The Wauwinet

We spent 4 nights at the Wauwinet, staying in one of their cottages. The cottage was cozy, clean, and spacious. We loved every staff member we interacted with. They went above and beyond to make sure our stay was everything we hoped for. I cannot speak more highly of this Inn. Such a special place. We will be coming back as soon as possible!

We spent three nights at The Wauwinet in August 2026 (Friday to Monday). While the property itself is undeniably beautiful, the overall experience was inconsistent and, in several respects, disappointing for a hotel at this price point. We spent approximately $10,000 for our three-night stay, so our expectations were understandably high. The pros: The location is gorgeous, and the private beach is a real highlight. The hotel provides beach chairs and umbrellas, which is a convenient amenity, although both could use an upgrade. The two tennis courts are wonderful, and we appreciated being able to reserve the hotel BMW when it was available. The shuttle to and from town is also very convenient. Toppers serves delicious food; we had both lunch and dinner there and thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Our room was on the ground floor of the main house, and we had a lovely private patio overlooking the bay, which we used each morning and evening. The bay side gets an incredible sunset! On the other hand: The complimentary coffee and pastries served each morning from 7:30 to 9:15 a.m. were disappointing. For a hotel at this level, I expected a better selection and higher quality. The complimentary bikes are a nice amenity, but they need an upgrade. Heads up, they are quite heavy for the 12-mile round trip to Sconset! The leather handles on our bikes were falling apart, and the 3 gears did not work. A better-maintained fleet would make this a much more enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, service was the biggest weakness. The overall attitude of the staff often felt unwelcoming, as though we are bothering them or creating an inconvenience simply by existing. At check-in, there was no explanation of the property or its amenities. We were initially told that we could not check in early because the previous guests in our room were checking out late. Yet when I later requested a one-hour-later checkout, we were told that was not possible because the next guests were arriving early. The double standard was frustrating. The front desk experience was repeatedly awkward. I would approach with a question or request, only to be left hanging mid-conversation when the person I was speaking with decided to walk away to do something else. Assistance with our bags was similarly inconsistent. Sometimes someone was available; other times, no one was. When we checked out, I ultimately wheeled my own luggage outside and loaded it into our Uber. While Toppers serves delicious food, it does not serve continuously throughout the day despite being the only food option on property, save for some M&M’s and gummy bears available for sale at the front desk. On the day of checkout, I arrived at Toppers at 11:30 a.m. and was told they could not serve me until noon. For a hotel where guests are relatively isolated from other dining options, that seems unnecessarily restrictive. I retuned at noon, and asked whether I could sit in the beautiful dining room for a quick meal before heading to the airport. I was told no and was directed instead to the dark bar, which I declined, then eventually, to an outdoor table that was one of the least desirable seats. I asked if there was another option, explaining that I would only be there for about 30 minutes. I also noticed that non-hotel guests were being seated at some of the best tables, which was difficult to understand as a hotel guest. They eventually gave me a satisfactory table. There was an uncomfortable interaction with the beach attendant. He asked where I was from, and when I mentioned that I live in the West Village of Manhattan, he asked, “Aren’t there a lot of Jews there?” I was taken aback and responded that there are Jews all over New York. He immediately sensed my discomfort and changed the subject. It was an inappropriate and jarring comment. The accommodations themselves are quite tight. The room is small, and the bathroom is tiny. We had a one-bedroom on the ground floor of the main building. The bed was fine at best, but at this price point, I was expecting an exceptionally comfortable, fluffy bed! The accommodations are not bad, but rather have a Massachusetts-Puritan vibe, vs. what one would expect at a Relais & Châteaux property. There was no body lotion provided, and we had to ask twice for a razor before it arrived. There was also no minibar or refrigerator for keeping drinks or snacks cold. In addition, the property does not have a fitness room, which was another notable omission for a hotel at this price point. The water situation was surprisingly limited. We were each given only one small bottle of water at the beginning of our stay. It was a metal bottle (not a keepsake, like a throwaway metal bottle), which I refilled it at the water fountain in the lobby. I was annoyed when housekeeping threw away one of our water bottles (while other garbage was left behind). Overall: The Wauwinet has many of the ingredients of a spectacular Nantucket stay: an extraordinary setting, a private beach, beach chairs and umbrellas, tennis, convenient transportation to town, and a beautiful historic property. The food at Toppers is excellent. Sadly, the service and attention to detail did not match the level of the property or the price. BYO reusable water bottle! Would we come back? Yes—but primarily for the remote location, private beach, and excellent food at Toppers. We would only return during the shoulder season, when we could enjoy those aspects of the property without paying peak-season prices. At the rates we paid in August, I expect a much higher level of hospitality, warmth, consistency, and luxury. Unfortunately, The Wauwinet did not deliver that experience. I hope this review inspires them to do better.

The Wauwinet is the quintessential Nantucket hotel. Everything about it is five-star ... from the warm, attentive staff and wonderful restaurant to the beautiful lawn, beach, and rooms. I’ve been coming here for years, and for me, no summer is complete without a stay at The Wauwinet. It is truly a special place and one I look forward to returning next year.

This place is a rip-off...over priced for a second-rate party house. Too many corporate events and little attention on guests. Went there to have diner at Toppers via a one-hour boat ride. Upon arrival was told that we were now eating on the deck. They said that they had texted us to tell us this unfortunate fact. None of the members in our boat group got any text. So we were offered casual food (burgers) on the deck because they were so busy with their corporate clients. I couldn't wait to leave! Third rate and going off mission and down hill fast.

The Wauwinet is not adults only, over a 3 night stay there were always children younger than 12 on the property