The clock strikes 11pm. For some, this might signal the winding down of the evening’s activities. But for those present at The Chairman, the night has only just begun. The band members take up their positions, framed by the venue’s most enticing feature: a bright sunshine yellow painted wall with a portrait of an elderly woman holding a cigar between her lips. She has a distinguished look about her. A chic white doek adorned with pink flowers rests upon her head, and traditional beads hang from her neck. Her intimidating glare makes it difficult to tear your eyes away, at least until the live music starts, that is. From the mellow vibrations of the sax and bass to the booming bellow of the drums and vocals, the tunes emanating from The Chairman’s courtyard bar engulf every nook and cranny of the venue, hypnotizing listeners in a manner that causes time to melt away.

The Chairman is a posh jazz bar situated on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Durban, South Africa. As a restaurant, bar and live entertainment venue all in one, the site continues to attract an enthusiastic crowd of loyal locals. They await the weekend with anticipation, eager to get their next fix of the tasteful décor, traditional South African cuisine, creative cocktails  and smooth jazz. But the charm of the venue deserves to extend beyond its local allure, and should be on any traveler’s radar when visiting the city.

Founded as far back as 2014, The Chairman was born out of owner and architect Ndabo Langa’s vision for a venue that had slowly started to vanish from the city. Besides corporate events, Durban’s live entertainment scene was virtually non-existent. Langa noticed this gap, and acted on it by creating a new space for musicians to share their talent. As a project formed by a firm of architects (DGIT), the creation of The Chairman came with a focus on the urban regeneration aspect of not just the building, but the location itself.

The bar is situated along the infamous old “Point” road, a historically sleazy area which was often avoided after the sun went down. But to Langa, such gives The Chairman its charm, and what’s more, it is an opportunity to be an integral part of the area’s redemption. It is already on the right path, and with time can become a bona fide hub of proudly South African culture, art, music and food.

The Chairman’s location succeeds in throwing one off. With no prior knowledge of the establishment, you certainly wouldn’t expect much upon seeing it for the first time. From an outsider’s perspective, it is just another derelict building in Durban Central. But as soon as one has ducked in from the street, it is a whole new world. The entrance foyer’s red carpet leads you into The Chairman’s uncovered bar area, the centre of the activity for the evening. String lights trickle above, working with the night sky to create a dark, romantic atmosphere.

The interiors are the archetype of urban chic. More industrial elements such as the practical facebrick walls and wire suspended bulbs are merged with The Chairman’s handpicked collection of curious, eclectic ornaments and antiques. Rows of doorways visible from the outdoor courtyard lead into intimate, uniquely designed rooms which serve as the private lounges for each party. One of the venue’s more spacious lounges for large groups sees dark denim blue painted walls, a tufted black leather sofa, Persian rugs and mounted animal heads. And let’s not forget the immersive view of the street from the unobstructed floor-to-ceiling windows.

Early birds should rest up before paying a visit to The Chairman, as performances can kick off as late as 11pm. But once the music starts, you certainly won’t want to leave. The venue has hosted a number of emerging and established musicians, both local and international. Past performers include award-winning singer Nakhane, who whirled through The Chairman’s carved wooden doors in late 2019 during his You Will Not Die Tour, as well as afro-soul jazz artist Florence Chitacumbi and Nduduzo Makhathini, the latter being described by The Chairman as “one of the most prolific young jazz musicians in South Africa.”

The venue often attracts a more mature audience, and so great emphasis is placed on the incorporation of songs that will invoke nostalgia. The Chairman yearns to overhear their guests excitedly exclaim “I haven’t heard this song in years!” In 2017, sensational saxophonist Andrew Young and his band delivered exactly that, bringing an eclectic blend of jazz, blues and rock ‘n roll to the scene, and performing iconic tunes such as Hey Jude and Baker Street.

Owner Ndabo Langa envisaged The Chairman as a new, informal breed of jazz club. People of all ages, from all walks of life, come together in this atmospheric setting with the same goal: to unwind and have a good time. Instead of insisting on silence during the live performances, Langa is eager for the venue to be a social space, and encourages interaction and the fostering of friendships among patrons.

Anyone who is a regular patron of The Chairman is visiting for both the jazz and the juice. The extensive whiskey and wine lists include a range of single and blended malts, white and red blends, as well as Methode Cap Classique’s from Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Walker Bay and Constantia – some of South Africa’s leading wine regions. For those with deep pockets and a thirst for international luxuries, Cristal Champagne and Dom Perignon Champagne is also available to be ordered by the bottle – along with a hefty price tag, of course.

The Chairman’s cocktail menu features selection of creative concoctions, mocktails and recognizable classics. Their signature cocktail, the concurrently sweet and zesty Surrender Your Booty, is made with Bombay gin, Martini and Cointreau, and has pungent hints of ginger, pineapple and lemon grass. The vibrant and frothy Voodoo Child, another firm favourite, includes some of the same fruity flavors, but is instead made with a smooth and subtle tot of blackcurrant vodka. The Chairman’s more traditional offerings include Martini’s, Negroni’s and Margherita’s.

Although the menu features just a small selection of pizzas and bar snacks, the food here should not go unnoticed. The Chairman is as much an authentic South African dining experience as it is an entertainment one. Eat like the locals with the Shisanyama Pizza, made with a homemade chakalaka base and toppings of mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, barbequed beef steak and boerewors (a traditional South African sausage containing well-seasoned ground beef and pork). Translated from isiZulu, Shisanyama means “burn meat,” and is used to refer to the common South African social ritual of “bringing and braaiing.”

As far as the other pizza options go, we also recommend the Chairman’s Pizza with layers of grilled chorizo, peppadews, baby tomatoes, avocado and rocket, or the uThukela Chilli Prawn Pizza topped with succulent prawns caught from the uThukela river bank, and made ever so flavorsome and spicy through the additions of ginger, garlic, chilli and dhania.

For those who would prefer a light meal to soak up The Chairman’s potent cocktails, indulge in bar snack dishes such as the Coca-Cola and BBQ basted ribs or the Mozambican grilled prawns and chorizo. Although their vegetarian options are rather limited, all three dishes are great to snack on, or even to share between two. Construct your very own “veggie platter” with the likes of the chilli bites, crunchy camembert stuffed croquettes and creamy mushroom and risotto balls.

The Chairman is a one-of-a-kind live entertainment venue. Jam packed with an interesting history, unique interiors, the sounds of local jazz, tastes of South African gastronomy and cocktails galore, it is quite possibly one of the best places to experience what Durban nightlife is all about.