Focus On...The Shard
With its super-reflective glass and inimitable design, The Shard has established itself as a must-visit tourist attraction, not least because of its fine-dining restaurants like aqua shard, Oblix East and Oblix West.
The brainchild of Italian architect Renzo Piano, innovation has been at the heart of the enterprise since it began construction in 2000. Boasting 11,000 glass panels, one of Europe’s fastest elevators and a commitment to recycling 95% of its materials, The Shard is truly one of a kind.
The towering heights of this 95-storey building overlook the capital with panoramic views unlike any other, making it an idyllic backdrop to dining - whether you’re looking for haute cuisine or a fast-casual bite, The Shard has it in spades.
This unforgettable space is home to the world-famous Shangri La Hotel, a swanky cocktail bar and 6 restaurants, including TING, an indulgent Afternoon Tea spot on the 35th floor.
It also features three of our favourite 'Brunch with a View' spots in London, including the luxury Breakfasts at aqua shard, a Pan-European banquet courtesy of Oblix East and sumptuous Sunday Lunches at Oblix West. Read on to find out more...
Brunch at the aqua shard
Level 31 houses the urban cosmopolis that is aqua shard, a contemporary British restaurant with decadent Weekend Brunches. This dazzling hideaway is led by world-renowned restaurateur David Yeo, a Singaporean native and ex-City lawyer, whose distinctive flagships are spread across the globe.
The epitome of luxury, aqua shard offer a number of reasonably-priced offers and vouchers so their one-of-a-kind meals can be enjoyed by all. Midweek they offer a set breakfast menu for just £19.50, including cold pressed juice, your choice of tea or coffee and a selection of drool-worthy breakfast plates (just try to resist the Tor Bay Harbour Lobster Benedict, which comes with a tangy mix of sea greens).
For something a little more lavish, a three-course Weekend Brunch is available for £44 and it’s here the expert chefs and mixologists really get to work their magic. Try a white almond gazpacho with pineberry tartare to start, followed by lobster thermidor, Cornish sea bream or Wagyu burger, perfectly accompanied by a selection of Brunch cocktails (how could you possibly turn down a bergamot and banana martini?).
Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RY
Book Weekday Breakfast here
Book Weekend Brunch here
Bottomless Brunch at Oblix East
Floor 32 features two distinct but connected restaurants – Oblix East and Oblix West, with chef wunderkind Rainer Becker at the helm of both. The former dabbles in pan-European cuisine with a relaxed, urbane take on fancy food.
Spearheaded by Becker, whose pioneering vision of izakaya dining first took hold after a 6 year stint in Tokyo, he returned home with a nostalgic yearning for the cuisine of his motherland and the continent. The German native's impressive CV includes opening Roka and Zuma to rapturous applause and this, his most ambitious project yet, a 360-degree view of London.
Grab a spot by the open kitchen and watch the chefs rustle up succulent meats over the spit roast-charcoal grill or gaze out over the city skyline. A £55 price tag will get you 3 courses from an opulent 5* banquet, starting off with a huge deli counter and main courses of rib-eye and the like. Finish with a lemon and poppy seed cake and make it a boozy affair with bottomless red or white wine for a £20 supplement.
Level 32, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RY
Book Brunch here
Oblix West
Last, but by no means least, Oblix West is renowned for its tender meats and dizzying views. The sister site to Oblix East focuses on transforming traditional Sunday Roasts into modern marvels.
From their bespoke Jasper oven and grill, you’ll be tempted by grilled turbot with samphire and brown shrimps, succulent sirloins, rib-eyes and much more, all just asking to be drenched in chimichurri or a rich truffle butter. For £48 you can feast on equally tempting starters like steak tartare and fried octopus, alongside a choice of roasts like suckling pig, rotisserie duck and rump of lamb (with all the trimmings, of course).
Level 32, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RY
For Sunday Lunch book here