Vraic awarded Guernsey’s first Michelin star in over a decade, putting island on the culinary map

Vraic, located on Guernsey’s Chouet Bay and led by chef Nathan Davies, was awarded a Michelin star at the Michelin Guide ceremony in Dublin on Monday night. The accolade comes just seven months after they opened their doors last July, making it the only Michelin-starred restaurant currently on the island and the first to achieve this status in over a decade.

The establishment, which seats 24 guests, is run by Davies (executive chef) and his wife, operations manager Hollie Davies. The chef previously earned a Michelin star for his first venue, SY23 in Aberystwyth, which was also named Opening of the Year in the 2022 Michelin Guide. Several senior members from SY23, including head chef Kuba Biskup, sous chef Max Davies and bar manager Filip Pietrzycki, joined the couple in Guernsey to launch the new venture. The team has since integrated local culinary talent as well.

Michelin inspectors described Vraic as “the very definition of a destination restaurant”. It offers a multi-course tasting menu that highlights ingredients sourced from the local area and its surrounding waters, as well as elements inspired by Davies’s Welsh heritage. The team has developed partnerships with local growers, farmers and fishermen, which influence both their menu and overall philosophy.

Seaweed features prominently throughout, both in the food and the decor – in fact, the restaurant’s name itself is a nod to the Guernésiais word for seaweed. Design elements include chandeliers shaped from foraged kelp, artworks printed with pressed seaweed and butter knives with dried seaweed handles. Even the menus and hand soap are produced using locally foraged seaweed. Notable dishes include a seaweed broth made with up to 12 varieties of seaweed and served with a hot and sour seaweed soup, and Guernsey lobster accompanied by burnt butter sauce, sea lettuce, dulce and plankton.

Following the award, the guide noted: “Vraic is putting Guernsey on the culinary map. This new venture from chef Nathan Davies, who has held a star at SY23 in Aberystwyth, makes the most of its stunning coastal location with floor-to-ceiling windows and Nordic-esque minimalism. Island ingredients are the beating heart of the menu, fashioned into dishes that highlight their superb natural flavours, while elevating them further with clever combinations.”

Davies acknowledged on the recognition, saying: “We’re absolutely thrilled to receive a Michelin star for Vraic, it’s an incredible moment for our whole team. This recognition is a testament to the hard work everyone has put in, and to the support we’ve had from our local producers and the wider Guernsey community since day one. Moving here to open the restaurant was a big decision for our family, but the warmth and welcome we’ve received has been amazing. I hope this achievement helps shine a light on just how special this island really is.”

In addition to Vraic’s Michelin star, Guernsey’s food scene received further recognition this year, with Alba attaining a Michelin Bib Gourmand and Fukku, also in St Peter Port, mentioned in the guide. The developments are seen as evidence of Guernsey’s growing reputation as a culinary hub.

Food Desk

To book a table at Vraic, Mont Cuet Road, Vale, Isle of Guernsey GY3 5AT, call 01481 763630 or visit the restaurant’s website here.