The 9 Best Nantucket Hotels of 2020

If you’re looking for a hotel with extras for everyone — kids, couples, groups of friends — the cozy White Elephant Village is the place to go. The 20-room New England-style inn is supplemented by “residences” — one-, two- and three-bedroom units that up the ante on luxury with pillowtop beds, Turkish towels, standalone tubs and a whole lot of space. Outdoors, relax on one of the hotel's classic striped loungers or in one of the many pale cabanas that line the gorgeous pool. You can also rent a complimentary bicycle to tool around town. Though the hotel doesn't have a proper on-site restaurant, guests can venture off to restaurants at White Elephant Village's sister properties — including The Wauwinet's oceanside Topper's. In the morning, the hotel offers a delicious and free continental breakfast, and in the afternoon, don't miss out on port and cheese hour. 

Nantucket isn’t the easiest place to find budget accommodation, but The Barnacle Inn is a gem all its own. Located in a historic residential neighborhood, guests are still only a two-block walk from the bustle of Main Street. The inn has been welcoming travelers for more than 85 summers now, and rooms retain a vintage feel with quilts, brass bed frames and painted antique furniture. Wake at a decent hour and you can take your complimentary breakfast out on the garden terrace or in your room. Make no mistake, The Barnacle Inn is low on fancy amenities, but what’s available is charming. The front room’s library is perfect to pluck a vacation read from and candlelit tables in the evening offer a beautiful spot for an aperitif.

Despite being located smack dab in the middle of Nantucket's action — right on Main Street — this 20-room property is an art-filled respite. Once a sea captain’s home, the hotel's subsequent renovations have resulted in modern-luxe bedrooms with quality linens, preppy geometric and floral prints, waffle robes and Lather bath products. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are complimentary — take advantage of both at once by browsing one of the hotel’s iPads which act as a high-tech guidebook for tourists planning their days. Come nighttime, if you’re looking to kick up your heels on-site, the hotel hosts nightly BYOB cocktail parties. They provide the mixers, you bring the booze. 

If the sky’s the limit on where to stay in this harbor town, choose the Nantucket Hotel & Resort. The exterior is the old-fashioned, grand ocean hotel Edwardian postcards are made of, but its interior — and features — cater to a thoroughly modern clientele. Families will have a great time here. The Children’s Beach is two blocks away, and there’s a slate of free kids’ activities (including vintage firetruck rides and make-your-own s’mores nights). Adults looking to relax can take advantage of two seasonal heated outdoor pools, yoga classes and a full menu of spa treatments. At the end of the day, well-appointed rooms look straight out of a magazine, with a modern-nautical theme in navy and white, complemented by clean-lined sensibilities and divine Frette sheets.

The historic Union Street Inn is one of Nantucket’s top boutique accommodations, clocking just a dozen individually decorated rooms. Each room has a cozy, crisp and elegant feel anchored in soft pastels, one-of-a-kind artwork, Frette and Matouk linens, Malin + Goetz toiletries and — in some cases — toasty fireplaces. Getting to town is a cinch. Nighttime strolls take guests to the downtown restaurant and bar scene in just three blocks, and the next morning, visitors can tuck into the free made-to-order hot breakfast or any one of a number of delicious pastries. 

Guests wanting for luxury need look no further than The Wauwinet which has been a Nantucket bastion of sophistication since the late 1800s. Situated nine miles from town, the hotel is secluded enough to make for a true getaway, but not remote to the extent where there's nothing to do. When it comes to activities, choose from a Sunfish sail, cycling, tennis, or take a free shuttle into town (there’s also a 1947 Chevy Woody to tote guests around). Though if you do choose to stay close to home, Topper’s, the on-site restaurant (with a 20,000-bottle wine cellar), will keep you well-fed.  Individually decorated rooms are divine with 400-thread-count Pratesi sheets, fresh flowers and bespoke aromatherapy products. Expect exceptional service here as well, beginning from the moment a pre-arrival concierge gets in contact to assess your preferences. One thing to keep in mind: guests must be 12 and over. 

Originally a 19th-century captain's residence, the upscale Greydon House is the perfect spot for a solo Nantucket vacation. Designed by award-winning team Roman and Williams, the vibe here is old New England elegance, enhanced by an eclectic art collection and cozy reading room. Guest rooms — of which there are just 20 —have snug beds outfitted in Les Indiennes and John Robshaw sheets, walk-in showers embellished with Portuguese tiles and high-end toiletries from Aesop and local cult brand Follian. Our top tip? Treat yourself to a meal from the Michelin-starred chef helming the kitchen— you won’t regret it.

No need to resign yourself to a corporate hotel in Nantucket as The Veranda House Hotel Collection meets a business traveler's every need. It’s just a five-minute walk from the thriving restaurants and businesses downtown, but it’s secluded enough that coming back in the evening feels like a haven. Standard guest rooms offer great views from verandas, rainfall showers to start the day right and Frette linens and robes are on hand to curl up in. Breakfast is complimentary, and on days off, guests can borrow beach necessities like beach chairs, totes and towels. Wi-Fi and parking — two on-the-road essentials — are both free.

The Regatta Inn holds the crown for Nantucket’s best B&B. Guests consistently rave about the friendliness of innkeepers Kathy and Peter, as well as their enviable cooking skills. According to reviews, Peter, who heads up the kitchen, is rarely known to repeat a recipe over the course of a guest’s stay. Rooms are clean and beautifully decorated with soft New England pastels and accented with modern pops of color. Breakfast is free, there's mid-afternoon tea and baked goods and in the evenings, guests can gather around a firepit for a game of cards. Wi-Fi is complimentary and guests are also welcome to borrow board games and beach supplies like towels and chairs.