Eat
Eating out is quite expensive in Guernsey as compared to either France or England.
Most international cuisines are represented with, not surprisingly, fresh local seafood taking center stage. For nice views and good food head for L'Auberge de Jerbourg, La Fregate, La Nautique, Pier 17, Sawatdi (Thai) or Mora's. The Crow's nest has good views but is overpriced. Le Petit Bistro and L'escalier for French and Da Nello's for Italian.
Summer in Guernsey is all about al fresco dining, with long cliff top lunches and leisurely gatherings at old farmhouse restaurants. One of the locals’ best-kept secrets is fresh fish and chips and chilled local cider on the wall outside the Rockmount Cafe at Cobo Bay; the local's favorite for sunset. Crabby Jack's is another good sunset location on the west coast; caters for families and large group.
Guernsey’s beach kiosks are a gastronomic odyssey in their own right. The Fermain Beach Cafe started life as a kiosk and evolved into a bistro-cafe specializing in seafood. You can work up an appetite (or work off lunch) with a stunning clifftop walk and then sit down to local crab sandwich, scallops with bacon or locally caught monkfish or sea bass with a view of Guernsey's prettiest bay. In summer, you'll need to book two weeks in advance tel 01481 238636. For a wooden basket of traditional cream tea (to take to the beach) head for the kiosk in Saint's Bay or Portelet Bay (the latter better accessible for wheelchair users).
Picnics are also popular. For the ultimate spontaneity, pack fresh French bread and cheese, local tomatoes and paté and a bottle of wine and head for the cliffs. There’s a view from a bay or winding path that really is yours alone. Alternatively check the diary of castle Cornet for outdoor theatre or, in summer, life music on Friday nights (usually free!). Come early and eat your picnic on the top lawns of the castle, descent with your bottle of wine to watch outdoor theatre or life music in a great medieval setting. (NB dress warm!)
There are no fast food restaurants in Guernsey.
Breakfast: Bacon butties from Nelia's Bakery, Continental style breakfast at Victor Hugo's, Fry up's at White Rock cafe, Halfway Cafe or Half Moon cafe.
Drink
There are lots of pubs to be visited all over the island, in St Peter Port the pubs are easy to find and are mostly along the waterfront. Laska's has an enormous list of cocktails and is a popular spot. Start here and work your way north along the waterfront, ending at the taxi rank.
Guernsey cream teas: The OGH hotel is an excellent location for wintertime cream teas. The Victoria Cafe in Candy gardens has excellent views (but you mustn't be in a hurry!). Cobo tea room on the west coast has excellent home made cakes. Or sample a piece of coffee cake from the kiosk at Port Soif; No real indoor space there but a lovely sheltered garden to hang out in.
- Market Kitchen, Market Square, St Peter Port (5 mins walk from Harbour seafront), ☎ 01481 712249. Good coffee with a slice of homemade cake. Milkshakes for kids. Wine, beer and local cider for the adults. Sit outside in the al-fresco area, there is sometimes live music and you are in Guernsey's only public square watching the world go by.