Stay by area: our top hotel picks in Gardens, Cape Town

Mount Nelson, known locally as The Nellie, has stood beneath Table Mountain since 1899, its sugar-pink façades and nine acres of gardens a constant in Cape Town’s Gardens neighbourhood. The 198-room Belmond property blends historic presence with evolving hospitality: expansive suites with classic proportions and marble bathrooms sit alongside contemporary dining and bar concepts. Oasis Bistro serves lunches by the pool, The Verandah offers hyper-seasonal evening menus, Planet Bar pours cocktails and champagne and The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse delivers Pan-Asian plates in an intimate subterranean setting. Traditional Afternoon Tea remains a city fixture, held in the lounge or garden. A spa, fitness and tennis complete a city escape that still feels rooted in place.

Read the article on Mount Nelson.

Cape Cadogan offers a stylish city stay with a touch of historic charm. Located in the lively Gardens neighbourhood, this hotel is housed in a building with National Monument status, dating back to the early 1800s. The recent refurbishment has brought a sophisticated style with emerald greens, classic black and white and touches of gold. The hotel features two pools, perfect for cooling off on warm Cape Town days. You can also enjoy treatments at the onsite spa or keep up with your fitness routine at the hotel gym. The hotel’s restaurant, Upper Union, is also worth mentioning, offering a seasonal menu inspired by global flavours.

Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa is actually five interlinked Victorian-era townhouses at the foot of Table Mountain in Gardens, a stone’s throw from the CBD’s edge. Each townhouse retains its Edwardian façades while opening up internally to reveal contemporary suites with luxe linens, bespoke art and high-end appliances. We’re especially fond of the Mountain Club Bistro, where 360-degree city and mountain views set the scene for small-plate dining and signature cocktails. Afterwards, slip into the spa for an African Gold Quartz body treatment or unwind by one of two plunge pools on the sun terrace. We also love that Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa offers a quiet library and rotating contemporary-art exhibitions, adding even more excitement to your stay without having to set foot outside.

Below Table Mountain in Cape Town’s Gardens district, Botany House distills retreat into quintessence. This five-room boutique house is not a hotel chain bolt-hole but a small, highly curated hideaway with mid-century modern interiors and bespoke pieces sourced from South African designers. Each room – from the poolside suite to the garden-facing loft – feels individual, with king beds, rain showers, Nespresso and terraces that look out over lush landscaping and the city edge. The heated pool and private gardens cut a rare stillness in urban Cape Town, and personalised service shapes experiences from yoga sessions to bespoke walking tours.

Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof marks Canopy’s first South African debut in the revitalised Longkloof district, a creative, walkable neighbourhood of galleries, boutiques and cafés just off Kloof Street in Gardens, Cape Town. The 154-room hotel repurposes a 112-year-old red-brick building with design by Hilton that foregrounds local art, natural light and bespoke oak floors, reflecting the city’s creative pulse. Bedrooms range from city-view doubles to suites with terraces and mountain views. At its heart is Ongetem, the signature restaurant and bar by celebrated South African chef Bertus Basson, serving bold locally inspired dishes in a social setting. With long windows, dynamic public spaces and proximity to Table Mountain, the hotel feels both rooted and thoroughly contemporary.