Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · How we pick bars
Planet Bar sits inside the Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, the pink landmark up Orange Street in Gardens. Cape Town Magazine calls it the city's first champagne bar, and the room is built around that claim. The centerpiece is an underlit onyx counter that glows from within.
Above the bar runs a fibre-optic ceiling mapped to the Southern Hemisphere's Milky Way, with custom 1940s-style Murano glass sconces on the walls. EatOut describes the look as a mix of mink and taupe velvets, satin, and pearlised leather, pulled from the hotel's own history. It reads as old-world Cape Town with the lights turned low.
This is a dress-up drink, not a casual pint. For more of the city, see our Cape Town cocktail bars guide, the full Cape Town bar guide, and our Cape Town date night picks.
What to order
- 01
The Pink Lady
The house signature, built with Pink Lady gin, Bols white chocolate, and rose syrup. It nods to the hotel's century-old pink facade and is the first thing to order.
$$$$ - 02
Champagne by the Glass
The reason the room exists, with local cap classique and international Champagne poured by the glass. Ask the bar for the by-the-glass list.
$$$$ - 03
A Classic Cocktail
The Belmond drinks menu runs a full classic program alongside the fizz. A Negroni or martini holds up against the onyx-bar setting.
$$$$ - 04
Canapes on the Terrace
Light plates and canapes carry the early evening. Take them outside to the garden terrace when the weather allows.
$$$
The room and the crowd
Two moods share the address. Inside is the dark, jewel-box bar under the fibre-optic stars; outside, the bar opens onto the Mount Nelson's lawns and the alfresco Fountain space. The terrace is the move on a warm Cape night.
The crowd skews hotel guests, dressed-up locals marking an occasion, and visitors after a quiet glass of fizz. It runs gentle and grown-up rather than loud. Open daily from noon until late, it works as an aperitif stop or a slow nightcap.
The bar sits within a nine-acre garden estate, so the walk in past the palms sets the tone before the first drink. Cape Town Magazine notes the room has poured since the early 2000s, which makes it one of the city's longer-running hotel bars. That longevity shows in the service, which reviewers consistently rate as the polished part of the visit.
What regulars say
- 01
Come for the setting
Tripadvisor reviewers return to the same word, classy, and rate the onyx bar and starlit ceiling as the draw over any single drink.
- 02
Sit in the garden
The Inside Guide flags the terrace and the Fountain alfresco area as the best seats once the sun is out.
- 03
Dress the part
This is a five-star hotel bar. Reviewers note it is not the place for beach clothes, and prices match the address.
Who it is for
- 01
The special-occasion date
A champagne-led room with a starlit ceiling. Hard to beat for an anniversary or a quiet proposal-night drink.
- 02
The fizz drinker
Cape Town's original champagne bar, with cap classique and Champagne by the glass. The right call if bubbles are the point.
- 03
Avoid if you want cheap and casual
This is a $$$$ hotel bar with a dress code feel. For relaxed drinks, head to the City Bowl bars instead.
Pair this bar with
Stay upscale at The Gin Bar in Cape Town, book a seat at Orphanage Cocktail Emporium in Cape Town, or climb to the rooftop at Twankey Bar in Cape Town.
Sources: Cape Town Magazine (Planet Bar); EatOut venue profile; Belmond Mount Nelson official site and Planet Bar drinks menu; wine.co.za; Tripadvisor (Planet Bar); The Inside Guide Cape Town.