There’s a certain kind of trip that doesn’t announce itself with a mood board or a Pinterest board full of cobblestone alleys. It just arrives, salty air, a good bed, and the kind of slow pace that reminds you why you travel in the first place. Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) has always had that quiet coastal energy, but for a long time, it lacked a stay that matched its potential. That’s changed.
The Capital Boardwalk opened in April 2026, and it’s exactly the kind of hotel that makes you want to check in on a Thursday and not think about Sunday until Sunday actually comes.
THE LOCATION DOES HALF THE WORK
Positioning is everything in travel, and The Capital Boardwalk nailed it. The hotel sits right within the Boardwalk Mall complex, giving you instant access to restaurants, the casino, and padel courts without ever having to get in a car. But walk a few steps in the other direction and you’re at the beachfront, the kind of sea view that makes your shoulders drop the moment you see it.
It’s the kind of location that works whether you’re there for a quick business trip, a long weekend with friends, or a solo reset you’ve been putting off for three months. Corporate hubs are nearby for the working traveller, and the entertainment options are genuinely impressive for a city that often gets overlooked in favour of Cape Town or Durban.
THE ROOMS: FINALLY, SPACE YOU CAN ACTUALLY LIVE IN
One of the most quietly frustrating things about hotel stays is feeling like you’ve been folded into a room designed for one purpose only: sleeping. The Capital Boardwalk takes a different approach.
The one-bedroom apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen (yes, with a proper stove, full-size fridge, and washing machine), a separate bedroom with an extra-length king bed, and a private balcony. The ensuite bathroom has both a bath and a shower, not a choice between the two. A stylish lounge ties it all together. It’s apartment-style living with hotel-level finish, which is a combination that’s harder to pull off than it sounds.
For those travelling in a group, or simply those who believe more space is always the right call, the penthouse is worth talking about. Soaring ceilings, uninterrupted ocean views, an elegant lounge, and a fully equipped kitchen with warm, considered finishes. It’s the kind of space that makes you want to host a sunset cocktail hour even if you only know yourself.
There’s also a two-bedroom penthouse option that connects to a standard room, practical for families or small groups who want togetherness without giving up privacy.
THE VIBE: COASTAL WITHOUT BEING KITSCHY
The best coastal hotels strike a balance between leaning into their setting and avoiding the trap of themed decor. Nobody needs a room full of rope accents and seashell prints. The Capital Boardwalk keeps things contemporary, warm, and genuinely comfortable, the kind of aesthetic that photographs well but also just feels good to be inside.
Premium linen, deep soaking tubs, rain showers, private balconies, the details are there, and they land without feeling like a list of features being checked off.
FOR THE WORK-FROM-ANYWHERE CROWD
If you’re the type who travels with a laptop and considers a strong Wi-Fi connection a non-negotiable, Gqeberha makes a surprisingly compelling base. The Capital Boardwalk has positioned itself as a hotel that works equally well for business and leisure, with one of the largest conference venues in the city on-site. But beyond formal meetings, the hotel’s location within a connected, walkable precinct means you can close the laptop at 5pm and genuinely switch off, which is the whole point.
WHY GQEBERHA, THOUGH?
Fair question. South Africa has a lot of coastline and a lot of competition for your travel budget. But Gqeberha has something that more-obvious destinations sometimes lack: room to breathe. It’s a city that rewards the curious traveller who isn’t chasing a bucket-list checkbox but is actually looking for a place that feels real — good food, ocean air, friendly energy, and now, a hotel that does the destination proper justice.
The Capital Boardwalk isn’t just a new hotel. It’s a reason to finally give Gqeberha the weekend it deserves.
The Capital Boardwalk is located within the Boardwalk complex, Gqeberha. For bookings and rates, visit thecapital.co.za/boardwalk