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| The Westminster Suite is on the 37th floor and decked with hand-drawn silk wallpaper. |
The height of London luxury is tucking into a feast prepared in the new Shangri-La Suite, with ingredients sourced locally from Borough Market just below the Shard, while gazing out at the cityscape framed through walls of glass. Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London unveiled three signature suites in May that aren’t just a flight of fancy. In a metropolis known the world over for the high caliber of its luxury hotels, Shangri-La has upped the ante with an impressive premium offering.
The largest of the three, the Shangri-La Suite, sprawls across 2,021 square feet on level 39 of the Shard, while the London Suite (1,257 square feet) occupies the 38th floor, and the Westminster Suite (1,343 square feet) is housed on the 37th floor. From this vantage point above the Thames, London has never looked so good.
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| The Shangri-La Suite sprawls across 2,021 square feet on level 39 of the Shard. Shown here is the suite’s dining room. |
Shangri-La tapped the talented designer duo, Francesca Muzio and Maria Silvia Orlandini of atelier FM – Architettura d’Interni Studio, because of their tried-and-true experience decorating luxury yachts. The Shangri-La hotel occupies levels 34 to 52 of the Shard, the Renzo Piano-designed skyscraper that’s the tallest in western Europe. And the unique configuration of the suites — wrapping around the building — required clever design savvy. The designers decked the suites with hand-drawn silk wallpaper, custom furniture and — in the spa-like bathroom of the Shangri-La Suite — an Italian wasabi marble, which is so lovely that they didn’t want to hang artwork and detract from its beauty.
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| The London Suite is on the 38th floor and its floor-to-ceiling windows provide sweeping views of the city. |
Beyond the heart-stopping views, the suites offer a host of stand-out perks. There’s a walk-in closet with a custom kimono, a powerful spotting telescope, an in-room iPad, crystal glassware for cocktails, Toto washlet toilets that the British press go gaga over and a bigger than king-size bed, draped in 1,000-thread count Frette sheets and patented body-contouring technology. Suite guests are also privy to a chauffeured car service for the duration of their stay. Did we mention the 24-hour butler service? Your personal butler (request Michael Golong) has mastered the art of discretion — managing to be helpful yet unobtrusive … pouring welcome tea or champagne and then vanishing in the blink of an eye.
An absolute must during your London stay: sipping a craft cocktail at Gong bar on the 52nd level, while dipping your toes in the sky-high infinity pool. At Lang restaurant, Executive Chef Emil Minev — who’s on the board of directors at Borough Market — changes the menu every few weeks based on fresh, seasonal ingredients. If it’s on the menu, don’t miss the Dorset crab with melon sorbet, followed by beef short rib topped with coffee crumble and served with carrots, sweet potatoes and confit kumquat.
For VIP bookings, contact Senior Sales Manager Ania Zdunek ([email protected]). For special arrangements, reach out to Eiji Tanaka ([email protected]), the head concierge since February 2015.