I forgot to write a review of the Nellie when we stayed last year but,as we have just got back from another trip to Capetown I was reminded of this brilliant hotel.
We loved every minute of our 4 days at the Mount Nelson - and we're not a pair that really likes hotels, prefering appartments/villas etc rather than that claustrophobic feeling you can get in so many hotels.
We were immediately upgraded to a superior room when we checked in and this set the tone for fantastic service for the whole stay. We had a great deal with our flight and got a good b&b deal ( and boy was that worth it for the brilliant breakfast on offer) but if you can push the boat out then, this hotel is worth it as a real treat. It is truely beautiful and the atmosphere/staff/service/gardens/pool a wonderful exampe of what SA can do.
Some people say it is not in the best of locations but it was no problem for us doing the sights. Yes it's not near the Waterfront hotspot but there is more to Capetown then the Waterfront - and the hotel shuttle bus is fine to get there during the day.
This time we were staying with friends so no Nellie. Must note we nipped into the Cape Grace hotel to use their loo and this looked a very nice hotel, particularly if you do want to be on the Waterfront.

I am completely baffled by the number of exceptional reviews for this place that I have to wonder if they aren't planted. Everything was okay at best. I am a great lover of old architecture and antiques, but this place feels like an old sanitarium. It lacks warmth and true elegance. We stayed in one of their nicest 2 room suites. I can see how this might appeal to an older generation, but it is stuffy and ill-equipped for contemporary travelers. Despite our pricey room, we were met with loads of little problems--internet service failing (and costing over $50./day for 256k speed! OUTRAGEOUS!!!) which took hours to correct and then they had the nerve to blame it on my computer (though fellow travelers experienced the same and as a world traveler I have never had this problem on my computer elsewhere), our broken and backed up sink that they never adequately repaired, poor housekeeping with unemptied trash, dirty dishes left behind, and the disappearance of magazines we were in the middle of reading! We were continually baffled with how little was resolved because service staff are ringing your bell 5xs a day, yet when we called for service several times they just never came. We were provided with two TVs and DVD players and a long list of films for rent, only to find that a mere 8 of those films were DVDs and all the rest were VHS. It took days to get a VHS player and then the first two tapes we rented were in unplayable condition. The main pool was green and closed the first six days of our stay. When it finally opened, I thought I would luxuriate poolside and order lunch ... which I did, but my server forgot about bringing me my entree and it took forever to track him down and sort it out. The spa services are the only exceptional service and value (Lee is WONDERFUL!), but certainly do not warrant staying here.

Quite simply the best five star hotel I have ever stayed in. The room was spacious with all mod cons, a safe and minibar. As we were on honeymoon we had complimentary champagne waiting for us in our room and when we arrived back in the evening the bath had been filled and had rose petals and candles floating in it. We had a snack in the Planet champagne bar which was very tasty, but not as nice as the cocktails which were delicious and only about £1.50 - £2. In fact we closed most nights of our stay with a couple of cocktails and without fail the bar manager would come over to our table for a chat and some sightseeing advice. Breakfast was extremely tasty and could be enjoyed inside the oasis restaurant or outdoors on the terrace. There was a large choice for either continental or fried options and since both options were self service you could eat as much or as little as you liked. We had one dinner in the Cape Colony restaurant and found the food and service to be exceptional and inexpensive and of course we sampled the legendary afternoon tea which lived up to our expectations and was a lovely way to relax on our last afternoon in the city. We managed a fair bit of sightseeing on our trip and although we never felt unsafe in Cape Town we always felt that bit more relaxed when we reached the Mount Nelson whose gardens really are an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. On our last day we chose to relax by the pool, and again and have a few drinks and again the service was attentive but relaxed. All things considered, a fabulous hotel and if you don't believe me ask Russian President Vladimir Putin who stayed in the Mount Nelson on his visit to Cape Town during the same week as our visit. You could easily spend a week within the boundaries of this hotel if it weren't such a waste to miss out on the beauty of Cape Town - 10 out of 10

As always, all was perfect at the Mount Nelson with that wonderful colonial atmosphere but I have to say the staff were far better dressed than some of the visitors. Such a genteel dining room does not lend itself to half dressed tourists wearing jeans and trainers, neither does space allow for dumping large backpacks on the floor. All this was completely incongruous and a dress code should be introduced for anyone wishing to take tea, it is all part of the experience. I am a jeans and trainers gal myself but not at the Nellie for tea, it is just not appropriate.