Positioned at the edge of the V&A Waterfront, The Portswood Hotel is one of Cape Town’s most convenient mid-range options for travellers who want to step out of the lobby and straight into the city’s main waterfront precinct. This guide draws on official property listings and aggregated guest reviews to help you decide whether its location, amenities and pricing make it the right base for your trip — and how it compares with nearby competitors.

Last checked: 2026-09-21

Address: On the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town (source: operator/booking sites) · Website: legacyhotels.co.za/portswood-hotel · Price Range (AU$): AU$219 – AU

Positioned at the edge of the V&A Waterfront, The Portswood Hotel is one of Cape Town’s most convenient mid-range options for travellers who want to step out of the lobby and straight into the city’s main waterfront precinct. This guide draws on official property listings and aggregated guest reviews to help you decide whether its location, amenities and pricing make it the right base for your trip — and how it compares with nearby competitors.

,023 · Key Features: Outdoor pool, free WiFi, 24-hour room service

How we researched this

Last checked: 2026-09-21.

Sources reviewed: official property website, TripAdvisor reviews, Booking.com listing, Hotels.com, Expedia, Radisson Hotels official site, Marriott official site, British Airways Holidays, MICHELIN Guide Hotels, Kayak.
We have not conducted an on-site visit, nor interviewed hotel staff or recent guests.

1

Guest rating

  • Based on TripAdvisor guest reviews

The Portswood Hotel sits directly on the V&A Waterfront, the city’s most visited tourism and dining hub. According to the property’s official operator, Legacy Hotels, the hotel is located on the V&A Waterfront itself, meaning guests can walk to the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Cape Wheel, and the Waterfront’s dozens of restaurants.

Location details

The exact address is not listed in the verified sources we analysed, but the property’s own website (legacyhotels.co.za/portswood-hotel) confirms its Waterfront address.

The bottom line: if you want to minimise transport costs and maximise time spent in the Waterfront hub, the Portswood’s location is hard to beat among mid-range options.

  • Guest rating data not aggregated as a single score

The Portswood Hotel competes most directly with the Commodore Hotel (part of the Legacy Hotels group) and the Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge. At the higher end, the Radisson RED Hotel V&A Waterfront and One&Only Cape Town offer lifestyle and luxury experiences respectively. Below is a comparison of the key options on the Waterfront.

Top 5-star options

Who each property suits best

  • The Portswood Hotel: First‑time visitors seeking a central Waterfront location at a mid‑range price.
  • Protea Breakwater Lodge: Marriott loyalists and travellers who want access to a spa, cycling, and multiple activities.
  • One&Only: Luxury travellers on a holidays‑of‑a‑lifetime budget, especially those with children (kids’ club available).

The Portswood Hotel’s location makes it a strong candidate for this segment.

What this means: first‑time tourists who stay at the Portswood can cover many highlights on foot, saving on Uber and parking costs.

Pricing band

The Portswood sits in the mid‑range band for V&A Waterfront hotels.

Note: All prices are in Australian dollars as provided by TripAdvisor listings and are subject to seasonal fluctuation.

Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge

Located on the same road (Portswood Road), this Marriott property has 8.2/10 on Hotels.com and 3.9/5 on TripAdvisor. Check‑in from 3 PM, check‑out 11 AM (Booking.com, Hotels.com). Best for Marriott Bonvoy members and travellers who want a balanced mid‑range option with more amenities.

Radisson RED Hotel V&A Waterfront Cape Town

Check‑in 3 PM, check‑out noon (Radisson official site).

One&Only Cape Town

For travellers who value location above all else — being able to wander out of the hotel and into the Waterfront’s heart — The Portswood Hotel offers the most direct access at a mid‑range price point.

Published check‑in and check‑out times for The Portswood Hotel were not found in the official sources we reviewed. We recommend contacting the hotel directly via its website (legacyhotels.co.za/portswood-hotel) or checking at the time of booking on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.

The property’s key features include free Wi‑Fi, according to its operator’s listing (Legacy Hotels).

Nearby restaurants abound as it sits on the V&A Waterfront, but the hotel’s own dining offerings are not detailed in the sources we analysed.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How far is The Portswood Hotel from Cape Town International Airport?
A: The distance from the hotel to Cape Town International Airport is not specified in the sources we reviewed. We recommend contacting the hotel directly or checking a mapping service for current travel times.