Kabul Grand Hotel

Last updated
Kabul Grand Hotel
Serena Hotel in Kabul-2013.jpg
The inner garden of the hotel
Afghanistan adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Afghanistan
General information
LocationDistrict 2, Kabul, Afghanistan
Coordinates 34°31′14″N69°10′41″E / 34.52056°N 69.17806°E / 34.52056; 69.17806
Opening1945; Reopened; November 8, 2005;19 years ago (2005-11-08)
Owner Government of Afghanistan
ManagementCinderella International Group [1]
Design and construction
Developer Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)
Other information
Number of rooms177
Website
https://kabulgrandhotel.com/

The Kabul Grand Hotel [1] (formerly the Kabul Serena Hotel) is a luxury hotel in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan. [2] It is located between Wazir Akbar Khan and Deh Afghanan neighborhoods, near the Arg and next to Zarnegar Park.

Contents

History

The property was built in 1945 as the Kabul Hotel. [3]

The hotel was completely rebuilt by the Aga Khan Development Network between 2002 and 2005 [3] to designs by Canadian architect Ramesh Khosla. [4] The renamed Kabul Serena Hotel was inaugurated by President Hamid Karzai and Aga Khan IV on November 8, 2005. [5] [6] [7]

On 1 February 2025, the Serena Hotel Group ended its operation of the hotel, which was renamed the Kabul Grand Hotel. It is now managed by Cinderella International Group, a German company. [1] [8]

Incidents

Adolph Dubs, United States ambassador to Afghanistan, was killed at the hotel in 1979. [9]

The hotel was the target of terrorist attacks in January 2008 and March 2014. [10]

Facilities

It is set in landscaped gardens, overlooking the city's Zarnegar Park. [11] The hotel has 177 rooms and suites. [12] 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. [13] The hotel also includes Maisha Spa & Health Club, offering a fitness centre, a steam room, a sauna, and outdoor heated swimming pool. [14]

The design reflects classic Islamic architecture. [15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Management of Kabul Serena Hotel handed over to German firm". Ariana News. February 7, 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  2. ↑ "Stay At The Best Hotel In Afghanistan". Serena Hotels. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 "New Development Initiative Launched in Kabul - AFGHANISTAN OPENS LUXURIOUS SERENA HOTEL - 2005-11-08". First Ismaili Electronic Library and Database. Heritage Society. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  4. ↑ Logan, Nick (21 Mar 2014). "How high was security at the Kabul Serena Hotel?". Global News. Global News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  5. ↑ "New development initiative launched in Kabul with opening of 5-star Kabul Serena hotel". AKDN. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  6. ↑ Opening of the Kabul Serena hotel Archived 2019-03-20 at the Wayback Machine Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Archived 2021-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Ismaili.net". Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  8. ↑ "The Taliban take over Afghanistan's only luxury hotel, more than a decade after attacking it". AP News. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  9. ↑ MacKenzie, Jean (23 Mar 2014). "The Kabul Serena's dark history". The World. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  10. ↑ "Terrorists hit Australian embassy". The Courier-Mail. January 14, 2008. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  11. ↑ "KABUL SERENA HOTEL, KABUL". NMP Design. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "STAY IN KABUL". Serena Hotels. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  13. ↑ "SILK ROUTE RESTAURANT". Serena Hotels. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "KABUL SPA". Serena Hotels. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  15. ↑ "Kabul Serena Hotel". Directory. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.