Kabul Serena Hotel | |
---|---|
General information | |
Location | District 2, Kabul, Afghanistan |
Coordinates | 34°31′14″N 69°10′41″E / 34.52056°N 69.17806°E |
Opening | 1945; Reopened; November 8, 2005 |
Owner | Government of Afghanistan |
Management | Serena Hotels |
Design and construction | |
Developer | Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) |
Other information | |
Number of rooms | 177 |
Kabul Serena Hotel is a luxury hotel in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan.[1]
The property was built in 1945 as the Kabul Hotel.[2]
The ruined hotel was completely rebuilt by the Aga Khan Development Network from 2002–2005[2] to designs by Canadian architect Ramesh Khosla.[3] The renamed Kabul Serena Hotel was inaugurated by President Hamid Karzai and Aga Khan IV on November 8, 2005.[4][5][6]
Adolph Dubs, United States ambassador to Afghanistan, was killed at the hotel in 1979.[7]
The hotel was the target of terrorist attacks in January 2008 and March 2014.[8]
It is set in landscaped gardens, overlooking the city's Zarnegar Park.[9] The hotel has 177 rooms and suites.[10] It has several restaurants, including the Café Zarnegar serving Afghan cuisine, the Wild Rice fine-dining restaurant serving Southeast Asian cuisine, the Serena Pastry Shop serving homemade breads, cakes and patisseries and the Char Chata Lounge.[11] The hotel also includes Maisha Spa & Health Club, offering a fitness centre, a steam room, a sauna, and outdoor heated swimming pool.[12]
The design reflects classic Islamic architecture.[13]