125 YEARS OF MOUNT NELSON, A BELMOND HOTEL, CAPE TOWN LEADING STORIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA’S LEGENDARY PASTEL-PINK LANDMARK
Woven into the fabric of the City of Cape Town for the past 125 years, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, is celebrating its milestone anniversary with a series of cultural moments throughout the year. With a colourful and storied history, The Nellie was painted pink in 1918, to honour peace at the close of the First World War and mark the start of a new era for the city and the hotel. Located beneath the gaze of Table Mountain since 1899, Mount Nelson is more than a heritage landmark, it is a cosmopolitan haven. It is the joyful home to the city’s renaissance in the arts, culture and gastronomy – through local and international creative collaboration.
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Here’s what to expect in 2024.
1 MITICO, BELMOND AND GALLERIA CONTINUA’S THIRD ART SERIES, LAUNCHES AT MOUNT NELSON FEATURING DANIEL BUREN
Photo-Souvenir: Daniel Buren, Colourful Halt for Mount Nelson, work in situ, 2023. Detail. © DB-ADAGP Marking the launch of Belmond and Galleria Continua’s third annual art series, internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Daniel Buren entices visitors to take a moment to contemplate his work - Colourful Haltfor Mount Nelson, work in situ, 2023. The new work surrounds the garden fountain, a historical landmark feature, present since before the hotel’s inception 125 years ago. Buren uses the fountain’s circular shape as his base, installing 3-metre-pillars which alternate between mirrors and stripes. This succession of patterns playfully interacts with the surrounding nature, resulting in an explosion of light and movement when visitors wander through it. This bold commission reinforces the hotel’s role as the joyful home of Cape Town, kicking off its annual cultural programming. The artwork will be available to view by guests and visitors alike, from 16 February 2024 until 15 February 2025.
2 A NEW COLLABORATION BETWEEN MOUNT NELSONAND THE NORVAL FOUNDATION, CURATING ART AND SCULPTURE ACROSS THE HOTEL
Embark on an artistic visual journey with Norval Foundation’s year-long partnership at Mount Nelson. Curated by talented duo Heinrich Groenewald and Shona van der Merwe of RESERVOIR, the exhibition entitled “Mother City”, encompasses a collection of artworks from the Norval Foundation’s Homestead Collection, including twentieth-century South African artists, as well as contemporary artists from the African continent and its diaspora.
Key African art talent includes Athi-Patra Ruga, renowned for his dystopian exploration; acclaimed photographer exhibiting at Tate Modern in 2025, Zanele Muholi; as well as multimedia artist Dada Khanyisa. Set against Cape Town’s backdrop, fondly known as the “Mother City”, the artworks on display delve into diverse narratives, exploring themes of motherhood, care, and heritage through various mediums.
This artistic endeavour enriches Mount Nelson with a profound exploration of contemporary art, offering guests and visitors alike, an entry point into the region’s rich cultural history. HOW: “Mother City” will be on show at Mount Nelson until October 2024. Guided art tours with Shona and Heinrich can be arranged. Zanele Muholi, Balindile II , The Square, Cape Town, 2017
3 MOUNT NELSON LAUNCHES AN ANNIVERSARY RETAIL COLLECTION IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, INCLUDING A PINK GIN AND TEA BLEND
Elléna Lourens, artwork for gin label, for Mount Nelson, 2024 Mount Nelson will launch an anniversary retail collection curated in collaboration with local artists, paying homage to the hotel’s illustrious past and exciting future. A 125-year commemorative tea blend and a special coffee blend nod to The Nellie’s iconic Afternoon Tea. An accompanying, bespoke tea set - a quintessentially Capetonian keepsake – has been designed by globally celebrated South African textile and fashion designer, Sindiso Khumalo.
A limited edition run of Mount Nelson Pink Gin will launch featuring coveted labels designed by three Capetonian artists. For the first time this year, the hotel expands its celebrations to guests’ furry companions with a Mount Nelson x Chommies collaboration range, including luxury pet accessories modelled by the hotel’s very own beloved cat, Nellie, who has captured the hearts of staff and guests for 15 years and can be found roaming the Lounge and Verandah.
HOW: Click here to shop Mount Nelson’s exclusive pet retail range created in collaboration with Chommies.
4 AFRICAN FASHION MEETS AFTERNOON TEA FOR ‘CONFECTIONS X COLLECTIONS’ THIRD EDITION AT THE NELLIE
Back for a third year, November will see Mount Nelson shine a spotlight on “slow fashion” concepts over designer-inspired confectionery, in collaboration with Twyg, an independent media NPO operating at the intersection of fashion and sustainability. An annual celebration of African talent,Confections x Collections (CxC) offers an elevated salon-style fashion showcase that focuses on the work of designers who champion a culture of care, deeply rooted in heritage. These creatives honour local artisanal skills and celebrate their continent’s fashion. Previously featured designers include LVMH prize winner Thebe Magugu, award-winning Laduma Ngxokolo of Maxhosa, and sustainable designer Lezanne Viviers of VIVIERS Studio.
Guests can partake in a stylish tea ceremony with delectable sweet and savoury treats, tarts and pastries, accompanied by a selection of loose leaf teas, all whilst enjoying a front-row fashion show by Africa’s most exciting designers. HOW: Click here for more information. A Sindiso Khumalo design at CxC 2023
ABOUT MOUNT NELSON, A BELMOND HOTEL, CAPE TOWN
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town first opened its doors in 1899 and has been affectionately known by locals as ‘ The Nellie’ ever since. Nestled in the heart of Cape Town, between Table Mountain and the Company’s Gardens, the property is framed by craggy coastlines, expansive beaches and verdant winelands, and is just a stone’s throw away from the urban cool of Kloof Street.
Steeped in history, with illustrious guests such as Marlene Dietrich and Dalai Lama, its iconic facade was first painted pink in 1918 as a symbol of peace and joy at the end of World War I. The hotel has 198 rooms and suites, connected by 9-acres of lush gardens – a green sanctuary in the heart of the vibrant city – as well as two tennis courts, two heated swimming pools and a spa in a heritage building. Its gastronomical offering spans from the world-famous Afternoon Tea by Vicky Gurovich - where guests are offered over 60 varieties of loose-leaf teas and infusions - to Liam Tomlin’s ode to Pan-Asian cuisine at The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse.
The Verandah promises a hyper-seasonal dining experience with George Jardine’s three-course à la carte menu. A peaceful and luxurious oasis in the city, Mount Nelson celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2024.
ABOUT BELMOND
Belmond has been a pioneer of luxury travel for 46 years, building a passion for authentic escapes into a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations. Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to perpetuate the legendary art of travel, taking discerning global travellers on breathtaking journeys. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with 50 remarkable properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, remote beach retreats like Cap Juluca in Anguilla, Italian hideaways such as Splendido in Portofino, or unrivalled gateways to world natural wonders such as Hotel das Cataratas inside Brazil’s Iguazu National Park. From trains to river barges, safari lodges to hotels, each unique property offers an incomparable experience with its own story to tell. The essence of the Belmond brand is built upon its heritage, craftsmanship and genuine, authentic service. Belmond sees its role as custodians of timeless heritage, dedicated to preserving its assets through sensitive ongoing restoration plans. Belmond is part of the world’s leading luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Belmond.com INSTAGRAM: BELMOND MOUNT NELSON