Cape Town’s iconic landmark, the luxurious Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel has just undergone a refurbishment. Baroque Travel reports
London-based designer Inge Moore and her team have just refurbished 48 guestrooms and suites in one of the world’s most legendary hotels, The Belmond Mount Nelson in Cape Town. In keeping with the hotel’s heritage as a fine establishment with British roots (it initially opened in 1899), the hotel remains as elegant as ever, with some exquisite modern refinements.
In days of yore, seafarers on their voyages of discovery around the globe made the Cape their home, bringing their own cultures with them and combining this with what the Fairest Cape had to offer. The result is a unique legacy of fine bone china, sparkling crystal, rustic timber, beads and clay that is quintessentially Capetonian. And that is what the Mount Nelson, or ‘Nellie’ as it’s nicknamed, epitomizes – a mixture of refined and artisanal touches, familiar aspects with new and enchanting discoveries.
Very few hotels around the world epitomize the soul of their location like this one, which offers breathtaking views of Table Mountain as its backdrop. The hotel’s personality hasn’t changed with its new iteration; instead, it has been lovingly refurbished in keeping with a sense of refinement and luxury that has become its signature over the years.
But the additions are all meaningful and carefully thought-out, like the chair strategically placed in each guest room so that visitors can relax and revel in the beauty of the world outside their window. New pieces of furniture have been specially designed as modern takes on traditional pieces, in keeping with the originals, and it goes without saying that every material used is classic, timeless and sourced locally.
The new decor incorporates many exquisite works of art by local artists, both contemporary and classic, all celebrating the beauty of the Cape. These have joined some fine existing masterpieces that have been reframed to give them a more contemporary edge. The designer said that she wanted guests to feel as if they are walking through the corridors of a beloved aunt’s amazing home. The result is warm and inviting, elegant and stylish, and epitomizes what all Belmond hotels offer: a sumptuous, comfortable, welcoming environment to stay in, with every possible luxury modern facility thrown in for good measure.
The Belmond Mount Nelson remains the grandest of the Cape’s hotels, with its beautiful landscaped gardens. The best of the best accommodation here remains one of the eight restored historic cottages on the property, which feature giant four poster beds, exquisite marble bathrooms, separate living and dining areas, enclosed patios and access to a secluded heated pool. But wherever you stay in this magnificent grand dame, you’ll enjoy a lifestyle reminiscent of a bygone era. Life here is what dreams are made of. And the beauty of the Cape is an even bigger reward.