Opened in early 2013, the Radisson is a welcome contemporary addition to a city that doesn’t have many new hotels. Standing 12 stories high, the hotel is an impressive example of modern design – shaped like a ship’s prow in steel and glass – in an upmarket residential area of the city, a road away from the public beach.

Interiors are stylishly minimalist, with black and grey dominating the color palette, while the 152 rooms and suites have splashes of acid green and muted blues of the Indian Ocean. Rooms feature clean and functional design, a mosaic-tiled open-plan bathroom and a large bath, and great views – the floor-to-ceiling windows look straight out to sea, so you can stare at fishing boats coming in with their catch and dhows sailing across the horizon from your bed.

The city’s restaurants aren’t far by taxi (the popular, upmarket Zambi is only a five-minute drive along the seafront), although the Radisson has a range of eating options, from the Filini, which serves Italian food on the terrace, to the chic Oceano Bar or the snack menu of the Palmeira Lounge next to the lobby.

Like Radisson hotels around the world, it’s aimed at business travellers, ticking all the boxes with a convenient location close to offices, embassies, consulates, and a 15-minute drive from the airport, free Wi-Fi, a business centre, conference room and meeting rooms and time-saving services such as express check out. It’s also great for leisure travellers who prefer the amenities of a big chain hotel to a smaller boutique one – such as a spacious fitness centre, and an outdoor swimming pool (which, unfortunately lacks the views of the rooms). Unlike other local hotels, the Radisson offers a great range of organised tours, from half-day guided city walks to full-day excursions to South Africa’s Kruger National Park.