When deciding on a mini-moon destination, our criteria was simple; quintessential coastal charm, mindless exploration, and pampered relaxation. The Wauwinet on Nantucket checked every box and more. As Nantucket’s only Relais & Châteaux hotel, the Wauwinet pairs historical character with high end hospitality, and is one of the best hotels on Nantucket for couples. Planning a Nantucket honeymoon? Look no further than the Wauwinet.
We spent three nights at the Wauwinet in early June following our wedding.
Pre-Arrival Concierge
As someone who loves planning trips, I don’t typically utilize concierge services to their full ability. When simultaneously planning a wedding and a honeymoon, I was forced to relinquish some control. We leaned on the Wauwinet’s pre-arrival concierge for recommendations and dinner reservations. They can even help schedule a couples massage at the White Elephant spa. It was a treat to focus on wedding planning with peace-of-mind that everything for our Nantucket honeymoon was being taken care of.
All we had to do was arrive.
Staying at the Wauwinet
As we drove towards the Wauwinet, I was enamored by its subtlety. Aside from a discrete sign, it felt like pulling into a cul-de-sac of well-kept summer cottages.
The Wauwinet has been an island institution since 1875, and has kept the same general facade majority of that time. Originally the Wauwinet House, it started as a meeting spot for day trippers to enjoy shore dinners. They eventually opened to overnight guests as one of the island’s first hotels.
Despite its storied past, recent renovations have transformed the property into a picture of laid-back luxury. From the welcoming lobby to the cozy library stacked with board games, every corner of the hotel feels homey and welcoming while maintaining an air of perfection.
The rows of iconic hunter green loungers are the perfect place to get lost in a book, or have a casual drink and snack off the Toppers’ lawn menu. As the sun begins its slow descent into the bay, the Wauwinet lawn loungers are a front row seat to the best sunset on the island.
Location, Location, Location
The hotel’s out-of-town location may give pause to those seeking in-town convenience. For us, it provided a tranquil setting for a Nantucket honeymoon. I was apprehensive about location after reading a few reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised to find more benefits than drawbacks to the remote location.
The hotel’s complementary hourly shuttle is prompt, reliable, and makes the ~18 minute trip to and from town effortless.
The Wauwinet is an isthmus oasis, nestled on a quiet stretch of land between the Atlantic and Nantucket Bay. Because of this, they uniquely offer the choice of two private beaches on the property. You can head to the bay side (better for families) or ocean side (better for crashing waves and seal-spotting). It is secluded at the edge of Great Point, giving nature-lovers easy access to Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, and a fun afternoon over-sand driving.
The Most Romantic Hotel for a Nantucket Honeymoon
With champagne in hand, we stepped into the serenity of our bay view room. The room itself carried the expertly blended contemporary and vintage decor from the rest of the hotel. It was full of simple luxury; a queen bed begging to be jumped in, L’Occitane products in the bathroom, locally made chocolate-covered cranberries.
The most incredible feature of all was the private walk-out patio. Few of the 32 luxury rooms and suites on the property have their own terrace, so we felt incredibly lucky to have this space. It ended up being our favorite spot on the property. Our Nantucket honeymoon ritual was reading in the late-afternoon sun on the patio, which often turned into a subsequent sunlit siesta after a few chapters.
After heading into town for lunch, we arrived back in the room to find chocolate covered strawberries and a sweet note of congratulations from the staff. It’s these seemingly small personal details that go far in making the Wauwinet an obvious choice for a Nantucket honeymoon.
Even if you’re not celebrating anything, the Wauwinet creates moments of romance. There’s room service for breakfast in bed, or grab and go coffee for peaceful morning walks on the beach. A glass of red wine over a game of backgammon by the fire of the library. There’s plush robes, and soft music left on at turn down. Hot buttered popcorn on demand for movie nights in bed – yes, this is a real, complimentary amenity.
Dining at the Wauwinet
The Wauwinet’s restaurant, Toppers, is a fine dining staple that draws diners from across the island. Whether you dine in the high end dining room, on the deck, or from the lawn, the food doesn’t disappoint. The bay scallops were one of my favorite dishes I’ve ever eaten. You can see the oysters farm they’re sourced from your spot on the lawn. It doesn’t get more local than that.
Toppers is the only food option on site, which can be limiting. In the morning, you’ll find complementary coffee and pastries in the Topper’s lounge. In the afternoon, port wine and cheese by the fire in the library. Otherwise, it forces you to get out and explore other incredible eateries on the island. A few of our other favorites during our Nantucket honeymoon were:
- Sister Ship
- Lola 41
- Provisions for sandwiches
- Lemon Press for breakfast
Nantucket Honeymoon Adventures
A Morning with the Wauwinet’s Courtesy BMW
As an added bonus, you can reserve a morning or afternoon with a courtesy BMW. We reserved it for a morning to explore further areas of the island that we might’ve otherwise skipped. After a quick stop in town for fuel (and by that, I mean coffees – the gas is covered!), we swung by Brandt Point for a photo opp, drove around Madicut, and made a final stop at Cisco Brewers for lunch.
Biking around ‘Sconset
Bikes are also available for guests to take around the island. During our Nantucket honeymoon, we explored the miles of paved bike paths that connect most of the island. From the Wauwinet it’s a 30 minute ride to ‘Sconset. After marveling at the beautifully kept historical homes, we docked our bikes at ‘Sconset Market and took a stroll on the ‘Sconset Bluff Walk. Before heading back to the Wauwinet, we grabbed sandwiches from Claudette’s and stopped at Sankaty Head Lighthouse for a picnic lunch.
Island Adventures with Captain Rob
In the fringe season (May and September), the Wauwinet offers daily activities for guests.
First was a tour aboard the Wauwinet Lady, led by captain Rob McMullen, the Wauwinet’s in-house captain and unofficial Nantucket history buff. Captain Rob has worked at the Wauwinet for three decades, so can recount much of its rise to present-day splendor first hand.
Captain Rob also took us off-roading to Great Point, stopping to point out all of the easily missed wildlife along the way. When the excursion was overbooked for its specified day, he went out of his way to take us out.
Captain Rob and the rest of the Wauwinet staff were the bright spot of an already iridescent stay.
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