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| · November 24, 2003 · |
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· Cape Town's Mount Nelson Hotel To Undergo Fashionable Refit Adding Host Of Chic Drinking And Dining Options(November 24, 2003) - Cape Town's Mount Nelson, one of the most famous and successful luxury hotels in the world renown for hosting royals, celebs and other notables, is undergoing yet another transformation. As part of the hotel's continuing efforts to appeal to modern sophisticates, the five-star Orient-Express African landmark will undergo a fashionable culinary facelift this fall, to coincide with the hotel's 105th anniversary year. Works are expected to be complete in December of 2003. From smart new designs in the lobby and lounge areas to extravagant Chef's Tables and a chic Champagne bar, the Mount Nelson is fiercely guarding her reputation as Africa's most sought after luxury retreat. New Lobby The Mount Nelson's new lobby will have a decidedly more contemporary feel. Fusing elements such as modern alabaster lighting, and Hungarian zebra-striped parquet flooring in two-toned panga-panga wood (this heartwood is found in open forests in southern regions of Tanzania and Mozambique, and is praised for its dark brown to almost black color, with alternating layers of light and dark tissue), the space will also feature brass-bound Palm stands and rich, tobacco-colored damask curtains. The Lounge Africa's supreme spot to enjoy the continent's most elegant afternoon tea service, The Mount Nelson Lounge will be lighter too with a more contemporary ambience. Unlined Taffeta curtains will welcome in Cape Town's brilliant sun, bathing the popular gathering spot in welcoming natural light. Modern winged-back chairs and overstuffed sofas will pay homage to the hotel's historical roots, softened by a new palate that is traditional but highly unstuffy. Rich fabrics will feature warm creams, relaxing taupes, and robins egg blues. Walls will celebrate varying shades of white, while dramatic ceiling cornices with silver gilt will add to the elegant and relaxed backdrop. Plush patterned hand-loomed rugs will grace new (dark) oak flooring. Planet Champagne Bar Set to open this December is the Mount Nelson's new champagne bar, called Planet. Promising to offer a truly modern sensibility, design and decor will be a tasteful amalgam of old and new, with a mix of mink and taupe-colored velvets, satins and pearlized leather. Custom-made 1940s-style Murano glass wall sconces, a dramatic, underlit onyx bar, silver cornices, and a white patent leather banquette surrounded by 1950s-style Union Castle shipping line chairs, will make for a seductive, eclectic social setting. Oversized wire and paper garden urns will be incorporated into an innovative lighting scheme. Promised to be a "must" for every Capetonian and visitor alike, Planet will offer a full-service bar and cocktail menu, a generous selection of Champagne and Cap Classique wines available by the glass, and an assortment of light delicacies, including oysters and caviar. Art deco influences will abound. Planet's generous use of leather, in both seating and flooring concepts, promise to cause a stir. However it the "orrerry" mobile, suspended from the ceiling in the adjoining room, that will have architecture buffs abuzz. An orrerry is an apparatus showing the relative positions and motions of bodies in the solar system by balls moved by a clockwork. Planet's orrerry will feature fibre-optic lighting representing the Milky Way and the Southern Hemisphere's starry sky. Planet's floor plan will spill out on to one of the Mount Nelson's magnificent terraces, enabling guests to take full advantage of the famously beautiful African skies at night. Planet will mark Cape Town's first Champagne bar - critical in a region renown for its wine producing and world-class Chardonnay. Additionally, the quality and variety of South African sparkling wines (methode cap Classique) has improved dramatically in recent years. South African cap Classique wines now compete in the international arena. Being the region's first Champagne bar means that Planet will provide the opportunity for South Africans to both showcase and sample such wines, many, which will be available by the glass. Chef's Tables at The Mount Nelson The Mount Nelson has also opened its highly acclaimed kitchen to the public by introducing a Chef's Table private dining experience, allowing curious diners access to the previously secret domain of the hotel's master chefs. Charcoal and white tiles extend from the main body of the kitchen into an inviting alcove containing a ten-seat oak table. A large (raised and tilted) mirror reflects activities in the kitchen, allowing seated guests a 'behind-the-scenes' look at the exciting world of chefs at work. Diners will be presented with a five-course gourmet extravaganza, each perfectly complemented by a fine wine specially chosen by the hotel's "wine chef" from the extensive cellar. One of the courses will be demonstrated and presented from an oak and granite moveable cooking hub. All dining participants receive a recipe of the demonstrated dish, as well a Mount Nelson exclusive 'Cook's Apron' as a memento of their evening. Open for dinner only, Chef's Tables are priced at R500 (approx. US$75) per person inclusive of matching fine wines per course. As Chef's Table evenings will likely end in raucous laughter, the hotel has also created special Chef's Table accommodation packages, for those who wish to spend the night. Cape Town Stretching from the Cedarberg mountains and the Great Karoo down to Africa's southernmost point, Western Cape meets at the junction of two splendid coasts, continuing in scenic afterthought along the Cape Peninsula that separates the Atlantic and Indian oceans. In the shadow of Table Mountain -- one of the world's great natural landmarks -- Cape Town is the capital of Western Cape, as well as South Africa's legislative capital, and undeniably one of the most beautiful places on earth. With grand hotels, internationally ranked restaurants, plus theaters, jazz clubs and other nightlife that never stops, Cape Town can confidently stake a claim as the country's most vibrant urban center. There's a virtually endless array of things to see and do, including the pubs, clubs and entertainment of the restored Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The ARTSCAPE Theater Complex offers a cultural smorgasbord including classical concerts, theater and dance. The Mount Nelson is consistently acknowledged among the best hotels in Africa and synonymous with Cape hospitality since 1899. Crowned heads of state, dignitaries and other notables have selected it as their place of residence while visiting Cape Town, ensuring privacy, comfort, attentive service and sumptuous cuisine. Offering resplendent guestrooms and suites, the hotel offers a host of five-star amenities and services, including 24-hour room service, valet and conference facilities. Guests include Oprah, U2, Jean-Paul Gautier, Wesley Snipes, Gabriella Sabatini, Steffi Graf, Alicia Keys and Janet Jackson. For reservations and information, please call The Leading Hotels of the World at 800-223-6800. Additional information and photography can be found at http://www.orient-express.com. Media Contact: Patricia Harper 212-203-5055 patricia.harper@orient-express.com |
| Produced by Judi Janofsky, Rich Steck and the Golf Press Association |