Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel
What We Love
- In the shadow of Table Mountain and a 10-minute walk from the city center
- Old World charm, from high tea service to sundowners by a marble fireplace
What To Know
- The excellent restaurant serves a gourmet take on African game
- Free WiFi
- The V&A waterfront is a shuttle ride away
Amenities
- Babysitting
- Bar
- Free WiFi
- Gym
- Handicap-accessible
- Kids Club
- Parking On Site
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Spa

Overview
The Look
If you’re going to paint your hotel pink, you better be ready to deliver in the style department. Luckily, the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel — or the Nellie, as it’s affectionately known — has been packing more than enough panache to go around since 1899, and it’s the place to stay in the Mother City (the guest registry includes Oprah, Kate Moss and Colin Farrell). Old World glamour reigns supreme here, from the high tea served daily on the hotel’s veranda to the two tennis courts, on which everyone wears Wimbledon whites. Spread over nine garden-filled acres in the shadow of Table Mountain, the buildings that make up the complex are filled with fresh-cut flowers and antiques.
Bed and Bath
In keeping with the overall style of the hotel, the 198 guestrooms are elegantly decked out with period details, floral fabrics and antiques. They’re all individually styled; some are done in pastel shades and bright white furniture, while others have sturdy dark wood furnishings and deeper hues. The higher room categories (Deluxe Rooms and above) are located in the original part of the hotel, and many of the Suites have grand four-poster beds.
Beyond
The spa is all about bringing traditional healing techniques and treatments rooted in Africana into a modern context. Hydrotherapy baths use pouches filled with indigenous plants and herbs, including rooibos and African potato, along with herbal oil blends, and the yoga studio offers regular classes. The Nellie’s bars and restaurants are favorites among locals. At the fine dining outlet, Planet Restaurant, guests can try a selection of unfamiliar tastes, like cured springbok. After your meal, tap into the city’s nightlife scene by grabbing a flute of champagne at the Planet Bar, where Cape Town’s well-heeled pretty young things mingle well into the night.
In the Area
The Cape Town dining scene is on fire, with chefs (including the Nellie’s Rudi Liebenberg at Planet Restaurant) putting innovative spins on distinctly African ingredients. Ask the concierge for recommendations. Journey out to the Cape’s wine region to sample the region’s famous Pinotage. It’s an easy daytrip; in fact, it’s only a 45-minute drive to the charming town of Franschhoek, where tasting rooms, top-notch restaurants, art galleries and gourmet food shops provide plenty of diversions. Visit the Old Biscuit Mill, a restored factory in the formerly gritty and now hipster-filled industrial neighborhood of Woodstock, to check out the city’s best fashion and furniture designers. The surrounding region has plenty of sandy options — after all, you can see the confluence of two oceans from the Cape. Be sure to visit different spots to see and feel the variations in water temperature and color between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean sides.
How to Get There
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Reviews
During our stay, the reception area was being refurbished, so we were not able to enjoy the hotel during 100 % normal conditions. However, the staff was extremely helpful and service minded. The rooms were spacious and well equipped. Dinner was nice, but a bit on the expensive side. We definately recommend their afternoon tea; it is exquisite!
This is well worth including in your plans for visiting Cape Town. You park in their car park, but can explore the area a little either before or after the meal. Food is buffet-style, extensive and plentiful. Nice atmosphere - jazz good. Zukiswa, our waitress, was very helpful - thank you !
My wife, step-daughter and her friend had occasion to high tea at the Mount Nelson. What a truly and utterly decadent occasion with treats and pleasures the entire afternoon was. The quality, finishes, food, drinks and service are immaculate!
Spacious and beautiful junior suite.
The most incredible garden which also surrounds the pool. There is full speed on the colonial style which surrounds you with calmness and peace of quiet. Impeccable breakfast and service. High noon tea was lovely and so was dinner at the Mount Nelson restaurant.
The only “but” is the slow service at the lunch restaurant on the terrace where one half is for the Teas and the other a la carte lunch. Being a 5 star hotel, they need either to let fewer people in or hire more servers. One day it took us an hour to get lunch, and the only thing they had to say was sorry. Why don’t they offer us free drinks, a coffee or a dessert for free then. It is not the money - but the attitude in respect of the too long wait.
But all in all highly recommendable. We will come back definitely
My wife and I stayed at this beautiful colonial style hotel during an AHI travel excursion to South Africa and were most impressed with every amenity in the resort - the service was first class, the meals were excellent, our room was luxurious. This is one of the most beautiful hotels we've ever stayed at in our travels around the world, first class in every respect.