Review Author

Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Family Travel Columnist & Contributing Editor

Some hotels dazzle with rooftop bars and Instagrammable light fixtures. The Beachside Hotel on Nantucket charms in a different way—with cannonballs, popsicles by the pool, and marshmallows toasted just past golden. It’s the kind of place where the most important decision of the day is whether to head to the beach or stay poolside a little longer.

Blue Flag co-founder Jason Brown—also a dad of three—wanted to create a place where his own family could unwind. You can tell. The place has a sense of ease that only comes from someone who’s traveled with goldfish crackers in their back pocket.

Design & Character

In a world packed with “experiential” hotels that overthink everything, Beachside is a deep breath. It reminds you that vacation doesn’t need to be curated to be meaningful. Sometimes, it just needs a pool, some stars overhead, and a reason to stay outside until you’re sleepy.

Tucked just off North Beach Street, this 1960s inn has been reimagined by Blue Flag Capital into something quietly magical: a summer retreat that leans into nostalgia without being kitsch. It doesn’t try too hard. Instead, it brings back the kind of vacation where time stretches, kids roam a little freer, and parents—maybe—forget where they left their phones.

The Rooms

Instead of Nantucket’s usual palette of navy and white, the interiors lean warm: terracotta, forest green, and creamy neutrals. Think wood-paneled charm, not polished chrome. Rooms are generous and unfussy—some with balconies made for drying swimsuits and sipping something cold after sunset. It’s not precious. That’s the point.

Food & Drinks

The Swim Club, Beachside’s poolside bar and restaurant, serves food that’s both fun and surprisingly fresh. For light grazing: coconut-crusted shrimp with sweet chili dip, zesty guacamole, or tacos (blackened swordfish, shrimp, or maitake mushroom). The all-day menu leans nostalgic—smash burgers, breakfast sandwiches, a BLT on sourdough with slab bacon—plus kids’ classics like grilled cheese and chicken tenders. Cocktails are easygoing and summery: frozen spritzes, cold beer, and wines that go well with salt and sun.

Amenities

The pool area is the true hub of activity. A big mahogany deck wraps around the main pool, with a smaller one off to the side just for kids. There are loungers, shade umbrellas, and a pool bar serving cocktails that somehow taste better after swimming. One family spent nearly six hours straight out there, pausing only for grilled cheese and sunscreen.

Inside, the game room is a time warp—in the best way. There’s air hockey, arcade classics, and that particular kind of soft lighting that says: no rush. It’s not trying to be a theme park. It’s just a great hang.

And unlike family resorts that run like cruise ships, the programming here is minimal, which feels almost luxurious. There might be a lawn movie, a craft station, or s’mores at the fire pit, but no laminated schedules or megaphones.  You’re free to wander—or not.

Though designed with families in mind, adults haven’t been forgotten. There are quiet corners for reading, cocktails at golden hour, and enough breathing room to make everyone feel like they’re on vacation.

Location & Neighborhood Recs

One of Beachside’s greatest strengths is its location. Jetties Beach is just a short walk away. No piling into cars, no frantic bag packing. Just grab a towel and go. And a short bike ride or walk gets you to the heart of Nantucket town. Stop into Erica Wilson for coastal-inspired finds, browse Nantucket Bookworks for your next beach read, or cool off with a scoop of rum raisin from The Juice Bar. For dinner, Sister Ship serves up elevated Mediterranean–inspired small plates in a lush courtyard atmosphere, or head to Brant Point Grill for fine dining and a view of the docks.

Fast Facts

Location: Nantucket, MA 

Rating: Four-star

The Vibe: A sun-warmed 1970s summer, complete with cannonballs and cocktails

Food + Drink: Swim Club, the poolside restaurant and bar, serves up everything from frozen spritz and tacos to classic burgers. 

Amenities: Main pool, kids’ pool, fire pits, arcade-style game room, occasional movie nights, and crafts.

Our Favorite Thing: The nostalgic design details— terracotta tones, and a ’70s-style game room—that make the whole place feel like a beautifully imagined summer memory.

What’s Nearby? Jetties Beach, downtown shops, bike path.

Rooms: 93

Pricing: From $250 in off-season and $599 in peak season.

Closest Airport: Nantucket Memorial (ACK); ferries run from Hyannis