The Oyster Box Hotel Review

Perched on the sun-kissed golden shores of Umhlanga, under the gaze of the iconic red-and-white lighthouse, The Oyster Box exudes timeless charm and laid-back luxury. A hotspot for the elite since the 1950s, this legendary hotel has evolved into a paragon of modern indulgence while preserving the magic of yesteryear.

Over the decades, the hotel has hosted countless celebrities, dignitaries, and travellers from around the world. Previous notable guests include Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco (who held their wedding reception there), Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Bill Gates, Justin Bieber, and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.

I’d often walked past the hotel on the beach promenade below and wondered what it would be like to stay there. I got to fulfil this wish on my recent visit to the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

A brief history

The story of The Oyster Box Hotel began in 1863 when the original cottage, called The Oyster Lodge, was built on the Umhlanga coastline, serving as a navigational beacon for passing ships. Almost a century later, it was transformed into a tea garden and restaurant by the new owners. In 1954, it officially opened as The Oyster Box Hotel, quickly gaining a reputation for its exceptional hospitality and prime location beside the Umhlanga Lighthouse, which was also completed in the same year.

In 2006, the hotel was sold to the family-run Red Carnation Hotel Collection in a run-down condition. The owners, Bea and the late Stanley Tollman had been on their first dinner date at the hotel in 1952, when Stanley had told Bea that he would purchase the hotel someday. More than 50 years later, this dream came true.

Following extensive refurbishments, the five-star hotel reopened in 2009, cementing its reputation as one of South Africa’s best hotels. Careful attention was given to preserving many of its original features, like the black and white checkered terrazzo floors, the vintage revolving door at the entrance, the sweeping spiral staircase and the inlaid hand-painted tiles.

View from the hotel

Staying at The Oyster Box Hotel

We stepped onto the red carpet and were warmly welcomed by doormen attired in colonial-style livery, into the elegant entrance halls, which in turn led to the pool deck with its stunning Indian Ocean vistas. A little girl wandered past us looking for Skabenga, the hotel’s beloved resident cat, and a social media celebrity in his own right. Unlike many other posh hotels, it felt warm and welcoming. After a chilled drink, a friendly porter showed us to our room.

En route, we took in our exquisite surroundings where the lush indoor greenery added a refreshing ambiance. Globally curated collectors’ pieces transported us around the world while vibrant paintings by local artists reminded us that we were in South Africa.

Sea Facing Suite

The hotel has 86 luxurious, individually decorated rooms, suites and villas, including a magnificent Presidential Suite. Our family stayed in two interleading marine-themed sea-facing rooms, which opened onto balconies. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves and waking up to the ocean views was pure bliss, and I loved sitting on the balcony while sipping my coffee from the in-room coffee machine. Dolphins and whales are often spotted from there!

The rooms featured exquisite linens, Nespresso machines, minibars and heated towel rails. Both summer and winter bathrobes as well as comfy slippers were provided. Decadent chocolate cakes topped with gold leaf awaited us upon arrival, to my son’s delight, and he wasted no time in sampling them. In the evenings, hotel-branded nougats and chocolates were left on our pillows at turndown.

Food at The Oyster Box

Breakfast Buffet at The Oyster Box

Food at the hotel is a feast for the senses and the body, and al-fresco meals at The Ocean Terrace are served with a side of ocean views. The lavish breakfast spread includes a hot and cold buffet, a pancake and waffle station with myriad toppings, beetroot-cured salmon and freshly harvested oysters from the hotel’s own oyster beds.

High tea at the hotel is an institution with locals pouring in every day, dressed in their finest. It is served in the Palm Court to the tunes of the Grand Piano, under crystal chandeliers which once hung in the Savoy Hotel in England. The generous spread consists of sweet and savoury delicacies, including sushi and local favourites like samoosas and chilli bites.

High Tea at the Palm Court

When it comes to dining options, the Ocean Terrace is renowned for its fresh seafood and curry buffets which are immensely popular with both hotel guests and locals. We enjoyed sushi starters with grilled prawns, salmon and kingklip, and ended with Bea’s Famous Baked Cheesecake, Viennese Sacher Torte and Triple Chocolate Mousse. The Grill Room offers a fine dining experience.

Children and fur-babies at The Oyster Box

Skabenga

Children are welcome at The Oyster Box with various room configurations available, and they are given gift packs and complimentary treats during their stay, like milkshakes, ice cream, and toffee apples. Child-friendly menu options are available in the restaurants, and children are also given access to the supervised Holiday Club. 

Guests can bring well-behaved pets, who are accommodated in suitable rooms with pet beds and pet menus. We enjoyed Skabenga’s company instead.

Activities at The Oyster Box

The Clock Library

Even though the pool deck with its cheerful red and white candy-striped theme complementing the lighthouse is so inviting, there is so much more to do at the hotel.

The hotel’s award-winning spa is set in sub-tropical gardens with koi ponds and boasts a traditional Middle Eastern hammam and sensation shower. The well-equipped fitness centre and health bar can also be found there.

The Clock Library is a delightful spot to immerse yourself in a good book, offering picturesque views of the lighthouse and the ocean alongside an impressive collection of rare antique clocks and first edition books. We regret not spending more time there.

The private 24-seater cinema has daily screenings and comes with complimentary popcorn and a candy trolley. We had the cinema all to ourselves, so we got to choose our own movie too.

The private cinema

The hotel’s direct access to the Umhlanga beachfront with its striking Whalebone Pier, lends itself to ample beach time.  Nature reserves and shopping centres can be found within walking distance and other Durban attractions are also easily accessible.

There are many ways to experience The Oyster Box hotel without staying overnight, but then one wouldn’t be able to discover the hidden pearls in this oyster.

As I was leaving with my laptop bag in hand, an obliging staff member took it from me, commenting that I shouldn’t carry anything because I deserved to be treated like a queen. And that summed up how The Oyster Box made us feel – like royalty.

For more information, visit The Oyster Box or book here. 

See a recap of our stay:

Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.