Aqua Shard

Definitely the best afternoon tea we have ever had! The whole experience was excellent and couldn’t have been any better. We had a window seat with views of the Thames and Tower Bridge. The food was wonderful, beautifully presented and delicious and expertly explained, with substitutions for allergens where necessary. The service was polite and efficient without being intrusive. Would highly recommend afternoon tea here

I recently dined at Aqua at The Shard and opted for their brunch menu. For my main course, I chose the Roast Hereford Beef Sirloin. Upon its arrival, I noticed that the presentation seemed underwhelming, and I felt that something was missing, though I couldn’t immediately identify what it was. It wasn’t until I noticed the same dish being served to another table that I realized my meal was missing a Yorkshire pudding, which was supposed to be included. I brought this to the attention of a waiter, showing him a picture of the dish from the menu. He asked if I had requested my beef to be well-done, to which I replied yes. He then explained that Yorkshire puddings are only served when the beef is cooked medium-rare, but not when it is well-done. Perplexed, I pointed out that this explanation didn’t make sense, and he admitted that he didn’t know the reason behind it. I decided to seek clarification from another staff member, who informed me that all Roast Hereford Beef Sirloin dishes should indeed come with a Yorkshire pudding, regardless of the doneness of the beef. Shortly after, a manager (or someone we assumed to be a manager) approached our table and kindly offered to serve the Yorkshire pudding, which we accepted as we were eager to try it. He promptly brought it out along with gravy. As a gesture of goodwill, we were also served complimentary alcoholic beverages, and when we received the bill, we noticed a 15% discount had been applied to the total. While I was neither upset nor angry throughout the interaction, I am curious as to why the first waiter provided an incorrect explanation regarding the absence of the Yorkshire pudding, especially since the menu clearly indicated its inclusion. That said, I appreciate the efforts of the rest of the team for ensuring that the overall experience remained enjoyable and memorable. Kudos to them for their exceptional service. ---

We booked afternoon tea today 09/10 and me and my partner both agreed that this was one of the best Afternoon tea parties. It was our anniversary which was acknowledged at the desk when we were entering the restaurant but also, we were given a plate with two beautifully presented sweets, and a chocolate plaque saying Happy Anniversary. The sandwiches were amazing, especially the mushroom tarts, and the cakes tasted amazingly good. We definitely didn't feel hungry at the end of it all. All staff, and I mean absolutely all of the staff, starting with the security at the Shard and the Restaurant staff were lovely and attentive. And we had a great view. Definitely worth visiting the Afternoon tea.