Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel

Cape Town, South Africa

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One Bedroom Suite
One Bedroom Suite

The hotel

The very height of refinement, the Belmond Mount Nelson takes you on a rose-tinted trip down memory lane. Nicknamed ‘the Nellie’, this pink hotel takes you back to a bygone era of aristocratic activities like afternoon tea, painting masterclasses, and convivial strolls in its glorious gardens, with Table Mountain views. Even the avant-garde dining of its Lord Nelson Restaurant comes with a side order of history, with its bust of the Admiral carved from timbers from HMS Victory. The service and style may be timeless, but the features are decidedly current, with luxuries like Librisa Spa, two heated pools, tennis courts, and dedicated clubs and zones for children and teens. And the location gives you all the contemporary colour of central Cape Town, with excellent bars and restaurants within walking distance, and the V&A Waterfront a complimentary shuttle ride away.

Amenities

  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Kids Club
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Tennis
  • Restaurant

Where is it

Conveniently located near the city centre, about a 10-minute walk. Popular sightseeing spot Table Mountain/Lions head is 15 minutes away. Transfer time from Cape Town Airport: 25 minutes.

Hotel information

All rooms have a writing desk, widescreen LCD TV, WiFi, marble bathrooms and 1 king-size bed or twin beds, sleeping maximum 2 adults. Superior Rooms offer views of the gardens or Table Mountain, some rooms have a balcony or terrace. 

Deluxe Rooms are located in the main building, with views of the gardens, Table Mountain or the pool area. These rooms have a seating area and most have balcony.

Spacious Junior Suites have an open-plan lounge area with views of the gardens or Table Mountain. Some suites have a balcony. 

Planet Restaurant and bar (dinner), Oasis Bistro (breakfast and lunch). Afternoon tea and lounge. 2 heated outdoor swimming pools (1 adult-only). Poolside service*. Spa*. Fitness centre. Yoga*. Tennis courts. Children's activity centre (3-12 years). Hair salon*.

* Denotes local charge. 

Rating summary

  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
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  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1753)
  • Very good (266)
  • Average (79)
  • Poor (23)
  • Terrible (10)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Nice memories

May 21, 2020 Jobbie270 Cape Town Central, South Africa

Nice memories of this historical hotel. Sitting on the veranda overlooking the beautiful garden while having one of the best high-tea’s in the world. Or just going for cocktails and bunblies. Always good. See you on the other side after the lockdown.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Cape Town’s Mount Nelson: Enchanting In The Enchanted Gardens.

Apr 14, 2020 690sf Vancouver, Canada

The Mount Nelson takes a place alongside the legendary hotels such as The Savoy, The Ritz, The Waldorf, The Peninsula et al, which are known around the world not only for their elegance & excellence but also for the people who have stayed there, & the political moments & political actors who have been at these hotels while they were shaping… Read more
The Mount Nelson takes a place alongside the legendary hotels such as The Savoy, The Ritz, The Waldorf, The Peninsula et al, which are known around the world not only for their elegance & excellence but also for the people who have stayed there, & the political moments & political actors who have been at these hotels while they were shaping particular political & sociocultural events. Cape Town’s Mount Nelson, sometimes referred to as The Nellie, by some locals & journalists then covered the dying days of the apartheid regime, is an outstanding example. Winnie Mandela used to stay there when she flew from Johannesburg to Cape Town to visit her then husband, then imprisoned, Nelson Mandela. The hotel’s website notes that the man who was the icon of the revolution which changed South Africa from a state which excluded black citizens from having any political power at all to a democratic state, where all were allowed to vote in 1994, had a favourite table, which one can sit at & too enjoy the delicious food Mandela did. I have been there many times, especially while covering the civil unrest which brought Mandela to power, as many influential figures stayed or met there, as it was often the place plans were made & deals brokered. My times at the MN also included attending the wonderful marriage & reception of one of my best friends. John Lennon, the cultural revolutionary, is said to have mediated in the MN’s enchanting garden, set, like the pink painted hotel built at the end of the 1800s, in CT’s wonderful leafy area called the Gardens, which also houses Parliament. The MN has a number of places to eat & drink. The Lord Nelson, its main dinning room, where dishes like Beef Wellington are served as well as dishes such as Springbok, which is the meat of a kind of buck. There is also the Oasis, located alongside the pool, where one can eat lighter meals. There is also The Planet Bar, My favorite was to go for its English Afternoon tea. High Tea has always been a favorite meal of mine & the one served at the MN is one of the best I have had. The rare beef, smoked salmon & egg mayonnaise finger sandwiches are truly delicious, as are the freshly baked scones. If one likes an English tea, this is certainly a place to have one. The MN also has a spa, which is in keeping with the quality & excellence of the entire establishment. Sadly the MN takes it place alongside those legendary hotels, which have had to close their doors in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic & the government restrictions on the hospitality industry which have come in its wake. Its sadness at it closure is expressed on its website with the wish to soon be able to welcome guests back again. Posted by S Fuller Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating High Tea

Apr 13, 2020 822muniraha Montreal

What better way to spoil friends on a Sunday afternoon. Great champagne and a tantalizing array of dessert choices. The scones were as good as at Browns in London. Sandwiches perhaps a little disappointing. Elegantly served on the terrace. Viva South Africa 🇿🇦
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Breathtaking

Apr 6, 2020 thegymlad St. Catharines, Canada

Very good hotel, but also expensive. The hotel is in the center of the mountain. I could see it directly from Table Mountain. Our room was huge. We arrived a bit early and our rooms were not ready, so we were taken to the Oasis restaurant and sat on the terrace overlooking the pool for a buffet breakfast until the rooms became available. The… Read more
Very good hotel, but also expensive. The hotel is in the center of the mountain. I could see it directly from Table Mountain. Our room was huge. We arrived a bit early and our rooms were not ready, so we were taken to the Oasis restaurant and sat on the terrace overlooking the pool for a buffet breakfast until the rooms became available. The service was excellent. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating A Lovely and Elegant Historic Hotel

Apr 3, 2020 DrillerBurlington Burlington, Canada

Relaxing and elegant: a perfect place to unwind and to begin a trip in South Africa. Everything and everyone was calm and refined. Our suite was large, spotlessly clean and comfortable. Relaxing on the terrace in the evening with a cocktail was perfect. We had several meals in the hotel and the food, service and atmosphere were all very nice.