the ocean terrace - the oyster box hotel

the best view ever! if you get to spend time enjoying your meal with this view, how can you ever have anything but a good time, the food, service and ambiance is amazing! i wish i could have this view every day!!!

i think we can safely all agree that this is probably one of thee most beautiful, friendly and attentive hotels in south africa if not the world. i really love it, it oozes luxury and opulence but not in a brash way. it's quite intimate and i love that about it. their omelettes are the best i've ever had. and that is a true sign of a good cook, if one can perfect the basics everything else falls in place. all their food is fresh and amazing, i loved the buffet. it was pricy but expected for such attention to detail and quality. honestly money well spent

we were staying next door at the beverly hills for our honeymoon and came to the ocean terrace for dinner one night. we sat outside on the beautiful terrace, with the sounds of the waves crashing, it was a lovely atmosphere. we ordered pizza and salad which were both very good. we told the waitress that we just got married and the kitchen sent out a chocolate cake that said "congratulations" which was a lovely personal gesture. the drinks choice was good and the oyster box is a lovely luxurious hotel.

over priced curry buffet. choice of curries was limited for non vegetarians. a sad selection of only 2 starters was available. food was also luke warm. compared to an indian restaurant the curry buffet is not worth it.

not a damn thing wrong here, amazing view, amazing vibe, great food. an awesome experience coupled with great service, everything was quick.

an absolutely gorgeous french colonial setting with a breathtaking view of the ocean. this place is defined by pure opulence and grandeur and oozes an air of royalty. rightfully so, being visited by the countless number of only the universe's most famous people!!! and my favourite, hilary swank.the smell of lamb curry and fresh hand made bread together with the countless indian dishes that were served reminded me of home and the smell of my grandma's kitchen. coupled with the exquisiteness of the setting and ambience, the service was impeccable. i highly recommend the indian dinner with an outburst of the most traditional and enjoyable dishes that are enjoyed by most indian families. the curries were cooked to perfection and the display of condiments to cool down and cleanse the palate was refreshing. i will be back for more of the divineness and spoils..thank you for an experience that reminds me of the finer things that are all perfectly matched together in one place:-) #mytopchoiceatpresent

beautiful experience! service was excellent, i didn't have to wait too long in between courses and the waiters were ever so attentive. the decor was classy and pristine. the view of the ocean is a real bonus as well. i thoroughly enjoyed all my courses- everything was well cooked, well seasoned, elegantly presented and packed with lots of flavour. it is a bit pricey, however it is worth it for an occasion.

oyster box, you have my heart. every time i eat here the service is exceptional and so is the food. my absolute best is ringing the bell when you see dolphins as well :) sadly i didn't take any photos this time, but i highly recommend the breakfast buffet, just book for outside as close to the sea as possible to get the best view. the prices differ whether you have the cold buffet or if you have the cold and the hot buffet, and the selection is impressive! as is their pancake/waffle bar. the price includes a bottle of water and bottomless sparkling wine as well. my absolute favourite place, please open a branch in jhb!

menu: curry buffet was top notch, the taste was outstanding and the selection vast.lots of condiments and side dishes as well. the staff behind the bar were helpful.

ambience: very beautiful, quiet and peaceful spot.

food: delicious


service: excellent, from the moment you walk in until the bill.

decided to try the breakfast buffet this time around and could not be more impressed. it's pricey, no doubt, but the spread is pretty amazing, the sparkling wine abundant and the service impeccable. for a treat or a special occasion, a definite must.

came for the curry buffet, incredible variety of top quality curries and an impressive choice of condiments. what a treat with stunning views of the indian ocean. definitely a must once in your life, you are guaranteed to return. the service is impeccable with highly trained, polite and friendly staff.

stunning setting with a beautiful interior, gorgeous views of the ocean and possibly the best curry i've ever tasted, i can see why the ocean terrace is a popular choice for a good, wholesome meal, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.

our first experience at this restaurant was breakfast. while staying at the hotel for the weekend, we had the opportunity to experience their buffer breakfast for two mornings in a row. although i've seen bigger and more extravagant breakfast buffets before, i was quite satisfied with what they had to offer. the usual cereals, yogurt, fresh fruits and nuts for the health conscious, a selection of cheeses and cold meats for those who prefer the continental type of breakfast, a hot breakfast station, consisting of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, potatoes, bacon, sausages and much more, and finally a pancake and waffle station, located outside on the patio. you can also order different types of eggs, eggs benedict and basically anything your heart desires at no extra cost. they also have a selection of teas, but i was quite disappointed in their juice selection. the only freshly squeezed juice they had available was orange juice, while the rest was made from those powdered mixes that taste terrible. given the tropical climate, i was really expecting there to be a variety of fresh juices, so i was a bit disappointed. otherwise, the food was good - nothing that wowed my tastebuds, but simple and satisfying.

but where this place really earns its stars is with its lunchtime curry buffet. priced at r350 per person, it's ridiculously expensive, but personally, i thought it was worth every cent! wow! words cannot describe the taste sensation that could be found in each of those pots. they have a huge selection of curries - probably about 10 different curries in total. i tried the chicken and prawn curry, the chickpea, butternut and feta curry, and finally, the vegetable curry. each was absolutely delicious! the chicken and prawn was quite hot, but not the type that burns all your sense of taste away. no... rather, it was the type that enhances the flavor and is so good that you can't help but dip your naan bread in the sauce to savor every last drop of it. the chickpea, butternut and feta was amazing, and i chose it because the ingredients where my favorite combination of things to put in a curry. i was not disappointed! since i don't like rice, i decided on the vegetable curry sort of as a "side dish". who knew they could make vegetables taste so good?! flavorsome and fresh, i did not regret it for one second. and their naan bread is also very good - you have an option of plain or garlic, and they quickly heat it up for you on the stove before you take it.

my better half wasn't feeling the curry vibe, so he opted for the oxtail instead. bad decision, as it seems everything on the à la carte menu is anyway curry-based (the oxtail sauce had some curry flavor in it). it came in a huge portion and was served with mashed sweet potato. it was served a bit strangely, with the oxtail being in a separate bowl, so you had to dish it out yourself. after sending the dishing spoon flying onto the chair next to him (his muscles were a bit uncoordinated after our massages at the spa), he finally dug into the meat, but complained that it was quite tough. so the curry buffet definitely took the cake!

going back to the flying spoon extravaganza, the staff are very professional and friendly. they immediately helped us with the chair (which was covered in plastic, so luckily no damage done). they're also very helpful at the buffet, helping you to dish up and explaining what everything is.

overall, an amazing experience! overpriced, as expected, but worth it nonetheless. i would recommend the curry buffet (served only over lunchtime) - it's the best i've ever had, and i'm not a huge fan of curries! i wouldn't say it's worth it to pay for the breakfast, but on a beautiful morning it may be worth it to come sit on the patio and enjoy the view. but do book in advance! they're very busy! to sum up, the perfect place to celebrate a birthday while enjoying some of the best curry in the country.

best dining experience ever in an idyllic setting. 
the food is absolutely phenomenal, the prawn curry was the best curry i have ever tasted. my husband loved their signature fish dish and the desert... how can words capture the incredible taste! 
compliments to the chef and the service made us feel like royalty. 
highly recommend a visit to ocean terrace.

amazing dessert. the ocean terrace never disappoints. loved the service which is always up to standard. enjoyed our stay and dinner. plus, the champagne is always something to go down for, whatever the weather.

lets start with the location, which in an awesome hotel in durban, probably one of the most luxurious hotels i've been to. since i'm a tourist and have no phone in south africa, i didnt called to book a table. the restaurant host first told me the restaurant was completly booked, so i asked if we could wait at the bar for a table and she said yes. like 2 minutes later she called us and said there was a table and i gotta say, the restaurant wasnt full. anyways, the setup was good and in tones of white and blue. from the outside tables you can see the pool and listen to the waves, because the sea is a few foots away. there were no starters on the menu so we skipped to mains. i ate the fillet steak with brandy and mushrooms sauce, william potatoes and spinach. i asked for my steak medium rare but it came almost well done, but they fixed it quickly and apologised. the steak was good, the sauce was amazing and the potatoes were almost on point (a bit salty). my brother chose a dish that came with fries and we could tell that were frozen fries and not hand cutted fries, that was the major flaw of the dinner. how can you have those fries in one of durban best restaurants and in a dish that costs like 300rands??? unacceptable! well the rest was all good and overall it was a pretty good meal! bit overpriced tho..