The Shard is the ultimate spot for luxury living and fine dining in London. Located in the city centre on the south side of the river Thames, the staggering skyscraper reaching over 1000 feet welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. A lucky few Londoners can even call this place home.
The iconic landmark was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, who wanted to create a vertical city that could allow its inhabitants to live, work and relax all in the same building. While it’s loved for its leisure spaces, The Shard also dedicates 26 floors to office buildings. Can you imagine looking up from your desk to a view like this?
If that doesn’t entice you, you’ll want to check out the six world-class restaurants dotted throughout the tower. Or maybe the five-star hotel with an exclusive swimming pool? How about the stunning view of London from the top floor?
Guess what? It doesn’t end there. Renzo Piano is currently working on a new development that surrounds the building. The Shard Quarter is complete with a Retail Arcade, a public art space, and (soon) residential apartments. It really does have it all.
With so much to choose from, let’s run through all the best places to visit at The Shard.
THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
Named after an exotic utopia, this hotel really is a paradise. Situated on floors 34 to 52, this world-class venue boasts views from Western Europe’s tallest building. You’re sleeping in the sky.
The Shangri-La indulges its guests with 17 luxury suites that are uniquely furnished from each other. The Westminster and the London signature suites both have a similar interior, each equally decadent with plush living areas, but the Shangri-La Suite takes more inspiration from the East with Chinese chaise longues. Guests can choose to reserve a room as huge as two and a half thousand square feet, which includes a walk-in wardrobe, an expansive marble bathroom, and on-call butler services.
The best rooms in the hotel offer the chance to sleep in a custom super-king-sized bed with 1000 thread count bed sheets and to make your own drinks with your in-suite cocktail bar. Imagine working at a full-size executive desk and sipping tea from your own porcelain Chinese tea set. The Shangri-La even offers a pillow menu with hypoallergenic options to rest your head on when you’re watching your 55-inch LED television. Whichever room you choose, you’ll be enjoying unparalleled views of the city.
REFRESHMENTS AT THE SHANGRI-LA
If you’re not looking to leave the Shangri-La (because why would you want to?), you can find three dining venues within the hotel’s floors.
The TĪNG restaurant offers gourmet British cuisine with an Asian twist, served with 360-degree views of the city from the 35th floor. The menu includes Western and Asian dishes à la carte, which are deeply refreshing and sustainably sourced. The restaurant is loved for its plant-based Whimsical Menu, which serves seasonal fruit carved to look like butterfly wings for dessert.
GŎNG is almost like a sister to TĪNG, but cocktails are on the menu. British and Chinese flavors are complemented by the intimate Chinese decor on this 52nd-floor bar, which sets the mood perfectly for a late-night drink. Try their Hues of Culture menu - these ten colourful drinks are each designed to have a unique flavour profile. Alcohol-free options are also available.
Finally, the Sky Lounge - a semi-formal bar that serves everything from savoury appetizers to spiced desserts. The famous Sky Brunch is served in partnership with Veuve Clicquot, a luxury Champagne House, who also designed the bespoke drinks menu. Next to this iconic glass of bubbly, the Sky Lounge boasts soy-glazed short ribs and spiced chocolate mousse.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS AT THE SHARD
Bar 31 is the most down-to-earth (literally) of the bars in The Shard. This first-floor venue is designed to look like a rustic garden party, complete with aged barrels and picnic tables. It’s the closest to nature with its outdoor terrace, inviting guests to enjoy seasonal drinks surrounded by London’s changing weather. Their craft beers and locally-sourced ingredients are ideal if you’re wanting a casual get-together.
Oblix is a favourite for a reason - it's a warm and inviting atmosphere that’s best for a night out. West meets East in the rich selection of seafood, and the atmosphere magically transforms after sunset. The restaurant is inspired by the urban paradise of New York - by day, it's chic and contemporary, and by night live music and events make for a memorable experience.
Hutong is based on a well-known restaurant in Hong Kong and serves cuisine from Northern China. The ingredients in the drink selection are inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, so you know you’ll be heading to your hotel bed feeling relaxed. The interior design of this restaurant stands out the most - it’s like you’re dining in China.
If you want to dip in and out of the Shard for free, the Aqua Shard needs no reservations. Probably the best-loved by Londoners, this restaurant serves light bites with flair. The three-story bar boasts excellent views of London, and the menu boasts classic British gastronomy.
THE INFINITY SKY POOL
About the swimming pool - it’s the highest one in Western Europe, and it’s entirely free to use for Shangri-La guests. The infinity pool is the perfect place to unwind after a business meeting in one of The Shard's many restaurants or for a quick exercise before a day out at The Shard Quarter. GŎNG keeps the drinks flowing on the poolside too.
Guests also have access to a fully equipped gym with state-of-the-art equipment and can book a slot at the Sky Sauna for their exclusive spa treatments. The Shangri-La even offers private spa experiences within the comfort of your hotel suite, with deluxe products from Neal’s Yard Remedies.
THE VIEW FROM THE SHARD
This might be London’s favourite on this list. Almost 900,000 people visited the viewing platforms in 2022 to take in the incredible sight of the London skyline. The View from The Shard hosts a DJ and serves unlimited cocktails over the weekend, so it's the finest party destination in the building.
Best of all, the attraction has no time limit - you can take in the sights for as long as you like. From the rooftop gallery on the 72nd floor, guests can see up to 40 miles of London from the 360-degree viewing terrace. The three viewing platforms can be rented for an exclusive rooftop event - why not celebrate a birthday above the city lights at sunset?
So maybe it’s time you popped in for a quick visit to The Shard. Who knows? Maybe you’ll become the newest member of the Shangri-La Circle.
