The Parkview is an unconventional budget hotel that sits just off Marine Parade and is perfect for those who want proximity to the beach and attractions of the waterfront, but don’t have the funds for fancier digs and don’t mind that it lacks the ambiance and amenities associated with most hotels.

That’s because the Parkview is a combo residential apartment building and hotel, with about 20 to 25 rooms allocated for the hotel side, and the other 50-60 or so inhabited by mostly elderly folks living on (small) fixed incomes.

The aging 1930s building seems to not have been updated since the 1970s, and features dark wood paneling, ancient carpets and quirky fixtures in the lobby. I wouldn’t call it an air of faded glamour — more of an air of faded kitsch. But it’s oddly charming. The ancient elevators, which fit just two people, have both inner and outer doors, and lead to higher floors with grey institutional carpets and plain white walls with tacky dime-store watercolors erratically hung on them.

Inside the rooms it’s a different story, however. It’s pretty clear that the rooms on the hotel side, which were converted from private apartments, have been renovated significantly. They feature shiny hardwood floors, gleaming marble and tile bathrooms, modern flat-screen TVs, and funky-chic decor. My room had an enclosed balcony that doubled as both a sitting room and an extra sleeping space, perhaps for a child. The main sleeping area had a rather primitive but comfortable bed, a kitchenette with microwave and fridge, and off the entry hall were separate compartments for toilet and shower/tub/sink.

Elsewhere in the building you’ll find a giant hospital-esque TV lounge, and a residents’ dining room where guests can get super-cheap, tasty food — but definitely not gourmet — for about R50 per meal (ask reception for a voucher). There’s even a pool on the lower level, but I never got a chance to use it. Staff are very friendly and helpful, with security on duty at the front door 24/7.

The hotel’s location is both a perk and a drawback – although it’s central to downtown, the beach, and it’s walking distance to the convention center, it fronts a busy street, which means there’s tons of street noise. Try to get a room on a high floor, if possible.