About this hotel
General information
Mount Nelson is one of Cape Town’s grand old hotels, known affectionately as “The Nellie” or the pink lady. The homestead at the foot of Table Mountain dates from 1843, and the hotel opened here in 1899. Its pink façade has long been its signature.
The hotel sits in 3.6 hectares of tended gardens, with a palm-lined avenue, rose gardens and two outdoor pools. Beyond the main building, rooms are spread across the historic Green Park, Helmsley, Taunton and Hof Villa houses, the Oasis Wing and a row of garden cottages – 196 rooms and suites in all. Afternoon tea in the Lounge is a Cape Town institution, and the hotel also has six venues for weddings and meetings of up to 400 guests and its own calendar of cultural events showcasing local art and fashion.
Location
The hotel stands on Orange Street in Gardens, in central Cape Town at the foot of Table Mountain, about 15 minutes by car from the mountain itself. Cape Town International Airport is roughly 25–30 minutes away, and the hotel arranges airport transfers, including by vintage car. A complimentary shuttle runs to the V&A Waterfront every two hours (10–15 minutes), and the concierge can book private cars or bicycle hire.
Spa
Librisa Spa occupies three restored Victorian houses in the hotel gardens. The menu includes the signature Mount Nelson Rose massage, the African Wood massage, the Essential Elements ritual, body polishes and facials with Esse Skincare. A beauty salon and a fitness centre complete the offer.
Sports & leisure
The hotel has two outdoor pools with poolside cabanas, tennis courts and a fitness centre, plus yoga, boot-camp sessions and guided tours of the gardens. The concierge also arranges time beyond the hotel:
- surfing and a food tour of the city in a pink Kombi van
- an outing with a marine biologist
- classic-car and sidecar tours
- days in the Cape Winelands and wine adventures
- fynbos hikes, first-light walks and a walking tour of Cape Town
For children
The hotel runs a kids’ club for younger guests.
Restaurants & bars
Dining is spread across historic rooms, the verandah and the gardens:
- Amura – immersive, ocean-inspired seafood dining
- The Verandah – seasonal South African cooking
- The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse – Pan-Asian cuisine
- Oasis – farm-to-table restaurant in a leafy corner of the garden, also the breakfast venue
- The Fountain by Planet Bar – al fresco dining on a flower-filled terrace facing the mountain
- The Chef’s Table – a small dining room beside the working kitchen, where the chefs cook speciality dishes in view
- Planet Bar – cocktails and champagne before dinner
- The Lounge – afternoon tea, with classic, vegan and gluten-free menus
Swimming
There are two outdoor pools in the gardens: the main pool with cabanas for lounging, and a secluded pool beside the garden cottages.
Pets
Several dedicated pet-friendly rooms come with amenities for animals. Afternoon tea in the Lounge has its own menu for dogs, Oasis, Planet Bar and The Verandah offer treats, and the concierge can recommend walkers, sitters and groomers.
Rooms
Mount Nelson has 110 rooms and 86 suites, three of them signature suites, set across the main building, the historic houses, the Oasis Wing and the garden cottages, with views of the gardens, the pool, Table Mountain, Lion’s Head or Signal Hill.
Rooms have a king or twin beds with fine linens and a pillow menu, a marble bathroom, a desk, a smart TV with international channels, a minibar, a safe, climate control and free Wi-Fi.
One Bedroom Suite
A main-building suite with a large separate living room, a larger bathroom and Table Mountain or garden views. King or twin beds; up to three guests with an extra bed.
Deluxe One Bedroom Suite
A generous bedroom and living room in the main building or Green Park, with panoramic views of the gardens and Lion’s Head. King or twin beds; up to four guests.
Studio Suite
A studio suite in the Helmsley, Green Park or Taunton houses with mountain or garden views; some have a balcony or terrace. Up to three guests with an extra bed.
Deluxe Studio Suite
A larger studio in Helmsley or Green Park looking out to Table Mountain, Lion’s Head or the gardens. King or twin beds; up to three guests.
Honeysuckle Suite
A signature suite among the garden cottages, with its own private garden and pool views. Two king beds; up to four guests.
Hof Villa Signature Suite
A signature suite in the historic Hof Villa with a furnished balcony overlooking Lion’s Head, the gardens and the palm avenue. King bed; for two.
Strelitzia Suite
A top-floor signature suite in Green Park with a lounge and fireplace, a dining room, kitchenette, dressing room and a balcony with sunbeds facing Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. King bed; for two, with an extra bed on request.
Two-Bedroom Penthouse Suite
A Green Park penthouse with two bedrooms, one with a king canopy bed, and a furnished wraparound balcony with panoramic views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. Up to six guests.
Presidential Suite
A two-bedroom suite in Green Park, one bedroom with a king canopy bed, wrapped by a furnished balcony with mountain panoramas. Up to five guests with an extra bed.
Two Bedroom Deluxe Suite
A main-building suite with two bedrooms, each with king or twin beds, overlooking the gardens and Lion’s Head; some have a balcony. Up to four guests.
Two Bedroom Deluxe Junior Suite
Two bedrooms in the main building plus an open-plan lounge with a sofa, looking onto the hotel gardens. Up to four guests with an extra bed.
Two Bedroom Suite
A main-building suite with two bedrooms, each with king or twin beds, and a private balcony above the gardens. Up to four guests.
Three Bedroom Penthouse Suite
The hotel’s largest penthouse, in Green Park: three bedrooms, one with a king canopy bed, and a furnished wraparound balcony with views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. Up to eight guests with two extra beds.
Deluxe Garden Cottage Suite
A garden cottage suite set behind its own enclosed, scented rose garden. King bed; for two.
Garden Cottage Suite
A quiet cottage with a terrace behind an enclosed rose garden, next to a secluded pool. King bed; for two.
Deluxe Junior Suite
A junior suite in the main building or Green Park with a balcony or terrace and views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head or the gardens. Up to three guests with an extra bed.
Junior Suite
A junior suite in the main building or Green Park with mountain or garden views and king or twin beds. Up to three guests with an extra bed.
Deluxe Room
A room in the main building, Green Park or the Oasis Wing with garden, mountain or pool views; most have a balcony or terrace. Up to three guests (extra beds outside the Oasis Wing only).
Superior Room
A cosy room looking onto the gardens or Table Mountain – 25–29 m² in the main building, larger in Green Park; some have a mini-lounge and a balcony. For one or two guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.