Union Street Inn
Nantucket Town, Nantucket
Hotel in Nantucket, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Union Street Inn is a small, calm alternative to Nantucket's larger resort properties, with a downtown location that puts you walking distance from the island's best dining and waterfront. Best suited to returning Nantucket visitors who want a quiet, well-positioned base rather than resort amenities. Book 6–8 weeks out for summer; shoulder season is easier and often better value.
About Union Street Inn
Is Union Street Inn Worth Booking in Nantucket?
If you want a quieter, more intimate alternative to Nantucket's larger hotel properties, Union Street Inn at 7 Union St is worth serious consideration. It sits in the heart of historic downtown Nantucket, which means cobblestone-street proximity to the best of the island's dining, shopping, and waterfront without the need for a car or shuttle. The trade-off is scale: this is a small inn, not a resort, so if you're expecting a pool, spa, or on-site restaurant, look at White Elephant Harborside Hotel or The Wauwinet instead.
The atmosphere here leans toward calm and residential. The energy is low-key mornings and quiet evenings rather than the social-scene buzz you'd find at a larger property. If you've stayed once and found the pace right for you, a return visit makes sense for the same reasons: the location is hard to beat for walkability, and a smaller inn means more attentive hosting than a 100-room hotel can realistically deliver. For guests returning to Nantucket who already know the island, Union Street Inn functions as a reliable base rather than a destination in itself.
On room category: because the inn is small, the difference between room tiers matters more here than at a large resort. At a boutique inn of this size, the incremental cost to upgrade to a larger or better-positioned room typically delivers a meaningful improvement in comfort — natural light, quieter outlook, or more floor space — rather than just marginal perks. If you're deciding between a standard room and an upgrade, the upgrade almost always wins at this scale. Book directly and ask specifically about room positioning relative to the street; a quieter rear-facing room is generally preferable if noise sensitivity matters to you.
Booking is direct. Nantucket is a seasonal market, so peak summer weeks (late June through August) fill fast across all properties. Book at least 6–8 weeks ahead for July and August. Shoulder season, May, early June, and September, offers more availability and typically better rates, with the island still fully operational. For more options across the island, see our full Nantucket hotels guide. If dining is central to your trip, our full Nantucket restaurants guide covers the island's leading options, since Union Street Inn does not appear to operate its own restaurant.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 7 Union St, Nantucket, MA 02554
- Location type: Downtown Nantucket, walkable to shops, restaurants, and waterfront
- Scale: Small inn; expect boutique-level hosting, not resort amenities
- Booking window: 6–8 weeks minimum for July/August; shoulder season easier
- Booking difficulty: Easy
- Room tip: Ask for a rear-facing room if street noise is a concern
- Leading for: Couples and solo travelers seeking a quiet, walkable Nantucket base
- Explore more: Nantucket bars | Nantucket experiences | Nantucket wineries
Planning details
- Location
- 7 Union St, Nantucket, MA 02554
- Website
- unioninn.com
- Phone
- +1 508 228 9222
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Union Street Inn presents itself as a small, historic Nantucket lodging that leans into architectural character and a residential setting. The white clapboard exterior and Federal- and Greek-Revival details emphasize a classic, old-island sensibility rather than contemporary resort programming. The property reads as quietly refined: rooms are part of an inn-format experience that prizes intimacy and a slower pace. Guests arrive expecting a low-key, genteel atmosphere focused on proximity to cobblestone streets and town life rather than on on-site entertainment or large amenity complexes.
Best For
This inn is best for travelers who prioritize historic character and a walkable Nantucket base over full-service resort amenities. It suits couples and small-party visitors seeking an intimate, low-key stay close to the Historic District, Main Street shops and restaurants, and the Steamship Authority ferry docks. Guests who prefer staying in a preserved island house and spending time exploring town and nearby dining options will find the inn’s scale and residential location appealing. Those wanting pools or extensive on-site programming should look elsewhere.
Stay Tips
Plan to handle most meals off property: the write-up notes that inn-format properties in this price tier frequently do not operate full-service restaurants. That makes Union Street Inn a practical base for dining out in Nantucket’s concentrated Main Street restaurant scene. Use the short walk into town to sample nearby restaurants and shops rather than relying on in-house dining; prepare to make reservations during peak season when island restaurants are busy. The inn’s location makes exploring town on foot the sensible dining strategy.
Venue details
Ambiance
Crisp, elegant atmosphere with soft colors, unique artwork, and serene garden patio for breakfast.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Amenities
View
About the Stay
- Rooms
- 12
- Check-in
- 15:00
- Check-out
- 11:00
- Property Style
- Historic 1770 Whaling Captain's Home with Modern Boutique Renovations
- Design Style
- Crisp New England by Way of France with Luxury Antiques and Designer Furnishings
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 7 Union St, Nantucket, MA 02554
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- The Brant, Notable alternative
- The Wauwinet, Notable alternative
- White Elephant Harborside Hotel, Notable alternative
- 76 Main Ink Press Hotel, Notable alternative
- Greydon House, Notable alternative
Hotel context
How Union Street Inn Compares to Other Nantucket Hotels
Against the island's larger properties, Union Street Inn occupies the quieter, more intimate end of the market. White Elephant Harborside Hotel is the obvious choice if you want resort-level amenities, waterfront position, on-site dining, and more room category range, but you'll pay a premium and the experience is considerably more social. The Wauwinet is the island's most polished full-service option, with a strong restaurant and a secluded feel; choose it over Union Street Inn if service depth and dining matter more than downtown walkability.
Greydon House and 76 Main Ink Press Hotel are the most direct comparisons, both are boutique downtown properties with a similar intimate scale. Greydon House has a stronger food-and-drink program if on-site dining is a priority. 76 Main Ink Press skews slightly more design-forward. Union Street Inn is the right call if you want the simplest, most low-key downtown base without paying for amenities you won't use.
The Brant and The Cottages at Nantucket Boat Basin serve different travel profiles: The Cottages suit those who want a harbor-adjacent experience with more space, while The Brant is worth checking for guests who want a newer product. For first-time visitors unsure which Nantucket property suits them, our full Nantucket hotels guide lays out the full competitive set with clear recommendations by travel type.
Explore Nantucket
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Union Street Inn guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Union Street Inn
| Venue | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Union Street Inn | 2025 Michelin Selected Hotels | Easy |
| The Brant | 2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key | Unknown |
| The Wauwinet | 2026 Forbes 4-Star2026 Relais Chateaux Hotels2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2025 Relais Chateaux Award2025 Forbes 4-Star2024 Michelin 1 Key | Unknown |
| White Elephant Harborside Hotel | 2026 Forbes Recommended2025 Michelin Selected Hotels2025 Forbes Recommended | Unknown |
| 76 Main Ink Press Hotel | 2026 La Liste Top Hotels | Unknown |
| Greydon House | No published awards | Unknown |
A quick look at how Union Street Inn measures up.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to book Union Street Inn?
Book as early as possible if you're visiting between June and September — Nantucket fills up fast in peak season and small properties like Union Street Inn at 7 Union St have limited room inventory. Shoulder season (May or October) gives you better availability and a calmer island experience, which suits an intimate property like this better than a high-summer rush.
How is the location of Union Street Inn?
7 Union St puts you close to Nantucket's historic downtown core, which means ferry docks, restaurants, and the main shopping strip are walkable. For a Nantucket stay, that kind of central positioning matters — the island rewards walkers and cyclists, and you won't need a car for most of town. It's a practical address for a first-time visitor or anyone who wants to move around easily without relying on a shuttle.
How does Union Street Inn compare to nearby hotels?
Union Street Inn is the right call if you want a smaller, quieter property over a full-service hotel experience. The Wauwinet and White Elephant offer more amenities and waterfront settings, but they come at a significantly higher price point and have a more resort-style feel. If you want central access to town without the scale of those properties, Union Street Inn competes on intimacy and location rather than facilities.
Do loyalty programs work at Union Street Inn?
Independent inns like Union Street Inn typically don't participate in chain loyalty programs such as Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. If hotel points are a factor in your decision, The White Elephant Harborside Hotel is the better fit — chain-affiliated properties in Nantucket are the exception, not the rule, so set expectations accordingly before booking.
