some . Skyline views of The Tower of London , Sky Garden and Tower Bridge were breathtaking in their own right , throw in a window-side freestanding bath and this is some serious staycation goals !
Step away from the floor-to-ceiling windows , which all come with self-controlled inner and outer blinds of course , and you can appreciate the opulence inside too . From the patented bed , Nespresso coffee machine , iPod dock and 40 ” TV , to the marble bathroom , walk-in shower , L ' Occitane en Provence toiletries , and not forgetting its famous Washlet toilets ( never before has one toilet had so many buttons , gizmos and gimmicks - and who knew the pleasure of a warm seat !), everything is complete luxury without screaming ‘ look at me ’ and that just adds to the unique ambience .
Suitably refreshed , my guest and I descended for dinner at TÎNG , the collective name of the hotel ’ s signature restaurant and lounge . Derived from the Chinese word for ‘ living room ’, TÎNG is a refined yet comfortable fine-dining offering . Even before necessary distancing , the space offers that sought after combination of intimacy and atmosphere , and of course , views unlike any other .
Catering for hotel guests and day visitors alike , its unique setting is perfect for sunrise breakfasts , sunset teas and indulgent á la carte dinners to the nightlights of London ; all to the backdrop of unsurpassed iconic London views .
Taking advantage again of that compass point positioning , the dining room is cleverly designed to make the most of every viewpoint . Being 128 metres up , the floor-to-ceiling windows naturally provide the main focal point ; with views of Tower Bridge , St Paul ’ s Cathedral , the London Eye , and the financial district just some of the eye-catching vistas available from the primely situated tables .
My guest and I had timed our meal to coincide with sundown , the glistening Thames below taking the eye on a journey through the night lights of the city . Eye ’ s drawn away from the view , we were able to take in the beauty of our surroundings , dark wood furniture , ornate oriental screens , sleek polished oval tables and curved plush sofas - traditional Far Eastern glamour with a contemporary twist and a side order of theatrics .
Food at TÎNG is modern British with an Asian flair , and demonstrates Shangri-La ’ s commitment to providing ethically sourced and local ingredients . Guests are presented with mini tablets providing all of the menus needed for the evening ; from wine lists to à la carte offerings , indulgent taster menus to cocktails . Under the attentive direction of Aun , whose service was faultless all evening , we began our culinary journey with the intriguingly sounding signature Gummy Bear , a perfect combination of hibiscus liqueur , hibiscus syrup , lime juice , rhubarb and vodka ; and a bespoke rum old fashioned .
The menu at TÎNG is inspired , not least by Shangri- La ’ s ' Rooted in Nature ' promise of providing ethically sourced and local ingredients , but because the incredible dishes provided by head chef Scot Paterson ’ s kitchen avoids the fusion food cliché . Instead the menu is sectioned to offer the very best dishes from either the modern British or Far Eastern stable ; all whilst providing guests the option to mix up their dishes and sides should they wish …
Appealing to my guest ’ s indecisiveness and my own allergy fussiness , this actually provided us with a welcome approach to sampling the very best dishes the menu had to offer - and each was incredible .
Perusing the starters that included treats such as mackerel rollmops and smoked ham hock terrine from the British plates , my guest and I instead ventured East , presented with the delectable spring roll ; a huge offering with juicy seared prawns and julienne vegetables tempting the taste buds from beneath delicate , wafer thin pastry ; and the crispy salt and pepper squid , mini mouthfuls of flavour set off with an exquisite black garlic aioli .
My guest swayed already by the heady rich flavours , continued the Asian theme with his main course pick , the Atlantic cod loin . A beautifully presented and wonderfully delicious marinated fillet served with teriyaki kohlrabi , tempura sea asparagus and divine broth , perfect with a side order of sticky jasmine rice to soak up every last delicious drop . I on the other hand went back to British , lured by the ribeye steak ; rewarded with a perfectly seared piece of beef accompanied by bone marrow and marmite butter , garlic garnished portobello mushrooms and seared pickled onions ; but mixing up the flavours some wonderfully rich green beans with garlic and soy and french fries with seaweed salt .
As night fell , dessert , as is par for the course for us at iK , awaited . Against the backdrop of twinkling lights from the city below , my Snicker-loving guest was delighted with his chocolate and peanut “ bar ”, a refined approach ; smooth mousse , chocolate crumb and nuts ; to the classic flavour favourite . Whilst I had the pleasure of the apple tatin , served as a portion that could have catered for the whole table , but that I clearly devoured single handedly such was the delight of caramelised yet soft plump apple and ultra thin and crisp pastry offset with a sharp Normandy crème fresh .
Retiring to the most comfortable slumber high above the city , there were just two things left to tick off on our Shangri-La stay bucket list ; the renowned breakfast overlooking the city is , of course , not to be missed , but first you need to swim !
For high in the clouds on the 52nd floor awaits the hidden gem of the infinity pool . A guest-only , oneof-a-kind experience to swim some gentle lengths whilst taking in unrivalled views of St Paul ’ s Cathedral and the Thames below - what a way to start a day !
With its unsurpassed views , outstanding service and delectable dining experiences , Shangri-La at The Shard really is quite special and certainly not to be missed !
Shangri-La Hotel The Shard 31 St Thomas Street London SE1 9QU www . shangri-la . com / london
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