Durban’s successful Bike & Bean coffee shop group ends the year on a bullish note with the opening of its new Bean & Bistro at Durban’s Point Waterfront. The group, which began with one small coffee shop at Country Club Beach on the Durban Beachfront in 2013, now boasts four shops with the Bistro becoming its fifth. The Bistro shares space with the coffee shop which is in operation during the day, but from 17:00 on Thursday-Saturday, the beautifully renovated historical building, is also open for evening trading. The Bistro Menu is available to diners from 12:00 daily.
As the expanding Bike & Bean operation required a large kitchen for meal preparation to service the other shops, the large shop at The Point provided the ideal location. The beautifully restored, historic shed is an A-Category listed building built around 1900, that has been used for various commercial purposes since then. The restaurant was opened on 1 December 2021. In June 2022, a full-service car wash was added at the back of the building, to extend the customer experience. The energetic B & B staff do the honours outside, while customers enjoy coffee or a meal indoors.
Each of the five shops offers an eccentric, vibrant destination for diners to meet and mingle over the perfectly brewed cup of coffee and fresh baked goods and now a delicious, casual meal. The Bike & Bean ethos epitomises the City’s warmth and welcome, promoting an all-year-round outdoor lifestyle Durban is so famous for. It also encourages a renewed sense of community with each of the shops playing an integral part of the City’s regeneration and development programme and its vision for the future.
Viki Ferreira, the hands-on owner of Bike & Bean says “while coffee is at the centre of what we do, the community, starting with our own Staff, is at our heart. Even our suppliers are part of the B&B family.”
“Covid was extremely challenging for our business,” Viki continues, “but the amazing support, love and loyalty of our customers, built over many years and the trust in the Bike & Bean brand, brought us through and we’ve emerged stronger than ever.”
The History
The first branch, the Bike & Bean on the Beachfront has become a Durban icon, with hundreds of ocean sunrise photos having been snapped from its idyllic location. Situated at Country Club Beach, the facility was once a men’s toilet (yes, you read that right!!) before Bike & Bean took it over in December 2013, the ablution facilities having been removed some time beforehand. The name Bike & Bean was given as a bike hire service was previously part of the offering.
The stunning beach-side location completely embraces the outdoor lifestyle – from walking & riding, to running & roller-blading. The shop is a popular meeting point for athletes of all sporting codes as well as an integral stop …& sponsor…for many of the events on Durban’s sporting calendar.
Opened on 1 December 2021, The Forest Café Umhlanga, is also situated in an old building that once served as a men’s toilet! Nestled within the protected uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, The Forest Café offers a serene café experience in a tranquil coastal forest setting. The uMhlanga Boardwalk is managed by the Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) and supported by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife who manage the uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve.
The first 250 metres of the wheelchair-friendly boardwalk is made from recycled plastic and once finished, will provide viewing decks overlooking the beach and lagoon, while offering access to the beach from the boardwalk. The refurbishment and establishment of the Forest Café, has been made possible by the support of local businesses and the public. A percentage of the Café’s takings go back to the project and the long-term plan is to add an environmental education centre that will host nature-based activities including guided walks, canoeing, a bird hide and children’s activities.
With the best views in the City, Bike & Bean On Point Waterfront is the place to go for those looking for a great cup of coffee and a kaleidoscopic birds-eye view of one of Durban’s most popular tourist attractions, the harbour entrance.
“Something we’re incredibly proud of,” says Ferreira, “is our commitment to sustainable environmental practises. We’re constantly researching new eco-friendly products that are 100% safe to use in the food and beverage environment, but kinder to our planet at the same time.”
“To reduce waste and play our part in protecting and preserving our environmental, especially since all our shops are based in environmentally sensitive areas. This includes limited use of glass and plastic crockery, biodegradable take away cups, boxes, straws, bin bags and cleaning products that are eco-friendly. We are also actively involved in beach clean-ups and local community activities to improve and uplift the areas in which we operate.”
