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: 98 EUR - 391 EUR

Hotel-restaurant 2-star in Paris

Presentation

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

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

The hotel is situated along the Petite Ceinture, the old symbolic railway of old Paris, right opposite La Flèche d'Or, one of the most emblematic concert halls of the European pop-rock scene. This neighborhood is not incidental: it says something about the philosophy of the place, always attentive to the creative energies around it and to the district's industrial and artistic history.

Père-Lachaise is just a few steps away, making it a natural walk for those staying here. This exceptional cemetery, where Édith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and hundreds of other notable figures rest, is not merely a place of remembrance: it's an unexpected green space, a calm pause in the middle of the city, which 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 about a ten-minute walk away: a pleasant stroll when traveling light, but one to plan for if arriving with heavy luggage. On the flip side, this slight distance from the main arteries is also what preserves the neighborhood from tourist bustle and keeps that village-like atmosphere that many visitors come to appreciate.

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 bold and the furniture plays on contrasts. This aesthetic choice is strong and fully assumed: it will appeal to those who like 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 forms Mama Shelter's identity, and it's better to know it before arriving than to discover it at reception.

The 170 rooms have undergone a complete renovation that has restored their full luster while retaining the house's identity. Each has a 49-inch Smart TV with free access to video on demand, including a selection of films that are unabashedly bold. The bedding has been designed to provide true sleeping comfort: 100% cotton sheets, generous mattresses, soft pillows. They do not skimp on this, and it's noticeable from the first night.

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

One room stands out from the others thanks to its private terrace overlooking the roofs of Paris. This ultra-cozy outdoor space is a real rarity in the capital, and offers a view of the city that few accommodations can offer at this price.

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

The bar naturally extends the restaurant's atmosphere, with a cocktail menu that is full of inventiveness. You can also meet there for a drink early in the evening before heading out to explore the neighborhood, or settle in for longer if you prefer to stay within the establishment's particular atmosphere. The giant foosball table, photobooth and videobooth add a playful dimension rarely found in a hotel of this category.

When the fine weather arrives, the rooftop becomes the meeting point for the whole hotel. People have cocktails there while watching the roofs of Paris stretch under the sky, they settle into a hammock for a break, or play a game of ping-pong with someone met at reception. The atmosphere is relaxed and convivial, reflecting everything Mama Shelter offers.

The hotel also considers families: children's menu at the restaurant, breakfast offered for under-threes, baby cot available free of charge on request. These concrete attentions make stays with young children easier and show hospitality that goes beyond the bare minimum.

For those traveling for business or wishing to organize an event, three conference workshops are available. These spacious rooms allow you to work in good conditions before enjoying the restaurant or terrace to unwind at the end of the day. The establishment can also host private events and adapts to a variety of 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 peculiarities 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.

A few minutes' walk away, La Campagne à Paris is one of those places that even many Parisians don't know: a group of workers' houses built in the 1920s on a green slope, forming a village almost out of time in the middle of the city. The walk is really worth it, especially in the late afternoon when the light is soft.

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

For lovers of contemporary culture, the Belleville neighborhood 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. Throughout the year, a few independent galleries dot the surrounding streets and offer a lively introduction to the current Parisian art scene, far from the beaten paths.

For those who want to venture a little further from the neighborhood, the Centre Pompidou is accessible by metro in less than twenty minutes and offers permanent collections of modern and contemporary art among the most important in the world, as well as a very active temporary exhibition program. The Cartier Foundation 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 according to the desires of the moment.

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

Some activities and discoveries near this hotel

The Atelier des Lumières, about a five-minute walk away, offers immersive exhibitions where works by the great masters of painting are projected onto the walls and floor of a 19th-century foundry: a visual and sound experience that is well worth booking in advance, as time slots regularly 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 its timeless atmosphere, it's a walk in its own right that can be done 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 islets within Paris proper: a few café terraces, old facades and a preserved neighborhood atmosphere that invites wandering without a specific destination, ideally in the morning before the streets come alive.
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: the sunsets there are particularly remarkable.
La Flèche d'Or, the mythical concert venue installed 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.
The 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 that is essential 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 little off the main arteries, but that contributes to the neighborhood's charm, which is not touristy, and the metro remains accessible in 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, you understand why regulars come back every week. The dining room staff are attentive and the relaxed atmosphere makes the experience truly enjoyable.
The hotel's atmosphere is really unique: offbeat decoration, well-measured music, dim lighting. You can feel that the design has been thought out down to the smallest details. The room was clean, the bed very comfortable, and the soundproofing better than one would have expected for an establishment as 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 rooftop without having to go back out is a real convenience. A business stay that turned into a very pleasant surprise.
We were looking for a hotel with character rather than a generic address, and Mama Shelter largely met expectations. The atmosphere is young and dynamic without being noisy in the rooms, the neighborhood is authentic, and the concerts organized some evenings give real life to the place.