Best of Nantucket: Our Preferred Preppy Summer Destination
Date Posted: May 14, 2019
Source: Town & Country

Where to stay, eat, and unwind on ACK.

Nantucket might just be our favorite summertime destination. From juice stands to five-star restaurants, we've rounded up the best spots to visit on the magical summer island.

The Nantucket

The Nantucket Supper Club, 77 Easton Street

Thursday nights throughout the summer, the Nantucket Hotel’s Grand Ballroom takes guests back in time for an evening of “refined sophistication” in the form of fine dining, quiet conversation, live jazz, ballroom dancing. (Think more Moet & Chandon, less tequila and beer backs.) Executive chef Bill Weisse’s three-course menu features American classics and dress is “island elegant:” boas and pearls for the ladies; jackets and ties for the gents. A concurrent Kids Club means you can drop the littles for activities and a movie and collect them after you’ve waltzed your last waltz.

Best place for midday oysters:
 

Afterhouse - - - - - - @galleybeach @wscotto #nantucket #nantucketrestaurant #winebar #wine #raw #rawbar #foodporn

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Afterhouse, 18 Broad Street

Sister restaurant to Galley Beach and neighbor to Greydon House, subterranean seafood bistro and wine bar Afterhouse isn’t just another fish joint. Billed as a speakeasy, there’s no phone, no reservations (but there are lines, so get there early). The wait is worth it, though, for small plates that include just-dug oysters (with creative sauces like cilantro-Thai and miso yogurt), ceviche and the like, perhaps the largest selection of tinned seafood in New England, and, of course, caviar. Doors open at 2:30 and close when the party’s over.

Best place for aesthetes:
greydon house
Courtesy

Greydon House, 17 Broad Street

The 20-room hotel on the cobblestoned corner of Broad and North Water is a design lover’s dream, a renovated 1850s Greek Revival with custom interiors and furnishings by Roman and Williams that include bespoke beds and Portuguese maritime murals (there’s also a signature scent developed by Cinnamon Projects). Dark wood accents and flame-stitch upholstery are a welcome reprieve from all the whitewashed beadboard and whale décor around town, while creating an especially cozy vibe for off-season. The cocktail menu was curated by Jackson Cannon, one of Boston’s top mixologists, and though the bar is stunning, hands down one of the hotel’s best features is the roving cocktail cart that travels room-to-room pre-dinner.

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Best place ... if you can't get into Greydon House:
Nantucket 21 Broad
21 Broad

21 Broad, 21 Broad Street

A few doors down from Greydon House is Lark Hotels’s 21 Broad, housed in one of the island’s oldest properties, a 27-room Victorian with a front porch built for reading (and people watching). The inside, however, is totally modern: Jonathan Adler accents, iPads for use during your stay, and a nightly BYOB mixer bar with juices, bitters, garnishes, and more. There’s no in-house restaurant —just breakfast—but that’s okay: You’re right in the heart of town (even the Steamship ferry is in walking distance).

Best place for honeymooners:
The Wauwinet Hotel
The Wauwinet

The Wauwinet, 120 Wauwinet Road

Expect secluded beaches, magnificent sunsets, and massages so good you'll spend the last 15 minutes obsessing over how to fit in another. On the quiet northern side of the island, the resort caters to a more refined weekend away: private cottages, fewer crazy crowds (virtually no crazy co-eds), top notch dining with a practically clairvoyant sommelier, sunsets by the fire pit, bikes to borrow, and a complimentary water taxi to check in on the throngs downtown, if you feel you must.

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Best place for families:
White Elephant Village19 North Water StreetWhy: Choose from staying in one of the White Elephant's simply stunning (expect modern seaside decor, beautiful bath products, and the softest Pratesi linens) suites and rooms at the newly finished main inn or opt for a spectacular 2-3 bedroom residence with the comforts of home.You must check out: the swimming pool and cabanas. The White Elephant has thought of everything, from complimentary magazines & books, sunglass cleaner, to SPF's of all scents and numbers. Oh, and you can order mimosas by the pool, ALL DAY LONG.The extras: A gift shop complete with chic items emblazoned with white elephants (embroidered shorts, sweaters, blankets, and more). BMW courtesy cars for in-town drop-off. Complimentary bicycles to use for the beach or for a trip to town. Throughout the day in the lobby indulge in complimentary pastries, cookies, coffee & tea, fresh fruit water, and the loveliest cheese display we've ever seen!

White Elephant Village, 19 North Water Street

The newest addition to the White Elephant family, the village offers rooms in the modern main inn as well as two- and three-bedroom residences featuring all the comforts of home. But the real showpiece is the swimming pool and cabanas, where the hotel has thought of everything: complimentary magazines and books, sunglass cleaner, SPFs of all scents and numbers, and (hooray!) mimosas all day long. There are also BMW courtesy cars for in-town drop-off, complimentary bicycles to use for the beach or for a trip to town, and a lobby display of complimentary snacks and drinks, like cheese, pastries, cookies, coffee and tea, and fresh fruit water.

Best way to entertain adults and kids all at once:
Cisco Brewers Nantucket
Cisco Brewers

Cisco Brewery, 5 Bartlett Farm Road

The island’s local beer maker and distillery—and the country’s first outdoor brewery—plays host to a crossroads of islanders, and their dogs, in a laid-back, picnic-tabled setting with live music, a tented raw bar, corn hole, and play areas for kids. There’s a variety of Cisco beer on tap, including Island Reserve, a double IPA available only on island, as well as cocktails made with vodka, whiskey, rum, and gin from the adjacent Triple Eight Distillery (you can also buy a refillable growler for brews-to-go). Catch the free shuttle from in town or drive or bike yourself there.

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Best place for fusion:
The Nautilus Nantucket
The Nautilus

The Nautilus, 12 Cambridge Street

Executive chef Liam Mackey dishes up interesting, innovative, and super-tasty dishes from land and sea with influences from Hawaii, Thailand, Indonesia, and beyond. Try the crispy fried Brussels sprouts with Vietnamese fish sauce, tempura East Coast oyster tacos wrapped in nori, Berkshire pork buns, and the famous blue crab fried rice. Cocktails build on the theme, using house made syrups, tinctures, and bitters; standouts include the Teach Me How to Dougie, featuring crema mezcal, grapefruit, and ginger and the When in Rome, a white Negroni made with gin and Lillet. There’s also Fernet on tap! Show up in person at noon to snag a same-day reservation, or call starting at 1 and prepare to beg.

Best place for rosé and a sunset:
Galley Beach Nantucket
Galley Beach

Galley Beach, 54 Jefferson Avenue

An island institution among the white jeans and navy cardigan set, the Galley offers some of the only on-sand drinking on the island, with an extensive list of rosés—still the island’s unofficial wine of choice—and hands down one of the very best sunset views on island. You’ll pay a bit extra for the privilege, perhaps—a $40-something glass of wine here is not unusual, and there’s one for $129. (But the view!)

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Best place to celebrate your parents' anniversary:
TOPPER'S At The Wauwinet
Courtesy

Topper's at The Wauwinet, 120 Wauwinet Road

The hotel’s stunning views of Nantucket bay are made even more stunning at sunset, of which the deck at Topper’s offers the island’s most magical view. There’s also, of course, the food. Everyone’s doing poke these days, and the Hamachi version here doesn’t disappoint. Also guaranteed-to-please: the Panzanella salad; the Block Island swordfish; the cooked-to-perfection Pineland Farms N.Y. Strip. The wine list is dizzying, but even if you know your stuff, take our advice: Let Craig choose what you’ll be drinking. And for dessert, the fresh-baked cookies are famous and, really, fresh-baked. Expect to wait 20 minutes for your plate of three—go straight up chocolate chip—all of them entirely worth it.

Best scene and seafood:
Cru Oyster Bar1 Straight WharfThe scene: Located right on the water, Cru is the place to be seen. Expect a great mix of people: sailors, pretty young things, regulars, and weekend visitors. It's alive and bumping. Cozy up at one of their patio tables or dine inside for more of an elegant feel.The food: The oysters here are guaranteed to changed your life. The lobster cocktail is divine and fresh. T&C tip: You MUST order a seafood dish (and if you're not a seafood fan, the chicken under a brick is absolutely delicious).The libations Have a Mother of Dragons (or five) on us. Tell them we sent you. Thank us later.
Wayne E. Chinnock

CRU Oyster Bar, 1 Straight Wharf

Overlooking Nantucket Harbor, the patio offers classic New England views… but chances are, you’ll spend all your time people watching instead. Expect an eclectic mix of guests, all of them tanned and well dressed. Cozy up at one of the patio tables or dine inside for a more elegant vibe (until the tabletop dancing starts, that is). The order, obviously, is seafood: The smoked fish dip will change your life. The lobster cocktail (with fennel and kumquat) is so fresh it was swimming that morning. If you’re not a seafood fan, the chicken under a brick is delicious. Cocktails-wise, have a Beachside (or five) on us. Tell them we sent you. Thank us later.

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Best place to drink like a local:
image
Flickr/Indabelle

The back bar at Ventuno, 21 Federal Street

The al fresco bar tucked behind Gabriel Frasca’s sophisticated Italian restaurant offers a beachy-casual vibe, accommodating bartenders, and always-random crowd (spotted one recent night: Chris Matthews, Meghan Trainor, some frat boys, and a salty crew of local fishermen). The selection of craft beer is unbeatable, but your best bet is, of course, staying local: Whale’s Tale Pale Ale from Cisco Brewers a few miles away. Pro tip: Drink it from the can.

...followed by the best place to dance like a local
Chicken Box Nantucket
duppyconquerors.com

The Chicken Box, 16 Dave Street

An island institution for more than 50 years, The Chicken Box is where you go for your dive fix (locals call it “the Box”). Don’t expect pristine (or even clean floors)—never mind rosé. This is a tequila and Bud Light sort of place. Live music is some of the best in town, but don’t get there before 10 p.m. or everyone will know it’s your first time here.

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Best morning after fix:
ACKFresh27 EASY STREETWhat to get: The ACG—a tasty blend of apple, carrot, ginger, and a kick of tumeric.Perfect spot to hit after: The morning after you've had one too many Life is Goods at The Chicken Box the night before. Get your body back on track!
Rebecca Love Photography

ACKFresh, 25 Broad Street, inside Nantucket Bookworks

Order up the ACG—a tasty blend of apple, carrot, ginger, with a kick of healing turmeric—the morning after you’ve had one too many Bud Lights at The Chicken Box. Slither to the beach. Nap.

Best all-day brunch:
image

Millie's, 382 Madaket Road

If your idea of a great brunch is the one that lasts for hours, and on island time it should, Millie’s has all the makings of perfection: strong and spicy Bloody Marys, panoramic ocean views, a lawn made for letting the kids run wild, and the sort of food you’ve been craving since the night before.

Pick a spot on the front lawn and order up the house best: scallop tacos, lobster quesadillas, grilled Mexican corn, and the Altar Rock, a life-changing salsa, guacamole, and cheese dip. And some Bloody Marys. Lots of Bloody Marys.

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Best place to find something to wear tonight:
joey wolffer
hamptons-magazine.com

Joey Wölffer, 20 Old South Wharf

Hamptons wine heiress Joey Wolffer’s “roving boutique” pops up in Nantucket every summer offering new and vintage clothing and accessories finds from around the world, as well as bags of her own design. Find boho dresses well-suited for sunset cocktails, and cold-shoulder tops that’ll serve you well while getting down at the Chicken Box.

Best place to get your leggings on:
image

Crane & Lion, 9 Centre Street

The Boston-based fitness brand is all about the subtle art of workout wear. That doesn’t mean fashion falls by the wayside: In addition to a white-gray-blue color palette that never goes out of style, Crane & Lion’s leggings, tanks, and wrap tops offer details like color-blocking and hints of mesh, and enough versatility to take you from barre to the bar. There’s something here to flatter nearly every body (even if you’ve lately been doing more bar than barre). Don’t expect animal print anything. Deal with it—you’re on Nantucket.

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Best beauty selection:
Follain9A South Beach StreetWhat you'll find: A healthy beauty boutique with an amazing selection of skincare, hair care, and cosmetic products from more than 30 U.S. brands. The lovely owner, Tara Foley, will happily guide you in the right direction for EXACTLY what you're looking for.Products we walked out with: A tub of Organic Bath Co refreshmint scrub that is addicting. Our skin has never been smoother and the mint oils wake us up every morning. Also, the Soapwalla deodorant cream—Tara swore by it, and after using for the past few weeks we'll never go back to drugstore deodorant.

Follain, 9A South Beach Street

An eco-minded beauty boutique with an expansive selection of skincare, hair care, and cosmetics from more than 30 made-in-the-USA brands. Owner Tara Foley will happily guide you in the right direction to exactly what you’re looking for. We left with a tub of Organic Bath Co.’s addicting Refreshmint Scrub and our skin has never been smoother (or mintier!). Also, Soapwalla’s Deodorant Cream, which Tara swore by, and we have to agree: Our days of drugstore deodorant have officially been numbered.

Best workout (that actually works):
Go Figure Barre Studios12B Amelia DriveThe workout: We love barre workouts here at T&C—and Go Figure was no disappointment. The class was popular and packed in the spacious studio (complete with burning scented candles and beautiful wood floors). Throughout the hourlong workout we did segments of of yoga, pilates, and ballet bar exercises that were challenging and sweat-inducing.The next day we felt: Sore—but good sore. The backs of our arms felt toned and our posteriors did as well! The perfect workout to feel bikini ready!

Core, 1 North Beach Street

Owner Courtney McKechnie’s spacious apparatus-based Pilates studio (with ample parking out front) deals in beach-perfect bodies, with classically-trained instructors leading private, semi-private, and small group classes designed to get you toned and back on the beach in the shortest amount of time possible. Challenging, sweat inducing, and best of all, effective. Forgot your workout gear? Not a worry. McKechnie loves fashion almost as much as she loves fitness and she stocks an array of flattering, hard to find pieces from OmGirl, Beyond Yoga, Lululemon, Testament, and more.

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Best home store:
Bodega Nantucket2 Candle StreetWhat to find: A beautifully curated selection of home accessories, furniture, barware, and gifts guaranteed to bring a colorful punch to your beach house. Also—forgot a hostess gift at home? This spot is PERFECT for picking up a last minute candle or sea-inspired present for your host.T&C's Favorites: Sailcloth bean bag chair, Whale print, Convex Mirror

Bodega Nantucket, 2 Candle Street

A beautifully curated selection of home accessories, furniture, and barware guaranteed to bring a colorful punch to your beach house (or a splash of summer to your primary house). Need a hostess gift? Here’s the go-to for picking up a last-minute candle or sea-inspired present, including baby alpaca throws, handmade oak whale cutting boards, personalized cocktail napkins, and more.

 

The best store for preps, EVER:
Current Vintage4 Easy StreetWhat to find: Owner Elisabeth English has the most amazing preppy collection of vintage clothing we've ever seen. She has racks upon racks of vintage Lilly Pulitzer (for men and women), Lanz, Malia of Honolulu and more. She also helpfully guided us in trying on items that would fit well, as we all know it's hard to find a vintage ensemble that actually works on your body.She's also: A lady after our own hearts. Current Vintage has an amazing selection of wine and champagne (it's a sea of orange Veuve Clicquot boxes). AKA—this store is just about the closest place to T&C heaven.

currentVintage, 4 Easy Street

Owner Elisabeth English has a beyond-amazing collection of vintage clothing: racks upon racks of vintage Lilly Pulitzer (for women and men), Lanz, Malia of Honolulu and more, including, come fall, an epic selection of fur-trimmed coats. Staffers are skilled in guiding guests to items that would fit well, knowing it can be tough to find a vintage ensemble that actually works for your body. All that and wine! And lots of it: currentVintage also stocks a selection of wine and champagne.

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Best place for swimwear and, um, needlepoint:
Erica Wilson25 Main StreetA good excuse to

Erica Wilson, 25-27 Main Street

A great excuse to “forget your bathing suit” at home. Shop the beautiful selection of Eres swimwear, Roberta Roller Rabbit cover-ups, and easy dresses that can take you from the beach to dinner. And for the needlework aficionado: Expect kits of all shapes and sorts.

Best beach jewelry:
Mignot St. BarthWhat to find: this adorable little bohemian shop imports the most luminous and beautiful black pearls from Tahiti. There are chic bracelets and necklaces that we spotted on the most elegant ladies around town.Our favorite: The Julia necklace. One stunning single pearl on a adjustable cord.
Getty Images

Mignot St. Barth, 5 Chestnut Street

What you’ll covet: Everything. This adorable little bohemian shop imports the most luminous black pearls from Tahiti and sells them, it would seem, to the most elegant ladies in town. Our favorite: <a href="http://mign

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