On the alluring Côte d’Azur, Mama Shelter has opened its doors in Nice

In the artistic and epicurean city of Nice, Mama Shelter opens with 102 rooms and the brand’s first-ever rooftop pool.

Bringing a new offering to the Riquier district, Mama Shelter Nice is located close to Old Port and the city’s historic centre. Occupying three buildings – including one from the early 20th century with a preserved façade – the hotel tells both the ancient and contemporary story of the city – an inspiring story rich in flavours, maritime essence and artistry.

Designed by Mama Shelter’s in-house design studio led by Benjamin El Doghali, Mama Shelter Nice embraces the city’s artistic heritage. Taking inspiration from the works of the many painters who settled in Nice, hand-painted frescoes in the lobby pay homage to Matisse, Braque, and Picasso, and are illuminated by large mirrors alongside giant hangings by artist Kate Mary.

Throughout the property, El Doghaïli’ demonstrates his love for bright and vibrant hues by marrying saffron yellow, red ochre, ultramarine blue and Nice olive green with the smeared palettes of impressionist painters. In collaboration with talented artists and artisans like Lola Mercier or Beniloys, bouquets of Mediterranean fruits, flowers and vegetables – such as lavender, sunflower and wheat poppy – adorn the top of columns in the style of a Van Gogh still life. Between the three buildings is a verdant patio and flowered alleyway covered by a retractable glass roof.

In the rooms, white textured walls are brightened by ochre curtains to resemble the walls of 19th-century Niçois buildings. The carpets, designed by artist Laureline Galliot, celebrate pointillism, the technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of colour applied in patterns to form an image. Powdered pink bathroom tiles form an infinite checkerboard from floor to ceiling, and Mama’s iconic cartoon masks will hang on bedside table lamps, as they do across all the hotels in the portfolio.