There are two kinds of Nantucket vacations: the ones spent in town, and the ones where you actually get out and experience the island. We happen to love both.
Don’t get us wrong. We adore downtown Nantucket. The cobblestone streets, the impossibly charming storefronts, the restaurants, the people-watching, the whole lively scene. But one of the things we’ve learned over years of island visits is that some of Nantucket’s greatest treasures are found well beyond those cobblestones.
And that’s where the Nantucket Inn really shines.
Location
Just outside of town, Nantucket Inn offers something we think is wildly underrated: accessibility to the entire island. From the beaches and hidden coastal corners to the restaurants, shops, and little discoveries that make Nantucket so special, the inn makes a wonderful home base for exploring it all.
You’re not tied to one neighborhood or one version of Nantucket. The whole island becomes your playground.
And when downtown is calling? The inn’s hourly shuttle service makes getting into town incredibly easy. No parking puzzle, no unnecessary logistics. Just hop aboard and head off to enjoy everything we love about downtown Nantucket. It’s the best of both worlds, and frankly, that’s our favorite kind of arrangement.
“You’re not tied to one neighborhood or one version of Nantucket. The whole island becomes your playground.”
Spacious, completely renovated and coastal through and through
The Rooms
Let’s talk rooms. They’re spacious and completely renovated, and they strike exactly the balance we look for in a coastal getaway: fresh, inviting, genuinely comfortable, and breezy coastal chic. Nothing feels overdone. Nothing feels precious.
It’s the kind of room you actually want to come back to after a full day on the island. Kick off your shoes, put your feet up, and enjoy a little downtime before deciding where the evening will take you.
Because a pretty hotel room is lovely. A pretty hotel room you can actually relax in? Even better.
Amenities
Here’s something we don’t talk about enough when choosing a Nantucket hotel: what happens when you don’t feel like going anywhere? At Nantucket Inn, staying put is very much part of the appeal.
The indoor pool, rain or shine
The indoor pool is a little luxury we absolutely love. Soaring wood beams, sunlight pouring through the windows, and plenty of lounge chairs and wicker seating all around. As magical as Nantucket is, island weather doesn’t always cooperate with your carefully curated itinerary. Having a place to swim, unwind, and enjoy a little resort-style relaxation regardless of what Mother Nature has planned is a wonderful perk.
Common Spaces
Here’s the thing about so many hotels: they can feel like somewhere you’re just passing through. A place to sleep, shower, and head right back out the door. Nantucket Inn is the complete opposite.
From the spacious, renovated bedrooms to every one of the common rooms, the whole property is coastal and breezy chic. Woven chairs and plush cushions in the lobby. A navy library nook made for morning coffee or an afternoon with a good book. Cozy blue lounge seating, a sunny dining room dressed for the season, and a shady garden patio when you want a little fresh air.
“It feels less like a hotel and a lot more like home.”
These are spaces you actually want to spend time in. Catch up with friends, curl up with your needlepoint, or simply sit for a while without feeling like you need to be somewhere else. Those easy, unplanned moments often turn into some of the best memories of a trip.
Spaces and places that feel like home
Savor
Of course, we would be remiss not to talk about the food. And honestly? This might be our favorite part. Between Nobadeer Cafe and the bar, you can eat your way through the entire day and never have to leave the property.
Breakfast, a picnic lunch, a few nibbles at the bar. It’s all right here, and it’s all really, really good.
Morning at Nobadeer Cafe
Morning
Start the day at Nobadeer Cafe. Grab a bacon, egg and cheese and a hot coffee and you’re out the door and onto your island adventure. Or linger on the patio for a few minutes before the day gets going. Either way, it might just be the easiest breakfast on Nantucket.
Midday
Come lunchtime, grab a picnic to go. Wraps, salads, something cold to sip, all packed up and ready for the beach.
Then head out to Sconset, find your spot on the sand, and enjoy lunch with a view. This is exactly the kind of day the inn makes so easy: the whole island is yours, and lunch comes with you.
Evening
Back from the beach? Pull up a seat at the bar and order a few nibbles. A charcuterie board and a glass of rosé, flatbread pizzas fresh from the oven, and all the grill staples you crave after a long day in the sun.
And let’s be clear. We love a Nantucket restaurant reservation as much as anyone.
“But sometimes the greatest luxury is not needing one.”
Charcuterie, flatbreads and a glass of something cold
“You can eat your way through the day and never have to leave.”
Whether you’re easing into the morning, refueling between adventures, or gathering for a drink before the evening unfolds, it’s lovely to have so many good options right where you’re staying.
Hospitality
You can renovate every room, create stunning spaces, and offer all the amenities in the world, but hospitality is ultimately about people. And the team at Nantucket Inn is exceptional.
We experienced that hospitality on a much larger scale when we made the inn our home base for THREADS, our Nantucket needlepoint retreat. Hosting a group getaway is an entirely different experience from checking in for a weekend. There are schedules, personalities, moving pieces, gathering spaces, and countless little details that can make or break the experience.
What stood out to us was how welcoming and accommodating the staff was throughout our stay. There’s something special about arriving somewhere with a group and feeling like everyone genuinely wants you to have a wonderful time. That kind of hospitality stays with you long after you’ve checked out.
Gatherings
Here’s something not everyone knows about Nantucket Inn: it’s an incredible place to bring people together. From an intimate group getaway like ours to a full island wedding weekend, there are so many ways to use the property to celebrate, connect, and make memories with the people who matter most.
The Welcome Dinner
We kicked off THREADS with a welcome dinner for our group in Ahab’s Room, and it set the tone for the entire retreat. The room is modeled after the owner’s grandfather’s Trumpy yacht, with rich wood paneling and a warm, clubby feel that makes it extra special.
We dressed the table in blue and white with hydrangeas, woven chargers, and little rattan lamps, then settled in for a true Nantucket feast: lobster, corn on the cob, little potatoes, and clam chowder, with plenty of cheers going around the table.
Our THREADS welcome dinner in Ahab’s Room
Together
The days were just as fun. We began with a meditation circle in one of the inn’s light-filled event rooms, such a calm, grounding way to start. Then we gathered around the long tables to stitch our needlepoint canvases together, and when evening rolled around, the mahjong tiles came out (along with a glass of rosé or two).
Every space we used felt made for exactly that moment. Whatever brings your group together, there’s a room for it here.
Meditation, needlepoint and mahjong at THREADS
Celebrations
And if you’re dreaming of an island wedding, put Nantucket Inn at the top of your list. The ballroom is stunning and can welcome a big guest list, and the property has room for everything from an intimate celebration to a joyful weekend with everyone you love.
Then there’s the food. The in-house catering menus are incredible, so your guests are just as happy at the reception as they are at breakfast the next morning.
“From intimate gatherings to grand island weddings, this is the place to bring your people together.”
The Takeaway
For us, the magic of Nantucket has never been limited to one street, one beach, or one particularly perfect sunset. It’s the freedom to experience all of it.
An afternoon in Sconset. A beach day. A little shopping downtown. Cocktails with friends. An unexpected detour that turns into your favorite part of the trip. And then returning somewhere comfortable, welcoming, and wonderfully easy.
So if you’re wondering where to stay on Nantucket, that’s our answer: Nantucket Inn. It gives you room to explore, room to relax, and room to make the island experience entirely your own.
