The Riverside Hotel, nestled by the river, offers a tranquil atmosphere with a garden and poolside restaurant. Unwind at one of the 2 bars or get pampered at the hair salon. With in-room WiFi and dry cleaning services available, this hotel is perfect for families.
Reviews
7.87.8 out of 10
Good
Popular amenities
Pool
Airport transfer
Free parking
Free WiFi
Restaurant
Connecting rooms available
Main amenities (12)
Daily housekeeping
Near the beach
Restaurant and 2 bars/lounges
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
WiFi in the lobby
Internet in the lobby
Health club
Room service
In-room childcare
24-hour business center
Conference center
For families (6)
Babysitting (surcharge)
Kitchenette
Connecting/adjoining rooms available
Television
Garden
Terrace
The current price is CNY646
CNY646
CNY750 total
includes taxes & fees
Jun 9 - Jun 10
Why we love this property
Poolside dining magic
A restaurant serves delicious meals with poolside and pool-view dining options. This hotel also offers buffet breakfast and 2 bars.
Dream-worthy beds
This hotel entices sleepy travelers with premium bedding and Tempur-Pedic mattresses. Turndown service elevates the evening experience.
Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Durban Beach - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
Golden Mile - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
Japanese Gardens - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
Umgeni River Bird Park - 2 min drive - 1.5 km
Getting around
King Shaka Intl. Airport (DUR) - 27 min drive
Airport shuttle (surcharge)
Area shuttle (surcharge)
Restaurants
Capsicum @ Britannia - 3 min drive
Steers - 4 min drive
LoveCoffee - 3 min drive
Delfi greek taverna - 3 min drive
Chicken Licken - 5 min walk
About this property
The Riverside Hotel
The Riverside Hotel is a great choice for your beach stay in Durban North, putting you near activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, and surfing/body boarding. The outdoor pool provides fun for everyone, and guests can also take advantage of a health club. Offering pool views, Riverside Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are 2 bars/lounges, a snack bar/deli, and in-room conveniences like refrigerators and microwaves.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
169 rooms
Arranged over 5 floors
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 10:30 AM
Contactless check-out available
DONE
Special check-in instructions
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 24 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE
Children
No cribs (infant beds)
Babysitting*
DONE
Pets
Pets not allowed
Service animals welcome
WIFI
Internet
WiFi and wired internet access in public areas*
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free secured onsite self parking
Wheelchair-accessible parking on site
DONE
Transfers
Airport shuttle (available on request)*
DONE
Offsite
Area shuttle*
DONE
Other information
Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
Property amenities
Food and drink
Buffet breakfast (surcharge) each morning 6:30 AM–10:30 AM
2 bars/lounges
Restaurant
Barbecue grills
Room service (limited hours)
Snack bar/deli
Traveling with children
Childcare in room (surcharge)
Children's menu
What to do
Beach nearby
Access to nearby outdoor pool
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Sailing nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Skydiving nearby
Working away
24-hour business center
Meeting rooms
Computer station
Conference center
Services
24-hour front desk
Concierge services
Tour/ticket assistance
Dry cleaning/laundry services
Hair salon
Free newspapers in lobby
Luggage storage
Wedding services
Porter/bellhop
Pool umbrellas
Facilities
Built in 1998
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Garden
Terrace
Television in common areas
24-hour fitness center
An outdoor pool
Reception hall
Outdoor furniture
Accessibility
Elevator
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
Wheelchairs available on site
Room amenities
Be entertained
32-inch LED TV
Satellite TV channels
Pay movies
Home comfort
Air conditioning
Coffee/tea maker
Sleep well
Turndown service
Premium bedding
Tempur-Pedic mattress
Freshen up
Bathtub or shower
Designer toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Desk
Free WiFi
Phone
Food and drink
Refrigerator
Microwave
Kitchenette
More
Daily housekeeping
In-room safe (laptop compatible)
Connecting/adjoining rooms available
Special features
Dining
Riverside Cafe - This poolside restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. A children's menu is available. Reservations are required.
Riverside Poolside Bar - This poolside sports bar serves lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Open daily.
Hops - This pub serves lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Open daily.
Fees & policies
Optional extras
WiFi is available in public areas for ZAR 55 (rates may vary)
Wired internet access is available in public areas for ZAR 55 (rates may vary)
Buffet breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately ZAR 140 for adults and ZAR 100 for children
Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge
Area shuttle service is offered for an extra charge
Children & extra beds
In-room babysitting is available for an extra charge
Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)
Pool access available from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Children under 12 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool, health club, fitness facility, or hot tub without adult supervision
Policies
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards on site.
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club
Cashless transactions are available.
National rating
Quality Graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organization.
Also known as
Three Cities Riverside
Three Cities Riverside Durban
aha Riverside Hotel Durban
Three Cities Riverside Hotel Durban
Riverside Hotel Durban
aha Riverside Hotel
aha Riverside Durban
aha Riverside
aha Riverside Durban North
The Riverside Hotel Hotel
The Riverside Hotel Durban North
The Riverside Hotel Hotel Durban North
Frequently asked questions
Does The Riverside Hotel offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, The Riverside Hotel does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at The Riverside Hotel?
Yes, there's an outdoor pool. Guests have pool access from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM.
Are pets allowed at The Riverside Hotel?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at The Riverside Hotel?
Yes, there's free self parking.
Is airport shuttle service offered by The Riverside Hotel?
Yes, an airport shuttle is available.
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Riverside Hotel?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. Check-out time is 10:30 AM. Contactless check-in and check-out are available.
Is there an onsite casino at The Riverside Hotel?
No, this hotel doesn't have a casino, but Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World (5-min drive) and Sibaya Casino (15-min drive) are both nearby.
What is there to do at The Riverside Hotel and nearby?
Have fun with activities like boat tours, hiking, and scuba diving, and practice your swing at the nearby golf course. Additional recreation nearby includes casino gaming. Enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool or use the hotel's other amenities, which include 2 bars and a 24-hour fitness center. The Riverside Hotel also has a garden and access to a nearby outdoor pool.
Are there restaurants at or near The Riverside Hotel?
Yes, Riverside Cafe offers pool views and poolside dining.
Does The Riverside Hotel have self-catered rooms fitted with kitchens or kitchenettes?
Yes, a kitchenette is available in every room, and also includes a refrigerator, a microwave, and a coffee maker.
What's the area around The Riverside Hotel like?
The Riverside Hotel is located by the river, a short 19-minute walk from Japanese Gardens and 7 minutes' walk from Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve.
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Reviews
The Riverside Hotel Reviews
7.8
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
8.2
Cleanliness
8.2
Location
8.0
Staff & service
7.8
Property conditions & facilities
Popular mentions
Room
Shower
Water
Reviews
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 27, 2026
Excellent staff,food and rooms.Design of hotel is good.
Only disappointment was security and night staff did nothing to keep the Paarl Boys High Hockey team quite despire multiple calls to the reception and night manager
Gavin
Gavin, 3-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
May 10, 2025
👍
Carl
Carl, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 16, 2023
All good
megan
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jul 5, 2022
Water issues!!!
Requested room with separate room, given room with shower in bath.
Water covering floor due to leaking fridge, which had a foot pad missing.
Water in bathroom was luke warm when on maximum heat.
Michael
Michael, 1-night trip
Verified
2/10 Poor
Apr 29, 2024
Worst
They have a rat problem and way too noisy in the evening.
They rates ate the power cable that caused all the plugs to be down in the room.
The hotels drinks were worse than buying a drink in the UK. Do not recommended to my worst enemy.
Myles
Myles, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Dec 26, 2022
Terrible service average hotel
I booked a suite for 2 adults and 2 children. On the app the description of the suite was that it would have a king bed and a twin bed. However, all it had was a king bed. Even after getting the manager on the line he was unable to provide a solution to the problem except to say i had to pay an extra 500 rands for an extra bed. The mistake was clearly in the hotel's description of the suite, so quite annoying that costs were passed onto me and management unable to assist.
Zarina
Zarina, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 24, 2022
Excellent
Was a good stay overall
Wesley
Wesley, 1-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Jan 2, 2022
Hotel tried cancelling booking after payment.
Firstly, after making the booking and paying in full, then receiving 4 messages from the hotel either confirming my reservation, with a res.number, or thanking me for making the booking with them and that they were looking forward to me staying at the hotel.
Only for them to phone me 4 hours prior to check, whilst I was travelling to Durban, to tell me that they were fully booked and my booking had been cancelled.
I refused to accept the accuse and would arriving and expecting the room as agreed. I got my room.
This attitude, from the hotel, either due to bad planning or wanting to make extra revenue from the room stinks. Ruined our planned day.
michael
michael, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Apr 20, 2021
The accommodation was comfortable, central location, quiet with professional staff.
Only issue was the shower being in the narrow bath, and then leaked water onto the floor.
michael
michael, 2-night trip
Verified
4/10 Fair
Mar 23, 2021
Ive stayed at this hotel several times and experienced no issues before. This stay however was unsatisfactory for the following reasons
1. Only 2 pool towels were available when I requested 4. The pool was not full so where was the balance of the pool towels.. I stayed here during peak in December 2020 and there was no shortage of pool towels
2. Extra bath towels were not available as they were all in the dryer. Really?
3. The carpet was not properly vacuumed.. Dirt from previous day was still at the same spot the ffg day.
4. Hand towels were not replenished with 2, only 1.
5. Bath towelling mat was never replenished for 2 of my 3 night stay.
Verified traveler
3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jan 29, 2021
brilliant weekend of rest and relaxation
Overall a very pleasing breakaway from stressful and busy days.. Lovely view of the Blue lagoon area, the City skyline. Beauty of nature can also be enjoyed, many birds nestle in the trees on site. Clean, comfortable and convenient room, facilities were adequate, could possibly offer more options on TV.
Ritesh
Ritesh, 2-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Jan 6, 2020
Jan 2020
The place is beautiful but some of your staff member’s have terrible people’s skills and attitude.
Verified traveler
2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Aug 13, 2019
Initially confusion but it was resolved amicably
I was initially made to wait and hour and a half when I was strangely told that my booking could not be found and that they did not have anymore rooms available. The irony is that the money had been taken from my account before my arrival but yet my booking was said to not have been done against it. After raising it sharply with their receptionist, they finally relented and found a room for us, which to my relief after the initial consternation. I was just disappointed that they did not put bottled water in our room even after alerting house keeping that they had forgotten to give us still water
Musawenkosi
Musawenkosi, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 16, 2019
Very good place to stay
Amazing place
Vincent
Vincent, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Mar 2, 2019
Not four star
Although the institution offers amenities usually offered by four star hotels I'm not convinced that Riverside is always deserving of four stars. Amenities were generally good however staff performance requires some corrective action. Staff appeared unprofessional at times specifically restaurant and front desk staff. Breakfasts on most mornings was late. Flies were noted on buffet food. Despite me highlighting it to staff nothing was done by staff about it at the time. Breakfast cutlery was dirty. Salt sellers were filthy. The cup on the breakfast table had dessert from the previous night still in it. Clearly not well washed nor checked by staff when setting the table. Management did take corrective but I should not be required to highlight unhygienic concerns to them especially not a four star hotel. One wonders what happens in the kitchen.
I rate this hotel three stars at best.
Albert
Albert, 4-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 26, 2019
Great place
We had amazing time
Nnditsheni Charity
Nnditsheni Charity, 4-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Feb 11, 2019
I was disappointed with the small room allocated to us as on 2 other occasions we had large spacious rooms and a bath for my wife.
A bit noisy this past weekend
Wally
Wally, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jan 20, 2019
Had a beautiful stay. Lovely spot within close proximity to all amenities,yet hidden from the crowd.Clean rooms and comfortable beds . Would do it again
Verified traveler
3-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Dec 22, 2018
Great place for a family visit to Durban
Was a nice stay!
Eugene
Eugene, 3-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Dec 13, 2018
Great location, beach, restaurants, activities only a few minutes away by car. Breakfast has hot and cold options however it was basically the same items for the 5 days so we were tired of it by the 3rd day. Did the friday happy hour at the bar it is 50% off drinks excluding cocktails the live music a singer who was ok. Room although small has all you need and was clean. There is a popular spot next door I didn't go but the parking area was always full because of their patrons so thats night time entertainment at your door step.
Verified traveler
6-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Oct 20, 2018
Unfortunately there was a cockroach in room 302, and the water in the shower took long to drain.
Wayne
Wayne, 3-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Oct 13, 2018
The only problem was at check in. Person behind the counter was not very friendly.
Service was a bit on the slow side although they were very friendly and helpful.
Overall had a good stay
Verified traveler
3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 26, 2018
We had a fantastic stay.
Breakfast included was nice and the rooms were beautiful and comfortable
Verified traveler
2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 19, 2018
The hotel is central to everything, best hotel in Durban
Karon
Karon, 15-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jun 4, 2018
Nice and affordable hotel close to everything
Very nice experience, I've already recommended this hotel to my friends