If you’re heading to Cape Town, which is the best luxury hotel? The Cape Grace, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, or One&Only Cape Town?
1. Best Location
The Cape Grace and One&Only Cape Town are brilliantly located close to the V&A waterfront area. The Cape Grace has the best location, standing at the heart of the V&A Waterfront. For touring Cape Town, The Cape Grace and One&Only Cape Town are better located than Mount Nelson.
Belmond’s Mount Nelson is located in what feels like a residential neighborhood. While the Belmond is badly located for the waterfront and about a quarter of an hour’s drive from the waterfront, it does find itself better located for many local excellent Cape Town restaurants if you want to eat out.
That said, Nobu is located at the One&Only Cape Town, and there are plenty of eateries in the V&A waterfront area.
2. Style and Character
All three hotels feel very exclusive. The Cape Grace feels like a Four Seasons hotel and is utterly luxurious. It is located right in the center of the waterfront and feels classy and historic, fitting well with its surroundings. We really love the low-rise design, classic style, stunning bar, and general Cape Town ambiance of this stunning hotel, but it lacks grounds, which is a disadvantage over the other two hotels.
One&Only Cape Town is beautifully modern but feels less welcoming, slightly odd, and out of place in this warm and friendly city. It lacks the character of Cape Town. The design reminds me of a Park Hyatt with huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows, stunning rooms with views over the marina, and tropical trees and foliage scattered around the pools and walkways.
The design of the hotel is completely stunning and has a watery theme. There is no doubt you are staying somewhere highly luxurious with all mod cons, and the watery views are welcome on a hot day.
Does it feel like you’re in Cape Town when you stay here? No, not really. The One&Only Cape Town feels like a luxury Dubai hotel and lacks the local character that the other hotels exude.
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, feels traditional and quintessentially elegant and warm. This Belmond provides amazing service and great views of Table Mountain. It is not at all ostentatious. Instead, you feel like you have arrived at your Cape Town home when you stay here. The staff are warm, the decor is immaculate, and it feels part of Cape Town. The Mount Nelson Hotel fits well in this city.
3. Best Pool
The Cape Grace offers a decent outdoor pool surrounded by loungers. The pool is part of the top floor spa, and there is a sun deck with Table Mountain, city, and marina views. Because this is a rooftop pool, it is not huge and lacks greenery, so it is our least favorite pool.
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, has my favorite pool as lawns and lush greenery surround it. This pool is shaded by trees and has wonderful table mountain views in the background. The pool feels like it’s part of a colonial mansion, and the whole hotel feels like it’s part of the history of Cape Town.
One&Only Cape Town has a large outdoor pool decorated with palm trees. This is a stunning pool that feels like it’s been designed for a luxury hotel in Dubai rather than Cape Town. This pool has an amazing design, and we love the white parasols and drooping tropical greenery.
4. Best For Families
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, and One&Only Cape Town both have great pool areas ideal for families, so I would pick one of these hotels. If the younger members of your family like to be able to walk to activities, One&Only Cape Town is more centrally located and is a resort hotel that you may never need to leave.
5. Conclusion
If you want to experience the soul of Cape Town, stay at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel. If you want Four Seasons-style, elegance, and facilities in a great location, go for The Cape Grace. For something outstanding and completely out of place in many ways but utterly luxurious, pick One&Only Cape Town. We prefer the ambiance of Cape Grace, the soul of Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, and the pools at Mount Nelson and One&Only.
Ellerman House and The Dock House Boutique Hotel are worth considering for a more boutique hotel experience.
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