V&A Waterfront

Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge

★★★★★

Breakwater Lodge is the most affordable way to stay inside the V&A Waterfront, and its building has one of the stranger histories of any hotel in the city. It occupies a historic nineteenth-century building on Portswood Road, on the western edge of the Waterfront, which began life as the Breakwater prison, built to house the convicts who constructed the harbour breakwater in Table Bay. The stone building, with its long wings around courtyards, now houses the hotel and, next door, the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business, so it is often full of students and conference delegates as well as holidaymakers. The hotel is part of Protea Hotels by Marriott, and it delivers what that brand promises: clean, practical, reasonably priced rooms and suites, efficient service and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty benefits. Rooms are comfortable rather than luxurious, and some have views of the Waterfront or Table Mountain. Stonebreakers Restaurant serves a large buffet breakfast and a la carte meals, with outdoor seating, and there are four public lounges, a business centre, room service, laundry, the Relax Spa and eighteen conference venues. The hotel holds Green Key certification for environmental management. One of its most practical advantages is parking: it has 24-hour secure parking with around 250 bays at a low daily rate, which is unusual at the Waterfront. The location is excellent. The Waterfront's restaurants, shops and the Two Oceans Aquarium are a short walk away, the Robben Island ferry terminal is nearby, and the Green Point and Sea Point promenade is a few minutes on foot to the west.

Choosing a room: standard rooms are on the small side; book a suite or a superior room if you want space, and ask for a view of the Waterfront or Table Mountain. Rooms vary in layout because of the old building, so it is worth asking for a recently refreshed room. Some rooms face the inner courtyards, which are quieter.

What to know: the hotel is busy with conferences and university events, so the lobby can be lively and breakfast crowded at peak times. There is no hotel shuttle, so use the MyCiTi bus or ride-hailing apps to reach the city centre and the beaches. The Waterfront is safe and well patrolled, and it is pleasant to walk in the evening to the restaurants around the harbour.

Who it suits: budget-conscious travellers, families who want a Waterfront base without luxury prices, business travellers and anyone driving a hire car who needs reliable parking. If you want character and charm, the Victoria and Alfred Hotel nearby has more of both; if you want luxury, the Silo is a few minutes' walk away. For value at the Waterfront, Breakwater Lodge is hard to beat.