Cool Paris

The most talked-about hotel opening in 2008 was Mama Shelter. Serge Trigano ( former CEO of Club Med) called in Ph Starck to work.

Witty details and gorgeous finishes – raw and waxed concrete; hi-tech glass and steel; rustic wood; and graffitied blackboard-style ceilings – are accompanied by plenty of gadgetry : each room has an iMac and there’s a photo booth in the restaurant for posting your portrait on-line.

We stayed there some months ago, it was great fun. Although when checking-in the computersystem went down, so we had to wait for a while and nobody did offer us a drink ! Don’t go for the neighbourhood , it’s a little bit sad walking-distance to the Père Lachaise cemetery, but you’re also close by Rue Oberkampf with “real Paris” bars.

But the best thing about this place is the vast, open-plan restaurant/bar/boutique where you can order cocktails at the island bar, snacks at the communal table or choose a stool, throne of sofa in the restaurant. In the evening the place becomes very lively and the cocktails are divine. The food at the restaurant are French favourites masterminded by chef Alain Senderens. The dishes had great taste and we did like it.

Mama Shelter, 109 rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris, tel + 33 1 43484848, M° Gambetta – Porte Bagnolet