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: From 98 EUR
Rating: 8.3

Hotel-restaurant 2-star in Paris

Presentation

The family's original, one-of-a-kind hotel

Mama Shelter Paris East occupies a unique place in the capital's hotel scene. Founded in 2008 by the Trigano family, co-founders of Club Med, and designer Philippe Starck, it is the very first establishment of a family that has since expanded from Marseille to Rio de Janeiro, via Belgrade and Los Angeles. Suffice to say this Paris hotel is not like the others: it is a starting point, an origin, and that is felt in every detail.

The 20th arrondissement: an authentic and creative Paris

The 20th arrondissement is not the postcard Paris, and that is precisely what gives it charm. Here, cobbled lanes sit alongside artists' studios, neighborhood gardens adjoin colorful facades, and the overall atmosphere leans more toward authenticity than tourist staging. The historic Saint-Blaise district, with its flowered terraces and slightly rebellious spirit, sets the tone for a stay rooted in a vibrant, contemporary Paris.

The hotel is located along the Petite Ceinture, the former symbolic railway of old Paris, just opposite La Flèche d'Or, one of the most emblematic concert halls of the European pop-rock scene. This proximity is no accident: it says something about the venue's philosophy, always attentive to the creative energies around it and to the neighborhood's industrial and artistic history.

Père-Lachaise is a few steps away, making it a natural walk for those staying here. This exceptional cemetery, where Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and hundreds of other notable figures rest, is not simply a place for reflection: it is an unexpected green space, a pocket of calm in the middle of the city, that people willingly stroll through at any hour of the day.

To reach the hotel from the airports, allow about 25 kilometers from Charles de Gaulle and 20 kilometers from Orly. Once there, the nearest metro station is around a ten-minute walk away: a pleasant walk when traveling light, but something to anticipate if arriving with heavy luggage. In return, this slight distance from the main arteries is also what protects the neighborhood from tourist hustle and keeps that village-like atmosphere many visitors end up appreciating.

A Philippe Starck design, carried through to the end

The interior of the establishment bears Philippe Starck's signature in every detail. Raw concrete sits alongside light fixtures shaped like superhero masks, volumes are generous, colors are bold and the furniture plays on contrasts. This aesthetic choice is strong and fully assumed: it will appeal to those who enjoy offbeat atmospheres and spaces full of personality, but may surprise travelers seeking a more classic or minimalist setting. It is precisely this coherence between the place, the neighborhood and the design that makes Mama Shelter's identity, and it's better to know this before arriving than to discover it at the front desk.

Renovated, comfortable and eco-responsible rooms

The 170 rooms have undergone a full renovation that has restored their shine while preserving what makes the house's identity. Each features a 49-inch Smart TV with free access to video on demand, including a selection of films that spare nothing in terms of boldness. The bedding has been designed to offer real sleeping comfort: 100% cotton sheets, generous mattresses, soft pillows. There's no skimping on this point, and it shows from the first night.

The toiletries provided in the bathrooms are organic and environmentally friendly, a choice consistent with the Clef Verte certification obtained by the establishment. This eco-responsible approach is not mere window dressing: it reflects attention paid both to guests and to the hotel's impact on its environment.

One room stands out from the others with its private terrace overlooking the roofs of Paris. This ultra-cozy outdoor space is a real rarity in the capital, offering a perspective on the city that few accommodations can provide at this price.

Restaurant, bar and rooftop: the Mama Shelter way of life

The restaurant occupies the ground floor and offers homemade cuisine—simple and tasty—rooted in French traditions and revisited by top chefs, notably Guy Savoy. People come here to share large tables, to gather around generous dishes like the famous macaroni with ham or a carefully prepared sea bream ceviche. The spirit is that of a meal among friends, unpretentious but attentive. Every Sunday, the brunch is an unmissable rendezvous for regulars as well as newcomers.

The bar naturally extends the restaurant's atmosphere, with a cocktail menu that does not lack inventiveness. You can also meet there for a drink at the start of the evening before exploring the neighborhood, or settle in longer if you prefer to stay in the establishment's particular mood. The giant foosball table, the photobooth and the videobooth add a playful dimension rarely found in a hotel of this category.

When the good weather arrives, the rooftop becomes the meeting point for the whole hotel. Guests sip cocktails while watching the roofs of Paris stretch under the sky, relax in a hammock for a break, or play a game of ping-pong with someone they met at the front desk. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, reflecting everything Mama Shelter offers.

Services and entertainment: families, professionals and night owls welcome

The hotel also thinks of families: children's menu in the restaurant, free breakfast for under-threes, cot available free of charge on request. These concrete attentions make stays with young children easier and reflect a hospitality that goes beyond the strict minimum.

For those traveling for business reasons or wishing to organize an event, three conference workshops are available. These spacious rooms allow for productive work, before taking advantage of the restaurant or the terrace to unwind at the end of the day. The establishment can also host private events and adapts to varied requests.

Live concerts, shows and DJ sets regularly enliven the hotel, turning some evenings into real moments of musical discovery. This integrated cultural programming is one of Mama Shelter's particularities and helps make the establishment a living place in its own right, where you can find yourself in the right place at the right time without having planned anything.

Parks, galleries and contemporary culture nearby

A few minutes on foot, the Campagne à Paris is one of those places that many Parisians themselves do not know: a cluster of workers' houses built in the 1920s on a green hillside, forming an almost timeless village in the middle of the city. The walk is well worth it, especially in the late afternoon when the light is soft.

The neighborhood also provides easy access to Parc de Belleville, whose terraced levels offer a panoramic view of Paris that rivals many officially tourist viewpoints. Further north, the Buttes-Chaumont are one of the city's most atypical parks, with its artificial cliffs, lake and suspension bridges. These two green spaces are reachable on foot or by bike from the hotel and make valuable stops to recharge between visits.

For contemporary culture lovers, the Belleville area and its surroundings concentrate a remarkable density of art galleries, open studios and creative spaces. Twice a year, during the Belleville Artists' Open Studios, the streets of the 20th arrondissement transform into a vast open-air exhibition route. Year-round, a few independent galleries line the nearby streets and offer a lively introduction to the current Parisian art scene, far from the beaten paths.

For those who want to venture further from the neighborhood, the Centre Pompidou is accessible by metro in less than twenty minutes and offers one of the world's most important permanent collections of modern and contemporary art, as well as a very active schedule of temporary exhibitions. The Fondation Cartier for Contemporary Art, the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris and the Palais de Tokyo are other cultural destinations easily reachable from the hotel, to vary perspectives and emotions depending on your mood.

Our opinion on Mama Shelter Paris East

Mama Shelter Paris East carries something fairly rare in hospitality: a coherence between where it is located, the people who frequent it and the experience it offers. Philippe Starck's design is not a superficial dressing, the cuisine is not a mere functional obligation, and the rooftop is not a commercial argument: all of this forms a whole that holds together, that resonates, and that invites you to return. Whether you are in Paris for a few nights in transit, for a professional event or to rediscover the city from a less conventional angle, this hotel has enough to surprise and put you at ease from the first moment.

Some activities and discoveries near this hotel

Atelier des Lumières, about a five-minute walk away, offers immersive exhibitions where the works of the great masters of painting are projected onto the walls and floor of a 19th-century foundry: a visual and sound experience well worth booking in advance, as slots often sell out in the evening.
Père-Lachaise Cemetery is literally steps from the hotel and is much more than a place of remembrance: with its 44 hectares of tree-lined paths, graves of personalities from around the world and timeless atmosphere, it is a walk in itself that you can take at your own pace, with a map in hand or not.
Rue Saint-Blaise and the village of Charonne form one of the last village-like islands within Paris proper: a few café terraces, old facades and a preserved neighborhood ambiance that invite wandering without a precise destination, ideally in the morning before the streets come to life.
Parc de Belleville, located about 2.5 kilometers from the hotel and easily accessible by bike thanks to the rental service available on site, offers from its successive terraces a panorama over Paris that few visitors know: sunsets there are particularly remarkable.
La Flèche d'Or, the mythical concert hall located opposite the hotel in a former Petite Ceinture station, regularly schedules rock, pop and electronic music concerts: checking the program before arrival often allows you to find a great evening without having to go far.
Le Bataclan, one of Paris's most emblematic venues, is less than three kilometers away and hosts a varied and demanding program year-round: a detour worthwhile for live music lovers wishing to extend the musical experience beyond the hotel's walls.

Summary of some positive reviews read on the Web

What surprised me most was the team: probably the most welcoming and attentive staff I've encountered in a Parisian hotel. The hotel is admittedly a bit off the main arteries, but that contributes to the charm of the neighborhood, which isn't touristy, and the metro remains accessible within a few minutes.
The Sunday brunch is an institution in itself. Between the homemade hot dishes, the varied desserts and the generosity of the buffet, it's easy to see why regulars come back every week. The dining room staff are attentive and the relaxed atmosphere makes the moment truly enjoyable.
The hotel's atmosphere is really unique: offbeat decoration, well-measured music, dimmed lighting. You can tell the design was thought out down to the smallest detail. The room was clean, the bed very comfortable, and the soundproofing better than you might expect for a place that is so lively in the evenings.
Excellent value for money for Paris. The bedding is really well done, the breakfast buffet is hearty and varied, and being able to stay in the hotel in the evening to enjoy the bar or the rooftop without having to go out again is a real convenience. A business trip that turned into a very pleasant surprise.
We were looking for a hotel with character rather than a generic address, and Mama Shelter more than met expectations. The atmosphere is young and dynamic without being noisy in the rooms, the neighborhood is authentic, and the concerts organized on some evenings give the place a real life.