A short (uphill) stroll from the famous Avenida da Liberdade, Mama Shelter Lisboa is the exactly the kind of hotel to book when you want to grab life by the suitcase handle and embrace it with gusto.
A playful and edgy hotel, the 130-room property features flamboyant decor and contemporary design throughout, making clever use of space whilst still providing guests with a high level of comfort. Editor Sophie Ritchie swaps tradition for trendiness and checks-in for the night.
The Venue
Opened back in 2021, Mama Shelter Lisboa is a charming collision of sleek design and flamboyant nature. Featuring 130 rooms, each tailored with invitingly quirky style, this central property blends sleek furnishings with artwork that borders on the edge of being bonkers for a light-heartedly frivolous escape.
The lobby itself for example, situated on the ground floor adjacent to the hotel’s ever-popular restaurant features a variety of glass cases packed full of Mama Shelter merchandise and one large circular leather seating area. With sister hotels dotted across the world, the French brand has amassed a cult following – and the piles of branded items only confirm the hype.
Even the lifts are a little eccentric, decked out in Lisbon-inspired style with mosaic-tiled walls, tram murals and more that inspire smiles as you swoosh upwards. If there was ever a place for a selfie, this would be it.
The Room
Don’t be fooled by the pink flowing curtains that welcome you into the space, my room on the 7th floor at Mama Lisboa is anything but girly when it comes to room design.
Quirky and eccentric decor fills the abode, adding just the right amount of chaos without feeling like you’ve wandered smack bang into one of the Brighton Laines’ vintage markets. A Medusa-esque rooster hangs centrally on the ceiling above the large double bed, whilst the carpet echoes traces of the 70s, displaying psychedelic-like swirls across the floor.
Featuring sultry lighting that illuminates the room in a soft, subtle way, it’s petite in size but that’s to be expected given the hotel’s central location – located just ten minutes from Lisbon’s most famous avenue and within close proximity to many of the city’s main businesses. The space is cleverly utilized, like a game of Tetris that involves manouvering a bathroom, toilet and bedroom.
It’s the tongue-in-cheek touches that give the hotel its youthful edge. Batman and Ironman masks act as lampshades, there’s the aforementioned rooster centerpiece and don’t forget the floor-to-ceiling dusty pink curtains.
The downstairs hotel lobby and restaurant is equally a little mad, but it’s all part of the fun (and Mama Shelter brand, of course). It’s worth noting that the friendliness of the hotel staff stands out even more than the interiors. I feel like I’ve made friends before I’ve even wheeled my suitcase over the hotel room’s entrance.
The Restaurant
When it comes to style, this eatery is all about decor dressed to the nines. Mama Shelter Lisboa’s restaurant is a feast for the senses, and popular too – when we visit on a Sunday night it’s still packed to the rafters with both guests and locals.
Dishes and drinks, perused via a new-fangled QR code menu are both creative and thoughtful, featuring the likes of flaming cocktails, seafood galore and a strong emphasis on fresh produce.
I try the Roasted Cauliflower (€20) which arrives in a hefty portion presented upon a large white plate. The two cauliflower globes seem enormous at first, but the plate is somehow soon clean of any prior evidence. The roasted vegetables are paired with a silky tahini sauce made with coconut milk and peanuts, topped off with a sprinkle of lime, pomegranate seeds and chives thrown in for good measure.
The sauce is rather scrumptious, although I do prefer my cauliflower to be roasted to perfection, verging on the incinerated side. It’s still tasty and I would order it twice, should I cross paths with a Mama menu again.
If you’re partial to something naughty, don’t miss out on trying the Goat’s Cheese as a starter. Ideal for sharing, it arrives served as a little cylinder of heaven accompanied with triangle-shaped slices of fluffy bread. The melted cheese is quite literally the stuff of dreams, although when trying on my jeans a few hours later, a waistline might agree otherwise.
The Wordrobe Verdict
A charming collision of contemporary design and eccentricity, Mama Shelter Lisboa is exactly the kind of hotel to book when you want to grab life by the suitcase handle and embrace it with gusto.
Ideal for central Lisbon adventures, being just a short walk from Avenida da Liberdade and several Metro stations, it’s the whimsical character of this hotel that’ll leave you longing for a later flight home.
Make it happen
How: Find out more and make a booking via mamashelter.com
Wallet: Rates start from £78 for a double room, based on two sharing.
Words by Sophie Ritchie, editor
