Aqua Shard in Southwark

Beautiful cocktails before our dinner, a corner table with sweeping views of the city, the well-timed serving of 3 delicious courses as the sun set, a friendly and efficient waiter who also didn't balk at taking our photo, and a loo with a view -- what more could we have asked for from this occasion?! Very impressive and enjoyable -- thank you for a wonderful evening for my husband and me and, more importantly, for my brother visiting from the States who said the whole experience would be very hard to beat.

Well you should really learn how to properly serve; you do not come to table every five minutes asking “can i clear the table”. And why are you asking if there is a special occasion or no before making the reservation as you are not arranging something special for the occasion as we had yesterday evening. Food taste was well below average. I guess i will never come back again.

Fantastic location with London Skyline. Very suggestive. Excellent food if it were not for some courses too oriental and spicy. We had a great time, served and looked after by Michael, a very kind waiter and attentive to our every need. Recommended experience.

Amazing night at this Sky bar. 360 degree view of London. Recommended for an aperitif or dinner.

Had a themed Peter Pan afternoon tea. Great venue, sat right by the window so stunning views! Food was good, sandwiches were decent, not amazing, the savouries and sweet treats were very good. Good service. It was very busy and took a while for our second round of drinks to arrive. All in all a good afternoon tea in an amazing venue!

I took my wife there for her birthday and we had a magical time

Great atmosphere with a stunning view of London. The staff were positive and helpful. However, the prices were quite high in terms of value for money.

-we have a pushchair so we need to pass through the staff-only cloak room to arrive at the reception. -the poor usher helping us with our coats can only pull away one side of the cloak room’s curtain, 5-6 free ushers we’re just standing there watching the poor girl trying to pull both of the curtains but failed and the group just let the other side of the curtain wiped over my son’s head. -we arrived at the reception and an usher greeted us and was well noted that the dinner was to celebrate our anniversary plus a baby-on-the-way. -we arrived earlier than the dinner time(6pm), the usher serve us to the bar area and serve us water which is a good service. When its nearly 6pm, an usher came over and lead us to our table. -we have booked the window-side table, a three-course menu is £135/pp including a glass of champagne. -at first, the table assigned was at the corner and when we saw there was an empty table overlooking the tower bridge, we requested to change to that table. The ushers initially was not willing to do so, but soon let us swap. However, when the usher was moving the glass and stuff to the other table, we said thank you but her long face just made sure we knew she was not happy to do it. -the server introduced the menu to us, he was polite and friendly. When I emphasised that I am pregnant and asked that the dishes to accommodate my dietary requirements, he said he would inform the chef. -turned out the starter consisted three types of food: a cold pate/gelatine made of chicken, a smoked salmon and a chicken soup; that means I can only have the chicken soup! I asked the server, initially he said I could eat the smoked salmon but when my husband told him that “another staff who served the dish to us reminded me that the salmon was raw so not to allow your wife to consume”, our server said “o yes, it’s a raw fish, so not for your wife… if you are worried, you can just let your husband have the chicken and salmon, you can have the soup.” While he pushed two cups of chicken soups to me. -when you have paid such an amount for a meal, it is very normal to think that the kitchen could accommodate your dietary requirements instead of asking you to just NOT EAT THEM! -the food at all were not tasty, we couldn’t even have our second bite on the mousse from the dessert platter, which consisted of three desserts. -when the dessert came, I asked the server if the milk used was pasteurised because pregnant women can’t eat unpasteurised diary products, the server answered me by saying “i have told the kitchen that you are pregnant” instead of giving me a yes or no answer! -the drink was better than the food. -the view, does it worth the bill, I would say no to be honest. -the staff wearing a suit helped to take some photos of us upon our request after we settled our bill, same long face as the usher I mentioned earlier, guess they just hated their job. -I will not be back again.

Brilliant experienve.views are fantastic and the food was perfect.staff very friendly.drinks exspensive.

The food was absolutely stunning, the views were amazing, however we did have a few small issues, there were crumbs left on the clock face table from a previous afternoon tea (we had the Peter Pan experience) Also the milk jug for my partner had a stain on the handle which she had to clean. We didn’t make a fuss as the whole experience was exceptional and really made my partners birthday a special one. Thank you.

I enjoyed the delicious Merrifield farmed duck breast at AquaShard on Saturday night for a friend's birthday dinner, and it was so good! I asked for a cocktail they no longer had, but the bartender worked some magic and made me something just as tasty. Cheers to amazing food, great company, and unforgettable moments! #DinnerWithAView

Mike was fantastic. We have celiac and needed gluten free. We were concerned about going to a nice restaurant and not having food options but Mike made us very comfortable and the food was fantastic. The dry aged steak with the truffles was truly one of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten and the wine selection was tremendous. This has been a unique and memorable experience for us in London for our anniversary trip.

For us it was a treat to have dinner with a great view over London. It was expensive but I felt they got everything about right. Good food and drinks. Good service and atmosphere. Yet not pretentious, which I hate. I would recommend.

Perfect place to see night images of London.

A good experience to see all of London, very good service and very attentive waiters!

Peter pan afternoon tea was fantastic as were the views . L9vely little touch of a sweet treat for our birthdays too. Wouldn't hesitate to visit again . Staff could be a little more attentive bought us a cocktail menu and never returned to take order. Perhaps a tray under the boat to collect the water that ran all over the table and onto the floor.

Such an amazing view at The Aqua Shard! Jayden, the bartender, was very friendly and made our experience enjoyable!

Good service - good food Busy and noisy Nice view 😁

Had a wonderful time at Aqua Shard celebrating my daughter’s 21st birthday with a Peter Pan Afternoon Tea. Staff were lovely food and views were amazing from our window seat and we weren’t rushed so felt totally relaxed!

The food was nice. The service was good. The atmosphere was very nice. I and my wife were sitting at a window table with great views of surroundings of the Thames River. After I and my wife finished the sour dough bread and butter there were crumbs on the table which we ended up clearing ourselves before the staff put the starters plates on the table. Other equivalent restaurants tend to clean the table at every stage before the next course is served. Comparing my experience with other 'posh/expensive' restaurants I've attended I felt the Aqua Shard was a bit overpriced, for example I attach a picture of drinks on our table. The glass with the Pink liquid has £15 of GLS Lagrimas Rose. I think the quantity was stingy and should have been more. However I would recommend this restaurant as a on-off experience for a special occasion only. Due to the expense. I doubt I will return to the Aqua Shard myself.

Fantastic lunch for a special occasion, would definitely recommend and will return

The service is very good. We were served by Virginia very lovely lady, we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary and she really made our experience in the aqua shard the unforgettable one.They gifted us with free anniversary dessert.

Lovely atmosphere, treated well, great service. Slight negative though as although separated on the tray from the meat, the vegetarian option was served next to salmon and on a tray with meat yet the pescatarian option was served on a separate plate. Also, sausage rolls were served but no vegetarian option and the pescatarian wasn't given any either. Further choices were given but only after discussion. Happy to pay it but be aware of the service charge.

Most amazing experience!! 5 stars all round would recommend to all

What an experience. It was the wife's birthday weekend and we had arranged to meet our eldest daughter and her boyfriend at Aqua for the Brunch menu. On arrival we were warmly greeted, our jackets and coats taken and we were shown to our table. Klaudia (a lovely young lady from Poland, BTW if her parents get to read this. She is a real credit to you both and you should be very proud of her), was our waitress for most of the meal and she was professional, friendly and informative. She really did make the highlight of our meal with the way she helped us enjoy the Aqua experience. If her manager reads this. Please accept this as a nomination for any staff recognition scheme you run. We were provided with table water and we then ordered drinks. Klaudia then took food orders for the starter and main. The pancakes were amazing. Huge shout out to the chefs. The fruit actually tasted of fruit and the maple cured bacon was smashing. We all went for the Shard (full English) breakfast and that too was fabulous, a real treat. Their version of a hash brown was commented on fondly. Desserts involved us all picking one of the three items on the menu, and we all thought we had picked the best dessert. The whole Aqua experience is upmarket without feeling diners feeling uncomfortable and while it is a memorable experience, it is not "snooty" . The staff really appear to enjoy making it an experience as well as a meal. Obviously the views over London are amazing too. Total cost including cocktails and service was just shy of £400 (or £100 each) and it was worth every penny. Treat yourself, your wife (or someone else's wife, if that floats your boat.) You won't regret it. And if you’re wondering, according to Klaudia "sir" is the Polish for cheese. I never knew that.

Great food and great location. Can get a little loud with larger groups.

Had afternoon tea here. Absolutely lovely atmosphere and the food was absolutely fantastic served in a Peter Pan theme. Very funny! High price range, but the view and the food make up for it. The only thing that reduces a lot is the noise level. Loud music that would be better suited to a night club. Hard to hear what the waiters were saying. And with the bar right next to where we had a table, it was a bit noisy

Klaudia was absolutely excellent. Very friendly and really made our day.

Eryn was brilliant she made it a very magical experience x

We had an amazing tea this afternoon ! Our waitress eryn was very attentive and made the whole experience great ! The food was perfect and the Peter Pan theme made it. Would defy recommend

We went for dinner to Aqua Shard to celebrate my daughter's birthday. We had a nice table, atmosphere was great, view was spectacular. The food was delicious , from starters to desserts, I particularly enjoyed halibut with caviar. Our waiter Alexander went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience, he was very attentive, helpful and very friendly. He brought a special little dessert for my daughter and wished her happy birthday. Thank you so much. We definitely will be back!

The food was great. We were served by Mike and he provided excellent service!!!

I have been to other restaurants in the Shard, but by far I prefer the Aqua Shard. Amazing views, great food, superb decor, bubbly atmosphere and, above all, wonderful service. Thank you

Food was good, if you got it. View was nice. Service was terrible! You have to do everything yourself. You want a latte? Go find a server. You want to order dessert? Go find a server. You want to pay your bill? Go find a server. I had to get up from my table too many times to ask for something. And twice I asked for something, I never got it. Not worth it.

Great experience! Great food, service awesome! A little too cool.

Service was below average. After 20+ minutes of waiting, our waiter finally asked if we wanted to order dinner. We hadn’t ordered drinks even! It took 45 min to receive our first drink and dinner arrived less than 10 min later. Timing was off and every dish was placed in front of the wrong person by every server. Food was good, not great. View is obviously spectacular and restaurant is very pretty. Giving it a three star because of the wonderful view and the drinks were delicious. Will not return for dinner.

Delish! Thank you Mike for your lovely service

Absolutely amazing experience with the Peter Pan Afternoon Tea package. Fantastic service, good selection of tasty food and drinks, amazing atmosphere and luxurious views of London. Would definitely return again someday! Many thanks.

Klaudia was wonderful. Top service.

Amazing views you can’t get anywhere else. But the service felt perfunctory, which is a shame.

Cozy,very fancy food, excellent service of staff.

We had an amazing dining experience at Aqua Shard. The food was absolutely delicious,each dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The highlight of our visit, however, was the exceptional service. Our waiter, Alexandz, was incredibly friendly, professional, and funny, he took the time to explain everything in detail, making us feel truly welcome. His warm and attentive service made our evening even more special. The combination of outstanding food, a great atmosphere, and breathtaking views made this an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend Aqua Shard and will definitely be returning!

Such a wonderful dinner. Requested a seat at the window and was surprised with a dessert since I was celebrating. Michael was a great waiter!

Love idea of Peter Pen Afternoon tea. Beautiful view if you can get a table by the window. But we can’t get table with the view. Was very disappointed with service and noise here. We spend more then £550 and had special event but I feel very sorry for my guests they don’t get the view which we came for!

I was going to write an email about our wonderful late afternoon early evening visit. I had some dear friends from Tenerife along with their 4 month old baby, my daughter and 2 granddaughters 3 yrs and another baby 8 months old. I wanted to take them somewhere relaxing but with a view and having visited the Aqua bar before we took the chance that we’d be allowed in with the children and all the gear that has to accompany mums of young babies. I cannot fault the warm welcome from both the entrance to the shard but the bar itself too. Every single member of staff couldn’t do enough for us. They were exemplary. They sat us a a big enough table overlooking London Bridge. It honestly finished off a wonderful visit with my dear friends. Thank you so much for your hospitality. I have been to the Aqua shard 3 times. This was my 4th visit it has always been great but yesterday exceeded all my expectations. Please pass on our thanks to everyone who greeted us, served and catered for us.

The food and the venue were amazing but the service did not match the price. It advertises as a high class venue, but vibe was rushed and hurried like a chain restaurant. The servers were friendly and knowledgeable of the menu when approached, but it was hard to flag down service and it felt like an imposition every time, like our custom was not valued. For the price per head, and the promise of at least two course per person, I would expect more dedicated service.

I had the Peter Pan Afternoon Tea. It was a bit more expensive than a normal afternoon tea, but it was a very nice Shard experience. I think children will be happy with the Peter Pan theme. Each performance was elaborate and we had a really fun time. You can also enjoy the scenery as you can see Tower Bridge and Big Ben. Peter Pan tea was delicious.

Lovely meal…good service from justo!

Once inside the restaurant, the views, service and atmosphere are superb. It is an amazing place to dine looking out over the city. However, the entrance to the restaurant is very much less than ideal. Access to the floor on which the restaurant is situated is via what feels like a service elevator and entry to the restaurant itself is through an unmarked door and the narrow, cluttered cloakroom of the restaurant - bizarre. It is very expensive but a fabulous location & experience for a special occasion. The food was very good and the table service friendly and attentive. In terms of price, we opted for the Skyline Dinner Menu without wine pairing and paid £135 per person. Additional costs were side dishes (disappointingly, no sides are included in the fixed price) and wine (we chose one of their cheapest bottles - a very good Rioja at £65). The total cost for two people was £425 including the 15% discretionary tip added to the bill. Overall, for a very special occasion, I would go back to dine in the Shard but would consider one of the alternative restaurants before heading back to Aquashard.

Absolutely delightful experience. Would highly recommend!

Food was good. Staff were ok. Atmosphere was a bit like a noisy cafe. We won't return

Very long wait for food, vegan food was overpriced for what it was but food was generally good. Kept at a ‘holding’ table for ~20 minutes before could sit down. About an hour between starters and mains for two people.

Had a great dinner here! The view is superb, the food amazing and so is the service. I was assisted by Michael who was kind and caring during the whole time, he surely mad the difference!

My partner and I recently dined at Aquashard. The dishes were exquisite, both in taste and presentation. The ambiance was intimate and welcoming, complemented by a beautiful view. However, multiple servers attended to us, leading to poor coordination and occasional misunderstandings throughout the evening. A dedicated server would have provided a more personalized experience and better continuity during our meal.

Service is good and Justo took terrific pictures. Food was beyond delicious. Views are spectacular! Will come again for our anniversary next year!

Why visiting? The view. Not much else. Slow service, very loud, food is meh! Not worth it to eat but come for a drink and enjoy the view!

Fabulous experience. Afternoon tea delicious and view amazing. Staff very attentive and eager to please.

Extremely disappointed to find 2 hairs inside the cakes !

Where do you start? Security was 100% you couldn't fault them. We were on the 31st floor with 360 degree views around the London skyline, Starters were made with perfection, with tastes exquisite to the pallet, we had a complementary glass of Rose Champagne which was so nice i finished up buying a bottle for us to drink. The fillet of beef was amazing and we had the extra mashed potato with chives. The deserts were amazing. Our Waiter was Justo who made us feel very welcome and went all out to make our evening special by getting a chef to make me a Birthday treat although it was my 62nd birthday but made me feel 21 again a very nice touch. We were dining with the elite and we Both enjoyed the experience very much.

We had an amazing time at Aqua Shard. Breathraking views, exceptionally great service, delicious food. Truly an experience we‘ll never forget.

Peter Pan afternoon tea, lovely food and great service, had a table next to the window for a fantastic view of London, would definitely recommend.

Beautiful food with attentive service, combined with amazing views across London. Dress code was smart casual but make the most of the experience! Highly recommend the experience, yes it’s on the more expensive side for afternoon tea but worth every penny. £70 per person (plus any alcohol you want) and a 15% service charge. Food was very filling and it you want to take it away, they’ll provide you with a carrier to take some home.

Great good, mostly great service. Took a while to get the tables breads and drinks order in. Great service from that point.

10 out of ten service and amazing drinks and atmosphere definitely recommend

Me and my partner came for the Peter Pan afternoon Tea which was lovely! But we were served our sandwiches and we didn’t receive any tea or coffee as they forgot. We asked for tea for myself and coffee for my partner. We only received the tea and had to keep asking for the coffee. Apart from this the food was lovely.

Absolutely amazing place , food . Service and vibe . Loved it thank you

Everything was amazing the atmosphere, the food and service. The staff were amazing. I do think we may have been overcharged, the bill was to be £85 each (2 people) for three courses plus a bottle of wine which was £74 but the the bill was £364. I would definitely like to return because it was such a fabulous afternoon.

Amazing views of London enjoying delicious food for Birthday lunch.

We had booked the window set menu. The view is breathtaking and the food is delicious. What we did not like is the EXTRA charges that we were NOT informed for in advance. The set menu gave prices for extra food charges and for wine pairings it did not (hence we assumed this was included and ordered). When we did order, we were never clarified what options of wine we could have (the only options given to us was red/white). In a place where a glass of wine from the set menu was at an average of £20 pp we were charged £40 pp. To this day, we still do not know what type of wine we drank no servicer took the time to clarify. On top of this, the menu added one extra pairing for the meat which we NEVER ordered. It is disappointing to have clients be charged unexplainably like this as it leaves a bitter taste at the end of the evening and discourages further visits. I hope this is taken into account and waiters are more considerate when explaining charges and taking orders.

Food was excellent, beef fillet was cooked perfectly and the dessert platter was brilliant. Our waiter was very good, although service a little slow out of the kitchen.

A special evening for my sons thirtieth, did not disappoint in anyway ! An evening to remember, food, cocktails, views, friendly staff were all prefect !

Enjoyed the experience very much!

Exceeded every expectation. From door staff and security to restaurant staff, very welcoming and friendly. Beautifully presented afternoon tea. Perfect in every way for our joint birthday celebration.

Eryn our waitress made us very welcome and was attentive and friendly delivering a 1st class service for a truly magical afternoon Tea

Service was very good. Price is very high for what is ultimately a few sandwiches and cakes.

Super night - great food, fabulous views, attentive and human service! Highly recommended.

Justo was amazing, we had a great dinner experience!

My first time having tea in England (visited from Toronto). We had an exceptional experience. Everyone was so kind. Jack ( I hope I got the name right..) was truly welcoming and was kind enough to point out some of the sights. Amazing views, people and experience overall. Would do this again!

Virginia was a wonderful waiter!!!

Virginia was amazing and super nice. Her reccomendations were spectacular.

Virginia was just amazing! Very good service and would recommend!

Food very, very expensive, 15% Tip included as if... 319 pounds for two people!! Astonishing view over London though. Other than that, does not worth at all.

I really liked the atmosphere and especially the service. I was served by Justo. The view is wonderful.

Excellent service by waiter Justo

The service was poor, we ordered the wine pairing, but they forgot and then argued over what was available - they were wrong but didn’t apologise . Then we didn’t get the wine until we virtually finished the main course.

Fair Excellent! Very good service. Kind and helpful

we were served by Kevin, very kind and professional. When I told him it was my girlfriend's birthday he surprised us by bringing us a small cake. Thank you.

Every one was very nice and polite The food was so good for thé afternoon tea I like the little surprise in the little box And the view was extra nice I recommand it

Warm welcome and attentive service

Fantastic view across London! Had a late afternoon brunch with a friend for a late 50th birthday celebration. Really helpful staff. Good recommendations with the food. However at a 15% service charge would have hope for decent service. To be far that was the hat we got. Couldn’t sit by the window at first. However the waiter made a point of being able to move us to a window table for our desserts and last drink. A lovely touch as it was our first time there and a special occasion. Great atmosphere. One thing that could be improved. Were the table were very close proximity to one another very packed in. For such a restaurant with such exquisite views across London. I am sure they get extremely busy. It was a treat but very expensive. Thought we were getting tap water and got the bill £15 for x2 bottles of water a bit much 😳

Justo was amazing in every aspect of hospitality

Honestly the food was great the whole experience was great including the views on top.We will return

Nice view, good food! Recommended!

Impeccable service, our server was really friendly and attentive Really good food, simple but perfect, everything you ask for. I got a little attention for my birthday An incredible view… Security and control of belongings at the bottom of the building before going up No dress code required by the establishment. Very subdued and romantic atmosphere £135 starter, main course, dessert with a glass of champagne. The accompaniments are not included in the price of the menu, we did not understand it is therefore in addition to the bill It’s a budget, but the experience is wow and we eat very well!!

Wow I don't think 5 stars is enough! I have been to many restaurants etc but nothing compares. I took my daughter here for her 18th birthday as a last minute booking as other plans fell through. We arrived 15 minutes early and were seated by the window. We were lucky it was a clear sunny day so the view was stunning. The staff were very polite, friendly and professional. We had afternoon tea with Rose champagne which was delicious. I cannot fault any of the food at all! Presentation was seriously good! Thank you for such an amazing afternoon

10 out of 10 experience. From the moment I’ve called to amend my reservation, I’ve received an exceptional service over the phone, from a guy which I’m so sorry I can’t remember the name now (probably Joseph or Jonathan or something close). He was super kind, attentive and helpful. Same for Fabio at the restaurant who delivered an exceptional service, making my special day for graduation even more memorable. Thank you for sharing your true passion about hospitality. Food was delicious curated in every single details. Definitely an experience to remember.

Justo was great, thanks for the nice evening

I booked an afternoon tea as a surprise for my mom, as we were having a mother, daughter trip to London for a few days. On arrival, the security staff were very kind, first impressions are key, and our first impression was incredible. The staff in Aqua Shard were warm and welcoming, we felt very accommodated for. We asked to move to a table with a better view, and they were able to do this for us which we were so happy about. Before going for an afternoon tea, try not to eat breakfast, the afternoon tea is very appetizing, as they ask you if you would like extras. The drinks menu is AMAZING, there is a variety to of beverages to choose from, and a selection of teas. The portion sizes are also good. The staff catered towards our needs, and we did not feel rushed. The views were terrific and this was a once in a life time experience, i'm so glad we enjoyed it. The way the food was considerately presented was beautiful, it was an amazing experience and i would definitely dine here again. There were two staff who were amazing, the staff don't just want to serve you, they ant to talk to you, and ask how your day is going, and I think that's super sweet. Thank you to your staff, who work so effortlessly hard to welcome and cater to our needs.

We had a very warm and friendly welcome to our Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at the Aqua Shard on Saturday 22nd February. The views of London from the 31st floor through the fully glazed walls that wrap around the bar and dining space are spectacular…especially of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and the winding River Thames. The event is very popular with families, friends and couples and the dining room was full…a bustling hive of activity. We were given a lovely illustrated menu describing a variety of Peter Pan themed savouries and sweets, and were told there was a variety of teas available…not just the two noted on the set menu…though we had to wait quite a while before another menu of alternative beverages was delivered and then another long wait for our orders to be taken; I would recommend the Adventure Tea, a wonderful fruity aroma but with a pleasant green tea taste. When the tea did arrive, we had to wait a while before cups came for us to enjoy it. Our food was delightfully presented, especially the sweets and scones that arrived on a pirate ship, with dry ice mist billowing from the lower portholes, though it only seemed to accommodate two servings…3 of our party of 5 had their food modestly delivered on individual plates…which had less of an impact, and were missing a few of the elements such as the jelly crocodiles and “Never Grow Up” white chocolate coins. Like all afternoon teas, heavy on the sweets. Unfortunately, another couple of gripes, we were given just one small pot of clotted cream between the five of us and two small pots of jam…meant to be enough for two scones each! We asked for more, but nothing came. And, a service charge of 15% on £70 per person we thought somewhat excessive, as was the £25 a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne. Overall though…a special birthday treat!

Hmm, it was an interesting evening... We liked the view and overall the atmosphere (except there could be more light to see the menu). BUT there were a few things not right which left us disappointed: 1) Our waiter was really bad, did not know the menu and did not know the ingredients. 2) Steak came looking like reheated in a microwave and not as we ordered 0 the replacement was much better though. 3) Fish portion (monkfish) was so small that one needed a magnifying glass to see it - quite ridiculous for £55. 4) Beetroot salad came with a missing ingredient (the item was removed from the bill). 5) We picked a Portuguese wine which was terrible and sommelier agreed with us (why on Earth would you have it on the menu then?). What rescued the evening were the desserts which were out of this world!!! So overall an overrated establishment - they need to send their chef and waiters for some training!