The Mount Nelson is one of the oldest hotels in Cape Town, built in 1899 to house the upmarket passengers of the grand cruise liners of the day. Its pink walls, colonial architecture and lush gardens have made it a landmark of downtown Cape Town, and their afternoon tea has become something of a ritual for visitors and locals alike. Enjoy the ambience and tone helpfully created by the surroundings and accompanying piano, before tackling the gargantuan buffet of canapés and cakes, and a cup of Earl Grey or Darjeeling.