Mama Shelter is headed to South Africa for the first time

Mama Shelter Cape Town marks a major milestone for Ennismore as its first hotel signing in South Africa. The hotel will also introduce a new brand concept, Mama Play.

More than a hotel, more than a restaurant or a bar, Mama Shelter is a place for living – a place to meet, eat, drink, sing and dream. Mama Shelter Cape Town will feature 127 guestrooms across three room categories and 68 branded residences, including 36 studios, 23 one-bedroom, five two-bedroom, three three-bedroom and one four-bedroom. Housing 213m² of meeting rooms, 380m² of co-working, a gym and Mama’s classic all-day dining restaurant on the rooftop, along with a pool and pool deck. From the property’s rooftop, Cape Town’s breathtaking landscape taking centre stage, with sweeping views across the city from Table Mountain and the Atlantic Seaboard to Foreshore and the city skyline. The hotel will also introduce a new concept for the brand, Mama Play, a 742 sqm of arcade space complete with bowling, karaoke, dedicated F&B and event spaces.

In addition, Ennismore will manage a separate restaurant on the ground floor on Bree Street – one of the most vibrant streets in Cape Town – under one of its signature F&B brands.

Situated at the heart of the city, Mama Shelter Cape Town will transform the iconic City Park building, once home to the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, and provide unparalleled access to the bustling city – the flower sellers of Adderley Street; the market stalls of Greenmarket Square; and cultural and heritage institutions such as District Six Museum or the Castle of Good Hope are only a short walk away. For the adventurous, scenic hikes along the Pipe Track or Lion’s Head trails offer unforgettable views of the city. For those more gastronomically adventurous, long, lazy lunches and wine tastings in the Cape Winelands are also only a short drive away.

Mama Shelter hotels have energy and vibrancy; not just aesthetic and modern, Mama Shelter is a place to live life to the full: it’s affordable, irreverent, popular, sassy, and sexy. Founded by Serge and Jérémie Trigano, the first Mama Shelter opened its doors in Paris East in 2008 and has since been followed by over 15 openings in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Los Angeles, Prague, Belgrade, Toulouse, Lille, London, Paris West, Luxembourg, Rome, Lisbon, Paris La Défense, Rennes and Dijon. Mama Shelter Nice will open in June 2024, with future projects set to open in Dubai, Casablanca and Downtown LA.

The signing of Mama Shelter Cape Town is in partnership with Kasada, the leading independent real estate private equity platform dedicated to the hospitality sector in Africa. In December 2023, Ingenuity, a prominent property and development company based in the Western Cape, and Kasada announced an agreement to jointly develop the site of the Mama Shelter Cape Town project. This new vibrant mixed-use development includes hotels, restaurants, and retail, and together with Mama Shelter, will help redefine the city’s hospitality landscape with its exuberant and flamboyant personality.