I had the pleasure of spending two months on Nantucket this summer (learn more about that opportunity in this post) and got to fully explore the island! The trip was a mix of work and play, but mostly it was a big vacation!
And let’s be honest – the two most important things when you go on vacation are:
- The food
- The beach
I was lucky that I got to not only try out a bunch of the restaurants and beaches while I was there, but I got to develop favorites, which is what I’ve included in this post. There are obviously more options than the ones listed here, but these are my tried and true favorites!
Food
Breakfast/Brunch
1. Island Kitchen
This was my favorite brunch and I got the same thing every time: the breakfast BLT on gluten free bread! It has an herbed mayo on it that’s so good, I swear I could eat it with a spoon.
Friends and family who came with me LOVED their cinnamon roll french toast special. Whether you like sweet or savory breakfasts, there is something for you here!
Island Kitchen is also in mid island, so if you don’t feel like driving into, or parking in, town, this is a great option. They also have really nice outdoor seating!
2. Lemonpress
Lemonpress is right in the center of town on Main Street, and you can either run in and grab a delicious drink, or sit down and get a full service meal! For food there, I love their açaà bowls and the sweet potato hash is bomb.
For drinks, they have juices, smoothies, coffee, tea and lots of speciality drinks. I love the iced “matcha gusta” – it’s matcha, steamed milk (I got coconut), coconut extract and maple. Droolworthy!
3. The Green
The Green is a one stop shop for juices, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, and baked goods. As you can see from the photos below, I was a HUGE fan of the gluten free baked goods, which were plentiful. The gf peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, muffins, coffee cake, and zucchini bread were my favorites!
Unlike the two places above, The Green is not full service – you order at the counter and either take it out, or sit at the few indoor and outdoor tables. I enjoyed stopping there to grab snacks for the beach!
The Green is mid island, right near Island Kitchen.
Lunch
4. Provisions
This place has easily some of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had! I loved the caprese on gluten free bread, but friends and family loved the “turkey terrific,” which is basically a Thanksgiving sandwich.
Provisions is downtown, right by the ferry docks, so it’s a great first stop on the island! Grab a sandwich and eat on a bench by the water.
5. Surfside Beach Shack/Taco Truck
The shack and taco truck were a staple in my diet on Nantucket. They are located at Surfside Beach, so you can grab food to eat on the beach, at their picnic tables, or take it to go.
At the shack, I usually grabbed a blueberry mint lemonade, and at the taco truck I always went for the steak tacos…they’re literally amazing!
Dinner
6. Brotherhood of Thieves
Brotherhood, or BroHo, quickly became a family favorite. Ironically, I never snapped pics of my favorite dishes (nachos and burger with curly fries), but I guess that just goes to show how good they are that I couldn’t even spare a moment to grab a photo! The salads are great and well plated as well.
Brotherhood has great outdoor seating and an outdoor bar. I was a big fan of the “half bottle” sangria!
7. The Charlie Noble
I went here for my birthday dinner and was not disappointed! All of the food was plated well and looked really attractive (despite these dark photos), and the drinks were great too – you definitely get your bang for your buck.
Though we didn’t take advantage, they did have some games in here too, like shuffleboard and foosball.
8. Club Car
Club Car is a Nantucket classic! They have mostly small dishes that are designed to be shared. I went with a friend and we shared three dishes and it was the perfect amount of food!
We got the summer squash with garlic scape pesto and almond ricotta, crispy butterball potatoes with tahini, pickled onion, and dill and roasted eggplant with sauce. It was all amazing and I scraped the plates clean!
The bar here is also super popular.
9. Lola Burger
Lola burger was a fast favorite of mine. They are almost exclusively burgers and fries, but have vegan options as well! And I, of course, appreciated the gluten free buns.
Their fries are great, and I highly recommend going for the truffle fries!
They have indoor and outdoor seating.
10. Millie’s
Millie’s is out in Madaket, so it takes a little more dedication to get to, but it’s fully worth it. It’s a Baja-style restaurant known for their amazing tacos!
This is the perfect spot to stop for dinner before going to watch the sunset out on the Westernmost coast of the island.
Drinks
11. Cisco Brewery
Cisco is one of the most hopping places on Nantucket! It’s an entirely outdoor brewery that serves beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Pictured below is their “frosé,” which is like a rose slushy!
They have food trucks, often have live music, and it’s overall a great atmosphere (but be ready to face the crowds!).
Ice Cream
12. Juice Bar
Ironically, Juice Bar is far more popular for their ice cream than their juices! And for good reason…it’s amazingly creamy and delicious! They also have homemade waffle cones and bowls that you can smell as you walk down the street, and sometimes you can watch them making them through the window!
Don’t be put off by the long lines – they move deceivingly fast! Only a few people can actually fit inside the shop at one time.
My favorite flavors are heath bar, peanut butter cup, and Crantucket (vanilla with chocolate covered cranberries!).
13. Island Kitchen
Island Kitchen gets a second honorary mention in this post for their ice cream. My favorite was the blueberry pie – it literally tastes like that flavor that’s created when you put ice cream on hot blueberry pie and it all melts together!
Again, IK is mid island, so this is great option outside of town. The shack at Surfside Beach also sells limited Island Kitchen ice cream flavors!
Coffee/tea
14. Roastd General Store
Roastd is mid island, right by The Green. This is the place to go for specialty drinks (like a chocolate bliss or rose matcha), but they have all the classics as well.
However, it’s far more than a coffee shop! They also sell a plethora of CBD wellness and skincare products (and even chocolate!). Lynn, the owner, is always around to answer questions about the products, which she curates herself!
15. Handlebar Cafe
Handlebar is downtown, but their secret garden in the back is a great place to escape to! They have my favorite chai on the island.
Beaches
When it comes to the beaches on Nantucket, there are lots of criteria to look at (access to food/bathrooms, wave size, popularity/crowdedness, lifeguards etc.). I’ve broken down my favorites on the North shore (which have super small waves) and the South Shore (which have big waves).
North shore beaches tend to be better for kids, but south shore beaches are super fun for those who like to ride the waves, boogie board, or surf!
North Shore
1. Jetties Beach
Jetties is a popular North shore beach. There are fun sandbars and lots of shallow water at low tide.
This beach has lifeguards. There is a sit-down restaurant called “The Sandbar” on site where you can grab food and use the restroom. There is also a small playground!
2. Steps Beach
Steps is a gorgeous beach, but keep in mind you have to get up and down all those steps! This a great beach to watch the sunset at.
South Shore
3. Surfside Beach
Surfside Beach was a personal favorite, as I was living in Surfside and it was the easiest to get to. They’ve got the best parking, nice bathrooms, and food available at the shack and taco truck.
This beach has lifeguards (contrary to what the picture below may indicate – I am not one of them 😉 )
4. Miacomet Beach
Miacomet is a great beach that’s a bit off the beaten path and tends to be quieter. You can sit on the side by Miacomet Pond or on the ocean side!
This beach has lifeguards and some port-o-potties.
5. Ladies Beach
Ladies beach is a fun and slightly quieter beach by Barlett Farm. Consider stopping there to grab lunch or snacks to bring to the beach!
This beach does not have lifeguards, so be careful if you decide to play in the big waves.
6. Cisco Beach
Cisco beach is the place to be if you’re a surfer. They rent boards and you can take lessons from instructors there as well. I, myself, preferred sitting on the sand and watching the surfers!
This beach has lifeguards and port-o-potties.
7. Madequecham Beach
This is easily the most remote beach I found on Nantucket! It’s a bit tough to get to – it requires about 20 minutes of driving on dirt roads – but to me, it’s totally worth it.
You won’t find food, lifeguards, or even port-o-potties here, but the lack of crowds is amazing!
I could go on and on about Nantucket, but this guide is a great place to start if you’re planning a trip there or just dreaming of the island! If you have any specific questions, please feel free to email me (molly@balancedandblissful.com) or reach out on Instagram!
Further reading:
