Living Room at Summerhill Guest Estate
The night I finally experienced the Living Room at Summerhill Guest Estate
(A Westville local’s confession about why it took so long)
You know those places you keep hearing about but somehow never get around to visiting? The ones friends whisper about in slightly smug tones. “Oh, you still haven’t been?”
For me, that place was Summerhill in Cowies Hill. It’s basically next door to Westville. Five minutes from where I live if you hit the speedbumps just right. I’d driven past the turn-off more times than I could count. And yet..somehow it stayed on my ‘one day’ list.
Trading M13 traffic for a green pocket of calm.
Westville is leafy and laid back in its own way but, a few minutes up the road, Cowies Hill turns the dial down even further. The roads narrow. Houses disappear behind trees. The air seems to slow down.
Summerhill Guest Estate sits tucked into that greenery. The kind of property that feels like it’s been there forever, holding a quiet dignity but without a trace of pretension.
The driveway curves past manicured lawns into a space that’s somehow both country house and family home. There’s a big wrap-around veranda, the sound of birds somewhere in the trees and, the immediate sense of…we’re not in regular suburbia anymore.
Summerhill Guest Estate – The Living Room is not just a restaurant.
The name The Living Room is deceptively simple. It’s not a themed gimmick. It’s exactly what is says, a space that feels like you’re being welcomed into a someone’s living room, just…with far better lighting and a….chef!
Here’s the thing, The Living Room isn’t just dinner.
It’s a tasting menu experience.
Five or seven courses (we did seven because… obviously) but, it’s also a conversation.
Not the awkward “so, what do you do for a living?” kind.
More like “Here’s what’s in season, here’s what’s growing in the garden, and here’s why we’ve paired this with something fermented in our kitchen for three weeks.”
It’s food with a backstory.
And, because it’s seasonal, the menu changes often enough that even regulars never get the same thing twice.
Summerhill Guest Estate – The Chef
Let’s talk about the brains (and hands) behind the plates. Chef Johannes Richter is one of those rare culinary minds who can make something feel familiar and new at the same time. His influences? German roots, French techniques, Japanese precision, and a deep love for KwaZulu-Natal produce. The devotion he has poured into Summerhill has truly built an award-winning (literally…they were Restaurant of the Year in 2022) restaurant and an experience that feels deeply personal.
Sustainability – not just a marketing line!
What I loved most? Sustainability isn’t a marketing line. It’s the way they actually run the place. Harvesting, composting, sourcing from small local farmers. Even the décor feels intentional with local craft and nature seeping into every corner.
Summerhill Guest Estate in Edible Chapters
Now…settling in for the show.
Because that’s what it is. A show. A slow, unfolding story told in edible chapters. We started with a welcome snack. One bite that felt like it had been invented just for that day. That hour. Something crisp, something creamy, something herby, all in one mouthful. No big announcement, no heavy menu explanations. Just…here, taste this.
From there, each course arrived with a quiet confidence. Not dramatic cloches or foams for the sake of foams. You don’t feel preached to. You feel included. Like part of the club now. In on the secret.
Wine or no wine? You’re sorted.
Wine or no wine? You’re sorted.
If you’re into wine (raises both hands), the pairings here are spot on. However, if you’re not drinking, you get equally thoughtful non-alcoholic pairings. Not an afterthought. Not “just juice”. Real flavour builds. Infusions, syrups…that make each sip feel as considered as the food.
Why it’s special.
Plenty of restaurants do tasting menus. Plenty of places claim sustainability. Plenty of chefs can do a nice sauce. But, the Living Room pulls off something trickier. Luxury without stiffness.
It’s not the kind of fine dining where you feel like you should have Googled “how to hold a fork correctly” beforehand. It’s intimate, relaxed and somehow still immaculate in execution.
And, it’s right here, practically in my backyard. Which is both thrilling and slightly embarrassing because it took me this long to get there. Let’s also not linger on how long it took me to write these musings after I had visited. We’re not talking weeks here folks. I…apologise.
Tips if you’re going
Book ahead. It’s not walk-in territory.
- Go hungry. Seven courses sounds like a lot but, the pacing is perfect.
- Ask questions. They love sharing the “why” behind each dish.
- Trust the pairings. Seriously, even the non-alcoholic ones.
- Leave time. This isn’t a quick dinner. It’s an evening.
For the locals (and the not-so-locals)
If you’re in Westville, Kloof…you know, the surrounding area, you’ve got no excuse. It’s close enough for a spontaneous splurge, special enough for birthdays, anniversaries or, just “because”.
If you’re from out of town, you can stay at the estate and make it a full experience. Wake up to the birdsong, have breakfast on the veranda, and know that the same garden your morning fruit came from was the backdrop to your dinner the night before.
My parting thought.
Walking out into the cool Cowies Hill night, I realised something, the stories I’d heard about The Living Room didn’t do it justice. Not because they weren’t true but, because this isn’t a place you hear about. It’s a place you feel.
It’s the stillness between courses. The earthy perfume of a just-picked herb. The way the lights inside glow warm against the dark trees outside.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best experiences aren’t the ones you travel far for, they’re the ones that have been quietly waiting close to home, just down a road you’ve driven a hundred times.
And now? Well, I’m the smug one saying to friends… “Oh, you haven’t been? You really should…”
Summerhill Guest Estate Address and Contact Details
Tel or WhatsApp: +27 63 529 1966
Instagram: @thelivingroomatsummerhill
Email: [email protected]
Contact Summerhill Culinary Estate | Summerhill Guest Estate
Physical Address:
9 Belvedale Road, Cowies Hill, Durban
