Mama Shelter Rennes

The Trigano family, first famous for the Club Med resorts, took a decidedly youthful turn when they launched the Mama Shelter line of urban boutique hotels. And though the Mama Shelter flag flies over cities as distant as London, Belgrade, and even Los Angeles, the soul of the brand remains in France. Mama Shelter Rennes, in fact, plays an outsize role in its hometown’s boutique hospitality scene; while Mama Shelter has competition in places like Paris and Marseille, there’s nothing else quite like it anywhere in the country’s northwest.

Mama Shelter Rennes occupies a landmark building at the heart of the medieval city center; while all of the exterior and much of the interior has been carefully preserved, the atmosphere inside is as rambunctiously postmodern as any of the brand’s hotels. The vibe throughout is communal and convivial, from the restaurant, bar, terrace, and rooftop to the three (!) karaoke rooms. A spa, an indoor pool, and a smallish but well-equipped gym are on hand for a spot of self-care. And the rooms, as is the Mama Shelter custom, are efficient in their layouts, playful in their décor, and perfectly equipped for an audience whose tastes lean toward the boutique side of the boutique/luxury divide.