In December 2025, The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town’s beloved “Pink Lady,” is set to introduce Amura by Ángel León, bringing the celebrated Spanish chef’s marine-driven cuisine to Africa for the first time.
The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town / Bernard303 / Wikimedia Commons
Amura is more than a restaurant, it’s a sensory voyage. It channels the rhythms of the ocean and the biodiversity of the Cape coastline, combining Chef León’s experimental methods with indigenous South African produce. Known for pushing boundaries by introducing sea rice, phytoplankton, and often overlooked species to haute cuisine, León brings a philosophy of respect for marine life, sustainability, and culinary innovation.
According to reports by BizCommunity, León describes his partnership with Mount Nelson as a meeting of aligned visions: “Rooted in heritage and guided by respect for nature … to honour the ocean, celebrate heritage and hospitality with soul.” Patrick Fisher, the hotel’s general manager, frames Amura as “a love letter to the ocean,” transferring León’s creative spirit from Cádiz to the Cape.
Interior architect Tristan du Plessis has envisioned Amura’s spaces as cinematic underwater realms drawing on the imagery of kelp forests to transport guests into an immersive marine environment. he kitchen will offer both à la carte and tasting menus, with dishes drawn from local seas and lands: wild herbs, kelp, fire-cooked preparations, coastal fermentations, and underutilised fish species are expected to be culinary highlights. León has called the experience “an homage to our shared seafaring legacy,” bridging Andalucían technique with South African marine identity.
Travel News by TNW reports that Mount Nelson will also simultaneously unveil the Thebe Magugu Suite and Magugu House Cape Town, marking fashion designer Thebe Magugu’s debut in hospitality design. The two-level suite, created in collaboration with StudioLandt, merges Afro-modernist style and cultural elements of South Africa; adjacent, Magugu House will serve as a cultural storefront, showcasing his designs and rotating exhibitions from African artists. Magugu says the project is “rooted deeply in place and purpose, with a strong commitment to preserving the culture from which we draw inspiration.
The Thebe Magugu Suite will join Belmond’s Signature Suites and Villas portfolio, while Magugu House Cape Town is slated to open publicly on 10 November.
Mount Nelson’s new offerings move beyond luxury hospitality: they reimagine how cuisine, design, and place can dance together — anchored in the elemental beauty of sea and land, and presented through globally visionary voices.
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