The Oyster Box

Absolutely amazing stay! The hotel was exceptional! Service was top class, loved all the details of the hotel! Drinks and Food was so delish! Views were amazing! Will be back!

A friend was visiting from Dubai, so we decided to do something a bit different and opted for the Spring Evening Tea event at The Oyster Box for a girls night out. (There aren't many options for a night on the town in Durban on a Monday, but I'm really glad we chose this one). The decor and aesthetic at The Oyster Box is so tasteful and unique. Hafeeza, the supervisor was such a lovely hostess and ensured that we were well taken care of through the evening. I have a bit of a fussy palate, and ironically, am not a tea drinker, but she even catered to that and further enhanced the tea experience by engaging with me on different flavor options better suited to my taste. Overall it was a beautiful experience.

A 10/10 does not even begin to cover the fantastic and memorable experience we had at The Oyster Box Hotel. The staff are all friendly, welcoming, helpful, hardworking and always go the extra mile even for something as small as a bucket of ice or a bottle of water. The Guest Relation team is brilliant, they really know how to make a stay memorable and special. I took my mom for her birthday to The Oyster Box for 5 glorious nights and I wish we could move in permanently. We were instantly made to feel at home from the minute we entered the parking and everyone instantly remembered us from our stay 8 months prior. We had a smooth check in and the stay was absolutely phenomenal. My family is very well travelled and we are not exaggerating that this hotel is the best hotel in the entire of South Africa and definitely on the list for some of the best hotels in the world. What stands out above all else is the staff. The staff make the stay memorable and they have 100% success rate in hospitality like no other hotel I have experienced. The food - the breakfast is to die for. Literally - I ate so much it lasted me for 2 meals because of the large variety and yummy selections that you just want to try everything. There is even a whole block of pure honeycomb to scratch away at for some fresh morning honey. You need to experience the Grill room at least once per stay which is the fine dining experience for dinner only. We had the lobster for the starter and salmon for the main and it was the best seafood I have ever had. The experience, the host, the music live entertainment, the staff and food was absolutely phenomenal. We even received a delicious in-house made mango sorbet as a palate cleanser before the main course and a selection of breads in a large cart to choose from. The housekeeping is efficient, friendly, helpful and keep the room looking spotless and brand new. I highly recommend this hotel for a relaxing stay, engagements, weddings, birthdays, business, or even for a quick visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We have not experienced the Spa as yet but we have heard it is fantastic - something to look forward to our next trip! Thank you Oyster Box Umhlanga Durban for a fantastic stay and see you again soon - Theodora and Athina

What a superb High Tea at the Oyster Box! The food was absolutely delicious and the service from Hafeeza was the best we’ve received. With the piano playing in the background and beautiful decor it was the perfect setting for a High Tea. Just wonderful!

Situated on the picturesque Umhlanga beachfront on South Africa’s east coast, the Oyster Box Hotel is a scant twenty-minute drive from downtown Durban and seventeen minutes from the King Shaka International Airport. This beautiful hotel has a decidedly Colonial feel about it, boasting palace staircases, whirling ceiling fans, and four magnificent ceramic chandeliers purchased from the Savoy in London. Facilities include two restaurants, a lounge for afternoon tea, three bars, one of which is a rooftop affair offering views of the adjacent lighthouse, a cinema, two swimming pools, a spa, and a gym. I mention the Oyster Box because our tour of Durban and the surrounding area, culminated with high tea in the hotel’s alluring palm court. This was, indeed, a delight for the senses, a leisurely visual and taste extravaganza of sumptuous treats, featuring everything from freshly baked scones, pastries, quiches & cakes, to finger sandwiches and savories. High tea at the Oyster Box is nationally famous and must be booked several months in advance. If you are traveling anywhere in the area, this is a sybaritic gastronomic experience that should not be missed.

Had dinner on the terrace and had the most amazing experience , Sandile was the most attentive waiter and made us feel at home. Great food and drinks, and all the staff made us feel very special on our anniversary dinner. Highly recommended for a great dinner out.

This was our first visit to The Oyster Box. It certainly won't be the last. This place blew us away. The exquisite setting and top notch facilities are great, but it is the level of service which sets it apart. I have not come across a standard this high. Nothing was too much trouble, and with the countless 'little touches' it made for a phenomenal experience. Their breakfast offering is seriously impressive, and the High Tea was a magnificent way to end our stay. The transfers organised for us were also of the top class. We loved every moment of our stay, a huge thank you to everyone.

We recently visited the OBH to celebrate my mother’s 80th birthday. I knew it would be special but the Oyster Box went above and beyond to make this a truly magical and spectacular experience! From delectable in-room chocolate cakes, champagne & wine we were spoiled with more treats than we could consume! Every little detail was attended to and made extra special. The breakfast offering is truly world-class and the High Tea the best in the country as far as I am concerned. The attentiveness shown by the staff is exceptional and nothing is too much trouble. A special thank you to Michelle, Ryan at breakfast and Richard in the foyer for amazing service. You are part of a team of professionals that the OBH can be proud of. Even the celebrity cat, Skabenga, allowed us to pat him and he even purred! We travelled extensively abroad and in SA and I can honestly say that the OBH is proudly flying the South African flag high in terms of value for money, overall quality & service excellence. I am SO glad I chose the Oyster Box for this occasion and our family decided that the OBH will be the one and only place to celebrate landmark occasions in the future!

For the end of our (almost) 2 weeks holiday touring around KZN, we treated ourselves to a couple of nights at The Oyster Box and was simply fabulous - one of the best hotels we have ever stayed at with the added benefit of having a resident cat - Skabenga. All of the staff were polite and attentive without being overbearing. The hotel itself is beautifully designed, exceptionally clean and provided all of the services you could possibly need. Our room was lovely - sea view room with a great outlook over the pool and to the lighthouse. We certainly enjoyed sitting on the balcony, sipping a cold glass of fizz. The breakfasts were amazing, offering everything you could possibly want from a great egg station through to oysters and sparkling wine. We had the curry buffet one night which was a great experience and gave us the opportunity of trying dishes we would not normally choose. We would very highly recommend this hotel. Just what we needed after 12 days of extensive driving and before the long drive to Johannesburg for our flight home. We have stayed at other Red Carnation hotels and all are great but this one is something else.