Are you on a quest to experience the best that KZN has to offer? Then you’re in luck because we’re highlighting the three Durban star restaurants that received honours at the 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards. These spots continue to produce excellent fare season after season, with their culinary teams leading the way when it comes to using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to create exceptional menus. Local never tasted better.  

The Chef’s Table (Umhlanga, eThekwini)

At this Eat Out 1-star restaurant, diners can look forward to a modern, seasonal menu that takes inspiration from the world-class produce found throughout Kwa-Zulu Natal. Here, the team has curated an inspired dining experience, where each element complements the next – from the handcrafted ceramic dishes to the natural and luxurious interiors, the beautifully plated meals and the wine cellar that celebrates South Africa’s excellent wines. A major highlight is the open-plan kitchen that allows diners to watch as the chefs make culinary magic.  

 

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Meraki by Charlie Lakin (Hillcrest, eThekwini)

With a Michelin-starred chef behind the knife, it’s easy to understand why Meraki by Charlie Lakin (an Eat Out two-star restaurant) is a must-visit spot in Durban. Charlie, born and raised in Yorkshire, relocated to South Africa after a successful career in Britain to further expand his culinary horizons. Now, he spends his time dreaming up fantastical food combinations using the fresh produce he lovingly forages from the Hillcrest area. In 2023, the restaurant was awarded the Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Award – a testament to the love and care that is given to every aspect of the diner’s experience.

 

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The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate (Pinetown, eThekwini)

Born in Germany and raised in Durban, chef Johannes Richter is a proud champion of Kwa-Zulu Natal’s produce, which he demonstrates in his creative menus for The LivingRoom. These menus combine the best that KZN has to offer with Johannes’ love of Japanese cuisine and his French training. Winner of the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award and a three-star restaurant, The LivingRoom features a constantly changing menu that is driven by a hyper-seasonal approach to cooking. Focused on creating a low-impact menu, the team use a range of ancient fermentation and preservation techniques to minimse wastage and get the most out of every product. It’s a must-visit.  

 

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Tyler’s (eMdloti)

Tyler’s is an Eat Out 1-star restaurant located in the coastal suburb of Umdloti, just north of Durban. Cuts are hand-selected, dry-aged on the bone in specialised temperature-controlled chambers, and prepared over the flames with nothing more than ground black pepper and sea salt. No basting, no marinades — just quality meat, treated with respect.  
 
The menu is designed for sharing, with generous family-style platters encouraging a communal dining experience. Guests can also visit the meat locker for a closer look at the dry-ageing process. A covered rooftop offers sweeping views of the Indian Ocean — the perfect backdrop for sundowners and long weekend lunches by the sea. 

 

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