High Tea at Mount Nelson in Cape Town
The Mount Nelson Hotel is a premier 5-star luxury hotel nestled between Lions Head and Table Mountain in Cape Town that has hosted several famous guests and dignitaries since it opened in 1899. It’s famous for its old-world charm, soft pink exterior, and stunning nine-acre garden.
The hotel also boasts two heated pools, a fitness center, tennis courts, a salon, and a luxury spa. It also has a children’s club, where parents can drop their kids off for a bit to enjoy some time at a quiet brunch, relax in the spa, or have a more intimate romantic dinner.
A night at Mount Nelson will set you back upwards of R16,000 (+$878 USD) per night. But don’t worry, you can get a taste of the experience without staying there by booking one of their fantastic dining experiences.
One of their most sought after dining experiences in their afternoon tea. Which is simply exquisite! You can reserve a space in the lounge and or out on the terrace overlooking the garden. I’ve had several afternoon tea experiences, and this one was my absolute favorite. If you’re a fan of high tea, it’s definitely not to be missed!
When is afternoon tea served?
Wednesday – Sunday
12:00-2:00 and 3:00-5:00
How much does afternoon tea cost?
R450 / adult
R300 / child
What to expect!
The Mount Nelson hotel is an experience from the moment you arrive. You’re immediately transported back in time to old-world glamor and sophistication. As you enter the property, you’ll pass through the grand ‘Prince of Wales Gate’ and down a long palm tree-lined drive built in honor of The Prince of Wales visit in 1925.
You’ll follow the tree-lined path until you hit the first blush buildings on your right. Then you’ll follow the garden path until you reach a large fountain where steps up to the terrace and lounge will be on the left.
The tree shaded terrace is decorated with cushioned wicker furniture and potted plants and provides a great view of the fountain, gardens, and blush-colored hotel.
The lounge is also a beautiful space lined with big windows that open up to the garden, allowing you to enjoy the greenery with the comfort of air conditioning. It’s light and airy with a charming black and white checkered floor, hanging plants, and comfortable upholstered chairs.
Upon arrival for high tea, guests are provided with a complimentary glass of sparkling rosé to enjoy while you wait for your first course. And don’t let the bite sized eats fool you. It may look small, but definitely come hungry, because you’ll be stuffed by the time you leave. It basically ends up being a 4-course meal. The first course includes: finger sandwiches, open faced sandwiches, and savory pastries served on a tiered display stand. Next are scones served with butter, cheese, clotted cream, and jam. And then, a two tiered dessert stand with bite sized macarons, mascarpone, mousse, and cheesecake. But that’s not all, after finishing the bite sized desserts, guests are also invited to check out a dessert buffet for additional full-size cheesecakes, cakes, and loafs.
And of course, they have an excellent selection of tea, which you can sample as much as you’d like during your 2 hour dining period. And if you’re not sure what tea to try, you can ask one of their expert tea sommeliers.
To top it all off, guests are provided with a complimentary box of chocolates on the way out. We even got an extra box of chocolates since it was our anniversary.
But don’t go yet! After enjoying the wonderful meal, feel free to take a stroll around the grounds and grab a few more pics before you go.
To check out more on high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel click here.
Menu
The pink and green afternoon tea menus are so cute. You can tell that just as much care went into creating them as the hotel and surrounding gardens. The gold embossed cover is decorated in images reflecting high tea and the grand hotel. And aside from the various dishes and tea offerings, the menu also provides a bit of history on afternoon tea and the hotel along with fun quotes and colorful illustrations. Everything is laid out beautifully. And you can even take one of them home as a souvenir!
But I know you probably want to hear more about the food, so here’s what to expect:
Savories
Finger sandwiches: egg and mayo, cucumber, and spiced chicken salad
Smoked salmon trout on seed loaf
Roast beef and rocket open sandwich
Potato curry empanada
Mushroom and feta tartlet
Roasted red pepper pastry
Bobotie sausage roll
Scones
Scones with clotted cream, jam, and cheese
Spiced honey madeline
Sweets
Raspberry and rose macaron
Coffee hazelnut mascarpone delice
Strawberry mousse
Passionfruit cheesecake
Dark chocolate, raspberry mousse
Peach and Mount Nelson Hotel Tea choux
Click here to view the full mouth watering menu.
Other Fun Dining Options
If high tea isn’t your thing, don’t worry. The Mount Nelson hotel has other fun dining options, like Sunday Jazz Brunch or a Poolside or Garden Picnic.
Sunday Jazz Brunch is provided every Sunday from 11:30 am – 3:00 pm and includes live jazz music (R525/adult, R325/child).
I couldn’t find much information about the picnics on their website, but I did find information about the picnics on some other blogs and saw guests picnicking when we were there.
Guests are provided with a blanket, pillows, and of course a picnic basket. Apparently, they even have different picnic themes you can choose from. Some picnic menus appear similar to afternoon tea with savory bites, desserts, and tea. Others appear more similar to a traditional picnic with cheeses, fruit, and charcuterie. I also saw an eco-friendly vegan menu.
Here’s an example of a picnic menu from 2021, which lists the garden picnic as R395. Poolside picnics are a little more (R595), since it includes access to one of the heated swimming pools for the afternoon.
Tips
- You usually need to make reservations for high tea, so make sure to call or book ahead online. To reserve your spot, email the hotel at: restaurantreservations.mnh@belmond.com.
- Mount Nelson does not have a dress code, but it is a nice venue. Plus, dressing up a bit is part of the fun. So, I would recommend smart casual.
- Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and outside on the terrace. So be mindful of weather to request the option that would be most comfortable for you.
- Make sure to let them know about any allergies or food intolerances when you make your reservation and after you arrive to avoid any accidents.
*Menus and prices may change over time.
