Once Cape Town's biggest prison, this national monument building has been well-converted into one of Cape Town's best hotels. The hotel has a small, attractive, tropical garden with a swimming pool that has a stylish water feature at one end. There is a cocktail bar that offers guests drinks both inside the hotel and at the poolside terrace. A gym, steam room and sauna are available to guests, as is on-site parking.
Exterior: With its national monument status, the Portswood is an impressive historical building.
Lobby: With its nautical theme, the lobby is a bright area with large glass doors leading through to a pleasant reception, with polished wooden floors and a seating area for guests. High ceilings give the lobby a nice sense of space. The reception has an elevated walkway, similar to a ship's deck, overlooking the central water and floral feature.
Rooms
This hotel, designed in a nautical style, comes with an en suite bathroom with a shower, a bathtub and a hairdryer. In addition, a direct dial telephone, satellite/ cable TV, a minibar, a hire safe Internet access, and a tea/ coffee maker are also included. Individually controllable air conditioning also features as standard.
Restaurant & Food
Situated in the Old Convict Station building (part of the old prison), this long, narrow, modern restaurant has a beautiful wooden ceiling and support beams. The table settings are attractive and the walls are covered in historical black-and-white photos. The restaurant offers superb Cape Town specialities, as well as international cuisine.
Activities & Sport
In the hotel grounds guests will find a swimming pool as well as sun loungers, parasols and a snack bar. Further leisure options include a massage service and a gym. Guests may take advantage of the in-house gym, the steam room and the sauna in the neighbouring sister hotel.