STAY AND PLAY
When your hotel is this amazing, you can be forgiven for never wanting to venture outside.
The first American outpost from the French-owned Mama Shelter crew is designed by Thierry Gaugain (Philippe Starck’s protégé), so you’ll be stepping into a world that’s been expertly designed to encourage playfulness. The 70-room hotel in the heart of Hollywood likes to be unassuming; housed in a white ’30s-era building, it’s only once you enter that you realise just what you’re in for (and even then, the team pride themselves on the surprises you’ll discover over the course of your stay).
The lobby houses a foosball table, bar, restaurant and fireplace with plenty of seating. During its renovation, the ceilings were lowered to create an intimate feel and are now painted black to act like an art installation – artists have turned it into a hipster Sistine Chapel with drawings and cheeky turns of phrase (it makes waiting for your coffee an entertaining exercise). Postcards and polaroid snaps scattered around amp up the homely feeling, and there’s a wall of gumball machines stocked with sweets in case you’re hungry – after all, this is not a regular mum, but a cool one. Proof of this fact is evident around 6pm, when the downstairs area becomes a magnet for the city’s coolest crowds who choose to wind down with cocktails at the lobby bar (each with names like Mama Mia or Mr Mom) or a bite to eat in the communal-style kitchen.
If you want to snap a panoramic shot of LA, the rooftop bar is the place to go. You’ll find couches to curl up on with friends, and tables and chairs if a romantic dinner is more your speed. The rooms vary in size, but even the smallest is comfortable enough to empty the contents of your suitcase on the floor (go on, make yourself at home). Each has an imac – it doubles as a TV and a computer, but its coolest function is the Photo Booth. Snap some shots on yours (opt for one of the provided masks if you want to go incognito), and if you elect to make them public, you may spot them on the computer in the lobby. It’ll keep the party vibe alive until the last moments of your day.