Mount Nelson is one of Cape Town's, indeed South Africa's, very oldest hotels, having originally opened at the turn of the nineteenth-century. It's changed and expanded a great deal in the last 100+ years, of course, even swallowing up the neighbouring Helmsley Hotel to become what is today one of Cape Town's most upmarket hotels.
Mount Nelson has a great location at the foot of Table Mountain, just a short, delightful stroll away from Cape Town's historic centre and busy high street. It's easy to forget your urban surroundings while at Mount Nelson, the hotel's neatly clipped lawns and fabulous garden pools seemingly a world away from the urban sprawl outside its walls.
Mount Nelson is part of the Orient Express family of hotels. It is one of Cape Town's most extravagant resorts. For the sort of money you'll pay here, many would prefer to stay at one of Cape Town's smaller boutique hotels, which offer a similar standard of accommodation, though fewer facilities, and a more intimate atmosphere. If you're just looking for a stylish resort with a great location and good facilities, however, Mount Nelson works wells.
Accommodation
There are 201 rooms at Mount Nelson, of which 144 are standards and 57 suites. All rooms and suites are equipped with air-conditioning units, mini bar, cotton linen, luxury bathrooms containing all amenities/toiletries and bathrobes, sewing kits, writing desks, mood lighting, satellite television, video recorders, electronic safes, hairdryers, internet connection and telephones with data ports and voicemail.
The more expensive suites are located in the original, nineteenth-century part of the hotel, and cost more.
Dining
Cape Colony offers fine cuisine, while the Oasis Restaurant offers Mediterranean style al fresco dining in a more relaxed setting. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge, and cocktails and champagne can be enjoyed in Planet.
The bars and restaurants of Cape Town are a short walk away.
Facilities
- Two heated swimming pools
- Fully equipped gymnasium with personal trainers
- Two tennis courts
- Golf practice net
- Lounge
- Patio
- Hair salon
- Spa treatment rooms
- Two restaurants and a bar
- Business centre
Activities
Available locally (mostly at an additional cost):
- Historical and cultural tours of Cape Town
- Art galleries and museums in Cape Town
- Visits to the Cape Winelands and Table Mountain boasting a number of possible walks, hikes and biking trails
- Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
- Beaches at Cape Peninsula
- Cape Point Nature Reserve
- Luxury boat trip and educational tour to Robben Island
- Adrenalin activities including abseiling, paragliding, skydiving, sand boarding and shark diving.
- Helicopter flip around the Western Cape
- Horse riding along Noordhoek Beach
- Golf
- Children’s activities: Animal farms, Two Oceans Aquarium, Scratch Patch
Child Policy
Mount Nelson accommodates children of all ages. It's a good family hotel, thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and good facilities. A baby-sitting service can be provided on request.
Environmental Policy
A member of the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme.
