The Oyster Box

Everything

Nothing

Everything

The property does take very good care of guests and make the stay very comfortable the location is also very good

The property really needs to do an upgrade , asking that premium amount per night and never doing upgrades and maintained can not be acceptable . There is heavy maintenance needed at that hotel

Absolutely a wonderful place to relax. Fantastic helpful, friendly and professional staff. Spa, although above average expensive, it was fantastic . Breakfast was just phenomenal.

Decor and staff 9

The chips

Exceptional service from the staff, room was amazing, very clean. Food was delicious. Overall 15/10 experience. Looks forward to my next stay!

The people"staff"

The food was ok

Tolle Lage, nicht weit weg vom Flughafen. Zimmer sehr sauber und täglich gereinigt und abends ein turndown service. Minibar gut gefüllt. Zimmer geräumig und Terrasse mit direktem Blick auf den indischen Ozean. Frühstücksbuffet sehr reichhaltig und im Restaurant große Auswahl an Speisen. Hotelbar sehr gut ausgestattet. Personal sehr freundlich und hilfreich.

Beim Frühstück laufen zu viel Personal herum und man wird leicht übersehen.

Le lieu la décoration et la qualité des équipements proposés

La lenteur du service du restaurant haut de gamme the grill room La décoration très raffinée ambiance musicale très réussie mais 1 h d attente par plat alors que ce n était pas complet et de loin 20 personnes dans la salle! Inadmissible du coup nous n avons pas pris de dessert

Attention to detail was amazing!

Room

Breakfast was disappointing, a good spread but the hot food was cold.

This hotel is exceptional in every way. Position, comfort, staff, decor, food….

Nothing

Staff at breakfast restaurant not very friendly and helpful

Hotel staff proved to be entirely unhelpful, were very dismissive and lacked any empathy

Nice position

Room very small for price and no hot water

Great location on the beach but convenient for shopping and dining

Nothing

The Oyster Box is an absolutely stunning hotel with breathtaking ocean views and one of the most picturesque settings on the Umhlanga beachfront. Its iconic charm, beautiful gardens, and elegant décor create a timeless luxury experience. The location is unbeatable, with easy access to the beach and nearby restaurants. The service was exceptional throughout our stay. A special thank you to Stephanie at breakfast, whose warm hospitality and attentive service made every morning a pleasure. We would also like to recognise Richard, the security guard, whose friendly welcome and professionalism made us feel safe and genuinely valued from the moment we arrived.

There was nothing significant to dislike. The experience exceeded our expectations in every respect.

Location and staff

Nothing

Breakfast excellent, great variety and good service. The room was not special, relatively small, Something has to be done about conflict between fresh air and monkeys! Dinner at both restaurants just OK, at the price actually not god enough.

Except for breakfast, both restaurants and verandah bar just did not cut it. The library was amazing.

Best

Nothing

nothing to complain about. Dinner and breakfast were very good. The view from terrase is amazing and all various bars and dining places. The library is something. Shame that we are not building such room anymore..

The monkey's business is a issue and pain. Cannot leave window open or eating peacefully as the monkeys will litteraly jump on your table to steal and break things.. Not pleasant at all and these species are protected, so not much solution available.

Breakfast was fabulous.Served until 10.30 & they were not in a hurry to chase you away. All the staff were lovely. A nice friendly relaxed atmosphere.

The Indian curry buffet was underwhelming. Soggy samosas, channa/chickpea curry had a bucket of sugar in it ,one of the other curries was over sweat, generally most dishes lacked depth of flavour.I ordered the naan bread 3 times ! Four different staff checking if you are enjoying the meal ,one asking for feedback on the room while we were trying to eat [most strange] At 8.45 when I got up in search of the elusive naan bread I couldn't find a staff member! My friend ate al a carte which looked good & she enjoyed. We had a sea facing room each , they would of been a bit small if you had two people sharing . Not enough space for two luggage wracks. They added a discretionary charge for each days stay ,I have not come across that before [only in high end restaurants],I did not appreciate that approach . Only when I questioned it did they say it was discretionary & they would remove it .I did state that I felt it would be a more honest approach if they just charged more when booking a room.

Lovely classic hotel. The breakfast was really good and the sea facing room was definitely worth it as the view was amazing.

The rooms were a bit dated - feels like it’s time for them to be renovated. The grill room was also a bit average. The steak was expensive and didn’t taste that good and the decor was really kitsch.

Great facilities, location and dining options. And lovely staff.

Nothing

Just a wonderful classic hotel with staff that are amazing!

The location is the best! Right on the beach with easy access Fantastic breakfast and service. Comfy room and beds.

The linen was to 'hard' and hot. We missed the Grill Room dinner with 'live' music due to lack of information on hotel's offerings. I was overwhelmed by outside visitors. No space for us in the bar while we're staying there!

Everything, it’s beyond expectations

Nothing

Breakfast was great

The waitresses are very professional and welcoming especially by the pool and bar.

The beds are not too comfortable

Historic site and brilliant old excellence,. But it all was well maintained and nostalgic and to our liking.

There was a lack of service tou guest toilets at entrance. There should be a permanent steward to look after this facility always.

Breakfast was amazing. The rooms were clean and neat. The staff was very accommodating and very friendly. Exceptional Hospitality.

Sakhile is such an asset to the hotel, he made the trip so enjoyable and he has the most incredible people skills.

I loved the fact that the Oyster Box enquired a couple of days before our arrival how we would like our room prepared, i.e. soft pillows, hard pillows. Dinner at the restaurant with Juan as our waiter was absolutely superb. He knew his wines and menu extremely well. The waiters at breakfast - Calvin in particular, excellent beyond! thank you for making our anniversary stay super special. We will certainly be back.

The staff who started midweek, i.e. Thursday felt less experienced (or energised) as compared to those who attended to us from the start of the week, especially in so far as the cleaning of our room. Mirrors were not cleaned as efficiently, even the eggs for breakfast on the Friday were brown (burnt oil/butter)...I just did not have the energy to ask for it to be remade.

Everything was absolutely perfect. loved it all. The Oyster Box is iconic and never fails to impress. Buffet curry dinner was delicious.

nothing

The Staff, the view, the facilities, the service, the location, add ons... I cant really knock anything abiut the experience, it was one of the best hotel experiences that Ive had to date.

The in hotel services, like food room service and the spa are a bit pricey but thats hardly a knock against them.

Everything was great

Nothing

Breakfast was super good, the room was as expected and the team exceeded my expectations. There was a special touch for my wife's birthday. A good wishes note for the Comrades marathon was special and the heroes welcome post the race added a special touch

Nothing

Really prompt service

To control the lighting in the room was a bit confusing.

Perfect position overlooking the ocean

Foods & drinks pricy

The special set up request (surprise) in our room for my wife's birthday celebration. It was done to perfection. Thank you very much to Nicole and all involved. My wife loved it and it made her weekend or in her word, "her year". Chauffeur service to nearby pharmacy in the evening was unexpected but excellently offered and executed.

Nothing really, everything was close to perfection. Perhaps the Aircon operation could be adjusted so it gets warmer quicker. Took a bit of time to warm up the room.

Everything and Everyone

Stay too short!

Absolutely stunning views and rooms, the staff, the attention to detail (sometimes it’s the little things that matter most - flowers, sweets, care packages, so much more), the concierge knowledge and care. You will find few hotels on the planet with what The Oyster Box offers a gem of a place and people.

As fabulous as ever

The staff were very courteous and helpful. We enjoyed the old world charm. We enjoyed the smart dress code We loved the curry buffet

The dining rooms and bars were freezing cold due to the air conditioning. We had flown from cold Scotland to enjoy some warmth! Although we stayed for a fortnight, we avoided the beautifully appointed bars as the temperature was so cold it would have been too uncomfortable to sit there. That was a great shame as we loved the decor with the beautiful ceiling fans.

Everything - incredible stay from start to finish. The staff were excellent, food amazing and the best hotel

The Oyster Box Hotel is a must visit in Umhlanga, Durban, South Africa!! My wife and I visited recently and were amazed. Our visit was made even more special by Charlie who assisted us in the bar area and with a dinner service. Please request him if you can! We’ll be back!!

Magnificent facilities and furnishings throughout. It has a smokers' bar which we enjoyed. Unfortunately our room on the first night had a bad drain like smell. We reported this and were very thankful to be upgraded to a Villa Unit for our second night. The unit was spectacular and well out of our price range so that did make up for the unpleasant first night. The food was upper class.

Personally I think that the place is over-priced but for a bucket list item, save up and take the hit. The prices of drinks, food and facilities cannot be justified but we took the hit and had a great time.

Loved the place and staff George is a Gem as well as Leon the singer All was great except for the small ghings mentikned above

Bathroom above the toilet next to the telephone had a black smear on the wall which i cleaned There was a snail on the ceiling The cushiins was not soft enough

Am Samke Phewa, My cousin Ntokozo and I just completed an incredible stay at the Oyster Box hotel( Checked in Wednesday the 2nd and checked out Friday the 5th June 2026) . What a wow!!! I would recommend it anytime any day. From the moment we drove in, the staff at the entrance was so helpful, with feel at home greetings, warm welcoming smiles while directing me to park, offloading our luggage and escorting us to the reception area, what a top to the T attention!!! I would like to extend my thanks to the Reception staff who welcomed us with complimentary drinks, treated us with professionalism and genuine care. A special Thank You to Nonto and manager( I've forgotten her name, beautiful dimpled young lady) at High Tea, they made us feel incredibly welcome and ensured we had a wonderful experience. A special Thank You to Julian, who chauffeured us for two conservative evenings. His friendly personality, immaculate vehicle, soft background music, and engaging conversation made every journey aa pleasure. We were also delighted by the thoughtful touches in our room, including the beautifully prepared decor and complimentary gifts made our birthday very special. Every staff we met with and engaged with during our stay truly understands the meaning of exceptional hospitality and they contributed in creating a very lasting memory for me and my cousin. Even though i have forgotten some of their names, you guys on duty during our arrival, breakfast room time, high tea time, by the pool side time, room service, am thankful to all of you for contributing in making our milestone celebration incredible. We looking forward into coming back again in the near future

Great stay

I was double charged even when I paid in the platform

Thank you Charlie for yet another great experience at The Ocean Terrace. We had an exquisite dinner with top notch recommendations on the seafood and 5 star treatment from Charlie and the rest of the staff. Everyone is so polite, happy and ready to help with anything at all.

We had an unforgettable experience at the Oyster Box, where my fiance and I got engaged. The staff were all unbelievable and went out of their way to make sure the weekend went perfectly for us. A massive shoutout must go to Lee Gounder - who helped coordinate the proposal and went above and beyond on every possible occasion. Already looking forward to coming back after that experience

Hospitality and service

Everything

Nothing

Luxury suite was beautiful and spotless, birthday balloon and cake surprise for my partner awaiting in the room as we first entered, followed by a complementary champagne was a wonderful touch, we felt spoilt from start to finish of the stay. Excellent breakfast, plenty choice, overall dining was superb, great quality buffets and the grill room was lovely.

I recently hosted clients at The Oyster Box for a roundtable discussion, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. The Shell Room was well-equipped, comfortable, and perfectly suited foran intimate round table discussion. A special mention to Jayd, who made the booking process seamless and stress-free. On the day, Zondi and his team truly went above and beyond. Their attentiveness, professionalism, and warm hospitality ensured everything ran smoothly, allowing us to focus entirely on our discussion.

Exceptional

Nothing

Great place for lunch. Superb view. The hotel is beautiful and has amazing classic victorian furniture

Alles. Wunderbares fünf Sterne Hotel, wo keine Wünsche offen bleiben

Our stay at The Oyster Box was nothing short of phenomenal. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome with their warmth, attentiveness, and genuine care. truly world-class service. The spa experience was exceptional, and the hammam massage in particular was unforgettable. deeply relaxing and executed to absolute perfection. It was easily one of the highlights of our stay. We also had the pleasure of experiencing their high tea, which was simply exquisite! one of the best we’ve ever had. Every detail, from presentation to taste, was beautifully curated. Our room was stunning, with breathtaking views that made every moment feel special. Waking up to that scenery was something we’ll never forget. Overall, everything about our stay was beyond beautiful! A seamless blend of luxury, comfort, and elegance. It was truly a special experience, and we cannot wait to return.

Thank you to all the staff members that we interacted with. Everybody was proficient and professional throughout our stay. We received a warm welcome, they had great communication skills and made our stay so pleasant. Superb.

If I had to critique something, perhaps it would be food preparation. Some of the dishes were a let down but the majority was overall good. The effort was appreciated though.

Everything was great,

A bit on the high price

The breakfast was amazing, a great range of options. Everyone was so friendly, they couldn't do enough to help us with any situation. The decor is beautiful. Everything about the hotel and the stay was truly wonderful.

This is something very small. But we did arrange an excursion, the shark diving trip. Everyone was amazing in helping to arrange it for us and we had a great time. but when the bill came, it was higher than expected. I would have liked to have been given the additional costs from the start. The convenience of having everything sorted for us was great, but it did cost a fair bit more than if I'd booked directly with the provider and ordered an Uber. I just would have liked to know that there were the additional costs from the start.

It is very clean and the food was delicious

The sheets the cleaners

The Oyster Box is the best hotel in Durban. It’s worth spending a holiday there. The see facing rooms are amazing. The staff is top notch. The reception on arrival and departure is very friendly

The monkeys made the stay at the pool very uncomfortable. One couldn’t relax and one can’t even eat properly without the monkeys trying to snatch your food.

Everything

The monkeys, but that’s out of your control