Style & Character
It’s easy to miss the red brick building hosting MOB…it looks like a factory and not a hotel but once you are in you will be surprised. There are Buddhist bells overhead the orange entrance door that’s bedecked with a dragons head. There is an undercurrent of carefreeness and planned chaos flowing through the MOB hotel.
One look at the free open spaces and profusion of plants and you will feel energized. The hotel exudes a casual charm and the staff are always warm and hospitable and dressed with elegance. The rooms are done up in unusual color schemes and the décor is casual and neo modern with minimalist furniture, open storage spaces, quirky artefacts, books, mini guitars and there is even an iPad sitting on a shelf.
The MOB unabashedly promotes ecological conservation, responsible hospitality standards and local sourcing. The wooden artefacts, recyclable décor items, seasonal and fresh menu all add to its lovely appeal.
The ambience is modern, clean and friendly and this community driven hotel is mostly immaculately maintained. With Foosball tables and DJ Booth and library and piano; the hotel has its own distinctive character that distinguishes itself from the rather coquettish usual Parisian décor.
Though this is a French hotel, it’s part of the MOB Chain that was first conceptualized in Brooklyn USA on the Atlantic avenue…in fact the name stands for “Maimonide of Brooklyn” given by entrepreneur (and thinker) Cynil Aouizerate
Rooms
The 92 Scandinavian décor styled rooms in MOB are divided into some groups and interestingly named as little big MOB, Little big MOB Terrasse, MOB, MOB Terrasse, Master MOB and Master MOB Terrasse. All the little big rooms have palace style beds (queen size) along with a free air bed.
The MOB, MOB Terrasse, Master MOB and Master MOB Terasse are bigger than the “little” prefix rooms. The little big rooms are 13 sq.m while the MOB Terrasse and other rooms are 17sq.m. The master double rooms are the largest at 38sq.m. Space optimization is good but it becomes difficult to adjust inside the “little rooms” if you have come with family. The double rooms are meant for 4 people plus a kid.
There is a desk and safe and an open rack for hanging clothes. Find an organic cosmetics hamper (eye cream, face mask apart from lotions, soaps etc.) in the room and there are little delightful touches like a couple of books, quirky décor, vintage style red curtains, large and straight cut mirrors that visually enlarge the space. The bathrooms have hair dryer, bath robe and a modern shower unit-wash basin-toilet set. There are free toothbrushes (wooden supposedly ecofriendly ones).
All rooms with the Terasse suffix have access to a charming piece of terrace that’s fitted with arm chairs, hammocks and a small table.
Beds have premium, skin safe and responsibly manufactured lining, safe, flat screen TV. All rooms have bouncy air beds in which a child can sleep comfortably.
The windows are all double gazed and the rooms offer a modern cocoon like feel. The bathrooms only have showers and no bath tubs. The bathroom fittings are modern and there is a hair dryer in each one. Availability of hot water and water pressure is usually good. All rooms have an iPad which you can rent.
The outdoor bar is nice but it closes at 11 p.m. and post that people stay on in the courtyard singing, talking and having fun which can be inconvenient for people staying in the nearby rooms. So if quiet is what you seek then take a room that’s not above and not near the bar. Some rooms have been refurbished recently and those have record players, fridge and tea/ coffee maker.
None of the rooms have a television sets, mini bar etc. and that can be an issue for some. The air MOB lounge has a TV, drinks and magazines and accessing that costs around 29 euros per person. There isn’t a luggage room so this is where you keep your stuff and wait while it’s time to check in.
Amenities & Service
The entire hotel is air conditioned and Wi fi enabled. There are bookshelves with a decent collection of books which are readily available to guests. The hotel is served by an elevator which is pretty small (can handle only 3 people at one time) so larger groups might find it inconvenient. There is a 24 hour operational front desk, concierge service and baggage storage service available. You will also find a newspaper stand with English and French dailies.
You can hire an iPad on rent for your daily browsing and video watching needs. There is nice and decently equipped gym (frequent yoga workshops and aerobics classes run here) and all guests have free access to it. There is an ironing room with DIY facilities. The largish courtyard with chairs and lovely plants plus a giant movie screen and the terrace with hammocks are all nice places to chill.
There is an absolutely lovely Piano and also foosball tables inside the hotel…the cozy corners all around will induce a “homelike” feel. Downstairs there is a resting room which has nonstop philosophy lectures broadcasting in there. On request guests are given a mobile phone which they can use for free local calls.
The staff is multi lingual and helpful with information be it a request for a route map or a tour operator. They will readily draw up schedules, arrange shuttles/ bike/ cars or accommodate requests. Pets are allowed inside. Kids up to the age of 2 can stay for free.
There is limited amount of underground parking (payable) and a small store at the reception selling sustainable fashion and co friendly products. The staff has the tendency to treat guests as “friends/ community members” rather than an esteemed customer and whether you like that attitude depends on what you are looking for.
The MOB organizes a lot of cultural events and offer more than just live music. There are storytelling sessions, art house movie screenings, and book talks. The MOB chain is heavily invested in co-production of educational projects, theatrical shows, local musical performances, open air cinema…if you are interested in local cultural immersion then look no further.
The MOB even has its own radio channel. You need to check the “happenings” tab on their website to get a complete list of upcoming events when you book, alternatively call the hotel and ask. When you leave, sign your name on the Graffiti mirror and take a photo in the cute photo booth (staff will print it out for free).
Check in and check out times are 2.00 p.m. and 12.00 p.m. respectively
Food & Drinks
A French breakfast is provided every day in the cool looking restaurant (look out for Amy Winehouse bill Clinton curtains) on the entrance floor. The selection includes breads (look out for the banana bread), croissants, pastries, scrambled eggs, yoghurt, baguettes, cheese, fruit and a good supply of orange juice and coffee… the restaurant has a standard cocktail bar adjacent to it. It has a seating capacity of 90:90 (inside: outside). There is also a fireplace and a Hemingway library.
This is one of those rare Parisian budget hotels that supplies all meals to guests starting from breakfast to brunch to dinner. MOB has its own well known chef (Ahron Politi) who is especially skilled in Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel firmly advocates the causes of zero wastage and co-operative farming and local sourcing. Guests are strongly urged to finish whatever they heap on their plates and sometimes paper bags are given out as a reminder to take away food to be eaten later and not trashed.
Brunch (buffet) timings are from 12.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. and the slot is named “my organic brunch”….it costs 30 euro per person. You can carry up whatever food you want from the restaurant and have it on the terrace while enjoying the fresh air. If there is a group of 18 then the terrace can be blocked for private parties. Incidentally the two large terraces have fruit and vegetable gardens. Some menu favorites are chicken tajine, israili grilled cauliflower, salad Nicosia etc.
Food is wholesome and has a homemade quality and sometimes the service might be slow. The pizza oven can only churn out 10 pizzas at a time so give your order in advance. Raw material is locally sourced and groceries are only brought from Biocoop and La Ruche Qui dit Qui. However you might find the menu lacking in variety and the prices too steep…in that case do explore options around.
The hotel staff will happily recommend restaurants, bars and cafes (understandably all organic ones) to you and they will also help with directions. This is isn’t the fanciest part of Paris so you would get some affordable options. The rue des Rosiers has The Art, Marche O Crepes, Bihan Café, Une Affaire de Famille, Ma Cocotte and La Margarita. Just some distance away is the characterful avenue Gabriel Peri that has Cave Gabrialdi, Restaurant L’Oasis, Café Paul, Le Montmarte, Victoria Pizza and Mc Donalds!!
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Location & How To Reach
MOB is in the quirky St Ouens part of Paris… not very fancy location, it falls in the 9th arrondisment. However this area has lots of interesting streets, graffiti, and quirky shops. The La Cite du Cinema is 1.9 km away while the rue Lepic with its restaurants and bars is also nearby.
The nearest heavy duty attraction is the Sacre Couer church that’s 2.2 km away. For all other attractions you need to take a metro or taxi and go. For bargain shoppers the location is perfect as the St Ouens famous flea market is just 5 minutes away. The Montmartre area with its museums, shopping and restaurants is 2.1 km away
Nearest metro station is Garibaldi metro (500m, 6minute walk) and the St Ouens metro is also not very far away. The St Ouen railway station is 1.8 km away. The CDG Airport is about 20 km away and an airport shuttle is available from the hotel (chargeable).
4-6 rue Gambetta, Angle of 50 rue des rosiers, 93400 St Ouen
Phone: +33 1 470 070 70; Hotel Website
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A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.