With its cacophonous chandelier, the triple volume entrance - itself a single-digit salute to the old-school modesty of the sprawling Swakopmund Hotel across the road - offers a none-too-subtle opening salvo: demure be long gone; brazen be well in.

But look beyond its streetwise bravado and hipster neon and you’ll find The Delight is in fact a rather articulate and sophisticated hotel. And so it should be. Brought to you by the dynamic Gondwana group - taking over Namibia, one attraction at a time - The Delight is a breath of fresh air and a multi-coloured feather in Swakopmund’s evolving accommodation portfolio.

With 54 rooms, The Delight is a full-fledged hotel with one exception - the very obvious lack of a ho-hum, clinkety-clink hotel dining room. And with good reason: being in the middle of town you are a short, refreshing walk from a variety of decent eateries of which your ultra-friendly concierge will make suitable recommendations and appropriate bookings.

Back to the hotel. Taking its colourful cue from the lighthouse framed by that grand entrance and of course the sea over which it casts its beady eye, The Delight is a lively seltzer for the travel-weary. Wood-finishes contrast with a dizzying display of almost-turquoise, nearly-red and bright, textured detail every which way you turn. Even your Smeg fridge and Nespresso coffee machine are colour-coded while the patterned turquoise walls are tamed by a tasteful black-and-white backdrop of Namibian scenery.

With minimal in-house dining to worry about, breakfasts at The Delight are an all-out feast. Come hungry and make the most of an impressive array of Namibian breads, cheeses and cured meats, waffles with strawberries (and more) and of course the classic egg-and-bacon combos washed down with a fresh coffee. Whoever added oysters and bubbly to the mix deserves a medal - employee of the century or something.

And lest you think The Delight is all bark and no bite, service here is good, Gondwana-good. Whether its the bellboy or the barman, smiles and laughs accompany a genuine desire (and ability) to make you happy.