• The best honeymoon hotels in Cape Town, part 2

    Text by Gareth Hardres-Williams

The best honeymoon hotels in Cape Town, Part 2… 

by Gareth Hardres-Williams, 2 October 2017

In exploring the best honeymoon hotels that Cape Town has to offer it soon became very apparent that there are so many wonderful options in Cape Town.  The options run the gambit from opulent luxury and extravagance, to understated elegance and quaint homeliness.  In this part 2, we explore some of Cape Town’s classics – options that are very much a part of the Cape Town hotel landscape and heritage.  Some of the classic options are more contemporary, whilst others have been with us since the age of steam ships and before.  What they all have in common though, is a gorgeously romantic and world class hotel experience ideal for that special time…

Cape Town offers so much choice for the honeymoon couple…

Belmond Mount Nelson – Gardens

“The Nellie – a Cape Town icon…”

Somewhat hidden away at the top end of the Company Gardens in the city of Cape Town, very close to all the hustle and bustle of town is the Grande Dame of Cape Town hotels.  Everything about this hotel is grand, but not in an overstated and showy way – it is the grand of yesteryear that is showcased here.  I would carefully describe the hotel as a colonial gem – only in that it has emerged from that era as a classic yet contemporary masterpiece.  The rooms are all sumptuous and views of either the gardens or the mountain are equally inviting.  Enjoy a stroll though the leafy garden and the pool area in summer is simply spectacular, almost in the shadow of Table Mountain.  The ample terraces offer the perfect place to relax and unwind too.

Highlights include…

  • consumate elegance
  • superb dining options
  • a wonderful spa
  • perfectly situated as a base to explore the city

The pool side at the Belmond Mount Nelson is a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy some quiet time together.

The Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel has a long established reputation for offering some of the finest afternoon teas in South Africa – add this experience to itinerary whether you are staying at the hotel or not.

The Ellerman House – Bantry Bay

“It is a work of art”…

Looking for a luxurious boutique hotel, then look no further than the Ellerman House.  The Ellerman House is on the slopes of Lion’s Head, in the shadow of Table Mountain in the gorgeous Bantry Bay, along the Atlantic seaboard of Cape Town.  The hotel is a mere 10 minutes from the bustling city centre and housed in a resplendent Cape Edwardian mansion.  It is from this once home that an luxurious yet homely boutique hotel has emerged.

The hotel has 11 rooms and 2 suites that are all wonderfully suited to accommodating a romantic honeymoon getaway.  The beauty of this hotel is that it offers a truly private experience, well hidden and tucked away – one can truly escape to your own world of opulence here.  No real need to go anywhere, just stay “home” and savor all that the hotel has to offer.

Highlights include…

  • unrivaled sea views
  • incredible contemporary art collection
  • intensely private and exclusive
  • wine gallery and champagne cellar

The rooms at the Ellerman House all look out to sea, offering unrivaled views of the azure Atlantic Ocean.

The Ellerman House offers a wonderfully private pool side berth with views that are tough to beat.

The Vineyard Hotel – Claremont

“Suburban splendour”…

The Vineyard Hotel is a wonderfully welcoming space, set in the leafy Cape Town suburb of Claremont.  Sprawling and forest-like gardens that include a romantic river meandering through.  It is hard to put your finger on exactly what makes this hotel such a special place, but we love it and enjoy sending our guests here.  The staff are always smiling and friendly and it really does feel like a home-away-from-home.  An added bonus is the fully equipped gymnasium with gorgeous mountain views and the superb spa offering.

Highlights include…

  • exceptional spa
  • heated indoor pool
  • suburban quiet
  • romantic gardens

A beautiful and welcoming hotel, The Vineyard Hotel is set in a gorgeous suburb with spectacular mountain views.

The Vineyard Hotel offers a world class spa in the Angsana Spa, with super couples options to enjoy together.

Cape Grace – V&A Waterfront

“A contemporary classic”…

The Cape Grace is glorious offering in the V&A Waterfront precinct of Cape Town, set amongst the yachts of the Table Bay harbour’s yacht marina.  The Cape Grace is a large hotel, but still manages to maintain an intimate and welcoming feel.  The rooms are exceptionally comfortable and offer lovely views either of the mountain, the marina or out to sea.  If you are looking for a luxurious hotel offering close to the busy V&A Waterfront, then look no further than this hotel.

Highlights include…

  • the Bascule Bar whisky pairings
  • superbly located close to all Cape Town hotspots
  • a number of useful and complimentary concierge services
  • wonderful fine dining options

The rooms at the Cape Grace offer super views and are all wonderfully well appointed and extremely comfortable.

The Cape Grace has a terrific fine dining option in-house, but is also a mere stones throw from many other romantic choices at the V&A Waterfront.

The Cellars-Hohenort – Constantia

“Amongst the vines and glorious gardens”…

This is the only Relais & Chateaux offering on our list and certainly deserves its ranking amongst some of the most romantic destinations on earth.  Set in glorious gardens in the treed opulence of the Cape Town suburb of Constantia, close to vineyards and mountains alike, the Cellars-Hohenort hotel almost seems to have been imagined with honeymooners in mind.  There is intimacy in everything here and the rooms exude romance and escape.  The area the hotel find’s itself in includes the wonderful vineyard destinations nestled in Constantia and is perfectly situated between the “rural” whilst being close enough to the city.

Highlights include…

  • stunning swimming pools and garden
  • luxurious rooms
  • great “hidden away” rural-urban location
  • close to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

The gardens of the Cellars-Hohenort hotel present a spectacular backdrop for your romantic getaway.

The classic Cape Dutch architecture is respected and mirrored across the property, whilst also embracing the contemporary and luxurious.  The garden is also home to the property’s own vineyard.

How to arrange the honeymoon of a lifetime…
For more information on how to book your Mammoth Safari honeymoon, possibly twinned with a search for wilderness, adventure and a safari, please contact a member of our sales team by sending an email to info@mammothsafaris.com and visit www.mammothsafaris.com for more destinations and journey ideas.

About the author…

Gareth Hardres-Williams

Gareth Hardres-Williams

Marketing and Creativity

Gareth Hardres-Williams is our Marketing and Creative man, tasked with getting our stories out there. Based in Cape Town, he explores Africa from this base at the tip of the continent. email Gareth at gareth@mammothsafaris.com