031 Bar & Restaurant

About 031 Bar & Restaurant

Durban's trendy 031 is this bustling metropolis' first craft distillery; famous for its gin and tonic and its vodka and lemonade, as well as for its range of craft cocktails. Situated in the hub of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, Distillery 031 is also home to the 031 Bar & Restaurant, which is open from Wednesday to Sunday. Its views over the railway line complement its chic urban interiors perfectly to create a fabulously intimate space in which to relax, sample delicious drinks and enjoy time with friends.

The 031 Bar & Restaurant serves gourmet food that is made even more delectable by the chef's choice of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Its signature style is dubbed ‘street food'. The menu is made up of delicious options like hot or sticky chicken wings, fries drenched in beef dripping and biltong, Korean fried cauliflower, Coney Island chilli dog, lamb rib burger, pineapple and bacon jam burger, and wild rice salad. This variety means that there is plenty from which to choose for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike, whether famished or just a little peckish. However, the menu is updated regularly, so these offerings keep changing.

Those with a sweet tooth can choose from firm favourites like chocolate mousse topped with popping candy, koeksisters with a lime syrup, and a banana split topped with Oreo crumbs.

The cocktail menu is innovative, and includes about six Bloody Mary variations, as well as a vanilla, baobab and ginger jar, and a number of champagne cocktails. Of course, there are also excellent local wines that showcase the wonderful array of delicious flavours coming out of South Africa.

Regular distillery tours and tastings are on offer for those that want to indulge in the unique spirits being produced at 031. It is essential to book these tours in advance. Tastings are held (by prior arrangement) in the tasting room, and an experienced guide will share insights and interesting trivia along the way.

The tour of 031 includes an introduction to the art of distilling and the Distillery 031 spirits, a tasting, a tour of the distillery, a delicious meal at 031 Bar & Restaurant, and a complimentary cocktail. For those wanting a little extra, there is the Distillery 031 Absinthe Experience. This includes an introduction to this unique spirit, the traditional "louching" ritual from a hand-blown French glass absinthe fountain, and touches of Van Gogh's and Manet's Paris.