Mount Nelson dates back to 1899 and is unequivocally the grande dame of Cape Town. From the Prince of Wales gate, up the palm-lined driveway, to the impressive porticoed entrance, it’s all old-school glamour and luxury.
Glam and luxury. Yes. Posh. Absolutely. Pretentious. Not in the slightest. In fact, behind those pretty pale pink walls you’ll find the most charming, affable, family-friendly welcome. It’s a romantic destination for honeymooners, yes, but also with multi-generational travellers high on the guest list …. a hotel where local and international guests return again and again – little wonder, as they’re remembered and welcomed with joy, all their favourites on-hand without them having to ask.
With it’s prime location, extraordinary gardens and views of Table Mountain, the iconic Mount Nelson – A Belmond Hotel – truly is one of the Mother City’s most loved destinations. First painted pink to celebrate the coming of peace in 1918 – which proved to be so popular it’s remained so for more than a century, then, and now, the glorious hotel is so much more than a place to stay … it’s an experience.
First bucket list experience is the well-known and much celebrated Afternoon Tea. Chef Vicky Gurovich goes OTT with scrumptious savoury and sweet treats, while Tea Sommelier Craig Cupido talks you through the choice of more than five dozen loose-tea options – his favourite is the strawberry and vanilla tea – a fine match for scones and cream. Insider tip: ask for the clotted cream, which is only served by request.
Equally – maybe even more – desirable is the breakfast – with the health station, the seafood station, the crepes and waffle station and juice and smoothie bar and a bread station the size of a small bakery! followed by a dozen or so hot dishes like eggs bennie and grilled kippers and brioche French toast. Insider tip: breakfasts are open for day visitors, not just residents, so pop in even if you’re not staying over.
For sundowners, order a Rose and Rose – a heady mix of Cape Town Pink Lady Gin, Aperol and Mount Nelson rose, lemon and spiced raspberry purée with a touch of white chocolate – in the Planet Bar … the achingly cool yet timelessly classic bar with a fireplace for chilly nights and a terrace for steamy evenings. Or choose one of barman Jono Makonga’s favourites – the Four Noble Truths with Aqua Zulu Cachaça, (made in Durban in small batches in the traditional Brazilian style), mixed with pineapple and roasted coconut purée and lime. Just the one, though! Insiders tip: Make time to stroll through the mixology garden, where 95 per cent of the botanicals used in the signature cocktails are grown.
The Lord Nelson Room is moody … all wooden panelling on deep red walls, where a roaring fire keeps things cosy and guests play pool and chess or one of the many board games … we can’t think of a more perfect spot to spend a chilly evening. Insider tip: The vibe’s smooth, old-time jazz … and you’ll find the Jazz Greatest Hits playlist they love on Spotify.
It’s a dog’s life at the Pink Lady. Check into one of the hotel’s five ground floor, pet-friendly rooms … where they’re as spoilt as you are. Think personalised welcome cards and treats on arrival, plush velvet beds and chilled rooibos tea to cool them down. They can join you for tea, where there’s a dedicated pet menu, and are welcome in most areas of the hotel and gardens. Insider tip: The dress code is Chommies … and you can buy limited-edition Chommies accessories for Rufus. And … a percentage of the proceeds from the Mount Nelson Chommies collection goes to The Underdog Project, a registered Non-Profit and Public Benefit Organisation working with vulnerable children and dogs in Cape Town.
Take a walking tour of the gardens. The style and layout can be traced back 170 years, when Hamilton Ross bought the estate by auction. His nephew, John, was a keen landscape gardener, and turned the farmland into a park with an orchard, vineyard, aviary … with fountains and lion sculptures that are still in the gardens. The walking tour takes you past the driveway of palms – 80 of them were planted in honour of the royal visit of HRH Prince of Wales in 1925, and the Malay Banyan Fig and Australian Paperbark trees, European Oaks and the enormous Tree Aloes and so many more. A fascinating tour for gardeners. Insider gossip: When President Bill Clinton visited the Mount Nelson, his rather over-enthusiastic SWAT team asked for those palms to be cut down as a security measure. Obviously the hotel declined.
For those wanting to explore outside the grounds, the Nellie is in walking distance of Kloof Street – all coolest cocktail bars and chic little cafes. But staying within the grounds is a pleasure with all that’s on offer. Daily, and complimentary, activities include events such as coffee and chocolate tastings, a bootcamp with a fitness coach who’ll put you through your paces, a history and architecture tour though the hotel and gardens, early morning yoga out on the lawn. Insider gossip: John Lennon stayed at the hotel under the pseudonym Mr Greenwood and surprised guests by meditating in the gardens.
It’s opulent. Extravagant. Lavish. The attention to detail is extraordinary, from the welcome notes to the toiletry bags, monogrammed with your initials, given on departure. From the pillow menu with a choice of half a dozen or so options to the fact that staff remember exactly where returning visitors (and there are many) like their loungers placed next to the pool, and what cocktail they enjoy before dinner. Insider gossip: The staff are obviously tight-lipped about guests, but The Nellie has seen everyone from Winston Churchill, who was stationed there as young war correspondent, to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes and a renowned spiritualist, who apparently outraged guests by holding seances in his hotel room, to the Dalai Lama, who addressed more than 500 visitors who sat cross-legged on the floor in the ballroom.
If you’re visiting Cape Town but staying elsewhere, day visitors are welcome … for breakfasts and teas, cocktails and dinners, a spa treatment or the popular Sunday At Oasis Jazz Brunch. Insider tip: Book for the Chef’s Table … an intimate spot tucked away in the kitchen, where you can watch the chefs at work, enjoy their creations, and maybe pick up a cheffie tip or two while you’re there!
Details: 76 Orange Street, Cape Town. belmond.com
