This morning’s agenda was to check out the Pink Lady – The Mount Nelson Hotel.
After walking through the palatial hallways, we waited at the sumptuous sitting room which is ideal for those popular High Tea occasions. High tea may have once been a simple affair with a practical purpose, but in this place, expect a sensory feast that’s great entertainment. It can also be enjoyed in the Sun Room. There is a wide assortment of teas. I recommend trying the Mt. Nelson blend, along with a buffet of savoury dishes and desserts.
Other perks of the hotel are its attentively manicured gardens, beautiful spa and tennis court facilities as well as the two pools (main and private) available.
This private pool is exclusive to guests staying in the Garden Cottage Suites – a row of 8 restored historic cottages reminiscent of Cape Dutch living. It provides a more secluded environment.
Just a short stroll away, is the Company Gardens (1848) – abutted by numerous important landmarks, including the lodge house for the slaves who built large parts of the historic city, the present day Houses of Parliament, the Iziko South African Museum and Planetarium, St George’s Cathedral (which is the seat of the Anglican church in South Africa), the National Library of South Africa, the South African National Gallery, the Great Synagogue and Holocaust Centre as well as Tuynhuys, which is used by the President on state occasions.
Some of the Superior Rooms and Junior Suites are located in the Green Park Annex of the Hotel’s Grounds. They are set in a romantic area surrounded by lush gardens.
Overall, the hotel has a superb location at the foot of Table Mountain. It’s just a short stroll from downtown. It offers the perfect combination of leafy tranquility and contemporary buzz.
Green Market Square
On the way to our next site visit, we made a quick stop at the Green Market Square.
Greenmarket Square in the heart of Cape Town is where artists and traders meet from all corners of the African continent to sell their wide range of fabrics, sculpture, art and beadwork. Visitors to the square are sure to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and pick up great bargains as souvenirs of their African adventure.
Cellar’s Hohenort, Constantia Valley
It’s only 15 minutes between Green Market Square and Constantia Valley. This is the oldest wine-growing area in Southern Africa and features superb wine estates, fantastic shopping opportunities and a variety of excellent restaurants.
Our home for the weekend was Cellar’s Hohenort. It used to be the wine cellar of Klaasenbosch Farm eventually transformed into one of the most popular weekend retreats in Capetown.
The Luxury Double with Verandah rooms is located in the historic century old Hohenort Manor House. This features a large private balcony with panoramic vistas of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay.
Dating back to 1685, and described as one of the world’s most beautiful wine estates, Klein Constantia is set in a perfect location for cool climate wines. It is known for some of South Africa’s top wines, including one of the world’s best natural sweet wines, Vin de Constance.
The Cellars-Hohenort is ideally situated at a central point from which to experience a diversity of activities, including Cape Point, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Constantia Valley Wine Route, the famous beaches of Boulders and Camps Bay. A mere fifteen-minute drive will take you to the centre of the city and the V&A Waterfront.
Two award-winning restaurants are located in Cellars H. These dining experiences are overseen by Cape Town’s only Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef, Peter Tempelhoff. This is The Greenhouse, where cuisine focuses on South African ingredients with modern interpretations.
And the second one is The Conservatory – serving simple beautiful fare and a selection of Liz McGrath’s favorite dishes.
One can enjoy a walk around the 9.5 hectare estate surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens.
The One Penthouse, One & Only
We drove back to the City to check out the One Penthouse which is on top of One&Only. The two-storey penthouse features wraparound terraces overlooking Cape Town with breathtaking vistas of two World Heritage sites – the iconic Table Mountain National Park and legendary Robben Island.
The Potluck Club
Dinner at the Potluck club at the top floor of the historic Silo at The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.
The menu is composed of tasty Orient-inspired dishes. Reflective of Chef Luke Dale Robert’s travels around the globe.
We were also fortunate to meet up with Jose Cortes III and wife Kitty. They have been living the dream in Capetown for several years already, happily manning the rep office of A2A Safaris from there, among other things.
Where In The World is Penny K 