The Wauwinet
COST: $$$$
Nantucket’s grandest luxury hotel is also one of the most private and remote on the island, set along a stunning stretch of northeastern coast. The opulence here is low-key, but it’s still opulence; though you’ll see plenty of guests sauntering around in sarongs and flip-flops, they’re likely headed to the on-site Spa by the Sea for a cranberry body scrub, to a wine-tasting session with in-house sommelier Craig Hanna, or to settle into one of the many cushy chaises scattered through the blooming gardens and along the private beach (where staffers scurry over with fresh towels and cold drinks). The sprawling main building houses 28 guest rooms—all done up in antique pine, wicker, and tasteful chintz, with Pratesi linen-clad beds and lace-curtained windows. There are also four freestanding cottages, whose cozy gas fireplaces and private sundecks make them popular with honeymooners. The hotel has a shuttle that makes the nine-mile trip to and from Nantucket Town almost hourly until 11 p.m.—but you might be hard-pressed to drag yourself off the property.
Tip: Book your dinner table at Topper’s when you reserve your room; it will be a meal you won’t forget.
Room to Book: Number 302, a center unit in the main inn, has sweeping sea views.
As Featured In...
From Travel + Leisure, Apr 2007
“The $380-a-night rooms at the exclusive, white-fenced Wauwinet may not be in my budget, but cocktails at the alfresco bar (which welcomes non-guests) are certainly within my reach....” MORE>>
From the T+L 500
Shingled 19th-century inn and cottages beside a wildlife sanctuary, 9 miles from town.
- Stats:
- 30 rooms; 4 cottages; 1 restaurant; 1 bar.
- Competitive Edge:
- An oceanfront setting that feels wild and remote, even during peak summer months.
- Rooms to Book:
- No. 105: it's twice as big as standards, and has a sundeck.
- Don't Miss:
- A hot-stone massage in one of the gambrel-roofed-cottage treatment rooms.
lastArticle = 4/2007 and lastAward = 01/2008
