One block from South Africa's busiest harbor, the 21-story Royal is Durban's oldest and most prestigious hotel. Started in 1845 as McDonald's Commercial Hotel, a single-story wattle, daub and thatch construction on what was then the main Market Square.
It was renamed the Royal Hotel and gained an additional story in 1861. Following a decade of extensive renovations, it attained its present status in 1981. As such, it has hosted Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk and the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
A prominent landmark in the city center, the hotel exterior is fairly unremarkable other than at night when the hotel's name is lit up in bright neon blue on the top floors of the building.
The ground floor consists of a carpeted reception area with a long and well-staffed reception desk, a plush glass-fronted residents-only lounge with Wi-Fi access, an elegantly decorated coffee shop serving delicious cakes and pastries, and two restaurants; one, the highly-regarded Ulundi serving the meat and
vegetarian Indian cuisine for which Durban is renowned.
The first floor also consists of public areas, including the wood-panelled Top Room Bar and the carnivore-friendly Royal Carvery, alongside conference facilities and a closed elevated passage leading to the adjacent multistory parking arcade. The superb buffet breakfasts, usually include in the room rate, are served on an airy 20th floor breakfast room with tall glass windows overlooking the sparkling waters of Durban Harbor.
The gym and spa are on the 21st floor, where the modestly sized outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by lounging chairs. Other amenities include airport transfers, babysitters, a doctor and hairdresser on call, dry cleaning and laundry, valet service, a good business center, Internet access and pay television.
The rooms are large and decorated with understated elegance with blue and white carpeting offset by off-white pastel painted walls hung with colorful prints of rural and historic South African scenes. Rooms feature dark wood appointments: queen-sized 
or twin beds, a large writing table, bedside table and cabinet.
Other in-room facilities include flat-screen satellite TV, coffeemaker, full-length mirror, safe, air conditioning, bedside lamps and a generous selection of glossy books and magazines. Most rooms on the middle to higher floors have full or partial views of the harbor, but no balconies. Baths are large and tiled, with separate tub and shower, dual marble vanities, a large mirror, toilet and bidet.
A flagship of the highly regarded Three Cities Group, the Royal is undoubtedly one of the finest city hotels in South Africa. Its one significant negative is that it lies several blocks away from the so-called Golden Mile (Durban's main recreational beachfront). It wouldn't be advisable to walk between the two after dark, though taxis are inexpensive and widely available. That one caveat aside, the hotel is a very reliable and safe bet. Its general aura of conservative restraint should ensure it appeals to a broad spectrum of business and leisure travellers.