At The Nellie

A couple of blippers suggested having afternoon tea at The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town. So I booked for evening tea at 6pm at this 5 star colonial hotel that opened on 6 March 1899. It is situated in Orange Street with Table Mountain as its backdrop. Winston Churchill called it “a most excellent establishment”; John Lennon meditated in its lush grounds, and modern-day celebrities from Leonardo di Caprio to Charlize Theron have breakfasted on its sunny balconies. It is known locally as 'The Nellie', named after Admiral Lord Nelson who died at The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Afternoon tea costs 365 ran each (£21.50) and is as much tea/coffee as you can drink accompanied by sandwiches, savouries, cakes and scones that comes in three courses. You definitely won't come away hungry! It's not cheap but the elegant decor, service and ambience is superb. The pianist started playing at 6pm and was none stop until 7.30pm. So good was he that I would have paid the money alone to just listen. Hence my blipfoto of him as a reminder of the evening.

Isn't it funny that as you grow older in life you like things you didn't when younger, such as Opera and classical music? The pianist with his mix of playing made the evening for us.