In the lead up to the much anticipated opening of the Tintswalo Summer House boutique hotel in April 2026, the on-site restaurant, The Summer House Eatery is already open, welcoming diners for lunch and dinner.
Located in the seaside village of Glencairn (Cape Town), it is the latest addition to the Tintswalo Collection and another milestone in Tintswalo’s ongoing commitment to distinctive, warm and character-rich hospitality. Following meticulous renovation and design, the historical hotel has been reimagined as a luxurious seaside destination that honours its heritage and embraces contemporary sophistication.
The restaurant, Summer House Eatery opened in December (2025), serving fresh, honest and uncomplicated food in a relaxed seaside setting. With décor inspired by the charm of classic French bistros, it is a space where European history and elegance is celebrated alongside South African spirit and soul. Restaurant interiors blend sea views on one side, opposite a feature-wall of antique dinner plates, each one whispering a story of meals long savoured.
The menu is a celebration of the Cape Peninsula’s rich cultural tapestry, presented through a Mediterranean lens. An open-fire dining concept is at the heart of the space, inviting diners to feast as the chefs turn flame into flavour. Coastal-inspired cuisine is brought to the table by Head Chef Thando Jaxa and his team, including steaks, prawns, fresh salads and vegetable dishes. Made for sharing, the cuisine champions the bounty of the Western Cape and its passionate farmers, artisans, and the coastal waters. Chef Thando’s favourite dishes include a large pot of classic moules-frites; the 1.2kg Black Angus, dry-aged T-bone alla Fiorentina-style; and the Cape Malay-style chicken served with curried yoghurt.
Sommelier and Joint General Manager Jabu Ngwenya takes pride in a curated cocktail and wine list that features an extensive variety of wine cultivars and regions, alongside a range of quality house wines produced by Lomond Wine Estate in the cool climate Cape Agulhas region.
Adjacent to the restaurant, the Sports Bar remains a much-loved feature, retaining its vintage charm with black-and-white checkered floors, an antique fireplace, weathered textures, and a beautifully crafted timber bar counter. Opening onto the terrace with sea views, it’s where the locals meet for a drink, watch a game, and enjoy relaxed fare such as classic fish and chips, a pressed beef burger, or the signature prawn roll.
Head chef Thando Jaxa believes that Mother Nature should take the lead when it comes to flavour. His career started in the scullery of the Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel in 2000 at the age of 17, from where he was promoted to Commis Chef, Chef de Partie and Sous Chef within the Southern Sun Hotel Group. In 2017 he joined Tintswalo Atlantic as Senior Sous Chef, successfully transitioning to the fine-dining environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic he started his own catering and takeaway business with his wife, also catering for private functions. In 2021, he joined Life and Brand as a Brand Chef, gaining invaluable experience overseeing five kitchens, before returning to Tintswalo a year later to take over the kitchen of the (then) newly acquired Deep South Eatery – now redesigned and reinvented as The Summer House Eatery.
Restaurant bookings are available via Dineplan.
OPENING APRIL 2026: TINTSWALO SUMMER HOUSE
A luxurious new destination on Cape Town’s Southern Peninsula, Tintswalo Summer House will be opening in April 2026, promising a serene escape that celebrates the stunning natural beauty of the area.
Originally established in 1904 as the iconic Glencairn Southern Right Hotel, the property was a celebrated landmark of coastal elegance and a meeting place for dignitaries and notable public figures. Over the decades, the hotel fell into disrepair and lost its former grandeur. In 2014 Tintswalo acquired the historic building, initially operating it as a restaurant only, while researching and planning the full restoration.
Overlooking sweeping views of False Bay, Tintswalo Summer House is dressed in eye-catching ‘Tintswalo pink’. Offering 12 individually styled guest suites, the vibrant and colourful interiors of the meticulously restored heritage villawere designed by Camlyn Johnson, further growing the third-generation family business as head of Tintswalo Interiors, alongside her gran Gaye Corbett, and mom, Tintswalo CEO Lisa Goosen.
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