SAEDNEWS: Kakh-e Sarhang (Sarhang Palace) — a restored 15th–17th-century mansion now operating as a museum-boutique hotel in the historic Chaharbagh district — offers international visitors richly ornamented reception halls, ornate wooden orsi windows, and 20 individually-decorated rooms inside a landmark listed in Iran’s National Heritage.
Kakh-e Sarhang, often simply called “Sarhang Palace,” is one of Isfahan’s most intricately decorated historic houses. The current building was started during the Safavid era and finished in the Qajar period; after extensive private restoration, it reopened as a boutique hotel and museum, seamlessly blending careful preservation of original decorative arts with modern hospitality. The palace-museum now welcomes travelers who wish to experience royal reception halls, ornate mirror work, plaster reliefs, painted panels, and rare examples of Persian joinery and ceiling ornamentation in an intimate hotel-museum setting.
The Sarhang complex is a compound of multiple courtyards and historic functions: outer courtyards (today used by the boutique hotel), the inner courtyard, the guest courtyards, stables, a bath, kitchens and a traditional press. The Shah-neshin (royal reception hall) is the most important room in the house: historically the place of reception and ceremony, today it serves as the hotel’s public reception and breakfast hall. The building’s variety of courtyards and halls illustrates the house’s original multi-court (multi-hayat) organisation.
Sarhang Palace is notable for its exceptional mix of decorative techniques and motifs — animal and human figures, delicate wooden latticework (orsi), extremely fine orsi panels (one example is a tiny 6×6 cm lattice), and some of the highest-quality gilt work surviving in a domestic building. Watercolour paintings appear in places where that technique is rare in historic Iranian houses. The palace also contains a unique example of open muqarnas (a rare “open” squinch vault) in its subterranean pool chamber (the howzkhaneh), underscoring the structure’s singular craftsmanship.
The decorative program draws from a wide visual vocabulary: imported Indian wallpapers used in the Qajar period, a painted Greek ship motif in the Shah-neshin, Moroccan-inspired spring-sleeping alcoves and moon-lit spaces, and motifs borrowed from Shirazi, Chinese, Japanese and Egyptian visual traditions — a testament to the owners’ cosmopolitan tastes and the exchange of visual culture across regions.
Multi-period fabric: elements from Safavid, Zand, Afshar and Qajar phases are visible across the complex, making the house a compact “museum” of evolving Persian domestic architecture.
Preserved decorative arts: mirrorwork, gilding, exquisite plasterwork, rare watercolour panels and a richly ornamented Shah-neshin set the palace apart from many other restored houses in Isfahan.
Unique structural features: the howzkhaneh (subterranean pool room) with open muqarnas, unusually fine orsi latticework and layered courtyard composition.
Museum + boutique hotel: the building functions as both a museum of architectural art and a modern boutique hotel, allowing visitors to both view and inhabit heritage spaces.
According to the building’s recent custodians, archaeological finds (including old bricks exposed beneath the entrance) indicate the site predates the Mongol invasion; the present fabric was developed and repaired across successive periods. The house belonged to the Rasouliha family (Haj Ahmad Rasouli) and later came into the possession of the Bekhrdi (Sarhang) family — hence the common name “House of the Colonel” (Khaneh-ye Sarhang). After the revolution the state purchased the property; it was registered as a national monument on 5 Dey 1375 (Iranian calendar) — national registration No. 1819.
In Bahman 1397 the property was offered by the Development and Revitalisation Fund for restoration and re-use (cultural, hospitality and reception uses) and was acquired by a private investor. A meticulous four-year restoration programme followed; the palace reopened as a boutique hotel-museum at the end of Esfand 1400 and began receiving guests from Farvardin 1401 (spring 2022). Local restoration teams spent significant time conserving plaster, woodwork and gilding and reconstituting decorative panels to preserve authenticity.
Sarhang Palace is Isfahan’s largest traditional boutique house in terms of guest capacity, offering 20 master rooms across five categories: Royal VIP (CIP), VIP, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Each room is uniquely decorated — mirrorwork, stucco, paintings and muqarnas vary room by room — and the hotel combines period ornament with modern amenities (private bathrooms, digital TV/IPTV, air conditioning, safes and limited mini-bar).
Examples of room types and highlights
Royal VIP / CIP: expansive high ceilings, larger floor area, and privileged services such as private transfers and an afternoon serving. The Royal units include the Howzkhaneh suite (a 100 m² underground/royal unit with a central pool, open muqarnas, and distinctive ambience).
VIP rooms: tall ceilings, private Jacuzzi in some suites, dedicated corridors and richly detailed decoration.
Gold (Gild) rooms: compact, gilded ceilings and decorative fireplaces.
Silver and Bronze rooms: simpler layouts with traditional orsi windows and comfortable fittings; Bronze rooms are the most affordable with attractive courtyard views.
All rooms include standard services: Wi-Fi, safe, dressing mirror, dining table, full bathroom (Western style) with hairdryer, iron, bedside lamps, heating/air-conditioning, and a (charged) minibar; parking and buffet breakfast are shared hotel services.
The hotel accepts bookings via its official site and domestic reservation platforms; because room types are limited and popular, advance booking is advised. The Persian-language rate table published in spring 1403 lists sample nightly rates by category — Royal VIP at the top end; Bronze rooms at the lower end — and notes extra-person fees and breakfast arrangements. (Rates and cancellation policies vary by season and platform; consult the hotel’s booking channels for current pricing.)Done — I translated the table and created a chart.
Category | Capacity (persons) | Price per night (Toman) |
|---|---|---|
Royal VIP (Double) | 2 | 6,700,000 |
VIP (Double) | 2 | 5,700,000 |
Gold (Double) | 2 | 4,500,000 |
Silver (Double) | 2 | 3,750,000 |
Bronze (Double) | 2 | 2,900,000 |
Standard policies (illustrative): check-in 14:00, check-out 12:00; extra bed charges apply; children under two may stay free; smoking is prohibited in closed spaces; damage to historical fabric is subject to fines; pets are not accepted; cancellation penalties are tiered depending on notice period for individual and group bookings.
Sarhang Palace is presented as a multi-use cultural hospitality complex: alongside boutique accommodation the palace offers a public breakfast service in the Shah-neshin, a café that serves hot and cold drinks and local snacks, a game room (billiards, backgammon) in the historic basement, massage and spa services for guests, and bespoke event services (flower arrangements, room decoration for special occasions). Note that as of spring 1403 the palace restaurant may not be open to the general public except by prior arrangement for in-house guests.
Sarhang Palace is centrally sited in the Chaharbagh Lower area, close to several historic Isfahan attractions:
Ali Qoli Aqa complex — historic charity complex (mosque, bathhouse, school, bazaar and traditional gymnasium) within a short walk (≈300 m).
Isfahan Peace Museum — a small cultural museum convened by local artists (very close, under 100 m), open daily.
The Shrine (Baqa) of Sheikh Abu-Masoud Razi — a funerary complex with historical significance, roughly 400 m away.
Hākim (Jorjir) Grand Mosque — a brick mosque with fine tilework and a noted historic plan (a short drive or a longer walk).
These sites form a compact cultural circuit ideal for a half-day of walking and photography.
Location & access: the palace sits at the end of Alley 16 off Chaharbagh Paeen, a short walk from major central nodes; if you drive, the hotel has a small outdoor parking area. For metro travellers, the nearest station is “Meydan Shohada” (less than 500 metres away).
Visiting the Shah-neshin: the grand reception hall serves breakfast and the hotel opens the space to visitors for a modest entry fee (which can be offset against café orders on the day). Check opening times before you arrive.
Preservation rules: this is a protected historic building — avoid touching delicate ornamentation, follow staff guidance, and note that damage to historical elements carries legal and financial penalties.
Best time to visit Isfahan: spring and autumn offer mild weather and comfortable touring conditions; summer can be hot for extended walking.
Kakh-e Sarhang is an unusual travel proposition: a conserved, high-value historic house that doubles as a boutique hotel and public museum. For international visitors who value architectural detail, craftsmanship and the chance to spend a night inside a carefully restored historic interior, Sarhang Palace provides both authenticity and contemporary comfort. Early booking is recommended and, if your schedule allows, reserve a Shah-neshin breakfast to experience the palace at its most atmospheric.
