Polana Serena Hotel
Avenida Julius Nyerere, Maputo, Mozambique
Location
Central Maputo
The hotel stands in the heart of Maputo, the capital, on a cliff over Maputo Bay and the Indian Ocean, in around four hectares of gardens near the embassies and ministries — road-accessible, a short transfer from the city airport.
Transfer
A Maputo transfer
A short transfer from Maputo city airport — road-accessible, with no island hop; the city and arrival bookend for a Mozambique trip.
Villas
Around 142 rooms
Around 142 rooms — the grand 1922 colonial main building with hand-carved wood and bay-facing balconies, the contemporary Polana Mar wing, and the standalone Villa Mar garden villas — restored by the Aga Khan network.
Best For
Who it suits
Heritage and culture travellers, business and diplomatic guests and event parties after a grand colonial Maputo base — a restored 1922 Grand Dame, ocean-view pools over the bay and the cultural capital on the doorstep — the city bookend to a beach stay.
Board Basis
Bed & breakfast
Bed and breakfast — Delagoa for fine dining, Aquarius for sushi and the 1920s main bar, with themed buffets.
About the Resort
Maputo's restored colonial Grand Dame
The Polana Serena Hotel is Maputo's Grand Dame — a grand colonial-era hotel built in 1922 and restored by the Aga Khan network, standing on a cliff over Maputo Bay in around four hectares of gardens in the heart of the capital. It is the city and arrival bookend for a Mozambique trip, a polished base to pair with a Bazaruto or Benguerra beach stay, not a beach property itself. Around 142 rooms run from the grand colonial main building, with hand-carved wood and bay-facing balconies, to the contemporary Polana Mar wing and the standalone Villa Mar garden villas. Dining is Delagoa for fine dining, Aquarius for sushi and the 1920s main bar with mosaic floors, and there are two ocean-view pools, including an infinity pool over the bay, and the Maisha Spa. Beyond the hotel lies the cultural capital — a Bantu, Portuguese, Arabian and Indian crossroads of museums, art and markets — with Inhaca Island day trips, sunset cruises and the restored 1920s ballroom. Road-accessible and a short transfer from the city airport, it suits heritage and culture travellers, business guests and event parties.
Accommodation
Rooms & suites
Around 142 rooms — the grand 1922 colonial main building with hand-carved wood and bay-facing balconies, the contemporary Polana Mar wing, and the standalone Villa Mar garden villas — restored by the Aga Khan network.
Entry
Main Building Deluxe
Sleeps two. A king with colonial grandeur, hand-carved wood and a bay-facing balcony.
Bay balconyMaputo Bay outlook
Modern
Polana Mar Room
Sleeps two. A contemporary king in the modern wing, over the bay or garden.
ContemporaryBay/garden view
Villa
Villa Mar
Sleeps two to four. A standalone garden villa with a kitchenette and ocean views.
Garden villaBay outlook
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining runs to Delagoa for fine dining, Aquarius for sushi, and the 1920s main bar with mosaic floors and Portuguese tiles, with themed buffets.
Signature
Delagoa
Delagoa, for fine dining.
Sushi
Aquarius
Aquarius, for sushi.
Bar
The 1920s main bar
The 1920s main bar, with mosaic floors and Portuguese tiles.
Wellbeing
Maisha Spa & pools
There is the Maisha Spa with fitness, two ocean-view pools including an infinity pool over the bay, and the cultural capital on the doorstep.
Maisha Spa
The Maisha Spa, with fitness.
Two ocean-view pools
Two ocean-view pools, including an infinity pool over the bay.
The cultural capital
The cultural capital, on the doorstep.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
A restored colonial palace, and the cultural capital outside. Take in the 1922 heritage, explore Maputo's museums and markets, and look over the bay.
The 1922 heritage
The 1922 colonial Grand Dame heritage and architecture, restored by the Aga Khan network.
Maputo city
The Maputo city base — the cultural capital, a Bantu, Portuguese, Arabian and Indian crossroads of museums, art and markets.
Maputo Bay views
Maputo Bay views, over the ocean-view pools.
Inhaca Island
Inhaca Island day trips, and sunset cruises.
The historic ballroom
The restored 1920s ballroom and dining.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By air
To Maputo
A short transfer from Maputo city airport.
In the city
Central Maputo
In the heart of central Maputo, over the bay.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Polana Serena Hotel. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- Bed and breakfast.
A city bookend
- The city and arrival bookend for a Mozambique trip — a polished Maputo base to pair with a Bazaruto or Benguerra beach stay, not a beach property itself.
Made for heritage
- Built for heritage and culture travellers, business and diplomacy, and weddings and events, in the cultural capital.
Getting there
- In the heart of Maputo, a short transfer from the city airport — road-accessible, with no island hop.
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Dates, party size, villa preference and budget.
Destination
Dates & party
Date flexibility
Adults
2
Children
0
Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
Villa preference
Flights
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