The Wauwinet

We had a truly wonderful stay at The Wauwinet this past weekend for Daffy Weekend. From the moment we arrived, everything felt thoughtful, warm, and effortlessly special. The hotel itself is stunning, peaceful, and impeccably maintained—an idyllic spring escape that immediately feels worth the trip. The location is right on the beach. Every staff member we encountered was gracious, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. A special mention goes to the General Manager, who was not only exceptionally hospitable but also a wonderful host, setting the tone for a stay that felt both personal and memorable. Our room was beautifully appointed and spotlessly clean, reflecting the high standards maintained throughout the property. The overall cleanliness of the hotel—from the guest rooms to the common areas and grounds—was impeccable. Despite a full and celebratory weekend, the hotel remained wonderfully quiet and serene, allowing for true relaxation. The peaceful atmosphere and low noise level were standout aspects of our stay. Dining at Toppers, as always, exceptional, with impeccable service and memorable flavors that made each meal feel like a special occasion. We also found great value in our stay through the thoughtful inclusions—complimentary coffee and pastries in the morning and the free shuttle service to the main town were greatly appreciated and made getting around effortless. These added touches, combined with the exceptional service and attention to detail, reinforced just how much value The Wauwinet offers for such a high‑quality experience. The Wauwinet has a rare ability to feel both elegant and completely unpretentious. We left feeling refreshed, genuinely well cared for, and already planning our return. We will absolutely come back.

Excellent stay. The Wauwinet offers a unique combination of privacy, service, and location that sets it apart from anywhere else on Nantucket. Quiet, refined, and extremely well executed across the board. Topper’s is a standout. Would absolutely return.

The Wauwinet always outstanding and delivers a relaxing, low key, peaceful stay during the fall season. The team is always welcoming and friendly when we arrive and throughout our stay. Service and the meals at Toppers breakfast each day were outstanding and very enjoyable. We always appreciate the little extra touches like mid day hot cider and the afternoon cheese and crackers. A favorite is the pumpkin carving contest the team does each year with some very imaginitive carvings. The location is a "10" which delivers some amazing sunrises and sunsets. The week here is just the perfect getaway in the fall to turn off the phone and read some books, especially on the Zen Deck. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Wauwinet team for another remarkable stay!!! :)

The Wauwinet has an impeccable reputation but we were unfortunately quite underwhelmed with our experience. We stayed Oct 24-26 on the final weekend of the season, with the property closing down for the winter on our checkout day. While the property is lovely and so tranquil, we found the service to be greatly lacking and nowhere near 5 Star hospitality. Dining We dined at Topper’s for dinner on our first night, they had a limited menu given the “end of season” and we were so disappointed in the lobster roll and mushroom risotto. The lobster roll was truly sub-par, a handful claw meat without much flavor and the mushroom risotto tasted like a glorified Mac and cheese. We’ve had significantly better meals in Boston for half the price. We enjoyed breakfast at Topper’s both mornings and appreciated the coffee service and fresh croissants served for the early risers. Accommodations We were in a Bay View Queen and it was a lovely view, we enjoyed taking in the sunsets over the bay from our window. The bed was luxurious, comfortable mattress with divine Italian linens. Any hallway noise was easily heard which made the room less relaxing. Staff / Hospitality The front desk staff was not very welcoming and the one time I asked for something - a reusable water bottle replacement since housekeeping removed ours - they didn’t even deliver. We tried to order the complimentary popcorn and all of the service lines (front desk, concierge, room service) were busy on multiple occasions. While the 4-5pm complimentary port & cheese in the library was a nice touch, we couldn’t believe the staff didn’t refresh the cheese platter and it was nearly empty at 4:25 and stayed empty the entire hour. The final straw was the housekeeping staff loudly clanging and speaking outside our room at 7am on the final day. It really felt like our presence was an inconvenience and that they couldn’t wait for the guests to leave so they could close down the resort. A bright spot was the friendly, punctual and kind shuttle drivers. We enjoyed that amenity greatly and felt those drivers embodied the hospitality we would expect from a resort of this caliber. We do understand that it was nearly the offseason but that isn’t an excuse to phone it in when there are still paying guests enjoying the property, I would have expected more from a 5-star property with a five-diamond rated restaurant.

We read a previous review that stated that the Wauwinet was like staying at a wealthy friend's summer home. This is entirely accurate. My husband and I spent a few days here with another couple, and the entire experience was relaxing and fun. The inn and the grounds are lovely, the location away from the bustle of the village, and the staff attentive and cordial. The atmosphere is understated and casually elegant, no ostentation to be found here. The room was bright with natural light and well appointed, with thoughtful New England decor. My only small complaint was that the bathroom was tiny compared to the size of the room---however this was to be somewhat expected in this style of hotel. The food was excellent, and there were additional sweet and welcome touches such as hot apple cider at mid-day. port with cheese in the late afternoon, and complimentary coffee, tea, and pastries in the early morning. I have to give special compliments to the manager, who was present every day amongst the guests and was very hands on, friendly, and helpful. This time of year is a bit difficult on Nantucket( as we discovered on this trip), with many of the shops and restaurants already closed for the season---however even though the week we stayed at the Wauwinet was its last, there was not a bit of laxity in any of the amenities or attitudes of any of the employees of the inn. For this they are owed credit, as I imagine it to be very difficult to maintain top notch service when everything is winding down. All this being said, it was wonderful to be on the island with cool fall weather and no big crowds! We recommend it, as too do we highly recommend these accommodations!