One-Minute Hotel / Mama Shelter, Rennes
An ancient town in Brittany has been completely made over thanks to the arrival of Mama and her cheeky design – and party! - ways.
So, where are we?
Rennes, the main town in Brittany, on the sticky-outy bit of western France just across from the south of England. It’s a town that goes back 2,000 years, which might explain the sheer historic-ness of the buildings in the centre of town, many of them half-timbered and leaning in all directions. Mind you, there’s some pretty exciting modern architecture to see including the cloud-like station when you’re doing the 50-minute train to the beautiful walled seaside town of St. Malo on a day trip.
And where we’re staying...?
At Mama Shelter, slap-bang in the middle of town, right on the main market square where, come Saturday, the whole place is alive with fish and vegetables and flowers and wine and lovely little nibbly things to fill your suitcases with. The building is an old mint (dosh, not Extra Strong) but they’ve taken the pitched roof at the front off to add a two-storey glass box and roof terrace. Old meets new in the cutest way since Michael Douglas married Catherine Zeta Jones.
What’s the style?
Well, it’s Mama Shelter so you know to expect quirky, fun, colourful, playful… they do for hotels what Moschino does for fashion. Expect grand salons with nutty lobster wallpaper and furnishings under outsize cocktail umbrellas, a swish bar that spills out onto the courtyard, a cheeky mosaic going around the reception and lots of Mama swag to fill your bags with. Step downstairs and you not only have a kitschy 70s swimming pool in dusty pink and neon with sauna, hammam and treatment rooms for some great massages, but you have a suite of karaoke rooms for up-all-hours caterwauling. There are also ateliers for working or meetings or parties; you’ll find them through the tunnel of flowers. But if you know your Mamas well, this is a step up in the style stakes.
And the rooms?
There’s old and there’s new, the two drawn together by that quirky style. That means your room could be a huge 17th century job with high ceilings or a funny little thing with old-school timbers reaching across the ceiling or something quite modern and boxy. Classic modern furniture and parquet meet lamps with Darth Vadar masks over the shades and wardrobe frames for easy access with brightly coloured plastic boxes for your bits. Bathrooms are vaguely 70s with sustainable shampoo bars instead of all that plastic.
Is there a story?
The building itself dates back to the 1600s, which is why you have a lovely, cobbled courtyard and grand salons. Mama refurbished the whole thing – including that glass box – and, in pure Mama style, made it somewhere the locals would take ownership of, which explains why even on a Monday evening the place is rocking off its rockers with dressed-up Frenchies having glasses of champagne and why there’s a queue for the rooftop bar and restaurant… but not for you if you’re staying!
And to eat?
Head up to the glass box and you’ll find the main restaurant, a huge space with views right over the market square to the funny half-timbered building opposite. Seating and lighting are quirky and cool while the menu takes in an eclectic mix of pastas and burgers and salads. Come for Sunday brunch and you have an unlimited array of everything from chicken to cous cous, from crêpes to pasta and a dessert bar that will push you into type 2 diabetes no problem. Go up the stairs from here, and you have the city’s only rooftop bar, a – here’s that word again – quirky little number with clashing fabrics and cool sounds.
So, to sum up...
Mama has done it again and seems to have created something that not only quite literally puts Rennes on the map – and it’s a beautiful and buzzy spot rammed with boozy students – but serves the town handsomely not only as somewhere to eat and drink but to party, with a schedule of DJs and goings-on. Full upgrade all round!
