The pink palace of British colonial times, set in the gardens of Company's Garden since 1899.
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
From
923.089 €
“Two heated pools surrounded by palm trees and English lawns, 800 metres from Table Mountain.”
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel occupies an entire block of Orange Street, its candy-pink façade recognisable from two kilometres away. We cross a hall with white columns, Persian rugs, emerald velvet armchairs, light softened by silk lampshades. The rooms mix colonial furniture (four-poster beds, teak secretaries) and bathrooms redone in white marble, some with claw-foot bathtubs facing the garden. The spa occupies a separate pavilion, heated indoor pool, treatment cabins with South African oils. Two outdoor pools (one for children), teak loungers, towel and cocktail service until 7pm. Rates from 923 € per night, consistent with the Belmond standing and the rarity of the address in Cape Town. We recommend a Garden View room, the extra cost justified by the view over the protea beds and the mountain in the background ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend the Mount Nelson to travellers seeking the classic palace experience in Cape Town, far from the minimalist design of the new boutique hotels in Camps Bay. It is an address for couples in their forties and older, anniversary trips, second-generation honeymoons, affluent families wanting pools and gardens for the children. The clientele remains predominantly international (British, American), with a strong business presence during the week.
The building
Architecture and interiors
The Mount Nelson occupies a building from 1899, enlarged in 1920 then renovated by Belmond in 2019. Edwardian architecture, salmon-pink façade, white columns, slate roofs. Interiors mix colonial wood panelling, Italian marbles, Persian rugs, Chesterfield leather furniture. The rooms range from 28 to 85 m², spread between the main building and the garden wings, all different yet coherent in the Heritage style.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
Three tables at the Mount Nelson: the Planet Restaurant for breakfast buffet and Mediterranean dinners, the Oasis Bistro on the terrace for light lunches facing the pools, the Planet Bar for afternoon tea (book ahead) and cocktails until midnight. The cuisine remains classic, South African produce (kingklip, springbok), wine list focused on the Cape and Stellenbosch. The tea service, served in the pink columned salon, remains a Cape Town institution since 1925.
Highlights
- Historic palace from 1899, iconic pink façade of colonial Cape Town
- Two heated outdoor pools surrounded by nine hectares of gardens
- Spa with indoor pool, hammam, treatment cabins using local products
- Three restaurants including the Planet Bar for cocktails and afternoon tea
- 800 metres from Table Mountain, ten minutes from the V&A Waterfront
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in Cape Town
The Mount Nelson stands on Orange Street, between the historic centre and the gardens of Company's Garden. Table Mountain 800 metres away, V&A Waterfront ten minutes by car, Camps Bay beaches fifteen minutes away. Quiet residential neighbourhood, embassies and museums nearby, Kloof Street restaurants five minutes on foot. Cape Town International Airport 25 kilometres away, 30 minutes outside peak traffic.
Good to know
Before you book
- Pets
- Accepted on request, supplement applied, basket and bowls provided.
- Children
- Dedicated pool, children's menu, babysitting on reservation.
- Parking
- Free, valet included, secure spaces within the grounds.
- Pools
- Two heated outdoor, one indoor at the spa, open 7am-8pm.
- Spa
- Open 9am-8pm, reservation advised, treatments with local oils.
- Wi-Fi
- Free throughout the hotel, stable and fast connection.
Facilities
2 pools
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness centre
Free Wi-Fi connection
Spa and wellness centre
Room service
Facilities for disabled guests
Restaurant
Wi-Fi available everywhere
Free parking
Family rooms
Location
Where Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town is located
Exact address
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
Address
76 Orange Street
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