Mount Nelson recognised as Africa’s Best Hotel at prestigious London awards

The Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel in Cape Town, has been ranked 28th on the global list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024.

Following a successful debut in 2023, the second edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels was announced on Tuesday at an awards ceremony in London.

Held at the historic Guildhall, the event showcased exceptional hotel experiences that will inspire consumers, travellers, and hoteliers around the globe.

In addition, the Mount Nelson claimed the award for 2024’s Best Hotel in Africa.

Skirted by mountain and metropolis, the Mount Nelson, fuses its 125 years of heritage with 21st-century relevance in the urban heart of the city, surrounded by the country’s leading designer boutiques and buzzing cafés.

Nestled within eight acres of verdant gardens that unfold beneath the gaze of Table Mountain, the hotel plugs guests into the pulse of this iconic Southern African destination, from front-row fashion paired with the Nellie’s legendary afternoon tea; collaborations with modern and contemporary African creatives; exceptional dining with new Executive Chef Luke Lawrence Barry; to expert-led marine biology adventures and journeys into the city’s internationally acclaimed winelands.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 was revealed as part of a live countdown from No 50 to No 1.

The ranking is complemented by a host of special awards and reflects the very best travel experiences around the globe, collated from the votes of 600 anonymous experts.

This voting panel – the 50 Best Hotels Academy – comprises a balanced mix of hoteliers, travel journalists, educators and seasoned luxury travellers, led by a group of industry-leading Academy Chairs.

Meanwhile, as reported by The South African website in June, La Colombe in Cape Town was voted the Best Restaurant in Africa – and 49th in the world – in a similar The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

That means that the Mother City is home to the best hotel and restaurant on the African continent!

Breakdown

The 2024 list features hotels from dozens of destinations across six continents.

Asia is home to the most hotels on the list with 19 spots, followed by Europe with 13, North America with nine, Africa and Oceania with four each, and South America with one.

The three other hotels in Africa to make the list were La Mamounia (31st) and Royal Mansour (38th), both in Marrakech in Morocco, and Singita (44th) which is situated in the Kruger National Park.

Top-ranked hotel on each continent:

• Asia –  Capella Bangkok (No 1)
• Europe –  Passalacqua (No 2)
• North America –  Chablé Yucatan (No 16)
• South America – Rosewood Sao Paulo (No 24)
• Oceania – The Calile (No 25)
• Africa – Mount Nelson (No 28)

For travelers looking for a city break, Bangkok represents the top urban destination on the list with four hotels; followed by London and Paris, with three each; then Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and New York, with two each.

Here’s the complete Top 50 list:

1. Capella Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
2. Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
3. Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong
4. Cheval Blanc, Paris, France
5. The Upper House, Hong Kong
6. Raffles Singapore, Singapore
7. Aman Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
8. Soneva Fushi, Maldives
9. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAE
10. Nihi Sumba, Sumba Island, Indonesia
11. Claridge’s, London, UK
12. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
13. Raffles London at The OWO, London, UK
14. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand
15. Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, France
16. Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá, Mexico
17. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes, France
18. Maroma, Riviera Maya, Mexico
19. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence, Italy
20. Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi, Italy
21. Desa Potato Head, Bali, Indonesia
22. Bulgari Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
23. The Lana, Dubai, UAE
24. Rosewood São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
25. The Calile, Brisbane, Australia
26. The Siam, Bangkok, Thailand
27. Park Hyatt Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
28. Mount Nelson, Cape Town, South Africa
29. One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
30. The Carlyle, New York, U.S.
31. La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
32. Four Seasons Madrid, Madrid, Spain
33. Capella Singapore, Singapore
34. Four Seasons at The Surf Club, Surfside, U.S.
35. Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, U.S.
36. Eden Rock, St. Barths, Caribbean
37. Aman New York, New York, U.S.
38. Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco
39. Amangalla, Galle, Sri Lanka
40. Le Bristol, Paris, France
41. Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland
42. Castello di Reschio, Lisciano Niccone, Italy
43. Suján Jawai, Rajasthan, India
44. Singita – Kruger National Park, South Africa
45. Six Senses Zighy Bay, Zighy, Oman
46. The Connaught, London, UK
47. The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
48. Hotel Esencia, Tulum, Mexico
49. The Tasman, Hobart, Australia
50. Kokomo Private Island, Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji