Jersey is the ideal destination for a weekend break, boasting stunning beaches, dozens of fishing ports, rolling countryside and a plethora of restaurants scattered across the island.
(Photo: The Longeville Manor)
From seaside cafés to sophisticated dining options (including four Michelin-star restaurants), market stalls to village delis, the largest of the Channel Islands perched between England and France is packed with some fantastic places to eat. Of course it comes with no surprise; the island is world famous for its rich milk, Jersey Royals and abundance of fresh seafood. With so much choice, it’s tricky to pick out the best, so we’ve selected a variety, each offering something different both in style, location and setting.
Best for a special occasion: The Longeville Manor
Tucked away in a large grassy estate, Longeville Manor is both one of the finest restaurants and on the island and one its best hotels, and is deservedly a member of Relais and Chateaux’s portfolio of luxury residences. Guests have the choice of eating in the 15th-century Oak Room or in the more contemporary Garden Room. The kitchen is run by Andrew Baird, an audacious chef who works with local farmers to produce a menu famed for its contemporary twists on traditional British dishes. During a typical season, roasted pork belly is accompanied with local figs, halibut sits on top of Wakame seaweed and wild mushrooms, and braised venison doused in cassis comes with fondant apple and red cabbage. An extensive wine seller with over 4,000 bottles and consummate sommeliers crown off what is a quite exceptional dining experience.
Longueville Road
Best for a pint and some pub grub: Cock and Bottle
Part British boozer, part French brasserie, Cock & Bottle perfectly encapsulates Jersey’s curious Franco-British identity. Located on a picturesque, tree-lined square adjacent to the Royal Courts, it’s the perfect pub for a few pints or a weekend lunch. The bar has a great selections of ales, including local brews from Liberation Ales and Longboard Island Lagers while the menu covers everything from steak pie and lamb shank to French classics like Moules Marinieres and Coq au Vin. Unlike many other pubs that strive to be up-to-the-minute, Cock and Bottle has retained much of its decor from the past and as a result tend to attract an older, frendlier crowd of punters.
The Royal Square
Best for Italian: La Capanninna
A timeless classic, La Capannina has been at the forefront of Jersey’s dining scene for decades. It’s the sort of restaurant where parents bring their children to celebrate successful exam results, and a few years later those same children invite their parents for a special wedding anniversary – and so it continues. Whatever the occasion, customers are guaranteed a premium menu peppered with Italian classics like cannelloni a la parmigiana, risotto de frutti di mare, and scampi alla livornese, as well as fish and meat-based dishes sourced from local producers. It’s far from cheap, but the excellent service, and superb wine list more than justify the prices.
65/67 Halkett Place
Best for a lunch in the countryside: The Potato Shack
For years, Jersey’s wonderful farms were something to marvel at from the side road. But little by little, they’ve opened up to visitors, and none of them do it better than The Woodlands Farm. Situated a few minutes from St. Helier, just off St.Johns Road, this family-run business is a fully working farm with a butchers, a small veg shop, and a delightful cafe called the The Potato Shack. With a dozen or so wooden tables dotted around the beautifully decorated interior and garden area, the Potato Shack serves up brunch combinations and house specials using ducks eggs, bacon, chorizo, salmon and other delicious ingredients on sourdough bread. There are also several vegetarian options and for those with a sweeter tooth, smoothies and French patisseries.
Woodlands Farm, Rue de Maupertuis
(Photo: The Potato Shack)
Best for Pizza: Portelet Bay Cafe
On a warm summer’s evening and with the tide up, there can be few better places to eat than the Portelet Bay Cafe. Perched atop of Portelet’s iconic beach, this relaxed and informal pizzería lures patrons with its no-frills menu made up of flat-based, wood fire pizzas and seafood dishes sourced from the local waters. On busy nights, service can be a little hit and miss, but this is one of the few restaurants where the views and atmosphere are so charming that you’re more than happy to wait a little longer for your food. Access is via a steep downward path, so be sure to make a reservation to avoid walking back up the hill on an empty stomach.
Portelet Bay
(Photo: Portelet Bay Cafe)
Best for brunch: El Tico
El Tico, bang in the middle of St Ouen´s Bay, is the name given to both the cafe and this part of the bay that’s famous for high tides and large waves. It’s, unsurprisingly, a popular spot with surfers and young families who come en masse for the full English breakfasts, pancakes, hash browns and assortment of comfort-food specials in a chilled atmosphere. Spacious and bright, the art-deco building, open kitchen and surf-inspired interior design is as impressive as the panoramic views stretching across the bay. No bookings are taken and waiting times can get a little lengthy, especially for weekend brunch.
El Tico, St Ouen’s Bay
(Photo: El Tico)
Best for fine dining: No. 10 Restaurant and Bar
Tucked down Bond Street, in the heart of Jersey’s financial zone, No. 10 is a basement restaurant and wine bar. It has been an institution for years, gently reforming its personnel and menu through the years to reflect the changing culinary trends. These days, the kitchen is run by local chef Joseph Baker, a former ‘Great British Menu’ competitor, who serves up modern British and European food with a focus on utilising the very best seasonal and local produce. It’s not cheap, but as a one-off, it makes for a wonderful dining experience.
No 10, Bond Street
Best for a romantic date: The Oyster Box
Nautically themed ceramics and huge picture windows with views of one of Jersey’s most picturesque beaches welcome you inside this upmarket restaurant that’s particularly popular with romancing couples. As is the case with many Jersey beachside restaurants, there’s plenty of local seafood on the menu – oysters, scallops, lobsters and chancre and spider crab, which is expertly used in the restaurant’s stand-out dish: crab linguine. Soft lighting and flawless service add to the occasion – and when a large tide is lapping against the breakwater, there are few better places to be.
St Brelade’s Bay
Best for quirkiness: Faulkner Fisheries
This unique, converted WWII bunker at the northern tip of St Ouen’s Bay serves up crab and lobster sandwiches, grilled prawns and half-a-dozen oysters on an assortment of picnic tables to the sounds of squawking seagulls and the rumble of the sea. Its spectacular location, close to fishing boats and a steep cliff with craggy rocks, is arguably its greatest draw, but the fact that’s it’s as popular with those purchasing the raw fish on offer as it is with hungry customers, is evidence of the quality of the produce on sale.
L’Etacq, St Ouen’s Bay
(Photo: Faulkner Fisheries)
Best on the east of the island: Bass and Lobster
This gastro pub, by the beach and the entrance of Gorey village, prides itself on its great service and outstanding dishes. On any given night, you can expect to find tempura oysters, scallops, octopus, duck, red mullet and a whole display of ice creams. As well as the high quality of the food, the restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, with options to dine inside or out. A firm favourite with people living in and around the area, it is now deservedly recognised in numerous pub and restaurant publications, including the prestigious Michelin guide.
Gorey Coast Road
Best of the west of the island: Ocean Restaurant
This award-winning restaurant delivers one of the leading dining experiences on the island. It sits in the Atlantic Hotel, a 5-star hotel that overlooks Corbiere lighthouse and a few holes of La Moye Golf Club. The interior design is inspired by its coastal setting: blues and beiges create a contemporary nautical feel while white shutters frame the stunning views over the gardens and out to the Atlantic Ocean. Chef Will Holland’s dishes showcase his love for fresh, seasonal ingredients that are carefully chosen from the island’s fields and shores. It all works beautifully, and the spacious dining room with glimpses of the sea and distant sunsets adds to the dining experience.
Le Mont de la Pulente
Best of the south of the island: Mark Jordan at the Beach
Previously voted by the Times as one of the UK’s top 20 restaurants and holder of a Michelin bib gourmand and 2 AA Rosettes, Mark Jordan’s restaurant is arguably the island’s best. An extensive à la carte menu features dishes such as pan seared scallops, Lobster Thermidor, grilled plaice with capers and Jersey royals, Irish beef as well as a tempting selection of delicious desserts. Inside, the décor is pleasingly informal: a mixture of beach chic and rattan furniture and, to add colour, bold paintings from renowned local artists. Outside, the heated terrace permits al fresco dining late into the season and is the perfect place to soak up the sights and sounds from the Gunsite, the name given to this part of St Aubin’s Bay.
La Plage La Route de la Haule