HOTEL OF THE WEEK

WHERE AND WHY: A few steps from both Cambridge Heath train station and Bethnal Green underground.

Inside it’s fun and funky – a riot of colour and ceiling slogans aimed at the hipster market. But even a couple well into middle age can feel at Mama’s. It’s a chic, unpretentious experience at reasonable rates.

The rooms boast TVs with a wide range of channels – activated from your phone – and bedding is luxurious.

London’s Mama also offers two titillating packages entitled Mama Elopes and Sexcation. We declined – although regretted the decision when it transpired the Sexcation included a bottle of champers and a 2pm checkout.

ON THE MENU: Meals can be taken in the Secret Garden, which is a colourful, circular room off the main dining area, with a retractable roof. Bar staff happily rustle up cocktails. Food is a hybrid of styles. Mama is a French creation – the first was launched in Paris and Mama’s menus claim “nuances are included from our London home with local produce”. That didn’t relate to our Shetland moules (£16) and roast Peterhead cod (£18) but they were excellent.

There was a mix up over my wife’s breakfast, when staff didn’t appear to understand the concept of a soft-boiled egg. But she was graciously offered anything else on the menu to compensate.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Broadway Market area is a short walk away, plus there’s Victoria Park, towpath walks by Regent’s Canal and numerous good pubs and restaurants.

WAKE UP CALL: Rooms from £109 a night. mamashelter.com/londonshoreditch