Shangri-La The Shard, London hotel review: ‘sweet dreams in the clouds’

Service to the room was also excellent. My wife requested a yoga mat for her daily Yoga with Adriene session on YouTube. This was not a problem for the staff of a hotel which has wellness as a key theme. 

Soak in the views from the free-standing bath tub

Mike Starling

Watch Antiques Roadshow while in the tub…

The stunning panoramic views are not just from the living and sleeping area either, but also from the bathroom. The free-standing bath tub offers views of The City. Another amazing thing in the bathroom was the TV… in the mirror. I have seen televisions in bathrooms before, but within the mirror? This was certainly a first. 

Checking in on a Sunday means you can soak in the tub, look out over the Square Mile and watch Antiques Roadshow. Honestly, has there ever been a better Sunday night option? 

Head to TĪNG restaurant for dinner or breakfast

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

The food and drink 

There are plenty of dining options at the Shangri-La The Shard, London, which are popular not just with hotel guests but also locals. TĪNG restaurant offers classic Asian cuisine with a British twist while Sky Lounge is ideal for a spot of brunch or a glass of bubbly. On floor 52 you will find GŎNG, the highest hotel bar in western Europe which serves up sunset cocktails and late-night drinks. Other options in The Shard include Bar 31, Aqua Shard Bar, Hutong and Oblix.

I would love to say that that we enjoyed a multi-course dinner at TĪNG followed by a few cocktails at GŎNG. But I won’t lie to you, we never ventured out of the room for our evening meal – we ordered in. 

From the computer tablet in the room you can choose a range of room service options. We ordered the Shanghai Noodles (£34; wok stir-fried shredded beef fillet and vegetables) and that hotel room service staple, the Classic Club sandwich (£16). As a side dish, and because we were intrigued, we also ordered some french fries with katsu ketchup (£5). The katsu ketchup was so good that it might be the best fiver we’ve ever spent on food. 

For breakfast we did venture downstairs to TĪNG where a grand buffet is served up each morning. The classics are all available – cooked breakfast, pastries, pancakes and eggs to order. After overindulging in the views from the room, we continued to admire the landscapes from TĪNG – and rightly overindulged in the breakfast treats on offer.

Enjoy a sunset swim at the infinity pool

Mike Starling

Facilities: the pool 

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is headquartered in Hong Kong and at its London property the modern Asian influence is evident in the rooms, restaurants and design. Another space in the hotel which makes you feel like you’re in Asia, rather than the UK, is on floor 52 where you will find London’s highest hotel infinity pool and sauna. 

Guests can book a one-hour slot to visit the pool so we decided to go around sunset. Swimming a few lengths then watching the sun go down over London is something we won’t forget in a hurry. 

The view from the room at night

Mike Starling

The verdict 

Across the world there are many modern-day architectural marvels – and in terms of rankings, The Shard is right up there, literally. Many visitors to the capital may choose to stay in a more historic hotel which offers British traditions and pomp, but if you want to experience “new” London then the Shangri-La The Shard is the place to go. From the rooms to the restaurants, everything about the hotel is sensational. Those views from the clouds are what really sets it apart though. You’ll never want to come back down to Earth.

How to book 

Rooms at the Shangri-La The Shard, London start from £725 per night, based on two sharing a Superior Shard Room on a room-only basis. To book see shangri-la.com

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/travel/956209/shangri-la-the-shard-london-hotel-review