The Chairman

The Chairman is a jazz bar and live music venue on Mahatma Gandhi Road in the Point area, the old harbour district at the southern end of the city centre. The owner, the architect Ndabo Langa, conceived it as part art project, part social experiment and part restaurant and bar, and the space was designed by the young Durban architecture practice DGIT as a work of art in its own right. The result is a partly indoor, partly outdoor venue with quirky, eclectic decor that feels unlike anywhere else in the city.

Music is the heart of the place. The Chairman describes itself as a jazz bar, and it hosts live performances, concerts and album launches by South African musicians and music sets selected to match the setting. In 2025, for example, the pianist and composer Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane launched his eighth album with a live show here, and Kujenga performed a long Sunday afternoon set. Tickets for special events are sold through Quicket, so check listings there and on the venue's social media before you go.

The bar has a cocktail list with house signatures, and the venue has been used for talks and cultural events as well as music. It suits music lovers, couples looking for a sophisticated night out, and visitors who want to see a creative side of Durban beyond the beaches. It is an adults-only venue: events are restricted to over-18s.

Plan ahead. The Chairman has had a strict dress code, so dress smartly rather than in beachwear, and expect an entry fee on event nights, which has in the past been set against your bar bill. Opening days and times vary with the event programme, so confirm before you travel, and book tickets in advance for popular performers.

The Point has been redeveloped in parts, but some surrounding streets are quiet at night, so use a ride-hailing app or taxi door to door rather than walking. uShaka Marine World, the Point Waterfront and the southern end of the Golden Mile are close by for daytime sightseeing, and Robsons Real Beer's taproom at the Point Waterfront is nearby if you want an earlier, more casual drink before the music starts.