The Best Guernsey Restaurants – A Complete Guide to Food in Guernsey
I recently spent five unforgettable days exploring Guernsey and Herm Island with a few fellow travel bloggers, and one thing quickly became clear: Guernsey is a food lover’s paradise.
From crab sandwiches and the famous Guernsey oysters to scrumptious cream teas and locally sourced produce, the culinary scene here is seriously underrated.
If you’re anything like me, food is a big part of your travels, and knowing where to eat can make all the difference to your trip.
So, without further ado, here are the best Guernsey restaurants, tried and tested by yours truly (plus where to eat on Herm Island!).
The Best Guernsey Restaurants – A Complete Guide to Food in Guernsey
Food in Guernsey
Guernsey food is all about local quality and flavour.
The island is famous for its Guernsey Dairy butter, which is rich and creamy and perfect on crusty bread or melted over a plate of freshly-caught seafood.
Lobster and crab feature heavily across menus, often in salads, sandwiches (crab sandwiches are a must in Guernsey), or indulgent mains.
If you like oysters, Herm & Guernsey Oysters are famous for being fresh, briny, and full of flavour – having sampled at least 20 over the course of my visit, I can confirm this to be true!
Beyond seafood, the island boasts locally grown produce, artisan cheeses, and hearty dishes that reflect its coastal heritage. I had some great steak and lamb dishes in Guernsey, so if you prefer meat to seafood, you’ll be well looked-after.
The Best Restaurants in Guernsey – My Verdict
1. Cobo Bay Restaurant (Cobo Bay Hotel)
Perched above the golden sands of Cobo Bay, the Cobo Bay restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Guernsey and the proud holder of a Taste Guernsey Gold Award!
Like many restaurants in Guernsey, this place is known for its fresh seafood and shellfish, much of which is caught within the bay and delivered straight to the restaurant!
The menu features a mix of simple, quality dishes (think chargrilled steaks and fish and chips) alongside plates with a more creative flair such as monkfish char sui and braised octopus and chorizo.
I had a crab panna cotta to start, followed by lamb tenderloin and crème brûlée.
If you can visit Cobo Bay at sunset, I’d really recommend it – the changing light over the bay is magical, making it an ideal setting if you appreciate the view as much as the food!
Address: Cobo Bay Hotel, La Grande Rue, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1XS
Note: The Cobo Bay Hotel is closed between September 29 and March 27. If you’re travelling outside of those dates and would like to stay here, you can check rates and reviews here.
2. The Peninsula Bar Du Nord and Restaurant
For a more contemporary vibe, Peninsula Bar du Nord is a stylish spot that doesn’t compromise on quality.
I ate here on my first night in Guernsey and was seriously impressed.
To start, I opted for the homemade crab cakes with Hollandaise sauce, asparagus, and angel hair potato (£11).
Next, I ordered a 10z ribeye steak served with beer battered onion rings, thick-cut chips, and cherry tomatoes (£27). It’s not often that restaurant steak impresses me (I have my steak blue, and chefs rarely send it out that way!), but this was cooked exactly the way I wanted it to be, and it was so juicy and flavourful.
Other dishes that went down a treat with our group were the buffalo chicken wings, duck and plum bonbons, and grilled jumbo prawns.
Address: La Grande Rue, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1WB
Note: I stayed at this hotel for two nights and really enjoyed my time here. If you’d like to book your stay here, just click this link.
3. The Brasserie Restaurant (Old Government House Hotel)
If you’re looking for classic elegance, you have to head to The Brasserie Restaurant.
Located in the only 5-star hotel in Guernsey, you’ll find stunning interiors and a menu inspired by French cuisine with a focus on local seafood.
This places strikes the perfect balance of feeling refined without being intimidating, and the service here is second to none – old-fashioned glamour at its best.
I visited the Old Government Hotel Brasserie for lunch and plumped for crab bonbons followed by the seafood platter (£42), which came with shell-on prawns, crabmeat with crème fraiche, mussels, scallops, salad, and buttery new potatoes. There was the option to add half a lobster to this for £38, but as we were only having a light lunch, I resisted the urge!
Address: Old Government House Hotel, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1HT
Notes: While I was here, I asked the GM to show me around the hotel, and he showed me some of the rooms that were available that day. They were beautiful, so if you think you might like to stay at this hotel, click here.
4. Ocean Bar & Terrace (Fermain Valley Hotel)
The best meal I had in Guernsey was at the Ocean Bar & Terrace at the Fermain Valley Hotel, and the competition was stiff!
The Ocean offers stunning sea views and al fresco dining (unfortunately, it was too cold to dine outside when we visited, but the interior was just as nice!).
My fellow foodies and I devoured Herm Oysters, hand-dived Guernsey scallops, pan-fried sea bass with caviar, and a selection of local artisan cheeses, all paired with a selection of beautiful wines.
The servers here were all super friendly and professional as well, and if I could eat here every day, I would.
Address: Fermain Valley Hotel, Rue de Fermain, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2SP
Notes: Half of our group stayed the night at this hotel and I was very jealous – the rooms here are gorgeous, and the spa is lovely as well! For rates and reviews, click here.
5. The Terrace Restaurant (St Pierre Park Hotel)
I spent the last night of my trip at the St Pierre Park Hotel and had a quick lunch at its restaurant, overlooking the picturesque lake and hotel grounds.
I ordered the asparagus, artichoke, and grilled courgette salad, which came with avocado, black rice, and edamame beans (£19). I chose to add roast chicken for £6, but I wouldn’t do this again as it was cold, which didn’t go with the otherwise warm salad, and it was also quite dry.
The rest of the salad was really nice, but I don’t think it was worth £19. However, if you’re not short of money, you may not mind the price so much.
Address: St Pierre Park Hotel, Rue des Monts, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1FD
Notes: The St Pierre Park Hotel is lovely (I stayed there for a night and it was very comfortable – plus, they have a turndown service!). Click here for rates and reviews.
Restaurants on Herm Island
There aren’t many places to eat on Herm Island.
Aside from a couple of beach kiosks serving salads and sandwiches, there are only three restaurants on Herm.
In the nature of research (ahem), I dined at all three.
Keep reading to see which I enjoyed the most!
The Mermaid Tavern
A cheerful, informal tavern with really friendly staff, The Mermaid is perfect for escaping from the rain if the weather turns (although it also has a lovely courtyard for when the sun comes out!).
Their menu is made up of casual pub grub – burgers, ribs, fish and chips, and pizzas.
I tried their 12″ margherita pizza (£12) which was surprisingly really good, as well as their hot tuna mayo and cheddar melt (£9.95), served on ciabatta with salad and crisps. This was also really good, and kept me full all afternoon.
The Ship Inn
A step up from The Mermaid Tavern is The Ship Inn, which is still pretty casual, but with an elevated menu.
Here, you can get half a dozen oysters for just £8.50 (!!!), so of course, I had to indulge.
I followed them with a delicious crab crostini (£12.93) and the fish of the day (£21.50).
I can’t actually remember what the fish was (oops), but what I CAN tell you is that these chips were legitimately the best chips I’ve ever had.
I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH of them. So hot, so crispy, yet so fluffy. Ugh. Divine.
The Conservatory Restaurant
Bright, airy, and beautifully designed, The Conservatory Restaurant is the best restaurant on Herm Island, and if you want to get dressed up, this is the place to do it. It’s also a great place to catch the sunset!
The menu is £39.95 for 3 courses, which I think is very good value considering the standard of the food here.
I plumped for a trio of fresh Herm oysters (what else?) followed by grilled sea bass and a deconstructed apple crumble.
Everything was delicious, although I don’t think I’ll ever understand the hype behind deconstructed dishes – give me a proper apple crumble any day!
Notes: There is a smart/casual dress code at The Conservatory Restaurant. No ripped jeans, trainers, track suits, or flip flops are allowed.
I stayed at The White House Hotel (where the restaurant is situated). It’s the only hotel on Herm Island, and I had a lovely stay there. If you’d like to check it out, just click here.
Final Thoughts
Guernsey and Herm Island are true havens for food lovers, and I was blown away by the freshness and quality of the food I had in Guernsey, especially the seafood.
Whether you’re after a relaxed lunch by the sea, a romantic dinner, or a casual bite during a walk, you can’t go wrong with the food in Guernsey.
That’s it for today, but let me know in the comments section if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them!
Until next time,
XOXO
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Please note: I visited Guernsey on a press trip with the Guernsey tourism board and my stay was fully hosted. I was not under any obligation to write this article, and this is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.
