A perfect 4 day trip to Nantucket (pt.1)
Summer in Nantucket 2023
I spent one year researching this island, compiling all of my Pinterest pins, and saving TikToks and Instagram reels to give you the perfect summer literary that will leave you dreaming of New England summers for the rest of your life. Turns out, Nantucket is the only place that is prettier in person than on Pinterest.
Check out the itinerary below!
Hotel & Accommodation
Oh Boy! Booking a hotel in Nantucket was not as easy as I thought! To give you some perspective, about 12,000 locals live on the island year-round and about 70,000+ people come to visit during the peak of the summer months. I booked our hotel in January 2023 for our trip in July. A lot of hotels are closed for the winter, and they have all different schedules for when they reopen. What was available even in January was extremely sparse. A lot of the “dream” spots are full for the following years to come as soon as a guest checks out. We found Carlisle House had (one!) opening. For fear of not finding a place, we booked this cute home. Our room was quite small and had a shared bathroom. Room rates here were around $570-900 per night. (This is a mid-range hotel on the island)
Introducing…
The Carlisle House Inn
This three-story former whaling captain’s home is the epitome of Nantucket's historic heritage. The Carlisle House Inn is in a cobblestoned neighborhood of traditional grey-shingled homes with pristinely trimmed hedges and picket fences.
Restaurants & Food
After spending hours on TikTok and Instagram researching all of the best places to eat in Nantucket, it turns out (wow) the options are endless! New York quality food at every place we enjoyed. Let me again remind you that Nantucket is a make-a-reservation-months-in-advance kinda place. Every restaurant we went to had its own operating system i.e. some reservations are by phone only 15 days before, some are 30 days in advance and others are “you gotta know Taylor Swift to get in”. Be patient and set alarms on your phone…it will be worth it!
The Proprietors
This restaurant was our favorite on the trip, a few things that stood out were the cocktails and farm-to-table food. The blue cheese-washed vermouth they use in their dirty martini is like nothing we have ever tasted. It’s a technique called fat-washed spirits. Put this restaurant on the top of your list.
Sister Ship
Sister Ship is located in the Faraway Hotel. They are masters at mixing Mediterranean cuisine with New England local ingredients. What stood out the most to me was the interior design. Every inch of this beautiful place is designed well and it is extremely inspiring.
CRU
If you have heard of Nantucket, then you also know about the restaurant called Cru. I was so excited to try out this beautiful restaurant next to the water. I tried to get a reservation for dinner but all I was able to get was an afternoon sitting. They are famous for the CRUcucumber martini, I was told they have the best lobster roll in Nantucket and I strongly disagree. My favorite lobster roll is from 167 RAW (more on that later). Cru had a beautiful nautical ambiance and was jam-packed. The oysters were out of this world, the prices however were $$$$
BEST LOBSTER ROLL IN NANTUCKET IS FROM 167 RAW
Rent a bike and go explore
We used COOK'S bikes and rented them for two days. The island is pretty small and cars are only used by locals. You can’t miss the bluff walk!
Check Out my Nantucket videos on TikTok ^
Walking around the Siasconset area was really special- it’s not busy compared to downtown, and you really get to picture what life is like as a local. The climbing roses that cover the sides and roof of the home are enchanting. This year, the hydrangeas were not that large because of late-season frost. It’s a pretty easy walk to the lighthouse I recommend making a trip to see the views.
Stay tuned for Part 2!