On Thursday night I took a sneak peak at Umhlanga's newest hotspots, Boogie's Rock 'n Roll Diner and Raffles Nightclub. Hand-in-hand, these two venues are guaranteed to become the flagships of the Umhlanga social scene.

Situated ideally on the road above the beach where the new pier will be constructed, Boogie's Diner is a massive American styled family restaurant, seating 600 people over three stories. The open air rooftop has a stunning bar area with views over the ocean and plenty of benches, tables and umbrellas for summer.

Boogie's replaces the old Cloud 9 club, and Raffles is next door where Ice used to be. It's a nightclub catering to over 18's, with an upstairs area strictly for over 23's. The old cages from Ice are still there, but other than than it's been a major overhaul for the club which now sports very stylish décor and some nice clean carpets.

Raffles promises to play all the top dance and radio hits, plus anything from the seventies to the nineties; whereas Boogie's will be more focused on the American rock 'n roll era and you could expect to be listening to some old Elvis Presley hits while relaxing on the outdoor deck and enjoying the ocean breeze.

The partnership is ideal, especially since the kitchen at Boogie's will be staying open until 2am! This means that after a big one at Raffles you're just a few steps away from some drunken munchies. It will be a real blessing to not have to mission for miles for good food, or even worse, resort to a slimy hotdog or petrol-station pie when the hunger kicks in.

Speaking to Leon, the owner of Boogie's, I feel confident in saying his restaurant is going to be a great success. “The emphasis is on food quality and service” he said while giving me the tour. With many years of experience in the restaurant industry, it's no surprise that getting the basics perfect is his top priority: you create a comfortable environment with great food and pleasant staff, and business will never be slow.

I've been saving the best for last, so here goes: Lining the walls of Boogie's diner, over every visible surface and hanging from all angles is one of the world's biggest collections of music memorabilia. The highlight of the display is by far the hundreds of autographed guitars and accompanying photos that tell the story of Leon's life as he pursued his music career and met with the biggest names in rock 'n roll worldwide.

Walking around the diner is like being in a music museum, with little pieces of history everywhere. Every taste and genre is represented, from Snoop Dogg to UB40 and Seether, there's a spot on the wall for everyone. The full story of how it began is available on the Boogie's menu, so I won't go into detail here; but it is an interesting and inspiring tale of Leon's adventures in the music industry and road to success that eventually led to him owning what is essentially an irreplaceable and invaluable collection.

Ironically, live music at Boogie's is not an option due to their lease constraints, but Raffles is planning on hosting live acts. With so many great bands available in Durban, there will be no shortage of gigs at this trendy new club.

This motorbike at the restaurant's entrance is in perfect working order, as Leon demonstrated when he fired it up! So if ever you can't pay a bill, there's an escape vehicle right there. Use it.

The official opening party for both Boogie's and Raffles is on Saturday 26th August, so do yourself a favour and go check out this new spot! It truly is a stunning new addition to Durban's premier holiday destination.






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