The Mount Nelson, Cape Town’s most famous hotel, is best known for its colonial elegance and a certain air of old money snobbery. But step inside the Planet Bar and the “grand old dame” suddenly takes on a chic, stylish edge. Black and white tiled floors and plush purple seats welcome Capetonians, tourists and travelling celebrities alike.

Gaze at the fibre-optic Milky Way that adorns the ceiling while sipping an exotic cocktail or a glass of champagne from the extensive selection, or step out onto the terrace to witness the real thing in the clear African night. As would be expected from one of the top hotels in the world, the service is superb.