“The Little Grey Lady of the Sea,” otherwise known as Nantucket, is one of America’s oldest whaling towns, awash in coastal charm and nautical splendor, but whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, there are plenty of newfound experiences and eateries to take advantage of on this pocket-sized island. When faced with the age-old question of “where should we eat,” we have a few answers, starting with 13 of our favorite Nantucket restaurants, bars and breweries at the moment.
Where Is Nantucket?
Nantucket is an island 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A storied summer destination for celebs, prominent figures and good-time-loving people, it’s 14 miles long and rife with natural beauty, great beaches, covetable cedar shingle homes and hydrangea-lined streets made for walking, biking and sightseeing.
How To Get to Nantucket
You can reach Nantucket by boat or by plane. Several high-speed ferries operate between Hyannis, MA, and the Seastreak ferry will take you to Nantucket from New York City and New Bedford, MA. More information on ferry schedules and ticket prices can be found at nantucket-ma.gov. If you don’t plan on bringing a car with you and don’t need to ferry over—the island is rather small and very walkable/bikeable after all—then the faster option is by plane, especially if you’re coming from NYC, D.C., Philly and beyond. This route shaves hours off your total travel time, when you could be at the beach—or at Cisco sipping a Grey Lady instead of trying to get to her. There’s service to ACK from most major cities on most major airlines, but keep in mind prices are higher during peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Then there are smaller, shared and private charters like Tradewind, which cost more, but are seriously seamless to fly. They allow dogs. There’s complimentary Starbucks coffee in the lounge, plus drinks and snacks onboard every flight. And the best part—besides the fact that door-to-door is about 30-50 minutes, depending on where you’re flying from—is you don’t have to deal with TSA, security lines or other terminal headaches. Tradewind Aviation has nonstop charters to ACK daily and the Tradewind Citation Jet fleet is ideal for longer trips from Chicago, Texas and Florida to Nantucket.
Best Nantucket Restaurants, Bars & Breweries
Cisco Brewers
If you go to Nantucket and don’t make Cisco Brewers your first stop, you missed the assignment. This brewery, distillery and winery has been the heart and soul of ACK for over 27 years now and they’ve become so wildly popular, they’ve since opened outposts in Boston, Portsmouth, New Bedford and Stamford. Known for crafting some of the finest brews in New England, once you go, you’re forever a loyalist. In between sips of Triple Eight craft cocktails, or Whale’s Tale, Wandering Haze and Grey Lady ales, there’s cornhole to play and plenty of food trucks like Big Hug Dumplings, Lobster Trap Truck, Millies and 167 Raw, slinging crispy, thin-crust pizzas, shucking oysters and selling golden fried fish baskets and buttery lobster rolls as fast as they can make them. Let’s not forget their ever-rotating roster of events, either. Swing by Flannel Jam in the fall, or their annual Trashion Show in the summer, where neglected beach trash is transformed into custom creations and paraded down a runway. It’s easy to see why it’s dubbed “the happiest place on earth”—all roads lead back to Cisco. Open year-round.
Brant Point Grill
Four words: Lobster mac and cheese. Brant Point Grill is Nantucket’s premier steak and seafood restaurant, situated within the posh White Elephant hotel. It’s always a good idea for date-night dinner, brunch with friends, or grabbing a quick lunch or cocktails before heading to the beach. Their indoor-outdoor restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the best seats in the house are on the waterfront veranda, which overlooks the property’s verdant, sprawling grounds and boats bobbing in the harbor. Savor perfectly-cooked steaks and chops, enjoy fresh fish and ceviche and definitely order the BPG Lobster Bake, overflowing with 1/2 Maine lobster, potato hash, andouille sausage, charred corn relish and littleneck clams beurre blanc. It’s really all about that signature mac though… A few bites of that with a crisp glass of white or rosé and you’re living your best life, ACK style. Open year-round.
The Proprietors Bar & Table
Leaning into Nantucket’s century-long domination as the whaling capital of the world, a well-traveled palate is reflected in The Proprietors’ decor, as much as its thoughtful dishes. Housed in what appears to be just another meticulously maintained million-dollar 19th-century sea captain’s home, this restaurant has set itself apart for the better part of a decade under the tenured leadership of culinary power couple Michael LaScola, chef/owner, and Orla Murphy-LaScola, a sommelier that unequivocally knows her stuff. Thoughtful small and large plates are designed to be enjoyed family style, with flavor profiles that take a cue from international voyages, while staying rooted in the spoils of local farmers and fishermen. Seasonally-driven dishes continually keep the menu fresh, but favorites include the cumin-roasted carrots from nearby Washashore Farms served on a bed of mole rojo—just one of more than a dozen tapas offered—or dive into the more substantial seared duck atop plump blueberries with sour cream polenta, local bok choy and radish. Open year-round.
CRU
Holding court on the end of Straight Wharf overlooking Nantucket Harbor, CRU never ceases to draw a crowd and it’s not hard to see why. As a saltwater breeze wafts through the outdoor and indoor-that-feels-outdoor space, there’s a palpable energy at this oyster bar, day and night. With a selection of briny bivalves from as far off as PEI and as nearby as local waters, oysters are a must amongst a wide-ranging raw bar and seafood-centric menu (with landlubbers not forgotten!). This is your spot for a girlfriend getaway’s leisurely lunch, boozy brunch or decadent dinner. Regardless, CRU’s raved-about lobster roll is a perennial favorite whether served warm with lemon butter or in the New England tradition: chilled with mayonnaise on a toasted brioche roll with the idyllic blend of chewy and crisp. Open year-round.
Bar Yoshi
Tucked away on a scattered seashell street just off Old South Wharf, Bar Yoshi is the type of place you never want to leave and can’t wait to return to—wishing they would expand to a neighborhood near you. It’s also one of the best meals you’ll encounter while in Nantucket. Poke bowls piled high with glistening, fresh fish, unique sushi rolls, plump, bursting-with-flavor dumplings and slurp-worthy noodles are par for the dining course when in the house of Yoshi, but there are a few specific dishes you should not pass go on: their scallion pancake with dill créme, red onion, smoked salmon and caviar, fire-glazed ribs with a snowfall of sesame seeds and burger bao buns with the usual suspects for toppings (spicy mayo, pickled onions, jalapeños). Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will steer you straight on menu and sake selections, probably offer a few insider tips for where to venture off to next, and become like family after an hour at this Japanese gem. Open year-round.
The Nautilus
Credited with touting one of the most creative menus on this far-flung island 30 miles out to sea, The Nautilus has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity since it opened its doors in 2014. Though unassuming with its simple, de rigueur weathered cedar shingled exterior, the restaurant’s fusion flavors create a culinary curiosity from the moment the menu meets your eye—but before you order, you have to get in. Reservations are released online starting at 10 a.m. for no longer than seven days in advance, so plan accordingly, because it’s well worth the effort. While the bao buns, shishito peppers and tuna poke here are outstanding, it’s the unexpected dishes, like the blue crab fried rice made with fresh scallion and garlic topped with a crispy farm egg and served with a Thai lime Nam Jim sauce, which have earned this highly touted spot its enviable reputation. While the restaurant space is beautifully anchored by a wall festooned with a top-to-bottom design of awesome octopus tentacles, the 25-seat bar (first come, first served) is where all the action unfolds. Open year-round.
Lemon Press
We could wax poetic about Lemon Press, an organic all-day cafe, forever. For starters, it’s beyond pretty with floral garlands, vines and greenery covering the entryway, and that theme transcends to their interiors and highly Instagrammable food content. Homemade, rose water waffles are presented with a mountain of whipped cream and edible micro flowers adorning the plate. Veggie-packed, plant-based salads and bowls are just as vibrant as they are devourable and their Persian dishes round out the electric menu with so many top contenders, you may need to book a 2nd seating to sample the saffron shrimp lettuce wraps, kofta burgers and mouthwatering, shaved lamb gyros. Obviously, vegan and gluten-free options abound, as do cold-pressed juices, which are killer—just like their bespoke cocktails and coffees, which are pure latte art. Open year-round.
Sister Ship
Sister Ship is a welcome addition to Nantucket’s exceptional dining scene but separates itself with a worldly vibe all its own. Located on the coastal chic compound of the Faraway, a 62-room boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, every seat in this hotspot-meets-cocktail club is a stylish one. Decor-wise, there’s a distinct British colonial vibe with wicker and rattan furnishings, vintage-inspired fringed umbrellas, potted plants reaching skyward and natural textures throughout while the porch and patio create an essentially perfect playground to sip creative craft cocktails and nosh on a variety of dishes from land and sea. Open year-round.
Downyflake Doughnuts
Just before you go thinking the entirety of Nantucket’s dining scene is all craft cocktails, eyebrow-raising wine lists and dramatic epicurean creations, The Downyflake has been keeping it real for more than 85 years. Though their fresh-made, flaky doughnuts get top billing (think chocolate frosted, strawberry glazed, maple, coconut or lemon glazed), their other pastries like the raspberry brambles and Scotch-Irish cake deserve to share the spotlight. This mid-island family-owned diner doesn’t disappoint when it comes to traditional heartier breakfasts either. A smattering of omelets, egg sammies and combos are as tempting as the very New England Portuguese bread french toast and the tall stack of blueberry pancakes with house-made blueberry syrup. Plus, options for kids and gluten-free eaters ensure no hungry soul is left behind. (Heads up: much like when it opened in the 1930s, The Downyflake takes cash only.) Open year-round.
Brotherhood of Thieves
When you need a break from white tablecloths and fancy, fine-dining fare in Newport, seek shelter at Brotherhood of Thieves. Featuring four unique concepts, it’s part upscale whiskey bar, part beer garden, part sushi lover’s paradise and part tavern, where you can never go wrong with a well-made burger and apps that hit the spot. Brotherhood is a bit of an anomaly on the island, given their F&B program, but that’s why we love it so much. Each winding nook of this Whaling Bar and Tavern (that dates back to the 1840s) unfolds a different aesthetic and story, whether you’re upstairs or downstairs, inside or outside. They also have live music every night at the Cisco Surf Bar (their sushi spot), so go hungry, post up and enjoy the always-flowing cocktails and good company.
SeaGrille
A longtime local favorite with a swanky new look that debuted this past summer, the SeaGrille delivers, as the name implies, a seafood-centric menu boasting classic, predictable dishes alongside some more inventive takes. Steamed mussels in a dilled mustard broth? Check. Head-turning seafood tower? Check. Baked stuffed shrimp? Of course. Scallops wrapped in bacon? Sure. Lobster bisque topped with crusty, buttery-dilled puff pastry? A three-decade staple. But you’re missing out if you don’t try the tuna poke nachos, house-made lobster tortellini, kimchi fries or the beautifully plated Seafood Brodo. This is an amalgamation of every kind of sustainable fish in tomato-fennel broth served with saffron aioli on French bread that’s ideal for sopping up all the luscious liquid. With a host of booths and banquettes, SeaGrille is ideal for larger parties too; somewhat of a rarity in these parts. Open year-round.
The Club Car
On an island with centuries of rich history, the word “iconic” isn’t thrown around loosely, but The Club Car earns such a superlative. Featuring a salvaged train car from the original Nantucket railroad which was dismantled in 1918, The Club Car, perched majestically on Main Street not far from the ferry landing, is synonymous with potent cocktails and late-night sing-a-longs around the piano. But since new ownership came along about five years ago, it’s all that and so much more (those two stalwarts still exist though, thankfully). The train car’s attached dining room gives off California coastal vibes with baby blue banquettes, exposed blonde beams and contemporary decor—a dichotomy from the dark and deliciously moody bar car. Open year-round.
Òran Mór
If you don’t have a friend who summers on Nantucket, Òran Mór, Gaelic for “great melody of life,” will give you the feeling that you’ve been invited to a private dinner party when you ascend the copper stairs to the second-floor dining room. Around the corner from the impressive Nantucket Whaling Museum, this longtime culinary staple has a calculated menu that will please carnivores, pescatarians and vegetarians alike. Start with a classic: the roasted oysters bourguignon, featuring local briny bivalves plated so lovely you might be tempted to snap a pic before devouring. They’ll serve as a warm prelude to heartier fare, like the black truffle bucatini in which the tubular noodles drink in all the rich flavors of the dish. Dining solo? Grab one of the handful of seats at the semi-circular bar where a stiff “Mórtini” goes down smooth or the “Fizzy Lifting Drink”—a vodka concoction with cardamom syrup and lemon—makes a delightful dish pairing. Open year-round. Next: 28 of the Best Restaurants in Boston
