The Lofts Boutique Hotel
The Boatshed, Long Street, Thesen Island
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Why people book this hotel
“Fabulous view over the lagoon, large bright bedroom, and a great range of cafes …”
“The rooms were spacious and very comfortable”
“Fantastic hotel in the perfect location”
“Stunning views in a vibey location”
“EVERYTHING FROM THE ROOM, RESTAURANT AND STAFF”
“Great friendly staff where nothing was too much effort”
“We also really enjoyed the excellent restaurant in the evening and the lovely ba…”
“We had breakfast at the divine Ile de Pain right next to the Lofts and an amazin…”
“Room was clean and adequately sized, but wish we had gone for one of the Tower r…”
Overview
Welcome to The Lofts Boutique Hotel, a family-owned hotel that promises to offer you the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Situated on the edge of the picturesque Knysna Estuary. We are located on Thesen Island, a world-renowned destination that provides visitors with an abundance of shopping and dining options, as well as easy access to a variety of activities and tours. Whether you’re interested in kayaking (free access from the hotel), taking a sunset cruise, or exploring the surrounding natural beauty, there is something for everyone. Our hotel features beautifully appointed rooms & apartments, each designed with your comfort in mind. With luxurious bedding, plush furnishings all the modern amenities you need. Some rooms have exquisite views of the Knysna Lagoon (King Room with Lake View) others have large sunny private balconies (Standard Double Room) or self-catering facilities (Apartments). For those looking for delicious food and drinks, we have two of the best restaurants in town right inside our building. Our hotel restaurant, Nest Food Bar, serves brunch, dinner, and cocktails, and is known for its unique decor and vibey atmosphere. The famous café and bakery Ile de Pain is located right next door and is renowned for its artisanal bread, pastries, and café-style menu! We pride ourselves on offering the best sunsets in town, and the friendliest hospitality to all our guests. We are also well-known for our ‘Sunset Sessions’ event, held on Saturdays (during the summer season), with a live DJ playing house music on our deck, providing the perfect backdrop for you to enjoy the stunning sunset views over the Lagoon. Activities & Surrounds: - Le Spa Tranquill & Turbine Spa is nearby for guests to enjoy luxury spa treatments. - Simola & Pezula Golf Estate, as well as Knysna Golf Club is less than a 15-minute drive from the hotel. - Thesen Harbour Town & Knysna Waterfront are within 1 km. Please Note: Due to our hotel's boutique nature, each room has a unique layout & décor & not all rooms have lagoon views - to book a room with a lagoon view please select the 'King Room with Lagoon View'.
Traveller reviews
JOHANNES
couple
May 8, 2026
“VERY ENJOYABLE LOCATION EXCELLENT STAFF WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE OUR STAY AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. WILL DEFINAT”
EVERYTHING FROM THE ROOM, RESTAURANT AND STAFF
Karen
solo_traveller
April 28, 2026
“Amazing gem on Thesen island”
Fantastic hotel in the perfect location. Well appointed and stocked. Lots of tea/coffee etc. Complimentary beers and waters. Great friendly staff where nothing was too much effort!
Marilize
solo_traveller
April 18, 2026
Stunning views in a vibey location
Adam
family_with_children
April 17, 2026
“Unique and very comfortable hotel”
Beautiful hotel, lovely design and great restaurants in the building.
Sadler
couple
April 15, 2026
Fabulous view over the lagoon, large bright bedroom, and a great range of cafes and restaurants on site.
Elisabeth
family_with_children
April 11, 2026
“Wonderful Stay with Lots of Charm”
We had a truly wonderful stay at this beautiful boutique hotel right by the water. The location is fantastic and the whole place has a very special charm. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. A great surprise was the complimentary water and beer available throughout the day – such a nice touch. The rooms were spacious and very comfortable. We also really enjoyed the excellent restaurant in the evening and the lovely bakery in the morning for breakfast. The only small downside was that the wooden floors in the old building can be a bit squeaky, which our children noticed. Overall, we absolutely loved our stay and would definitely come back!
Christopher
extended_group
April 4, 2026
“A special stay in a special place”
Fabulous staff, fabulous location, fabulous hotel. Great hospitality, staff could do enough for us
Caroline
family_with_children
April 3, 2026
“Had a wonderful couple of days in Knynsa… definitely worth a visit!”
Fabulous location and funky design
Halle
extended_group
April 1, 2026
“A very special place to stay in Knysna.”
We had breakfast at the divine Ile de Pain right next to the Lofts and an amazing bakery. It is one of the breakfast options offered by the Lofts. We had a nice two-bedroom, two bathroom apartment that was very comfortable and quiet at night.
Nandini
couple
March 25, 2026
“Lovely stay”
Lovely lagoon facing
Jesse
couple
March 16, 2026
“Great, but definitely wouldn’t recommend the restaurant!”
Property was great! Location was great also, our room was lovely and the views were stunning.
Michael
couple
March 11, 2026
“Buitiful location , super loft room , the welcome and the ongoing service was super”
Location, room and especially the staff
Sue
couple
February 20, 2026
“Perfect!”
This was one of the best hotels we have ever stayed at - the view, location, rooms, terrace with sunset, restaurant and coffee shop were all fantastic. The staff were great and we used the kayaks to paddle around the island.
Steven
couple
February 17, 2026
“Nice hotel, but go for one of the Tower rooms”
A good location on Thesen Island and a nice vibe to the hotel. The Nest restaurant was very good. Room was clean and adequately sized, but wish we had gone for one of the Tower rooms as these were far superior. Free beer was a nice touch.
Clare
couple
February 10, 2026
“Lovely hotel - would recommend and will return”
Great location - really good food - very comfortable and great vibe.
Hilary
couple
February 9, 2026
“A lovely 5-night stay in an attractive and very friendly hotel overlooking the beautiful lagoon.”
Very friendly and helpful staff. Lovely breakfast., particularly when it was warm enough to eat it outside! Great view from our room which had a little balcony overlooking boats on the lagoon. Comfortable bed. A good choice of restaurants less than five minutes walk from the hotel. We would go back.
Peter
extended_group
January 31, 2026
“Stunning hotel and facilities with wonderful views of the lagoon”
Apartment is a beautiful large room and lovely outdoor spaces. Breakfast is great
Lucia
solo_traveller
January 30, 2026
“Unique hotel overlooking a tranquil lagoon, with great restaurants close by.”
Beautiful lagoon views, lovely, spacious room.
James Stuart
couple
January 25, 2026
“Lovely Lofts”
An overall excellent experience , friendly staff , great location , will be back
Sandra
couple
January 23, 2026
“Perfect, would love to stay again”
Room T1 superb Staff excellent
Facilities
Activities
Sauna, Golf course (within 3 km), Fishing, Games room, Spa and wellness centre, Massage, Children's playground, Canoeing, Hiking, Cycling, Diving, Snorkelling, Water sport facilities on site, Evening entertainment, Beauty Services, Facial treatments, Waxing services, Make up services, Manicure, Pedicure, Body treatments, Body scrub, Spa facilities, Steam room, Spa lounge/relaxation area, Foot bath, Spa/wellness packages, Back massage, Neck massage, Foot massage, Couples massage, Head massage, Hand massage, Full body massage, Massage chair, Temporary art galleries, Walking tours, Bike tours
Cleanliness & disinfecting
Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against Coronavirus, Linens, towels and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines, Guest accommodation is disinfected between stays, Guest accommodation sealed after cleaning, Guests have the option to cancel any cleaning services for their accommodation during their stay
Entertainment and family services
Board games/puzzles
Food & Drink
Kid meals, Special diet menus (on request), Snack bar, Restaurant, Bar, Breakfast options, Wine/champagne, Fruits, Coffee house on site
Food & drink safety
All plates, cutlery, glasses and other tableware have been sanitized, Physical distancing in dining areas, Food can be delivered to guest accommodation, Delivered food is securely covered
General
Bicycle parking, Minimarket on site, WiFi available in all areas, Non-smoking rooms, Family rooms, Heating, Non-smoking throughout, Air conditioning, Designated smoking area, Lift, Safety deposit box
Internet
WiFi, Internet services, Free WiFi
Outdoors
Sun terrace, Outdoor pool (all year), Outdoor pool, Terrace, Outdoor furniture, Picnic area
Parking
Parking, Free parking, Parking on site, Private parking
Physical distancing
Cashless payment available, Physical distancing rules followed
Pool and wellness
Swimming Pool, Sun loungers or beach chairs, Sun umbrellas, Pool with view, Plunge pool, Pool/beach towels, Swimming pool
Reception services
Invoice provided
Safety & security
24-hour security, Key access, Security alarm, Smoke alarms, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguishers
Safety features
Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities, Shared stationery such as printed menus, magazines, pens, and paper removed, Hand sanitizer in guest accommodation and key areas, Process in place to check health of guests, First aid kit available, Access to health care professionals, Face masks for guests available
Self check-in
Check-in kiosk in the lobby
Services
Shuttle service, Daily housekeeping, Concierge service, Private check-in/check-out, Shuttle service (additional charge), Airport shuttle (additional charge), Shared lounge/TV area, Ironing service, Babysitting/child services, Laundry, Dry cleaning, Barber/beauty shop, Room service, Meeting/banquet facilities, Airport shuttle, Luggage storage, Tour desk, Packed lunches
Apartment
These individually decorated apartments offer 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Most of these rooms' main entrance is through one of the bedrooms due to safety precautions and the units being designed around the original structure of the 100 year old boatshed frame. This apartment has a well-equipped kitchen where guests can prepare meals.
King Room with Lake View
These suites are individually decorated and offer lagoon views. Most of these units have an open-plan bathroom. The room provides hanging and packing space and a king-size bed.
Standard Double Room
These units has sliding doors opening onto a spacious balcony with 2 sun loungers. The Loft Rooms are each equipped with a large bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Ample hanging and packing space is provided, while extra length twin beds can also be made up as a king-size bed.
Hotel Policies
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