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This Week in Hotel Lust: White Picket Fences at Cape Town's Mount Nelson
This week, a combination of wanderlust and hotel lust led us to research the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, which a roving HotelChatter correspondent briefly had the chance to visit last year. We deemed Mount Nelson worth a second look from afar, because of the consistent buzz it garners for its exaggerated sense of luxury. Then again, if it weren't exaggerated it wouldn't be lust-worthy, would it?
Fat cats who travel to areas of the world deemed "exotic" aren't usually in the game of roughing it. Maybe they've come for a safari, but they better be welcomed home at the end of the day by plush linens at the very least.
No need to worry about that at Mount Nelson, where Garden Cottages located away from the main hotel building offer grown-up Richie/Regina Riches their very own white picket fence, rose garden, marble bathrooms, and use of an adults-only pool. Socialite's kids can be notoriously snotty, so this division of property is welcomed by singles and child-free couples alike. The price of privacy: approximately $1,478 per night, according to listed rates and our currency conversion.
Tags: Missoni Hotels / Hotel Hype / Cape Town Hotels / Fashion Hotels / Rezidor Hotels / → All Tags
Hotel Missoni Goes For South Africa Next
Hotel Missoni wastes no time. On the crest of the wave of hype surrounding the very first Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland (it opened yesterday!), Rezidor Hotels has just announced that Missoni will bring its mutilcolored, dreamy lodging designs to Cape Town, South Africa in 2010.
Hotel Missoni Edinburgh opened its doors amidst a technicolored flurry of publicity, and as we wait on Missoni's second lodging outpost to open its doors next in Kuwait this fall followed by an Oman location later on, we've apparently got a fourth location to look forward to. The 157-room Hotel Missoni Cape Town will be, supposedly, opening "just in time" for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 "in the heart" of Cape Town — complete with a Missoni Cucina restaurant, a bar, a spa and a rooftop terrace "with a cantilevered swimming pool and views of Table Mountain."
No word on when the Missoni brand is planning on crossing over into the ol' US of A, but we're going to go ahead and assume it won't be for a good long while if Rezidor's got its eyes fixed on spots like Edinburgh, Kuwait and Cape Town — but we'll keep you posted; you can always somehow procure yourself one of those fly kilty-apron things and wear it around your house to achieve a similar effect.
Tags: Hotel Openings / One and Only Hotels / Mariah Carey / Cape Town Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / → All Tags
Mariah Carey Performs for Nelson Mandela at One & Only Cape Town Opening
One & Only Resort has opened and despite the worldwide economic troubles, the luxury resort has decided to open with a serious bang--having Mariah Carey perform for Nelson Mandela at a private luncheon hosted today. Except that private luncheon including about 350 rich and famous folks. The official press release says:
Sol Kerzner (One and Only owner) introduced his 350 guests including: Mariah Carey, Thandie Newton, Marisa Tomei, Morgan Freeman, Sharon Stone, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon to the resort’s world renowned chefs, Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsuhisa.
The master ensemble of global musicians including Clint Eastwood’s son Kyle Eastwood on bass, legendary Dave Koz on saxophone; Jonathan Butler on guitar; the magnificent Patti Austin on vocals; Maceo Parker, formerly James Brown’s saxophone player, on sax; 6-year-old Cape Town percussion prodigy Daniel Peterson on drums and the amazing Hugh Masekela on Flugle & Trumpet performed an array of hits including “Fire & Rain,” “I’ll Take You There,” “Let’s Stay Together” and many more.
Naturally, a One & Only resort that opens with this much fanfare does not come cheap and we hardly expect room rates to be dropping anytime soon. Marina rooms begin at $540 a night and junior suites on one of the resort's two private harbour islands, begin at $1,770 a night.
Tags: Hotel Openings / Cape Town Hotels / One and Only Resorts / Gordon Ramsay / Nobu / → All Tags
One & Only Cape Town To Open April 4th
Lovers of One & Only Resorts (mainly the famous and the wealthy) will be thrilled to know that the resort group's newest location is opening April 4th in Cape Town, South Africa.
One & Only Cape Town is described as a "urban chic waterfront resort" in the heart of Victoria & Alfred Waterfront which will have killer views of Table Mountain and Signal Hill. The crescent-shaped, seven-storey Marina Rise building will house but more accommodations and the One & Only Spa can be found on two private islands in the middle of the waterway.
Generous interior spaces are adorned with fabrics and furnishings recalling the warm, muted tones of Africa’s savannahs, with bright splashes of colour paying tribute to the land’s vibrant personality.
All rooms and suites are indulged by the discreet yet attentive services of a dedicated butler, 24-hours a day. Sumptuously appointed oversized baths are complete with rain shower, private water closet and dual vanity.
Those marina rooms are also being touted as the largest hotel rooms in Cape Town. Even better? Each room has "expansive glass doors that lead onto private balconies" for maximum killer view appreciation.
Tags: Stellenbosch Hotels / Cape Town Hotels / South Africa Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / Monica Guy / → All Tags
The Cape Town Hotel Scene :: Wining and Dining at d'Ouwe Werf, Stellenbosch
Our roving correspondent Monica Guy has recently blessed the rains down in Africa--South Africa--and is giving us the scoop this week on the Cape Town hotel scene. Have a question or a suggestion? Let us know and we'll do our best to answer it. Enjoy.
Anyone visiting Cape Town would be mad to stay just in the city itself, cool as it is. Most travellers find at least a couple of days to explore the Winelands - the areas where South Africa's excellent, light-drinking wine is produced.
The closest areas to Cape Town are Stellenbosch and Constantia, and you can hire a car to drive round the various wine farms tasting different wines and eating until you can eat no more.
We're not sure of the rules on drink-driving in South Africa, but either way, if you want to do this properly you're best off staying in Stellenbosch itself. And for that, we recommend the 4-star d'Ouwe Werf, which claims to be South Africa's oldest hotel.
True or not, it feels like it is - a beautiful white colonial-style house with antique chairs and tables, old-style décor, and shady terraces and gardens where you can eat and drink to your heart's content with the mountains in the background.
Tags: Cape Town Hotels / South Africa Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / Orient-Express Hotels / Monica Guy / → All Tags
The Cape Town Hotel Scene: Dine in Style at the Mount Nelson Hotel
Our roving correspondent Monica Guy has recently blessed the rains down in Africa--South Africa--and is giving us the scoop this week on the Cape Town hotel scene. Have a question or a suggestion? Let us know and we'll do our best to answer it. Enjoy.
How the other half live. Or rather, not half, but the small minority of wealthy (almost all white) travellers who stay in the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town's Grande Dame.
The drive up to the hotel entrance (a guard salutes you on the way in) is via a tree-lined road through their vast, landscaped grounds - smoother than most of Cape Town's main roads. A huge, white columned building, and inside, a marble-floored entrance hall complete with antique décor, oil paintings, stuffed animal heads and suited butlers.
We didn't stay overnight so we can't tell you more about the rooms. But we did try out the restaurant, however, which is allegedly the best in Cape Town for Cape Malay-style fine dining.
Tags: Cape Town Hotels / Luxury Hotel / South Africa / Hotel Spas / Monica Guy / → All Tags
The Cape Town Hotel Scene :: A Oenophile's Dream Retreat at the Vineyard Hotel
Our roving correspondent Monica Guy has recently blessed the rains down in Africa--South Africa--and is giving us the scoop this week on the Cape Town hotel scene. Have a question or a suggestion? Let us know and we'll do our best to answer it. Enjoy.
The Vineyard Hotel's first claim to fame is that Nelson Mandela stayed here when he was first released from 27 years of prison on Cape Town's notorious Robben Island.
Its second claim to fame is that it's right near the Newlands rugby stadium--if you've ever been to South Africa or met a South African, you'll understand why this is so life-or-death important. On match days it's mobbed by adoring (but not very adorable) rugby fans. It's not so near the centre, but there's a shopping complex just up the road and they run regular shuttles.
The third claim to fame should be that it's an excellent hotel in a superb city.
Tags: Cape Town Hotels / South Africa Hotels / Monica Guy / → All Tags
An Introduction to the Cape Town Hotel Scene
Our roving correspondent Monica Guy has recently blessed the rains down in Africa--South Africa--and is giving us the scoop this week on the Cape Town hotel scene. Have a question or a suggestion? Let us know and we'll do our best to answer it. Enjoy.
Cape Town's having a bad time in the press these days because of violence spread from Johannesburg, but don't let that put you off visiting. It's a superb city - hot and thumping and full of surprises, with a whole gamut of safaris, whale-watching trips, wine tours, hiking, and loads more.
The Cape Town hotel scene is changing fast - the FIFA World Cup is coming to the city in 2010 and new hotels and apartments are shooting up all over the place. Prices will be shooting up too, so if you're not a football fan, head there now before the fever takes over.
Tags: South Africa Hotels / Hotel Cuisine / Cape Town Hotels / → All Tags
Making Bread in the Vineyard in South Africa
While you're spending some dough at a nice hotel, how about making some as well? Le Quartier Français in South Africa lets you make your own wine accompaniment with a day of baking and vino at a working vineyard.
Le Quartier Français, in the beautiful wine region near Cape Town, has the kind of restaurant people drive two hours to get to just for dinner. Chef Margot Janse has a full wall of award plaques and the 8-course gourmand tasting menu is legendary. The Relais and Chateaux hotel is also one of the best in the region.
But if you want to do some cooking along with your eating, they'll put you on a bread making field trip to a vineyard restaurant affiliated with the hotel. An excursion heads out to the winery restaurant at Môreson, simply called Bread & Wine. Here is a condensed version of your day:
- On arrival you will receive your very own apron, recipe book and ingredients
- Hands-on, with a bit of guidance you will make 4 different types of dough
- We will quench your thirst with water and wine
- While your breads are baking we send you off to taste the wines
- Lunch will be served with some of your very own baked breads
- More wine to be had
Did we mention there will be plenty of wine? You may want to pencil in a nap for when you return to your room. The monthly program--available only to guests of the hotel--should be booked in advance and we suggest April 21 or May 12 to coincide with the harvest season in the southern hemisphere. Note that you'll need to bring a good bit of bread with you as well--the kind that goes in your bank account. Doubles at Le Quartier Français start at $207 (1,450 rand) and suites start at $379.
Few leave disappointed though after staying at this gem of an inn, and a day of bread and wine would be a nice reason to leave the grounds.
Photo: travelingmcmahans]
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