109, Rue De Bagnolet, 75020 Paris

Mama Shelter Paris East

Name: Mama Shelter Paris East
Address: 109, Rue De Bagnolet, Paris, 75020, FR
Price range: 108 EUR
Rating: 4.25

Hotel-restaurant 2-star in Paris

Presentation

Mama Shelter Paris East opened in 2008 along the Petite Ceinture in the Saint-Blaise district, a stone’s throw from Père-Lachaise. It is the first-born of the Mama family, the one where it all began, and you can feel it in the details: raw concrete walls, superhero masks turned into lamps, and Philippe Starck’s touch wherever you look.

You often arrive via Rue Saint-Blaise, cobbled and a little crooked, far from the grand boulevards. The nearest metro station requires a short walk. That is a plus for anyone who likes to explore a less postcard-perfect Paris, but a bit less convenient for those arriving with heavy suitcases after a night flight, or for anyone planning to do the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre back-to-back without transport.

On the ground floor, the restaurant takes up a good part of the space. The tables are large, designed for sharing a dish rather than for an intimate dinner. They serve a reinvented ham pasta, sea bream ceviche, simple food that does not try to impress but gets the job done. On Sundays, the brunch draws people from the neighborhood, not just hotel guests.

As you head up the floors, the 170 rooms tell a different story. Since the renovation, the bedding has become thicker, the bathroom products are organic, and a Smart TV offers a fairly wide selection of films, from classics to cartoons, and even a few more risqué titles for those who are looking. One, rarer room opens onto a private terrace with rooftop views.

In the evening, everyone eventually gathers on the rooftop. Ping-pong, cocktails, a hammock for those who prefer watching the sky to playing. The atmosphere is lively, sometimes noisy on certain evenings, especially on the street side when a concert is taking place at La Flèche d’Or, right opposite. It is worth knowing if you are mainly looking for peace and quiet, but it is also what gives the place its energy.

In the basement and in the adjoining rooms, three workshop spaces host meetings and private events. On weekends, a DJ set sometimes takes over the ground floor, extending the evening well after dinner.

For breakfast, it is better to go down early. The room fills up quickly on weekends, and the shared tables sometimes mean you have to elbow your way in to find a seat.

One last tip: if you sleep lightly, ask for a room facing the courtyard rather than Rue Saint-Blaise. On concert nights across the street, the noise can be heard late into the night.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the Web

The staff was patient with my hesitant French and switched to English whenever needed, without pushing things. They even found us a driver to get to the station on time.
The room was rather small but well designed, with large windows letting in the morning light. Comfortable bedding, a slightly quirky but clean decor.
Homemade and varied meals, from truffle pasta to shepherd’s pie. Breakfast offers plenty of choice, both sweet and savory.
The neighborhood is far from the major museums, so you need to rely on the metro or a taxi to get to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower. In return, the atmosphere in the 20th is more local and less touristy.
We came with our dog without any problem, and the staff was welcoming. A water bowl in the room would have been a plus.
Some evenings, the music from the bar and the club across the street can be heard late into the night, even upstairs. Something to keep in mind if you are looking for complete quiet.