Nantucket, MassachusettsDowntown Nantucket
White Elephant Nantucket
Harborfront island institution
Downtown Nantucket Nantucket, Massachusetts
Renovated
2023
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Classic Heritage LocalOutside the door
The house
White Elephant ResortsHarborfront island institution
Days revolve around the waterfront lawn, where guests watch boats glide past before gathering for afternoon port in the library.
“White Elephant has been a Nantucket landmark for nearly a century, with more rooms than a typical inn but without sacrificing the intimacy…”
What it’s good at
Notable
Island artist residencies, custom basket-weave carpets, and harbor boat shuttles to sister restaurants.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Forbes Recommended
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
It’s more or less everything you’d want from a Nantucket hotel — classic style, sunny nautical interiors, close-up sea views — and a few things...
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Children's Beach sits just down Easton Street, and the cobblestones and boutiques of downtown Main Street are a short walk away.
The rooms
Grasscloth lines the walls beneath sky-blue ceilings, and harborview suites add private balconies with working gas fireplaces.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A heated saltwater swimming pool sits bordered by private cabanas at the Inn and Residences enclave.
The spa
Three treatment rooms host marine algae body wraps and massages beside a fireside relaxation lounge overlooking the harbor.
At the table
Brant Point Grill serves lobster rolls and local Duxbury oysters on an awning-covered deck overlooking the harbor.
All around, the décor is classic and mostly neutral — white duvets, brown leather headboards and white plantation shutters are accented with plaid and floral fabrics.
How it began
When Elizabeth Ludwig built seaside cottages here in 1923, skeptics mocked her plan as a white elephant, giving the hotel its name.
“The hotel sits directly on Nantucket Harbor, just a few blocks away from downtown, with a broad waterfront lawn serving as the hotel’s social heart.”
Good to know
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White Elephant Nantucket
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.