Belmond Mount Nelson

The Belmond Mount Nelson is the most venerable and best-known of all Cape Town hotels, with a wealth of history behind it. Originally built to house passengers from the Union Castle cruise liners, the British and Colonial heritage of the hotel shines through in the grand public rooms and classic, period furnished rooms.

The hotel sprawls over several buildings within seven acres of beautiful rose gardens and manicured lawns, creating a peaceful oasis in the heart of Cape Town. There are two heated swimming pools, and Librisa Spa which offers a range of holistic treatments.

From the colonial grandeur of the Planet Bar and restaurant, to the alfresco informality of the pool area, the facilities at the hotel are superb. The rooms match the public areas for style and are luxurious, boasting a fantastic mix of period furnishings with modern elegance and opulence. There are 209 rooms, spread across several wings and all include modern amenities such as digital safe, television, hair dryer and minibar.

As well as community projects, the Mount Nelson is leading the way in Cape Town in their adoption of environmental best practices, including water conservation, eco friendly gardening practices, energy saving initiatives and recycling. They have even set up beehives in their gardens to house the Cape Honeybee which is currently under threat.

OUR RATING: Deluxe