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Swimming pool and building patio at dusk in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Portswood Hotel

Cape Town | South Africa
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Former Prison Hotel at the V&A Waterfront

The Portswood Hotel stands at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront, in a building with a long maritime past. The Nelson Mandela Gateway for Robben Island and the Two Oceans Aquarium are a short walk away, and the hotel itself has a pool and the Quarter Kitchen restaurant.

Always greeted by the friendly staff, making you feel like an old friend. The unique history of the hotel contributes to a special experience, staying in a former prison, older than 300 years. Tastefully decorated with maritime paintings and small artifact. A lovely place to stay with easy access to the V&A Waterfront and yet quiet enough to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

Amanda Hamann - Amanda Hamann - Tour Guide Since 2006 (THETA Registration No: WC7629)

Price Per Person Sharing From:

USD 112 - 153
Hotel bedroom interior with a striped accent wall, double bed, and armchairs.

Highlights & What to Expect

  • Prime position at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront.
  • Quarter Kitchen restaurant with Cape Malay–inspired dishes.
  • Outdoor pool and the Link Bar and Terrace.
  • Nautical-style rooms a short walk from the Waterfront’s shops.
  • Minutes to the Nelson Mandela Gateway for Robben Island tours.
  • Easy access to Table Mountain, Two Oceans Aquarium, and city sights.
  • Walking distance to the Waterfront’s restaurants and the Clock Tower.

Our Tours & Safaris that visit The Portswood Hotel

More South Africa Hotels

Overview of The Portswood Hotel

Portswood Road runs along the edge of the Waterfront, and the hotel stands at its entrance.

Location & Setting

Table Mountain and the city center are a short ride away, and the Atlantic Seaboard beaches are close. The sheltered pool and quiet courtyards feel a world away from the Waterfront crowds.

The building has a past of its own: the lobby and restaurant are built around a well about 300 years old and the cells that once held prisoners bound for Robben Island. Today the island ferries leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway a short walk away, and the hotel is a regular base on our Cape Town tours.

Rooms

Rooms are comfortable and nautical in style, with air-conditioning, satellite TV, tea and coffee and Wi-Fi.

Facilities

There is an outdoor swimming pool, the Link Bar and Terrace, and the Quarter Kitchen restaurant with an à la carte menu. The front desk helps with Waterfront dinner bookings, Robben Island ferry times and city outings.

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White car parked under an entrance canopy with a valet at the doorway.
Lounge area with fabric seating, a newspaper rack, and framed wall art.
Tiled washroom featuring a bathtub, dark vanity, and shower enclosure.
Waiter pouring tea for a guest in a garden dining space.
Reception desk with staff assisting guests beneath historical wall maps.
Hotel suite featuring a blue couch and coffee table in front of the bed.
Two champagne glasses and a wine bucket on a bedside table.
Chef arranging fresh bread rolls at a breakfast buffet counter.

Amenities

  • Accommodations

    101

  • Airport Transfers

  • Bar & Lounge

  • Restaurant

  • Swimming Pool

  • Concierge Service

  • Air Conditioning

  • Wi-Fi

  • Laundry Service

  • In-room Safe

  • In-room TV

  • Minibar

  • Tea & Coffee

  • Hair Dryer

  • Wheelchair Accessible

Activities

  • Scenic Touring

  • Beach Activities

  • Golf

  • Wine Tasting

  • Cultural Tours

  • Museums

  • Hiking Trails

  • Watersports

  • Motorized Watersports

  • Shark Cage Diving

  • Scenic Flights

  • Cableway

  • African Penguins

  • Seal Colony

Other Area Properties

Hotels for most budgets stand within a few minutes’ walk of one another at the V&A Waterfront, and the old city center around Heritage Square is about ten minutes away by car.

The Commodore Hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

The Commodore Hotel

Another Legacy hotel at the Waterfront, larger, with a palm-lined pool and a spa.

Cape Grace on its quay at the V&A Waterfront.

Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Hotel

The Waterfront’s top-end choice, on its own quay with views over the marina to Table Mountain.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel

A 1904 warehouse right on the Alfred Basin, closer to the shops and the Clock Tower.

Courtyard at Cape Heritage Hotel, Heritage Square.

Cape Heritage Hotel

An 18th-century building on Heritage Square in the old city, for those who prefer Bree Street’s restaurants to the harbor.

Last Updated: November 6, 2026 Curated By: Riaan Viljoen