Living Etc 2015-10

TRAVELetc
CLOCKWISE FROM THIS PICTURE Inflatable
rubber rings help light up Mama Shelter’s bar;
check out the checks in a Mama Deluxe room;
and the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and lounge
MAMA SHELTER, Bordeaux
THE LOWDOWN Another wonderfully priced winner from the Starck group.
BEST FOR Late-night party people in search of fun sans frills.
The Mama Shelter concept is simple: one restaurant, one bar, rooms – 97 in this
instance – oh, and a cracking interior designer. Philippe Starck injects each of
his hotels with a healthy dose of funk that belies the affordable room rates. The
somewhat drab exterior is more than made up for by the expansive, warehousestyle
internal spaces and the fantastic rooftop terrace. The idea of a buzzing village
square drove the ground-floor design as it quadruples as a restaurant, pizzeria,
wine bar and club. In terms of style, fun and flamboyant sum it up. Chalked graffiti
covers the ceiling; inflatable rubber rings decorate the bar; and an entire area is
dedicated to le ping-pong. The bedrooms are no less playful, with soft pink walls,
checked carpets and lime-green bathrooms, plus iMac entertainment systems with
free films. It’s set up as a veritable party palace, which, in a city that’s synonymous
with its surrounding wine region, makes for a wonderful weekend trip.
BOOK IT Doubles from approx £50 (mamashelter.com).
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OCTOBER 2015
lifestyleetc.co.uk