In a town over-run with quaint and charming guesthouses in quiet suburbs, the Zum Kaiser Hotel (formerly the Swakopmund Boutique Hotel) stands out for its modern style, sophisticated service and central location.

The seafront is a minute's walk from the hotel and the centre of Swakopmund town is a minute's walk in the other direction. You are close to restaurants, shops, activity centres and of course, miles and miles of Skeleton Coast shoreline.

With just 21 rooms and operating as a fully fledged hotel complete with room service, concierge and its own restaurant, the Zum Kaiser Hotel certainly earns its boutique hotel status.

The decor is an urban blend of boardroom neutrals in marble, brushed style and off-white finishes; mahogany highlights lift the interior from drab to elegant.  The rooms too have plenty of boutique-hotel attention with original paintings, a notable absence of anything built-in or built for convenience and luxurious bathrooms.

The restaurant - open to the public for an atmosphere boost - features dozens of paintings by local artists and the kitchen produces quality dishes using carefully sourced local ingredients for daily specials. The rooftop garden offers a view of the Atlantic Ocean, the sunset over said ocean, downtown Swakopmund and the desert dunes in the distance.