Of the original building the restored wooden floorboards, brown as they are, add a touch of neutrality to an otherwise jaunty-verging-on-Art Deco, yet super modern guesthouse in the centre of Swakopmund.

Villa Margherita is small: 7 suites, 3 luxury rooms and a family unit, each decorated and fitted with impeccable taste and attention to detail. And while you’ve got a 1:1 staff to guest ratio, the service is warm, attentive and competent but never effusive.

The house is old but charming, hence the other name by which it is known - the Charming House. It's comprised of The Villa, The Nest (the family unit), The Manor and The Cottage, where each is made up of more than one suite or multiple rooms. Decor is colourful yet elegantly tasteful and speaking of taste, the menu is refined and delicious.

The guesthouse offers an a la carte menu from 7am till 9pm offering chef-standard fare and some good South African wines. Pre-book your dinner if you want to dine in, otherwise there are many dining options on your doorstep.

In the centre of Swakopmund, you are walking distance to all the main attractions including the beach, craft market, restaurants and cafés and the few oddball museums and galleries that  complement our quirky town.

The house opens onto a fairly busy street but has a secluded courtyard with a small garden in the back; the in-house massage is to-die-for and an absolute must.