Nantucket tastes like buttered lobster rolls, espresso on cobblestones, and a spritz with your toes in the sand. It’s a place where meals turn into memories, and sometimes the best thing you order isn’t on the plate but in the glass. Some spots wowed me with their plates, others with their pours – and a few managed both. So instead of ranking, I’m matching them. The dish worth ordering, and the drink worth crossing the street (or island) for. Consider it a mix-and-match guide to eating and sipping your way through the Grey Lady.
Eat Here: Cru
Cru is a Nantucket postcard come to life – the harbor glittering, martinis clinking, oysters chilled on ice. I skipped the lobster roll (locals say it’s worth the splurge) and went straight for the briny oysters, best enjoyed with their signature Crucumber martini.
Drink There: Ethos
If Cru is all sunlight and spectacle, Ethos is the opposite: candlelit and moody. The wine list is extensive without being pretentious, and the White Burgundy left us wishing we’d just gone for the whole bottle.
Eat Here: Millie’s
Skip the food truck at Cisco and bike out to Madaket for the full Millie’s experience. It’s casual, coastal, and made for post-beach appetites. The lobster roll is generous (a little mayo-heavy), but the real highlights are the fried oyster tacos and swordfish skewers. Insane. With a picnic table full of friends, salty air, and plates worth talking about long after – this is Nantucket at its most effortless.
Drink There: Cisco Brewery
After Millie’s, make your way to Cisco, the island’s beloved social destination. It’s equal parts brewery, distillery, and winery – a true Nantucket institution. Picnic tables are packed, live music drifts, dogs wander, strangers become friends. Order a flight, lose track of time, and settle in. It’s the kind of place you don’t want to rush.
Eat Here: 167 Raw
My hunt for the island’s best lobster roll ended here. Sweet chunks of lobster, barely dressed in mayo, spilling from a buttery, toasted roll that left our fingers sticky and shiny. Best enjoyed at a picnic table out back, where the whole setup feels like peak summer Americana. Pro tip: add the ceviche to your order.
Drink There: Lola 41
Dinner feels overpriced and underwhelming, but the bar is a different story. The lights are low, the room hums with conversation, and the bartenders clearly know their way around a shaker. It’s the kind of place you slip into for “just one” and end up staying through two more rounds.
Eat Here: Bar Yoshi
When the craving shifts from lobster rolls to sashimi, Bar Yoshi delivers. The crudo and rolls impress, but it’s the Piggy Rice everyone insists on ordering – savory, rich, and unforgettable. And while technically an eat-here pick, their espresso martini deserves its own spotlight: silky, strong, and shaken just right.
Drink There: Galley Beach
Golden hour means Galley Beach. Yes, the cocktails come with a steep price tag. But with your toes in the sand, glass in hand, and the Atlantic glowing in front of you, it feels less like a splurge and more like money well spent.
Eat Here: Wicked Island Bakery
If you know, you know: order the morning bun. Locals line up for it, visitors plan their mornings around it, and after one bite, I understood why. Flaky, sugary, just the right balance of sweet and citrusy. Easily the best pastry of the trip… and that’s saying something.
Drink There: Handlebar
Handlebar wins my iced latte award. Strong espresso, perfect milk-to-coffee ratio, and a mountain of crushed ice. Simple, spot-on, and exactly what you want after a night of one too many cocktails.
Eat Here: Sconset Market
The Sconset cookie has a cult following, and for good reason. It’s chewy, chocolate-packed, and most likely gone before you’ve even hit your bike. The market itself only adds to the charm; cozy and old-fashioned, with shelves stacked like a time capsule by the sea.
Drink There: Lemon Press
Balance comes easy at Lemon Press. Smoothies arrive frothy and jewel-toned (the açai and mango are top-tier), best enjoyed while wandering the farmers market and drifting through town.
The Exceptions: Eat and Drink Here
Nautilus
The spot to clear your calendar for. Nautilus is snug, buzzy, and worth the waitlist shuffle (if you can, snag a seat at the bar). Go heavy on the shared plates (the tuna lettuce cups and steamed pork buns are standouts) and let the cocktails keep pace. We tried several, and each was bright, balanced, and just inventive enough to feel special without trying too hard. We loved everything about Nautilius.
Straight Wharf Fish
Harborfront dining at its best. The lobster roll here is one of the island’s finest – rich, flavorful, and indulgent. But don’t stop there: the oysters are briny perfection, and the wild shrimp salad was a surprise favorite we couldn’t stop talking about. Pair it all with something from their thoughtful (yet unfussy) wine list, and if you can, time your reservation for golden hour.
Until next time, Nantucket.