Chante JVR

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Despite its name, there’s nothing mid about the Midlands. With its oak trees now fully embracing Autumn in its colours of red, orange and yellow, and its crisp air, the Midlands Meander has been a popular tourist attraction for as long as anyone can remember.

Located in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal, the attractions include many pubs and restaurants, accommodation, and fun activities such as birding, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and more.

Needing to visit our wedding venue, my fiancé and I decided to make a day out of it and take a trip down the meander, especially since I had never really experienced it before. We started with Notties Hotel, which Jeremy used to work at, and had a drink there. One of the oldest hotels in the KZN sports friendly staff and cold beer. Charlotte, the ghost that haunts the halls behaved herself while we were there.

From there, we popped right across the road to The Junction, an outdoor shopping centre with charming antique, furniture and clothing stores. We also discovered the Chocolate Heaven, a hand-crafted Belgian shop where we couldn’t resist trying a Kalahari Salt flavoured chocolate bar.

The Daily Bagel is a cafe situated in the middle of the centre, owned by the same brothers-in-law that own the Seattle Coffee Company. This artisanal bakery specializing in bagels, but also has a tasty selection of juices, smoothies, ice cream, and more!

They offer a wide variety of bagel types, such as plain, sesame seed, jalapeno and cheese, Everything, garlic and more. I opted for the salmon and cream cheese sesame seed bagel, which was amazing. Jeremy went for the Texan brisket jalapeno and cheese bagel. He later regretted not choosing the Reuben, which consists of pastrami, mozzarella, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, as he felt the flavours in the Texan brisket were lost because there was just too much going on.

Last on our trip was The Bierfassl. Just down the road, The Bierfassl is an Austrian-themed pub, restaurant and delicatessen known for their famous mouth-watering, crispy Eisbein. Now if Jeremy had mentioned this famous Eisbein, I would’ve saved my appetite. Nevertheless, this will definitely be the lunch option next time. They offer a wide selection of German beers, including Erdinger and Bittburger, as well as a selection of local beers on tap from the Nottingham Road Brewery Company, each named after a different animal. The staff were also super friendly and very helpful.

Our journey through Nottingham Road was a delightful exploration of unique culinary experiences, charming shops, and captivating attractions. The Junction and its quaint stores, including the enticing Chocolate Heaven, provided a delightful shopping experience. The Bagel Café treated us to a variety of delicious bagels and flavors, leaving us craving for more. Finally, The Bierfassl impressed us with its Austrian-themed ambiance and mouth-watering Eisbein, a must-try for our next visit. Nottingham Road truly captivated us with its culinary delights, cultural offerings, and charming atmosphere. We left with fond memories and a longing to return, knowing that this picturesque destination has so much more to offer. Subscribe to be notified of our next visit as we uncover more of this town’s gems.

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