A Designer's Guide To Nantucket
For an island fewer than 15 miles long, Nantucket has an outsized reputation for good reason. With its flourishing hydrangea, cobblestone streets, gray shingled cottages, and dune-backed beaches, it casts a spell that’s equal parts nostalgic and timelessly chic. Just 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket feels like a world unto itself—salt-licked, storybook-perfect, and steeped in summer tradition.
Astride all that postcard-worthy charm, Nantucket has emerged as a quiet but commanding influencer on the design scene. Here, historic preservation meets breezy, modern coastal style, balancing restraint with soul. We are going beyond the island’s sun-drenched shores to explore what has made her alluring for generations—with insider tips from design-loving Nantucket locals and regulars.
Experience
Altar Rock | Middle Moors
Among the highest points on Nantucket, Altar Rock rises 100 feet above sea level within the Middle Moors—surrounded by 3,220 acres of protected land owned by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. At the summit, the landscape feels untouched and time seems to pause.
Easy Street
Perched directly along the harbor’s edge, this pocket park designed with Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates offers a breezy stroll framed by sailboats and painterly flowers. Benches invite lingering, while the gentle lap of water and distant bell buoys set an irresistibly nautical rhythm.
Great Point Lighthouse | Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge
“The best activities on Nantucket are simple,” says Andrew Kotchen, principal and founder of Workshop/APD, who divides his time between their offices in New York and Nantucket. “My favorite beach drive is a ride out to Great Point Lighthouse. Just make sure you have a permit and tire gauge, and time to refill your tires when you get back.” The extra legwork is worth it to see the still-working Great Point Lighthouse on the frothy barrier beach at the tip of Nantucket, originally built in 1784 and rebuilt of sturdy stone in 1986. It flashes over the waves every five seconds.
Hadwen House | 96 Main Street
McKinnon and Harris Co-Founder and CEO Will Massie adores this stately Greek Revival built in 1846 by whaling merchant (and silver magnate) William Hadwen. It’s all soaring columns and gracious parlors—like stepping straight into something from Melville. Period furnishings, intricate woodwork, and a manicured formal garden complete the scene.
Jethro Coffin House | 16 Sunset Hill Lane
“I’m a sucker for the Jethro Coffin House, which is the oldest house on Nantucket,” says architect and Nantucket regular Tom Kligerman, founder of Kligerman Architecture & Design. “It’s an old salt box house with tiny little leaded glass windows, but it’s very compelling in its simplicity. It’s something we look at a lot at the office when we’re thinking about going back to the roots of shingle-style architecture. In a world where people always want more, they don’t realize they can get away with a little bit less.”
Nantucket by Design
Benefitting the Nantucket Historical Association, this annual July event brings together design world luminaries for thoughtful conversations within the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and historic preservation.
Rose Trellises | Siasconset Village
Flower-draped lanes abound here, especially in the height of summer. “I walk around those little streets like Center Street and Broadway,” Tom says. “I love the tiny scale of the houses and the variety of shapes of the houses, and the trellises with roses growing on them that go up the walls and up the roof. There's this amazing tradition there: I'm not sure what the reason for it is, but the trellises are actually on the roof, with roses growing on them.”
Siasconset Bluff Walk | 27 Bank Street
A hidden gem, this public footpath—a favorite of Will’s—meanders behind rose-covered cottages and offers sweeping Atlantic views. It’s easily among the most romantic strolls on the island. Expect weathered fences, riots of blooms, and the salty scent of sea air at every turn.
Siasconset Casino | 10 New Street, Siasconset
There’s no neon in sight at this circa 1900 venue for movie screenings and more, which is not actually a casino. “It's an auditorium and dance hall, and an incredible room,” says Tom. “It has this extraordinary ceiling with all different patterns of lattice, diamond shapes and squares and lozenges and hexagonals—all in this wonderful, weathered gray. It's always open when I'm there, and I just wander in in my bike shoes, clomping around and giving a little patina to the floor. It’s a place I love to go to look at the architecture.”
Whaling Museum | 13 Broad Street
Our friend Hadley Keller, a Washington, DC-based design writer and editor and Editorial Director at the Design Leadership Network advises stopping in at this 1848 icon run by the Nantucket Historical Association. It’s “an incredible look at the history of the island.” On view: plenty of things design lovers might appreciate, including centuries-old scrimshaw engraved on sperm whale teeth and a Chippendale splat back chair that has been on Nantucket since before the American Revolution. “Beautiful views from the rooftop,” adds Will.
SHOP
Asha | 18 Federal Street
Specializing in breezy embroidered caftans, Asha founder Ashley McCormick dreamed up the most magically decorated showroom with painted grasscloth wallcoverings, Pagoda pelmet dressing nooks, and whitewashed floors. This new Nantucket outpost is a most notable spot for design daydreamers.
Bon Ton | Cambridge Street
A perfectly petite “open by chance” shop with suitcase-friendly treasures at the corner of Cambridge and Easy Streets.
David Chase | 60 Main Street
A haunt for any true sartorialist, this storybook clothing boutique is a regular stop-in for Will. The made-in-Italy cashmere sweaters and leather jackets are just the beginning.
Eleish Van Breems | 14 Easy Street
Hadley notes that you’ll find “chic home goods with the prettiest views” at this Scandinavian mainstay—also a favorite of Will’s—where the wares may range from 1970s Italian leaf sconces by Tomasso Barbi to glazed Portuguese stoneware mugs hand painted with Nantucket daffodils designed by Agneta Livijn. The porch is a popular book-signing spot during Nantucket by Design.
Four Winds Craft Guild | 15 Main Street
Tucked in an old brick building, this 1948 shop offers “incredible gifts in local traditions like woven baskets, scrimshaw, and painted wood,” says Hadley. A charming, old-school feel matches the aura of traditional American crafts within. (We think the Nantucket friendship baskets look like something Edith Wharton would carry while strolling through her gardens at The Mount.)
Nantucket Bookworks | 25 Broad Street
A beloved bookstore since 1972, this place is packed to the rafters with bestsellers, children’s favorites, and beach reads, bien sûr. “It’s in an old house that’s not far off the main street,” says Tom. “It has a good selection of New England, Nantucket, and design books that I’m always scouring the shelves for. I go every time I’m there,” Tom says.
Nantucket Looms | 51 Main Street
A local institution since 1968, this seaworthy treasure trove is “well known for their beautiful blankets and textiles (woven on-site) and also offers a great array of home decor items,” says Hadley. Everything here is quietly elegant—capturing the spirit of island living in every thread.
Rafael Osona Auctions | 21 Washington St.
Hidden within the American Legion, this weekly auction house by a premier dealer in antique baskets is “a must,” says Hadley. Serious collectors and curious browsers alike have recently hovered for everything from an 18th century fruitwood tea caddy in the form of a pear to antique nautical lithographs.
Silvia Antiques | 15 Main Street
Opened by Frank Sylvia in 1927 and still run by his grandson, this refined shop beloved by our co-founder and CEO, Will Massie, brims with 18th- and 19th-century treasures, including museum-worthy pieces (like a circa 1870 shellwork Valentine made in Barbados tucked in an octagonal cedar case).
Dine
167 Raw | 167 Hummock Pond Road
“Bluefish pâté from 167 Raw might be the best thing you’ll ever taste,” Hadley says of this local cult favorite, beloved since 1978. (Proof of delectability: they’ve expanded their footprint down the shore, with an outpost in Charleston, S.C.)
Bar Yoshi | 21 Old South Wharf
This spot for a “low key but equally delicious lunch,” says Hadley, is a summertime dream, thanks to its waterfront perch on the Old South Wharf, on-point shrimp ceviche, and cocktails like the cheekily named Seas & Desist (made with Midori, Gray Whale gin, lime and agave).
CRU | One Straight Wharf
Champagne meets shellfish, right on the harbor. “It may sound cliché but a lobster roll and rosé at Cru is popular for a reason!” says Hadley. With its polished, ship-shape interiors and an unbeatable raw bar, it’s also the see-and-be-seen spot for oysters at sunset. “We hosted a dinner here last year,” adds Will.
Galley Beach | 54 Jefferson Avenue
Here, “you can’t miss the Nantucket sunset,” Andrew says. One of his go-to beachside spots for dinner is this bastion of coastal glamour, with a wine cellar 5,000 bottles deep and some outdoor tables set right on the sand.
Hang Ten Raw Bar | Available Upon Request
Nantucket is world famous for its oysters and wild bay scallops. This small team works on the water daily to harvest the freshest available shellfish from their own oyster beds, catering intimate events seasonally on Nantucket.
LoLa 41 | 15 S Beach Street
“I love LoLa 41 for an upscale sushi dinner,” says Hadley. The vibrant nightlife energy in this restaurant—which is named after Nantucket’s latitude, 41 degrees North—is the ideal backdrop for a strip steak with roasted garlic, herbed butter, and chimichurri, their famous truffle parmesan fries on the side. Andrew calls it a “longtime local favorite and a good scene.”
Misogi Noodle Bar | 9 S Water Street
Tucked behind Eleish van Breems, this cozy gem is one of Will’s dinner spots of choice for its fresh, flavor-packed Asian noodle bowls that are perfect for a casual yet satisfying meal. The caviar-dusted BBQ bao buns are a local favorite.
Oran Mor | 2 South Beach Street
Set in a shingled cottage, this seasonal restaurant—a go-to of Will’s—is beloved for its artfully plated dishes (don’t miss the black truffle honeyed local beets) and impressive wine list (the restaurant has won an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator).
Ship's Inn Restaurant | 13 Fair Street
Housed in the 1831 former home of a whaling captain, this place is “owned by Richmonder Mark Gottwald,” says Will. “Mark is the chef and many dishes are boat to table, caught by local fishermen, staff or Mark himself.”
Something Natural | 50 Cliff Road
Beloved for its oversized sandwiches and fresh-baked breads, this picnic-lovers dream is “a must,” says Hadley, “especially if you’re headed to the beach (try the famous [Terry] Terrific).” The latter is a gratitude-inducing pile of house roasted turkey, herb bread stuffing and housemade cranberry sauce.
Straight Wharf Fish | 4 Harbor Square
Straight Wharf is a favorite of Will’s, but he’s not alone. “Everything is fresh, simple, and delicious at Straight Wharf Fish, and they have the best lobster roll in town,” says Andrew Kotchen, principal and founder of Workshop/APD, who divides his time between their offices in New York and Nantucket. “I’m biased—we designed the restaurant—but it’s an incredible setting for casual seafood on the water.” Don’t miss the sautéed wild shrimp salad on island greens with baby fennel and haricots verts.
The Bar at Le Languedoc Bistro & Inn | 24 Broad Street
“I always go to Le Languedoc, but I go to the bar, which is at the lower level,” says Tom of this restaurant, also a favorite of Will’s. “It’s cozy and friendly and full of life, and kind of a wonderful hubbub year-round.” On the wine list, oenophiles love Pinot Noir Sea Smoke 2019 ‘TEN’ from Santa Rita Hills.
The Chanticleer Restaurant & Gardens | 9 New St, Siasconset
Nestled in a storybook cottage draped in climbing roses, The Chanticleer is a beloved Siasconset institution that blends timeless elegance with the breezy charm of Nantucket. Once a historic teahouse, this refined yet inviting restaurant continues to enchant guests with its beautifully manicured gardens, intimate dining rooms, and world-class service.
Ventuno | 21 Federal Street
A bastion of modern Italian cuisine with a coastal twist. Try the fresh-caught local fish in the Fritto Misto, with preserved lemon aioli….and ask to sit in the garden.
Stay
White Elephant | 50 Easton St.
Presiding over Nantucket Harbor and fresh from a recent reno, the White Elephant is a beloved island icon offering luxe waterfront accommodations, watering holes and an acclaimed spa where you can indulge in algae wraps and other treatments that seem conjured from the misty sea.
Wauwinet | 120 Wauwinet Road.
Currently the only member of the illustrious Relais & Châteaux network on the island, guests have returned here since 1875 for its sprawling lush lawns and top shelf service. Don’t miss a sunset whirl around Nantucket Bay on their 20-passenger boat, The Wauwinet Lady.
Jared Coffin House | 29 Broad St.
The first mansion ever built on Nantucket—in 1845—by prominent ship owner Jared Coffin. It’s stocked with antiques and amenities the glitterati crave, including crisp bed linens and plush robes and slippers.
Faraway Nantucket | 29 Centre Street
Darling details throughout a compound of five historic captain’s homes with the town’s historic 17th-century Quaker Meeting House at its core. A hotel that represents the melange of historic coastal life in Nantucket, perfectly suited for a design team traveling together. You’ll find “some of the best cocktails on the island” at Sister Ship, Andrew says of this boîte, tucked within the Faraway Hotel. “Sister Ship also happens to be the most fun place in town late night, and their courtyard is a perfect local hangout for cocktails any time. Don’t miss the gigantic Aperol spritzes.”
Greydon House | 17 Broad Street
Steps from the wharf, Greydon House pairs seafaring heritage with refined design. Twenty rooms by hospitality design superstars Roman and Williams find themselves amongst an overgrown English garden and a delicious, Venetian-inspired restaurant.
Dock
The Nantucket Boat Basin is a premier marina for powerboaters and sailors alike, making the trek over from the mainland US. Slips book up a year out in some instances, and each of the Wharfs has its own charm.
Old North Wharf | Easy Street Basin
Lined with weathered shingled cottages and iconic boat slips, Old North Wharf—first built in 1770—is the place classic yachts mingle with working fishing vessels just off Easy Street.
Old South Wharf
A harborside promenade, Old South Wharf is beloved for its waterfront dining set against a backdrop of gently bobbing sailboats.
Superyacht Dockage
Catering to some of the world’s most impressive private vessels, Nantucket’s Superyacht Dockage provides premier berths with top-tier amenities—all within easy access to the island’s shops and restaurants.
Swain’s Wharf
Steeped in maritime history, Swain’s Wharf offers a quieter dockside retreat with stunning harbor views and relaxed Nantucket charm.
Hero Image: Architecture and Interiors by Workshop/APD, Photo by Read McKendree / JBSA
All other photos by Jessica Jenkins Photography except Nantucket Looms Images Courtesy of Nantucket Looms photographed by Matt Kisiday and Rose Trellises Images by Raymond Forbes LLC/Stocksy.
