As he sat living his best four-year-old life in a deepfilled bubble bath with Shangri-La birthday cake in hand , we were afforded the opportunity to not only stash and store the myriad of paraphernalia that travelling with children inexplicably entails into the ample and very sleek floor-to-ceiling walk in wardrobe , but also to grab our own moment of quiet reflection ( except when punctuated with “ look look there ' s a train ”, which of course occurred approximately every 3.7 seconds ) with a glass of bubbles in hand .
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 and L ' Occitane en Provence toiletries , everything is complete luxury without screaming ‘ look at me ’ and that just adds to the unique ambience .
As if the spacious rooms , incredible views and luxurious bathrooms complete with Washlet toilets ( if you know , you know ) weren ’ t enough , the wonder continues throughout Shangri-La at The Shard ’ s food , beverage and leisure offerings .
For those opting for cocktails there is Gong , the hotel ’ s destination 52nd-floor cocktail and Champagne bar . For those that come to dine , simply pass by the lounge area , which is always beautifully bedecked in seasonal decor , round to 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 a 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 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 views from the primely situated tables .
Our family had , to our fortune , 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 , and even their own kids menu which unapologetically defied expectations of ‘ everything with fries ’ and some soggy pasta and instead stayed true to Asian flair , just in an accessible , child-friendly way .
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 executive chef Gareth Bowen ' s kitchen avoids the fusion food cliché . Offering instead the very best dishes from either the modern British or Far Eastern stable all while providing guests the option to mix up their dishes and sides should they wish .
Perusing the starters , Mr R and I ventured East , to be rewarded by the beautifully presented and gently spiced seared king scallops served with chicken jus , clementine , coriander oil , tobiko and truffle , and the simply divine Sichuan-braised short rib , playing with the croquette theme to showcase the flavours of soy , sorrel and tofu .
Mr R , already swayed by the heady rich flavours , continued the Asian theme with his main course choosing the seared Japanese Wagyu . A beautifully presented and perfectly seared fillet served atop soba noodles , chinese leaf and drunken mushrooms . Benefiting from extra theatrics courtesy of the tableside pour of ‘ Sukiyaki ’ Japanese broth . I on the other hand went back to Britain , lured by the truffled chicken breast . Admittedly this didn ’ t sound the most interesting dish on the menu , but roast chicken done right is one of life ' s simplest pleasures , and this was definitely one of those ‘ done right ’ times . Think tender chicken , savoy cabbage and rich crispy onion and bacon . The side order of cauliflower cheese and truffle croquettes offered an extra level of decadent indulgence for us both .
As we indulged , so did the smalls . Polishing off crudités with hummus in favour of wonton soup before tackling the TÎNG burger with Edam , bacon and crispy fries , and the fried cha bee hoon ( a dish of wok fried noodles , king prawns , chicken , Chinese chives and bean sprouts ) respectively .
As night fell , dessert awaited . Against the backdrop of twinkling lights from the city below , the children delighted in their ‘ top your own ’ sundaes which offered every topping you can imagine from fudge pieces to cream and toffee sauce to strawberries . While Mr R and I were lured by the chocolate and banana tart and the classic strawberry pavlova .
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 and one that the children simply couldn ’ t believe .
With its unsurpassed views , outstanding service and delectable dining experiences , Shangri-La at The Shard really is quite special . Add in family swim times , dedicated children ’ s menus , unfaltering service and an outstanding city location ( including of course that train-view bath ) and it elevates ( pun intended ) into the most memorable family stay .
Shangri-La Hotel The Shard 31 St Thomas Street London SE1 9QU www . shangri-la . com / london
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THE BEST WAY TO GET TO LONDON
With super fast connections courtesy of Southeastern ’ s High Speed trains , families can venture to London in less than an hour , all ready to enjoy some family fun and adventure . www . southeasternrailway . co . uk
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