These popular restaurants are coming to Durban’s famous Golden Mile

A major redevelopment on Durban’s Golden Mile is moving ahead, with more than R70 million in private investment already secured and total investment expected to approach R100 million once tenant fit-outs are completed.

The eThekwini Municipality has confirmed that preferred bidder Imvusa (Pty) Ltd will redevelop Durban’s 137 Lower Marine Parade, expanding the site’s commercial space and bringing several well-known food and hospitality brands to the beachfront.

Construction is expected to start in January 2027, once the remaining planning processes and lease agreements have been completed.

Commercial space more than doubles with new restaurants

The redevelopment will increase the site’s usable commercial footprint from 1 700m² to 4 000m², a massive 135% increase.

Several leases have already been signed, with restaurant brands including Steers, Fishaways, Debonairs Pizza, Wimpy, Milky Lane, Nonna’s Riviera and Perere by Gushima set to operate at the site.

The development will also mark the first Durban location for Nonna’s Riviera, which currently has a presence in Johannesburg.

The addition of more food and hospitality offerings comes as the Golden Mile continues to attract large numbers of visitors.

The beachfront promenade recorded 17.45 million pedestrian movements during 2025, representing a 20% increase in a single year.

That momentum has continued in 2026, with 11.25 million pedestrian movements recorded between January and September.

The municipality says the redevelopment is part of its wider programme to attract private-sector investment to the Golden Mile and support the continued growth of the beachfront.

Hundreds of jobs expected

The project is also expected to significantly increase employment at the site. Permanent positions are set to double from around 85 to approximately 170 once the redevelopment is operational.

Nonna’s Riviera alone is expected to create 33 jobs, while a further 80 temporary jobs will be created during construction.

This means the project is expected to support more than 250 jobs across construction and permanent operations.

When will the development open?

The project was originally scheduled to begin construction in June 2026, but the start was pushed back while legal proceedings relating to vacant possession were finalised.

The remaining occupants are required to vacate the site by 15 January 2027, with handover expected immediately afterwards.

Construction is then scheduled to begin in January, with the development targeting an opening during the 2027/28 festive season.