Fireworks display as seen from the Emara Sky Lounge CC: Story Flow Africa
As Nairobi welcomed the new year, Ole-Sereni Hotels once again demonstrated how elevation and urban design can reshape how a city experiences major moments.
From the 10th floor of Emara Ole-Sereni, Sky Lounge offers a 270-degree view spanning Nairobi National Park and the city skyline. When fireworks began, this height transformed visibility. Instead of a single display, guests observed multiple fireworks lighting up different parts of the city, extending across Nairobi.
This perspective highlights a growing shift in urban behaviour. Traditionally, many people watched fireworks from parked cars or roadside viewpoints. Increasingly, purpose-built rooftops are becoming the preferred alternative, offering elevation, uninterrupted sightlines, controlled crowd movement, and a safer, more immersive environment.
Guests enjoying the fireworks display at Emara Ole Sereni CC: Neville Mulama
Ole-Sereni’s annual fireworks display has quietly become part of this transition. In a city where only a small number of hotels stage fireworks, and even fewer sustain them at scale year after year, Ole-Sereni Hotels New Year’s Eve show continues to stand out as the hotel group’s grand final event of the year.
The experience was supported by live food stations, DJs, a live saxophonist, and bar service, with general access tickets priced at KES 3,000, restricted to guests aged 18 and above. In-house guests at Emara Ole-Sereni received complimentary access, continuing a long-standing tradition.
Guests taking pictures during the fireworks show CC: Neville Mulama
After the final fireworks faded, the hotel management team led by the General Manager, Amit Sharma, gathered briefly at the rooftop to toast in the new year. A meaningful moment for the team, marking the close of the year and the beginning of the next.
Recognized by Rooftop Magazine as one of Nairobi’s leading rooftop venues, Sky Lounge accommodates up to 700 guests and is increasingly used for large-scale celebrations and events where elevation, visibility, and atmosphere are central.
From above, Nairobi’s light and movement tell a clearer story, one where architecture and geography influence not just how people celebrate, but how they collectively mark time.