The Wauwinet is Nantucket's most romantic hotel and its only Relais and Châteaux member: a gray-shingled inn at the far northeast end of the island, about ten miles from town, set on a strip of land so narrow that Nantucket Bay laps one side and the Atlantic rolls in on the other. Each has a private beach for guests. There are just 32 rooms and suites in the main inn plus four cottages, so it never feels crowded.
It suits couples who want New England at its most relaxed. Mornings start with coffee on the lawn facing the bay. Afternoons go to the beach, a bike ride or a boat trip toward Great Point. Evenings end at Topper's, the inn's restaurant, with local seafood and a long wine list. The inn caters to guests aged 12 and over, which keeps it calm. It opens seasonally, generally from late April through October. Summer rates are steep. If you want to walk out of your door to Main Street and the bars, stay in town. If you want quiet, sea air and a free shuttle for the nights you do go in, this is the one.
Highlights at a glance
- Private beaches on Nantucket Bay and the Atlantic
- Nantucket's only Relais and Châteaux hotel
- Topper's bayfront restaurant
- Free bikes and an hourly shuttle to town
- Boat rides to town on the Wauwinet Lady
Why Couples Love The Wauwinet
Location is everything here. The inn sits at the head of the harbor where the island narrows toward the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, so there is little traffic and almost no development around it. You can swim in the calm, warm bay in the morning and walk across to the Atlantic side for surf and empty sand in the afternoon.
The inn itself is classic Nantucket: shingles, white trim, a wide porch and a lawn that runs down to the water, with Adirondack chairs facing the sunset over the bay. Rooms are dressed in a crisp coastal style rather than anything flashy.
Service is the other reason couples return. The staff handle bikes, boat trips, dinner reservations in town and shuttle times so smoothly that you rarely think about logistics. It is the rare island hotel where doing very little feels like the point rather than a waste of an expensive trip.
Rooms and Cottages to Book
Rooms in the main inn are on the cozy side, as is typical of historic New England inns, so the view is worth paying for.
- Bayview Rooms and the Deluxe Bayview Bedroom look straight over Nantucket Bay. The deluxe version has a king bed and is our pick for most honeymooners.
- The Coatue Suite has a king bed, a sitting area and French doors onto a furnished sundeck facing the bay. It is the most romantic room in the inn.
- Superior Bedrooms add a sitting area with garden views and suit couples who spend most of the day out.
- Cottage suites across the courtyard, such as Idlewild with its gas fireplace, give you more space and privacy, which helps on cool spring or fall evenings.
All rooms come with Italian linens, robes and nightly turndown. Bayview rooms sell out first in summer, so book early.
Food, Drink and Topper's
Topper's is the heart of the inn, a bayfront restaurant serving local seafood and New England dishes with an extensive wine list. Book a table on the porch for sunset and ask about the chef's tasting options. Lunch on the terrace is one of the pleasures of a beach day here.
One of the nicest touches is the Wauwinet Lady, the inn's small boat, which runs guests across the harbor between The Wauwinet and its sister hotel, the White Elephant, in town. Taking it for dinner in town beats a taxi by a wide margin.
Room service draws on the Topper's menu if you would rather stay in. Spa treatments can be reserved ahead through the pre-arrival concierge, so add a couples' massage to your plan before you arrive. Nantucket has plenty of excellent restaurants in town for the nights you want a change of scene.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
The inn lends bicycles at no charge. The island's bike paths make it easy to ride to 'Sconset, with its rose-covered cottages and the Sankaty Head Lighthouse. Back at the inn there are tennis courts, while kayaks and paddleboards are offered in late spring and early fall.
The most memorable outing is north toward Great Point Lighthouse through the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, a long spit of dunes, salt marsh and seal colonies. Go with a guide in an oversand vehicle or ask the inn about a boat cruise.
In town, browse the galleries and cobbled streets of Main Street, visit the Whaling Museum and ride out to Madaket Beach for sunset. On the Atlantic side, waves and currents can be strong, so swim where conditions look calm and stay out of the water when the surf is up. Bring sun protection, since the breeze hides how strong the sun is.
Getting There
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) has seasonal flights from Boston, New York and other East Coast cities, plus year-round service from Boston. The inn is about 25 minutes from the airport by car.
Most couples arrive by ferry from Hyannis on Cape Cod. The fast ferry takes about an hour and the traditional ferry about two. Both dock in town, roughly ten miles from the inn. The Wauwinet runs a complimentary hourly shuttle between the inn and town and also serves the Hy-Line ferry terminal at Straight Wharf, so you can skip a car entirely.
Bringing a car to the island means booking a car ferry well ahead and is rarely worth it for a honeymoon. Four or five nights lets you settle into island time. September and early October bring warm water, quieter beaches and lower rates than July and August.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want the quiet side of Nantucket, yes. You get two private beaches, a well-regarded restaurant, free bikes, a shuttle to town and the kind of polished, personal service that small Relais and Châteaux inns are known for. Few hotels on the East Coast feel this removed while still being an easy trip from Boston or New York.
The drawbacks are price and space. Summer rates are high, rooms in the main inn are compact and the cheaper garden-view rooms miss the bay. Plan on paying for a bay view or a cottage to get the full experience.
Couples who want nightlife, shops and restaurants on the doorstep should stay at the White Elephant or a historic inn in town. Those traveling outside late April to October will find the inn closed. For everyone else, it is the most romantic address on the island.
Insider tips
- Book the Coatue Suite or a Deluxe Bayview Bedroom for the best water views.
- Take the Wauwinet Lady to dinner in town instead of the shuttle at least once.
- Ask about the inn's honeymoon package when you reserve.
- Visit in September for warm water and noticeably lower rates.
