This grand old dame of Cape Town fondly known as 'The Nellie' is one of Cape Town's most elegant hotels. After a series of refurbishments over the last year it has scored mega points with the younger set, by adding the stylish Planet Champagne Bar which buzzes until the wee hours, and spills out onto a garden terrace where guests take full advantage of the beautiful African sky. A notable feature is the huge light sculptures made from paper mache and wire. Everyone wants to be seen there, including the celebrities who stay at the Mount Nelson. Colin Farrell had a regular table at the Planet Bar when he stayed at the hotel in 2004. Robbie Williams has mingled there with Cape Town models, and Kate Moss enjoyed the Cosmopolitan magazine party held at this venue.

The Mount Nelson is the closest 5 star hotel to the pulsating 24-hour life of Cape Towns City Centre: trendy Kloof Street and the alternative delights of Long Street. Long Street boasts a wide variety of unique bars and clubs. Kloof Street offers upmarket restaurants and bars with enough variety and style to entertain the well-travelled: these include Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant just 7 minutes walk from the hotel, and Asoka Son of Dharma; a bar and restaurant with live music and DJ's every night. Over 70 restaurants, bars and nightlife options are within a 3 km radius of this hotel.

The Mount Nelson is not just a place to party. Celebrities that have enjoyed some well deserved and undisturbed R&R include Charlize Theron, Ethan Hawke and Salma Hayek. This hotel offers the ultimate in luxury and service when you just want to unwind. If it is privacy and peace you are looking for, enjoy al fresco relaxed dining at the Oasis restaurant for breakfast and lunch, and elegant modern South African cuisine at the hotel's signature restaurant, the Cape Colony.

Another grand hotel, but with a completely different ambience is the hippest urban hotel in town, the Arabella Sheraton. Poised above the city, the vertical limit of this building will set your pulse racing. Attracting style and design Guru's across the globe, this hotel caters for people who like the design sensibility of The Standard in Los Angeles or The Hudson in New York. Transparency is the key theme and double-glazed glass walls keep noise out and reflect all outside elements. The views of the Cape Town harbour, the bay right until the Cape Flats and Table Mountain, plus the City lights at night are something to behold. The pool sits on the top floor with its extraordinary harbour and city views.

Another theme besides the encasing glass is the contemporary South African art that fills the Arabella. Michael Stevenson, owner and curator of the Michael Stevenson Gallery in Cape Town, carefully and lovingly put this art collection together. It's worth a visit just to view the art or sit in the hotel spa, 18 floors above the city to experience astonishing views. This hotel is a stone's throw away from the International Convention Centre, and English actor, producer and director Richard E Grant recently enjoyed a stay there while promoting his book at the Cape Town book fair held at the Convention Centre.

This hotel is the antithesis of Cape Town's metropolitan hotels. This is pure luxury, set on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Camps Bay. This location is straight out of a movie set!

The medley of models and movie stars that stay at this hotel blend in with the locals who hang out on the beach, at the restaurants, and along the famous Camps Bay strip. It's probably one of the best places for celebrities to hang out, as people are so used to them in Camps Bay, nobody bats an eyelid. Kate Moss has stayed at The Bay Hotel where she enjoyed some great parties. Recently South African director Leon Schuster shot his new movie at the hotel. The backdrop to this gorgeous Mykonos-white building is world famous Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles range.

The front view is swaying palm trees, expansive white sand and blue rollers. And, for an extra special pre- or post- dining experience you can relax in the elegance and comfort of Traders - The Bay's sophisticated bar lounge with walk-in wine cellar that offers imported cigars and a marvelous selection of cognacs.