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Amura by Ángel León Opens at Mount Nelson: A New Ocean-Led Culinary Chapter for Cape Town
- Style Essentials Edit Team
- Dec 7, 2025
- 3 min read
At the point where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean, a quiet shift has taken place inside Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town. The landmark property has opened Amura, a restaurant shaped by the vision of Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ángel León, marking the first time he has brought his unmistakable, ocean-centred philosophy outside his home country.
Known internationally as “the Chef of the Sea,” León approaches the ocean not as a pantry but as a living, breathing world of ingredients, ecosystems, and untapped possibilities. His arrival at the foot of Table Mountain carries that vision across hemispheres. “To cook in Cape Town is to feel the ocean from another angle, another culture, another heartbeat,” he says — a sentiment that sets the tone for Amura’s culinary identity.
The restaurant takes its name from a deeply personal place. León and his brother Carlos grew up on the water; their father was a fisherman, and that early relationship with the sea has shaped their life’s work. At Aponiente, their celebrated restaurant in Andalusia with three MICHELIN Stars and the region’s first MICHELIN Green Star, they have spent years studying under-appreciated marine species and transforming them into fine dining expressions. Phytoplankton, sea grains such as Zostera marina, by-catch, even “marine honey” — all have been recast through their kitchen as ingredients of value and beauty.
At Amura, this spirit continues through Head Chef Guillermo Salazar, whose background spans Eleven Madison Park, Arzak, Akelare, and Gramercy Tavern. His menu creates a dialogue between Andalusia and the Cape, shaped by precision and a sensitivity to local waters. The dishes reflect the depth and strangeness of the sea — a plankton risotto with its tidal umami, yellowtail tartare brightened with Cape citrus, West Coast mussels reimagined through pickling and seaweed, and oysters from Saldanha Bay paired with Silverthorn’s “River Dragon” bubbly. Cape kelp, used with the same respect that Aponiente grants its own coastal vegetation, brings a local pulse to the plate.
The drinks programme echoes this exploration. A kelp martini introduces marine minerality; bottles of Sauvignon Blanc aged beneath Atlantic waters bring a vivid salinity; Palomino from the West Coast draws an elegant line between Africa and Andalusia. Every element extends the central idea: understanding the ocean through the senses, rather than simply working beside it.
The physical space elevates that narrative. Designed by South African interior architect Tristan du Plessis, Amura blends maritime romance with contemporary luxury. Deep greens and kelp-like shadows give the room a quiet, underwater calm, while crafted timber, rattan, and curved forms recall the golden age of ocean travel. At its centre stands a double-height wine library — part sculpture, part cellar — accessed by a classic library ladder and acting as a dramatic focal point within the room. Light is softened, surfaces feel tactile, and the open kitchen brings fire, steam, and brine into view, grounding the ambience in movement and craft.
The restaurant’s purpose aligns closely with Mount Nelson’s ethos. Sustainability, heritage, and local sourcing shape the project, from working with underused marine species to drawing botanicals from the hotel’s own gardens. “Mount Nelson has always been a sanctuary shaped by its surroundings,” notes General Manager Patrick Fisher. “With Amura, we honour our oceans, our heritage, and the beauty of the Cape through the visionary lens of Chef Ángel León.”
Amura opens not just as a new dining room, but as a continuation of León’s lifelong inquiry into the sea — its rhythms, its mysteries, and its overlooked brilliance. At Mount Nelson, that exploration enters a new landscape, carried by a different coastline, a different light, and a city whose culinary energy continues to evolve.
Those wishing to enquire may contact: restaurantreservations.mnh@belmond.com
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