family who have owned the hotel since the early eighties. While the spices are no longer ground on-site, the flavour profile remains consistent and deeply rooted in Durban tradition. They offer a wide range of options, including the popular chops chutney bunny, which features bone-on mutton chops cooked with a heavy hand of ginger, garlic, and tomato. The bread is soft and fresh, designed to soak up the rich, spicy gravy. Do not expect a fork and knife; the dish is meant to be eaten with your hands, using the hollowed-out bread as your vessel.
Practicalities and timing
The hotel is located on Umgeni Road, and parking is available in the immediate vicinity, though it can vary depending on how busy the area is. It is not a place you stumble upon by accident; it is a destination that requires a deliberate trip. The restaurant is busiest during lunch hours, particularly on weekdays when local workers and regulars fill the tables. If you are planning a visit, it is worth checking if the restaurant is hosting any events or if it is a particularly busy day, as this can affect wait times and table availability. It fits well into a day spent exploring the city's Indian heritage, serving as a substantial, reliable anchor for a meal before or after visiting nearby markets or historical sites.
Before you book
Questions Britannia Hotel always raises
- Is the Britannia Hotel a takeaway spot?
- No, it is a sit-down restaurant. While you can certainly order food, the experience is designed for dining in at a table rather than grabbing a quick takeaway through a hatch.
- What is the best thing to order here?
- The mutton curry bunny chow is the institution's signature dish. If you want something more substantial, the chops chutney bunny is a popular choice that features bone-on mutton chops.
- Do I need to book a table?
- It is advisable to check ahead, especially if you are visiting during peak lunch hours or on weekends. While you might get a table without one, a quick call can save you from waiting during busy periods.
- How do I eat a bunny chow properly?
- You eat it with your hands. Start by pulling off the 'virgin'—the cap of bread on top—and use it to scoop up the curry. Once the top is gone, tear off pieces of the bread walls to continue eating the curry inside.