If you know East London, you’ll know that Hackney is where it’s at and Mama Shelter is the perfect launchpad to explore the area from. Boasting the prime location of Hackney Road, this chic hotel is just a short stroll away from both Broadway and Columbia Market and it’s not far from Liverpool and Old Street too.
Hotel
A relatively new addition to East London, Mama Shelter only opened back in 2021 but is rapidly becoming the boutique hotel to stay at in Hackney. If the brand name is already familiar, that’s likely because of their sister spots in Paris and Los Angeles, and if you’ve stayed at one of those, you’ll know the vibe is cheeky and cool. The same applies to Mama Shelter Shoreditch.
With 195 rooms, the hotel could feel impersonal, but somehow maintains a feel of intimacy. There was never a big queue for reception, the breakfast room didn’t feel at overcapacity and the hallways of the hotel was never full of guests.
Room
When it comes to the rooms, the bedroom décor isn’t try hard; it’s simple but stylish. The rooms aren’t huge, but they are clever with space. Designed with creatives in mind, each has a large desk and corner bench, ideal for working.
It should be said however that Mama Shelter’s vibe is anything but corporate, and is in keeping with the hotel’s playful aesthetic. All bedside tables come with Loony Tunes masks, whilst the statement hallways are graffitied with cheeky Mama Loves You type slogans.
Playful in décor and policy, the checkout time is 12pm, whilst check is in at 3pm, allowing guests to capitalise on their time in Shoreditch.
Food and drink
Although the surrounding area has loads of amazing bars and restaurants to offer, you could do much worse than spend an evening in Mama Shelter’s ground floor restaurant, bar and garden room.
The space itself is stunning, the interior is bold and exuberant, but never serious. There are statement prints, greenery galore and even a football table, and that’s all without mentioning the karaoke room!
With a resident DJ and healthy cocktail menu, the vibes at Mama Shelter are flowing. If you like your Margaritas spicy, I highly recommend their Picante which packs the perfect amount of heat.
Much like the cocktail and drinks menu, the food list is exciting and offers lots of sharing plates blending quirky flavours. Being honest, however, lots of plates lacked the je ne sais quoi I would hope for at such an establishment.
We tried the seared Yellowfin tuna, served with beetroot aioli and bobby beans bruschetta, although the flavours were tasty and the dish pretty innovative, sadly it was nothing to write home about. This was the same with the confit salmon spring roll, which needed some zing. I can, however, sing the praises of the wild mushroom and truffle Arancini, which was as indulgent as it sounds as well as the truffle chips – it was that kind of night.
The same can be said about breakfast which was a smorgasbord of brunch treats; from cold continental cheeses, to guacamole, fry up staples and a random selection of muffins and tray bakes. Take it from me, lemon drizzle for breakfast is always a good idea.
In a nutshell
If you’re looking for an East London base, Mama Shelter is ideal. In many ways, Shoreditch is one big playground and this hotel is the epitome of that. It’s lively and fun, whilst, most importantly, offering guests a peaceful night sleep. Isn’t that the perfect balance?
Factbox
Address: 437 Hackney Rd, London E2 8PP
Phone: 020 7613 6500
Website: mamashelter.com
