Hotel
Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel
Opened in 1899 below Table Mountain, the pink-painted Belmond Mount Nelson is Cape Town's grande dame, set in nine acres of gardens with two pools and…
Between the Foreshore and the V&A Waterfront, the 188-room AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront is a contemporary Marriott hotel with an outdoor pool and mountain views.
Good to know
AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront is part of Marriott's AC Hotels brand, which began in Spain and is known for clean, contemporary design and a streamlined, practical approach to hospitality. The hotel stands on Dockrail Road on the Foreshore, close to the eastern edge of the V&A Waterfront and within easy reach of the city centre.
There are 188 rooms, designed in the brand's minimalist style, and the hotel says they offer views of Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill. The outdoor pool and mountain-facing pool deck are a welcome place to relax after a day of sightseeing, particularly in summer. The hotel holds Green Key certification, an international label for sustainable tourism businesses.
The brand's emphasis is on comfortable, well-designed rooms rather than an extensive list of extras, which suits travellers who plan to spend most of their time out exploring and eating around the city. Check the hotel's website for current dining options. The V&A Waterfront's many restaurants are a short walk or ride away, and the city centre's bars and restaurants on Bree Street and Long Street are close by too.
The hotel suits couples, solo travellers, business visitors and small families who want a modern, reliable room in a central location at mid-range prices. Its position between the Waterfront and the city centre is practical for Robben Island ferries, the Cape Town International Convention Centre and day tours that pick up from central hotels.
As with much of the Foreshore, the immediate area is busy during the working day and quieter in the evenings, so use taxis or ride-hailing services at night. MyCiTi buses from the nearby Civic Centre station connect with the airport, the Waterfront and the Atlantic Seaboard, and Cape Town International Airport is around 20 to 30 minutes away by car, depending on traffic. Parking arrangements are best confirmed with the hotel when booking.
Cape Town is spread out, so choosing a base with easy access to both the Waterfront and the city centre saves a lot of time on taxis. Rates rise sharply in the December and January holidays, so book early if you are travelling then, and look at the shoulder months for better value.
188 rooms.
Yes. An outdoor pool with a mountain-facing pool deck.
The hotel says rooms offer views of Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill.
Yes. It holds Green Key certification.
AC Hotels by Marriott.
On Dockrail Road on the Foreshore, near the V&A Waterfront.
Yes. The Cape Town International Convention Centre is nearby.
By car or taxi, around 20 to 30 minutes, or by MyCiTi bus from the Civic Centre.
Tour operator
City Sightseeing runs Cape Town's red hop-on hop-off buses, plus free 90-minute walking tours from its Long Street office and day tours to Cape Point and…
Restaurant
Peter Tempelhoff's FYN serves seasonal modern African tasting menus shaped by Japanese culinary thinking, from a fifth-floor dining room on Parliament Street.
Thing to do
The path up 669-metre Lion's Head spirals around the peak to a summit with views over Table Mountain, the City Bowl and the Atlantic coast.
Attraction
Cape Town's flat-topped mountain rises above the city, reached by a cableway with rotating cars from Tafelberg Road or on foot via routes such as Platteklip…