The Oyster Box has been a landmark in Umhlanga since 1869, but not originally as a luxury hotel. Now a beacon of style, grace and elegance, it was originally a simple beach cottage, with a purpose – that of a navigational beacon, to guide sailors safely through the surrounding waters.
By the 1930s it had become a hotel, the Oyster Lodge, but it was only in 1952, when local hotelier Kay Hill took over, that The Oyster Box Hotel became known for its hospitality and great food.
From these humble beginnings rose, in October 2009, the magnificent new Oyster Box Hotel, carefully renovated to encompass all the charm of colonial Durban, but bringing a level of elegance and luxury expected of a top international hotel. This is no coincidence as the current owners, The Red Carnation Hotels Collection, know just what the discerning guest wants.
With stablemates worldwide as well as the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town and the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat in the Cederberg, the Oyster Box rates right up there with the finest in the world.
When the extremely loyal patrons heard of the renovation of their beloved “local” they voiced concerns, which didn’t go unheard. Many of the original elements of the hotel, including the imported Mediterranean tiles and décor, wrought iron balustrades and grand, revolving entrance door leading to the famous black and white tiled entrance were kept.
If you’ve visited any of their other establishments you’ll immediately recognise the inimitable interior design touch of the owner, Bea (Beatrice) Tollman, and her daughter Toni. “The greatest challenge was to restore her in a way that was authentic to the period she was built, while maintaining all the elements of nostalgia and charm,” explained Toni.
And this they’ve done to great effect as you are transported back to the grand days of the ’40s and ’50s, with the comfort of the 21st century. Whether you’re lunching on The Ocean Terrace, sampling oysters harvested from their own beds at The Oyster Bar or trying the famous curry bar in The Palm Court Restaurant, you’re in your own luxury world.
The great thing about a stay in this hotel is that once inside you don’t want or need to go anywhere else. While we weren’t there on a Saturday night to try out the legendary dinner-dancing at The Grill Room, a beloved custom kept on by the current management, we managed to try the other two bars and restaurants.
The Chukka Bar, just inside the entrance to the hotel, has always been a favourite local haunt and the new addition, The Lighthouse Bar, is fast gaining the same reputation with its proximity to the famous landmark. If you feel like a movie, the hotel even has its own 24-seater cinema, with popcorn and cold drinks. And art lovers are in for a pure feast for the eyes, thanks to the collection of local and international art, personally collected over many years.
Enter the bedrooms and you feel as though you’re a guest in someone’s luxury residence, rather than a hotel room. Added touches, such as fresh fruit and flowers in all the rooms make you feel as though you’re a VIP.
A tour of the suites left me wishing I was a VIP, as they exuded glamour and luxury; some with their own private plunge pools. But it was the grand Presidential Suite that took my breath away. On two levels, with its own private lift, his and hers marble bathrooms, rim flow pool, lounge and dining area for eight guests, this would meet even the most exacting standards of any traveller.
For those who remember their honeymoon at this venue, then maybe now’s a great time for that trip down memory lane…
l Marion Scher was hosted by the Oyster Box. For reservations e-mail [email protected] www.oysterboxhotel.co.za. Tel: 031 514 5000 - Sunday Independent