Chef Ángel León, the Spanish legend behind Michelin three-star Aponiente, is bringing his acclaimed seafood expertise to the Mother City this December. The new restaurant, called Amura, will open at the iconic Belmond Mount Nelson hotel and will mark Ángel’s first venture outside of Spain. Named Amura after the bow of the boat, the restaurant is a deeply personal homage to the chef’s father, who first instilled in him a love of fishing and a deep respect for the ocean.

“It’s our great pleasure to welcome Chef Ángel León to The Nellie,” says Patrick Fisher, General Manager of Mount Nelson. “A master of maritime feasting, Amura is his love letter to the ocean.”

What can you expect?

Ángel, affectionately known as the “Chef of the Sea”, has built his reputation by transforming overlooked marine ingredients into culinary gold. He’ll be bringing this sustainably driven philosophy and approach to Amura – a perfect match given South Africa’s spectacular and unique coastline. The menu format will be curated so you can choose between à la carte options or a full tasting menu. Expect open-fire cooking, fermentation and spice-heavy broths that nod to both Mediterranean and African flavours.

“Rooted in heritage and guided by a respect for nature, Mount Nelson and Amura come together in a shared vision: to honour the ocean, celebrate heritage and hospitality with soul,” says Ángel. “Working with local producers and ingredients sourced from the two oceans surrounding the Cape Peninsula has been a revelation. The coastline is full of species that are overlooked, just like in Andalusia. That’s where we find beauty – in the unexpected.”

Design details

The ambience and space itself sound impressive. Award-winning designer Tristan du Plessis (who also designed Eat Out three-star restaurant FYN) created interiors inspired by Cape Town’s kelp forests, with an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs at work. Deep greens, warm timber and bronze accents will give the look and feel of an ocean floor.

Amura is set to open in December 2025. Join the waiting list to book a table by emailing restaurantreservations.mnh@belmond.com