Holešovice

Mama Shelter Prague

★★★★★

Mama Shelter brings its famously fun formula, part hotel, part neighbourhood living room, to Holešovice, the former industrial district north of the river that has become one of the most creative corners of Prague. The hotel is at Veletržní 1502/20 in Prague 7, a short walk from Letná Park, its beer garden and its views over the bridges, and close to the Veletržní Palace of the National Gallery, home of the modern art collection. The design is cheerful and irreverent, with bold colours, graphic prints and witty details. There are 238 rooms in five categories. The Medium Mama measures 18 square metres with a king bed; the Large Mama is 25 square metres with a king or twin beds; the XL Mama Family combines a Medium and a Large as two connecting rooms for four; the XXL Mama is a 44-square-metre room with a king bed and a sofa bed, also for four; and the Mama Penthouse, at 69 square metres, has a chill-out lounge for special occasions. Rooms have air conditioning, a safe, a mini fridge and a desk, and free films are included. The heart of the hotel is the restaurant, open daily for lunch and dinner, with a casual atmosphere, a kids menu and high chairs, and a weekend brunch on Sundays. The bar has DJs from Thursday to Saturday, and a terrace serves morning coffees and evening cocktails. Breakfast costs extra; the official site lists it at 450 CZK for adults and half that for children under 12. There is no room service, and parking is available for a daily fee.

Who it suits: families who want a fun, relaxed hotel with space for four in one booking, couples who like a lively bar scene, and anyone who prefers a creative neighbourhood to the tourist centre. Holešovice has galleries, cafes, food halls, the Stromovka park and the DOX contemporary art centre, and Letná is one of the city's favourite places for a summer beer with a view. Prague Zoo in Troja is a short bus ride away from Holešovice station, which makes Mama Shelter a natural base for families.

Getting around: trams run along Veletržní and the surrounding streets, reaching the Old Town in about fifteen minutes, and the Vltavská metro station is within walking distance. Walking to the centre across Letná and down to the river takes around half an hour and passes some of the best views in Prague.

The value case: rates are moderate for a design hotel, and the family options are some of the most practical in the city. The trade-offs are distance from the historic centre, a lively bar that can be noisy on weekend nights, and extras that add up, such as breakfast and parking. Ask for a room away from the bar if you have small children.