Polana Serena Hotel

Polana Serena Hotel occupies a 1922 palace-style building on Maputo's Indian Ocean coast. One hundred fifty-three rooms and suites are divided between the original colonial structure and the refurbished Polana Mar Wing; eight standalone villas sit within private walled gardens overlooking Maputo Bay. The Presidential Suite, on the first floor of the main building, holds a dining room that seats ten, a kitchenette, a guest toilet, a lounge with bar, and a bedroom with a four-poster bed and en-suite bathroom fitted with a Jacuzzi and separate shower. Executive Suites add a lounge area with sofa and coffee table to the bedroom; some convert to family rooms with two single beds. Deluxe Rooms in the main building feature hand-carved wood furniture and views of either the city or the sea; bathrooms contain a separate shower, bathtub, and enclosed toilet. Prime Rooms in the Polana Mar Wing have polished wooden floors, ethnic-patterned wallpaper, and balconies facing the bay. Studio Rooms, designed for single occupancy, are city-facing with compact shower-only bathrooms. Villa Mar comprises eight one- and two-bedroom villas, each with an open-plan living and dining area, a kitchenette, a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and dressing space, and a private patio opening onto a shaded garden.

Delagoa restaurant serves French-inspired dishes made with Mozambican ingredients; live piano accompanies dinner Monday through Friday. Varanda, overlooking the pool and bay, offers buffet breakfast, lunch, and à la carte dinner with both indoor and outdoor seating. Aquarius Bar, beside the pool, serves sushi, salads, and cocktails with views across Maputo Bay. Polana Bar operates around the clock and offers cognac, wine, cigars, and evening high tea on the terrace. The Maisha Spa, set within a Moroccan-inspired garden, holds five treatment rooms including a couple's suite; treatments use Elemis products or locally sourced oils and herbs. A 25-metre pool overlooks the bay. Guided city tours, architectural walks, sunset cruises, and boat trips to Inhaca Island can be arranged.