We visited TĪNG Restaurant on the 35th floor of The Shard, greeted by the sweeping views of the City of London skyline which has made this destination beloved of visitors and locals alike.
Seated amid the subtle pink décor, we were looked after by Emilio, whose friendly and informed service added a welcoming touch to the afternoon.
We started with a glass of Canard-Duchêne Rosé Champagne, a pleasant choice with just the right balance of sweetness, and a dry finish. The perfectly presented sandwiches that followed were made on bright pink bread: a nod to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a great lover of pink in general, my first thought was: they should always be like this!
Out of the sandwiches, the coronation chicken was particularly good, although the taste of the spread was slightly too strong. The egg and truffle sandwich had excellent flavours, but again would have benefited from a lighter hand with the spread. The smoked salmon and cucumber, accompanied by crème fraîche, was simple, yet well-executed. The final sandwich, featuring roasted dry-aged beef with horseradish and watercress, offered a subtle flavour profile that, while not particularly memorable, was still enjoyable in its own right.
For tea, we opted for the Shangri-La black tea blend (slightly stronger than the average black tea). It was indulgent and comforting with a splash of milk, and paired beautifully with the savoury sandwiches. A fantastic recommendation by Emilio.
Other savoury options included the Hummus Dog and the Parsnip and Truffle Burger. While they might be ideal for vegetarians attending Afternoon Tea, I would have been perfectly content with just the finger sandwiches, as these options did not add much to the experience in the way of variety or adventure.
The scones, delicately tinged pink for the occasion, were wonderfully soft and had just the right amount of give. We enjoyed two plain scones alongside two studded with cranberries. The clotted cream complemented them nicely; however, the cranberry jam could have been more luxurious, vibrant and sweet, especially compared to some of the berry jams offered at similar London afternoon teas. On a positive note, the cranberry scone itself was delightful, boasting enough variety, flavour, and sweetness to stand alone beautifully.
When it came to the desserts, Shangri-La’s Pink Afternoon Tea offering shone.
The highlight of the experience was ‘The Pink Shard’, a theatrically presented dessert infused with Saicho’s Jasmine Tea and Bergamot. Liquid nitrogen was poured to create a mist-like effect around the carefully designed replica of the Shard as it was served to us. The delicately balanced, unique flavours and soft texture instantly won me over, and I cannot imagine eating anything more wonderful. In fact, I would recommend experiencing this Afternoon Tea simply to taste this bucket list dessert.
Emilio recommended the white apricot and oolong infusions as pairs to our desserts. The former was beautifully light, mirroring the delicacy of the Pink Shard dessert, while the oolong had a lovely richness.
Of the Pink Rocher (spiced milk chocolate, mousse, mandarin), Peony in Bloom (chai tea mousse, pear and cardamom), Pretty in Pink (chestnut mousse, blackcurrant) and Saicho’s Jasmine Delight (infused with Saicho’s jasmine tea and pink buttercream), I truly could not pick a winner. Each tasted as good as it looked, bringing out the very best of the flavours on offer.
Aside from the Pink Shard dessert, a highlight of the experience was the live music. The duo’s performance perfectly suited the occasion and elevated my overall rating to 4.5 stars. Their beautiful voices truly set this afternoon tea apart, with a repertoire that included an acoustic take on Elton John’s ‘Daniel’, Adele’s ‘To Make You Feel My Love,’ and Charles Trenet’s ‘La Mer.’ While many luxurious Afternoon Teas in London feature a string quartet or pianist, often creating a more formal or disconnected atmosphere, the decision to have a singing duo with a guitar was an inspired choice. They were able to read the room and contribute to the relaxed yet elegant setting, and their performance felt natural and uplifting.
To learn more about how the Shard is raising awareness of Breast Cancer this Pink October, see the Shangri-La The Shard London website.
The Pink Afternoon Tea at TĪNG Restaurant & Lounge is available until 10th November 2024.
Afternoon Tea London – find more experiences in our High Tea Venue Directory
Reviews for this venue:
- 11 February 2024: Afternoon Tea at Ting Shangri-La London
- 29 July 2017: Afternoon Tea at the Ting, Shangri-La London
