In 2024, I showed Oscar from Denver, Colorado the highlights of London. It was his first time in England. In contrast, Thanh and I have been to the capital of the United Kingdom many times. During the weekend of Pentecost 2026, we went together for a weekend of museums, food, and a concert.

It’s a shame doing a London trip and not including afternoon tea. But there are so many options. You don’t want to go too cheap because you’ll b e rushed, or it will be disappointing.You don’t want want to go too expensive either… because afternoon tea can get very expensive. Thanh found afternoon tea at Oblix at The Shard. A great location and a decent price: £59 per person. Of course service will be added, and the bottle of water. But £59 or £65 with a glass of champagne is a good base price. 

Oblix at The Shard

Perched on the 32nd floor of The Shard, Oblix is one of London’s best-known destination restaurants. Combining panoramic views across the capital with contemporary dining, it has been part of the city’s culinary landscape since The Shard opened in 2012. 

Created by restaurateur Rainer Becker, the venue occupies a dramatic position high above the south bank of the Thames, offering diners sweeping vistas that extend across central London in almost every direction.

A restaurant in London’s tallest building

Oblix forms part of the restaurant collection within The Shard, the landmark skyscraper designed by Renzo Piano. Located above London Bridge Railway Station, the tower rapidly became one of London’s most recognisable buildings, and Oblix was among its original hospitality tenants when it opened in September 2012. The restaurant occupies an entire section of the 32nd floor, placing guests more than 150 metres above street level.

The interiors were designed by architect and designer Claudio Silvestrin, whose understated approach allows the skyline itself to become the focal point. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the restaurant, creating a constantly changing backdrop that ranges from the historic landmarks of the City of London to the modern towers of Canary Wharf and the distant hills beyond London.

Two restaurants in one

A distinctive feature of Oblix is its division into two separate spaces, each with its own character. Oblix West functions as the restaurant’s main dining room, centred around an open kitchen, grill and rotisserie. Inspired in part by the atmosphere of New York dining rooms, it focuses on contemporary European cooking with an emphasis on grilled meats, seafood and sharing dishes.

Oblix East offers a more relaxed setting, combining a cocktail bar, lounge and dining space. This side of the venue is particularly known for its afternoon tea service, cocktails, live music and evening atmosphere. While both spaces enjoy spectacular views, they provide noticeably different experiences, allowing visitors to choose between a formal restaurant setting and a more casual lounge environment.

Food and drink

The menu reflects Becker’s preference for modern international cuisine rather than traditional fine dining. Open-fire cooking plays a central role, with British beef, seafood and seasonal ingredients featuring prominently. Alongside grilled dishes, the menus include seafood platters, tartares, flatbreads, salads and a range of sharing plates designed for groups.

Cocktails are another important part of the experience. Oblix East in particular has developed a reputation as a destination for drinks with a view, hosting live music performances, guest events and seasonal cocktail programmes throughout the year.

Afternoon tea above London

One of the venue’s signature experiences is afternoon tea at Oblix East. Served against a backdrop of sweeping views across the capital, it offers a contemporary interpretation of one of Britain’s best-known culinary traditions. The setting plays a central role in its appeal. From the restaurant’s elevated position within The Shard, guests can enjoy uninterrupted views towards landmarks including Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, the towers of the City and the winding course of the River Thames.

Rather than following the traditional hotel afternoon tea formula exactly, Oblix incorporates modern influences and presentation. The experience typically begins with a selection of savoury items, including finger sandwiches and contemporary savoury creations that reflect the restaurant’s international culinary style. Seasonal ingredients and changing menus ensure that the offering evolves throughout the year.

The sweet course features an assortment of pastries, cakes and desserts created by the restaurant’s pastry team. Presentation is given particular attention, with the desserts arranged to complement the sophisticated surroundings. Warm scones served with clotted cream and preserves provide a link to the traditional afternoon tea experience, while a carefully selected range of teas remains at the heart of the service.

Guests may also choose to accompany the afternoon tea with champagne or sparkling wine, making it a popular option for celebrations and special occasions. The atmosphere differs noticeably from that of a classic London tea room. Contemporary interiors, occasional live music and the dramatic skyline views create an experience that feels distinctly modern while still drawing upon a long-established British tradition.

Dining for the view

Like many restaurants located in major landmarks, Oblix is often discussed as much for its setting as for its cuisine. Visitors frequently note that part of the experience involves paying a premium for one of the most dramatic dining locations in London. Reviews commonly praise the panoramic views, particularly at sunset and after dark, when the illuminated skyline becomes a major attraction in its own right.

The restaurant’s location also means that it attracts a broad mix of guests, from tourists seeking a memorable London experience to local residents celebrating special occasions, business diners and visitors looking for an alternative to the public viewing galleries elsewhere in The Shard.

Our experience

We booked well in advance and signaled one of us is lactose intolerant. Thanh’s intolerance isn’t that bad, but why not signal it of they asked. I remember being called shortly after booking and being asked for details, such as is cross-contamination okay? It is. 

On the day we had forgotten about it but Oblix hadn’t. So Thanh got an adapted offering. Very nice. 

The afternoon tea had everything we expected: sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and preserves, pastries. Seconds were possible. 

Afternoon tea at Oblix is not the most traditional, but also traditional enough to be a proper afternoon tea. 

A booking gives a tile slot of two hours and we used (almost) all 120 minutes. 

It was on Sunday afternoon, and perfect timing for break of quite intense exploring. Also it provided some cooldown time in air conditioning on a very hot Pentecost Sunday. 

Food, gastronomy and restaurants

• REVIEW  | Restaurant Ertlio Namas in Vilnius.
• REVIEW | 3 Pavāru Restorāns / 3 Chefs Restaurant in Riga.
• REVIEW | Restaurant Marv & Ben in Copenhagen.
• Restaurants and food on Norwegian Getaway.
• REVIEW | Restaurante Matiz, Málaga.
• REVIEW | Le Monument restaurant in Porto.
• VANCOUVER | St. Lawrence Restaurant.
• REVIEW | Michelin-star restaurant Hytra in Athens.
• MONTREAL | Dining solo at Monarque felt like being part of a tv show.
• REVIEW | Restaurant Fred in Rotterdam.
• REVIEW | Restaurant Kuzina in Athens.
• REVIEW | Restaurant Neon in Lier.
• REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon in 2022.
• PARIS | Restaurant Le Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyo in 2023.
• MANCHESTER | Afternoon Tea at Richmond Tea Rooms near Canal Street.
• RIDE & DINE | Brussels Tram Experience.
• STUTTGART | Restaurant Plenum, in Baden-Württemberg’s State Parliament.
• REVIEW | Restaurant Ritzi in Stuttgart.
• VIENNA | Restaurant Steirereck.
• REVIEW | Restaurant Ventrus avec vue, La Villette, Paris.
• REVIEW | Restaurant De Godevaart in Antwerp.
• REVIEW | Restaurant SELSation in Hemiksem.
• REVIEW | Breakfast at the 5-star superior Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp.
• REVIEW | Dinner at DINS Santi Taura in Palma de Mallorca.
• REVIEW | Restaurant 273 in Utrecht.
• REVIEW | Restauracja Ritz in Gdańsk.
• REVIEW | Carlton President Hotel Utrecht Maarssen ft. Restaurant One24.
• REVIEW | Restaurant La Grange aux Canards in Paris.
• RIDE & DINE | Orient Dining Express by Stoomtrein Maldegem-Eeklo.
• Afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason in London.
• The German Gymnasium, Kings Cross / St Pancras, London.
• Hoftrammm, the tram dining experience.
• More than, but also sausages: rich cuisine of Germany’s heartland Saxony, Franconia and Bavaria.
• Bars and drinks package on Majestic Princess.
• Restaurants and food on Majestic Princess.
• Food and drinks on board Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas.
• Culinary, food and drinks markets in Antwerp.
• 5 (surprising) hotspots in Stockholm, Sweden.
• 8 food hotspots in Madrid for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• POLAND | 3 hotspots of gastronomy in Kraków.
• ​In search of Belgian or Flemish cuisine in Antwerp.

Pentecost weekend in London 2026

1. EUROSTAR | From Brussels to London in Eurostar Plus (2026).
2. LONDON | Coal Drops Yard at King’s Cross Central.
3. LONDON | Queer Britain or the British National LGBTQ+ Museum.
4. INTERMEZZO | Eurostar to launch direct, no-train-changing London to Antwerp services from December 2026.
5. LONDON | Regent’s Park and Queen Elizabeth II Garden.
6. LONDON | Boys! Boys! Boys! Gallery Café.
7. LONDON | Thames Path – Lambeth Palace – National Covid Memorial Wall – Westminster Bridge – Palace of Westminster – The Queens Walk – Southbank Skatepark – National Theatre – Lasdun Restaurant – Tate Modern – Millennium Bridge – Shakespeare’s Globe.
8. REVIEW | Park Plaza London Riverbank ft the secret recipe of Coca-Cola.
9. CITY OF LONDON | Leadenhall Market – The Garden at 120.
10. LONDON | V&A East Storehouse and V&A East Museum at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.