The Portswood

We had an overall good experience here and therefore I'd say this is a solid choice of hotel for anyone considering staying in the vicinity of the V&A Waterfront. All of the staff members are wonderfully friendly and helpful. The breakfast was decent (nice selection of breads and danishes, yogurt and fruit station, eggs to order, waffles, hot and cold meats, and other stuff like beans and hash browns, etc.), but room service was awesome (I recommend the Harissa Chicken and Butternut & Feta Salad). Despite a high tech check-in experience where a touch screen monitor was used to self-input my info, the hotel overall had an old-fashioned feel to it. For example, we stayed at another place in Joburg a week prior that had smart TVs that allowed us to cast video from our phones which enabled us to watch Netflix in the room. This place has nice flatscreens but they aren't smart. The room was nice, but felt a little cramped / on the small side. The blind in the window was a tad weird, I couldn't figure out how to furl it back up in the mornings after pulling it down in the evenings. But that's just being nit-picky, it's a perfectly nice hotel and I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay. Read less

We stayed here for 5 days with another couple we were travelling with. Excellent staff, very happy to help with anything, checkin and checkout very efficient. Food in the restaurant was prepared to a very high standard and beautifully presented. This is a lovely hotel, very clean and the beds were really comfortable, the shower was nice and hot. This was our 2nd stay here and we would definitely stay again, it’s just a few minutes walk to the V & A, Two Oceans Aquarium and lots of shopping and restaurants. We felt very safe walking around at night. The only thing I would mention is the outrageous cost of getting any washing done. It was more than double the cost than we paid elsewhere in our travels. Don’t let this stop you from staying here, it’s worth it. Read less

I Stayed at the Portswood a couple of days ago completely unplanned as our ship had been unable to enter the harbour due to the winds and was delayed by a day. The hotel itself is clean and had all of the facilities you would expect. The bar was well stocked however it took about 20 minutes for the barman to make a mai tai which was a comedy to watch but was completely unnecessary the bar man himself was very personable as was all of the staff in general but a Mai Ta was on the menu so its not as though he had been asked to make a drink he was unfamiliar with. I would like to mention the "Titanic" cocktail on the menu was rather good though. The girls in the breakfast room were particularly pleasant and efficient. The breakfast selection great and was included in the room rate. The hotel is well placed for the V and A however the 5 minute walk to the entrance 5 was on an unlit back street which was slightly disconcerting in South Africa during the evening. Unfortunately what spoilt the stay was the room I was allocated 103 which I notice has had a few comments about in review already. Although clean and appointed to about a 3 star level room 103 is right off the main lobby next to the business centre and opposite a staff area and toilet. The window overlooked the hotel and the only option to not have people look into the room was by pulling down the blinds which made the room dark and gloomy. The problem was mainly its position. All night and I do mean ALL night I was subjected to people talking outside the room, an alarm that was intermittent going off and the constant beeping of the door lock that was giving access to the office for the staff. It was almost as though there was not a door on the room, I could hear everything and I would be just getting off to sleep when another group would stop outside my door. On checking out I mentioned it to the receptionist and said that it was what had spoilt my stay and he said that he continually asked the staff not to put people in that room. The hotel was not full and there had been no reason not to have given me a different room. It is a shame but it would stop me staying there again and if it had not been for the staff that we encountered and their friendliness I would not have been so polite with the office when I checked out. Read less