The only Nantucket travel guide that you’ll need! After visiting Nantucket last year and again this summer, I can safely say that I’ve hit most of the “hot spots”. Nantucket is truly the most quintessential, charming coastal town. If you’re a fan of Elin Hilderbrand books, you probably know all about it already!

I’ve only been to Nantucket in the summer, so I can’t speak to off-season, but the end of August was wonderful and less crowded than early August. It will definitely be crowded in the summer months, so be sure to make your reservations in advance. Hotels can also sell out quickly or get very expensive, so book those in advance, too! Another option is to stay in Cape Cod and take the ferry over for a day- which we did this summer. If coming from NYC, you can find a few quick flights directly into ACK as well.

I’m sharing all of our Nantucket favorites below as well as recommendations from friends + followers. If you want to see more from our trip, check out my travel vlog on YouTube. Also, feel free to comment any questions you might have too.

Where to eat

I pride myself in being a foodie, so that means I have to try allll the best spots. For such a small island, there are SO many good spots. Two trips to Nantucket = double the tasty recommendations.

• American Seasons
• Brant Point Grille
• Chanticleer
• Cru
• Galley Beach
• Island Kitchen
• Le Languedoc
• Lola 41
• Millie’s
• Nautilus
• The Pearl
• Proprietors
• Straight Wharf
• Topper’s

Fun bar/restaurant combos:

• Brotherhood of Thieves
• Cisco Brewers!!!
• Club car
• Sandbar at Jetties beach
• Sister Ship
• The Tavern

Bakeries/beach sammies to grab and go:

• Bartlett’s Farm
• Born and Bread
• Claudette’s
• Handlebar Cafe
• Island Coffee
• Juice Bar (Famous ice cream)
• Lemon Press
• Provisions
• Sconset cafe/market
• Something Natural
• Wicked Island Bakery

Where to stay

As I mentioned, hotels do get pricey during the high season, so definitely book in advance! We stayed at Nantucket Resort collection last year and found it reasonably priced for the amazing location. This year, we opted to stay in Chatham on the Cape at loved Greyfinch Inn! AirBnbs and VRBOs are a great option for longer stays or larger groups. Sharing some popular hotels are below:

Luxe:

• 21 Broad
• Greydon House
• The Wauwinet
• White Elephant

Mid Range:

• 76 Main
• Faraway Nantucket
• Nantucket Resort Collection
• The Nantucket Hotel & Resort Collection

More Affordable:

• The Centerboard
• Hotel Pippa
• Jared Coffin House

You can easily search for your dates at any of these hotels below. *affiliate*

Where to play

There’s a ton to do on Nantucket! Definitely bake in at least one beach day where you grab a sandwich and relax on a beach for the day. Some of our favorites are Steps, Jetties and Sister’s beaches. Here are some other ideas for what to do:

Shopping: DUH! Nantucket has some of the best shopping I’ve seen. They truly have everything from clothing to vintage jewelry and even needlepoint goodies. Don’t miss Skinny Dip, Wheat, Current Vintage, Nantucket Looms, or Mitchell’s Book Corner (s/o Elin fans).

Cisco Brewery: So. much. fun! They have beer, wine, and cocktails in a fun outdoor setting with tons of food vendors and live music most evenings.

Sconset Bluff Walk: Look at the gorgeous homes while getting some steps in. Be sure to visit the lighthouse and grab a pastry and Sconset market before heading back to town.

Hit the town after dinner: The Chicken Box (the box) is the famous bar on the island where you can dance the night away. Gaslight has fun live music and club car is a piano bar! Sandbar is also a classic for happy hours and live music.

Looking for other New England guides? Check out the Kennebunkport guide here and YouTube vlog here.