Jersey, the largest of the Channel islands, is famed for its food and drink and well deserves its reputation as a foodie destination. With an abundance of local produce from markets, farm stalls and home-grown garden stalls and eateries from simple beachside cafes to Michelin-listed restaurants eating in Jersey is always a delight for self-caterers and restaurant buffs alike. Each offers oodles of local character and flavour. On our journeys around Jersey researching our books and guides we have enjoyed our fair share of Jersey’s island larder. Here are some of our favourites.
Best beach cafes on Jersey
Bonne Nuit Beach Café, St. John is a fabulous Thai food right on the beach using the freshest of local produce and authentic flavours.
Mad Mary’s Beach Cafe, Bouley Bay in great location, Mary is wonderful to meet, great crab sandwiches, awesome homemade cakes.
Portelet Bay Cafe specialises in authentic pizza, seasonal fresh fish and home baked goodies. Access to the cafe is either by steps down to the bay or by walking the coast path and paddle boarding.
The Crab Shack, St. Brelade is literally on the beach with a menu catering for all. Enjoy the California-style crab tacos.
El Tico Beach Cantina, St. Ouen is a fabulous restaurant, surf shop and surf school, right on St. Ouen’s Bay serving great food all day.
Plémont Beach Cafe, St. Ouen located halfway along the (easy) steps down to this fabulous beach with great home-bakes and plenty more.
The Poplars Tearoom, La Moye is an off-the-beaten track café with lovely tranquil garden and great homemade bread sandwiches and top notch afternoon teas. A local favourite.
The Hungry Man, Rozel serves legendary burgers and banana cake and is a local favourite right on Rozel Harbour.
The Lookout Beach Cafe, St Helier is great to pop into for on a walk along the Promenade for one of the best ‘gourmet’ burgers in St Helier, home-made soup, seafood combos, and fresh salads. Try the “Commin brunch range’.
Best breakfasts on Jersey
Most of the beach cafes also serve great breakfast and brunch options. For the best breakfast in Jersey our favourite is The Good Egg Beach Cafe, Havre Des Pas, for great food and the award-winning Beach Breakfast. Also pancakes (including mango and coconut), smoothies and lots of smashed avocado on sourdough variations. The café promotes a ‘beach-clean-for-coffee’ exchange.
Best coffee on Jersey
We only really enjoy barista-style coffee so the following cafes are the ones that serve the best coffee on Jersey.
Locke’s, St Helier is a local institution serving excellent coffee and popular breakfast, brunches and lunches.
Shuga, St Helier is the place to go to experience modern brewing and extracting techniques, and to try something a little different. A must visit for coffee purists with a great brewing menu to choose from.
Bean Around the World, St Helier, has a bit of a cult following amongst locals and a community hub as well as a must for any visiting coffee aficionado. The Bean roasts their own coffee. Also great range of snacks and cakes.
Best fish and chips on Jersey
Plenty of restaurants serve fabulous fish and chips but for a traditional chippy our favourite is Hectors, St Helier. Great haddock and chip and look out for specials like moules and frites Breton-style.
Best seafood on Jersey
From the freshest of fish and succulent seafood for home-cooking to Michelin-listed restaurants Jersey is heaven for seafood lovers. Here’s the seafood we love on Jersey.
Fresh Fish Company St Helier or Beresford Street Market, St Helier are the best for buying fresh fish and seafood for cooking and eating at home.
Faulkner Fisheries – located within a WW2 bunker, cooks fresh fish and seafood on the BBQ and serves it alfresco with spectacular views over the full sweep of St Ouen’s Bay.
Bistro Rosa St Helier – located inside the fish market is a fabulous and atmospheric fish restaurant. Try the scallops wrapped in bacon and lobster thermidor.
Roseville Bistro, St Helier – a charming and characterful restaurant with excellent seafood, like Roseville’s famous seafood linquine, great cocktails and all at a reasonable price for such a great experience.
Green Island Restaurant & Beach Hut, St Clement is a popular beachside eatery specialising in fresh local seafood all with a Mediterranean twist
The Bass & Lobster, Gorey is a bit of a treat with great seafood and local food served from this Michelin-listed establishment located on the Gorey coastline.
Best bakery on Jersey
The Works, Gorey is a bakery, creamery is an absolute must for any foodie with its home baked breads, patisseries and pastries, cheese and dairy products and preserves and pickles.
Bruno’s Bakery, St Helier is a traditional French boulangerie with everything from éclairs to ever so fancy fruit tartelettes (I love the Black Forest slice!).
Best pizza on Jersey
Off The Rails, St. Brelade, alongside the Railway Walk offers some of the best pizza in Jersey all made on sourdough; their tapas are very good too.
Best real ale pubs on Jersey
Jersey boasts three breweries – Bliss Brewing Company, St Helier; Liberation Brewery, St Saviour; and the Stinky Bay Brewering Co.
Real ale experts might head to the fabulous, traditional pub The Lamplighter, St Helier which offers probably the largest selection of real ales and ciders on the island, plenty of whiskies too. No food except excellent Scotch eggs and pork pies. The Prince of Wales Tavern, St Helier next to the historic central market is good too, offering up to eight changing cask ales (no food). The Trafalgar Inn, St Aubins is a real locals pub and ‘home’ to the Jersey Reds rugby team (say no more), offering five hand pumps with one usually dedicated to Liberation Brewery.
Vineyards in Jersey
La Mare Wine Estate, St Mary is located in tranquil countryside with historic buildings and beautiful gardens; extensive vineyards and orchards. There are vineyard tours and tastings available, along with plenty of other Jersey foods to buy including Jersey black butter and locally made chocolates.
The best bar in Jersey
St. Helier’s has a fine collection of cocktail bars and speakeasy-style establishments. Our absolute favourite is the The Blind Pig, a fabulous little gem tucked away in the back alleys of St Helier. The hard bit is finding it. Look out for a wooden gate with a small sign of a pig on it, pass that to find a black metal door. Once inside you step back into a ’20’s Prohibition scene. Amazing ambience and great choice of gin (amongst many other things too!).
Visiting Jersey
Check out our island page for Jersey for information on getting to Jersey, getting around Jersey and our favourite food and drink in Jersey.
You might also be interested in:
- Jersey’s hidden gems
- Best outdoor activities in Jersey
- Best beaches in Jersey
- Walks from Rozel Harbour to St Catherine’s Breakwater or Bonne Nuit Bay
- Discover Jersey’s Occupation story
- Walk to tidal L’Islet (Elizabeth Castle) from St Helier
- Discover the horrible histories of Mount Orgueil
- Go glamping at the Durrel Wildlife Park
- Try some of the best seafood in the Channel Islands
- Swim or walk on the best beaches in Jersey
- Enjoy a seafood BBQ in a WW2 bunker
Islands nearby
Alderney – find out about walking in Alderney, Alderney’s outdoor activities, cafes and more here
Guernsey – find out about walking in Guernsey, Guernsey’s outdoor activities, cafes and more here
Sark – find out about walking in Sark, Sark’s outdoor activities, cafes and more here
Herm – find out about walking in Herm, Herm’s outdoor activities, cafes and more here
Other islands in the British Isles
We have explored nearly 600 islands in the British Isles and are trying to write them up as fast as we can. Check more here or contact us as we are happy to share our info.
Further information
Our two books are stacked with more ideas on what to do in Jersey – buy here