Cape Town's most historically significant hotel since 1899 — the iconic pink facade, 198 rooms in expansive grounds, Librisa Spa, two pools, and an afternoon tea that has been a Cape Town institution for over a century.
Why We Chose It
Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel opened in 1899 to accommodate Union-Castle steamship passengers and painted pink in 1918 to celebrate the end of WWI — a color that has become synonymous with the city. Known locally as "the Nelly," it sits in 6 acres of manicured gardens in the Gardens suburb, equidistant from Kloof Street's bars and restaurants and the cable car to Table Mountain. The 198 rooms are large by modern standards; the afternoon tea in the Planet Restaurant is legendary; and the gardens with two pools feel like a country house in the center of a city. Ranked #4 Travel + Leisure World's Best Hotels 2025.
What Stands Out
- #4 Travel + Leisure World’s Best 2025
- Established in 1899
- 198 rooms
- Set within 6 acres of manicured gardens
- Legendary afternoon tea
- Two swimming pools
- Librisa Spa
- Located in the Gardens suburb — walkable to Kloof Street