Mount Nelson’s Amura lands on TIME’s 2026 Greatest Places list

TIME has unveiled its annual World's Greatest Places list, spotlighting 100 extraordinary destinations across hotels, restaurants and attractions. This year, Cape Town makes the list with a spotlight on the newly opened Amura at the Mount Nelson. The 100-strong list is a prestigious showcase of experiences to add to your travel aspirations, yet Africa claims only seven spots, with South Africa accounting for three of them. 

Cape Town's Amura Takes Centre Stage

The headline culinary entry for South Africa is Amura by Ángel León at the iconic Mount Nelson. The collaboration under the Belmond Hotel sees the first restaurant outside Spain by internationally acclaimed chef León, widely regarded as El Chef del Mar.

Opened in December 2025, Amura draws on the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, to tell a story of two seafaring cultures - Andalusia and the Cape - connected by ancient tides and a shared culinary heritage.  

"At Amura, we try to tell a different story about the sea - one rooted in nature, time and respect for the ocean. To see this vision recognised by TIME among the world's greatest places is both humbling and deeply exciting for our entire team," said Carlos León, Business Manager of Amura and brother of the chef.

Patrick Fisher, General Manager of Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, added: "From the beginning, Amura was envisioned as a restaurant that would bring together Chef Ángel León's pioneering marine cuisine with the remarkable ingredients and coastal heritage of the Cape. To see this vision acknowledged on a global stage is a proud moment for us all." 

Johannesburg Earns Its Leisure Credentials

South Africa's second entry is the newly opened Park Hyatt Johannesburg, recognised as giving travellers fresh reason to linger in a city long regarded as a transit hub rather than a destination in its own right. Housed in a 1930s Rosebank mansion redesigned by local interior designer Stephen Falcke, the intimate 31-room hotel blends boutique service with design references rooted in local heritage - and sits within easy reach of new cultural spaces including Gallery 1 at Keyes Art Mile and the Standard Bank Art Lab.  

Safari Gets Its Due  

South Africa's third nomination goes to Masiya's Camp at Royal Malewane in the Greater Kruger region - a six-suite tented camp within Thornybush Private Game Reserve honouring the legacy of celebrated master tracker Wilson Masiya. As the brainchild of owner Liz Biden, "whose fearless sensibility has made her Royal Portfolio properties cult favourites", the camp earns recognition for an immersive safari experience that places storytelling and ecological knowledge at its heart, while turning safari clichés on their heads with pops of pink instead of the traditional khaki decor.

The Greater African Picture

The remaining four nominations add to Africa's rising profile in this acclaimed list. Kenya's Laikipia Plateau contributes to the allure of andBeyond Suyian Lodge, which opened in July 2025 as the sole camp on the 44,000-acre unfenced Suyian Conservancy. 

Rwanda's entry, The Pinnacle Kigali, is a nine-suite ultra-luxury retreat in the capital's Rebero Hills, positioned as a refined base for travellers visiting Volcanoes National Park's mountain gorillas. Rounding out the continent's nominations is Jnane Karwan in Morocco's Marrakesh and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt, bringing North Africa's vibrant cultural heritage into the mix. 

Safari is the continent's legacy nod, but the full bouquet of listings for African entries spans urban luxury, fine dining, and boutique hospitality across only four countries, reflecting what we've always known: Africa offers a diverse and compelling travel experience that's not fully on the global traveller's radar.

The full list is available at time.com: World's Greatest Places of 2026.