Restaurant in Nantucket, United States

The Nautilus

Name: The Nautilus
Address: 12 Cambridge Street, Nantucket, Nantucket, US
Telephone: +1(508) 228-0301

275Pearl Points

Wine-first dinner

About The Nautilus

The Nautilus is the right Nantucket pick for a dinner-first night in town, especially if wine matters. Its 2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence and Star Wine List recognition make it a stronger choice for a planned evening than a casual fallback, though lunch seekers should look elsewhere.

For a Nantucket dinner that is easiest to evaluate on verified basics, The Nautilus is a strong candidate for diners planning around evening hours and confirmed wine recognition. The available details are limited, so the safest read is practical: it is a smart-casual Nantucket restaurant open in the evening from Thursday through Sunday, with recognition from Wine Spectator and Star Wine List.

The practical verdict is simple: consider it when the goal is dinner in Nantucket with a clear wine-recognition signal. Skip it if the priority is lunch or a fully documented cuisine lane, because the verified details here do not include lunch hours, cuisine, chef, named dishes, pricing, or dietary information. The schedule points to an evening plan rather than an all-day stop.

A Nantucket dinner pick with verified wine recognition

The strongest verified credential here is the wine recognition: Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2026 and Star Wine List recognition in 2026. That matters for diners who use wine recognition as part of the decision, especially when choosing between Nantucket dinner options.

Because the cuisine, chef, named dishes are not specified here, the smarter approach is not to arrive locked onto a particular order. Treat the visit as a dinner decision supported by confirmed wine recognition, then check the current menu and official details before you go if specific dishes, allergies, or dietary needs will determine whether the restaurant works for your group.

Who should choose it, who should cross-shop

Choose The Nautilus if the night needs a Nantucket dinner slot, smart-casual dress, wine recognition from outside sources. Cross-shop Cru, Breeze Restaurant, Lemon Press l Restaurant, Catering & Private Event Space, The Pearl, Via Mare when you are comparing other dining options for the same trip.

For planning, the useful verified signal is that this is not an all-week operation. The posted hours are Thursday and Sunday from 5:30–10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5:30–11 PM; it is closed Monday through Wednesday. Confirm current booking details through the restaurant's official channels before you go.

For broader planning around the trip, use our full Nantucket restaurants guide, then pair dinner with Nantucket ideas from our full Nantucket hotels guide, our full Nantucket bars guide, our full Nantucket wineries guide, our full Nantucket experiences guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I order at The Nautilus?

The verified information does not specify signature dishes, cuisine, or a chef. The clearest confirmed signal is wine recognition: The Nautilus has Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence recognition and Star Wine List recognition for 2026. Check the current menu before you go if a specific dish or style of dining matters.

Is The Nautilus good for solo dining?

The verified details do not confirm seating style or a solo-dining setup. It may still work as a Nantucket dinner option if the posted evening hours suit your plan, but solo diners should check current availability and seating details before booking.

Does The Nautilus handle dietary restrictions?

The verified information does not specify dietary or allergy accommodations. If your needs are strict, check the venue's official channels before planning dinner.

What are alternatives to The Nautilus in Nantucket?

Cross-shop Cru, The Pearl, Via Mare, Lemon Press l Restaurant, Catering & Private Event Space, Breeze Restaurant when comparing other dining options for the same trip.

Is lunch or dinner better at The Nautilus?

Dinner is the clear choice based on the verified schedule, which lists evening hours from Thursday through Sunday. No lunch hours are verified, so plan around the posted evening schedule and confirm current details before you go.

Location

12 Cambridge Street, Nantucket

Nantucket, United States

Compare The Nautilus

The Nantucket dinner comparison

The Nautilus is the town-center dinner choice for readers who care about wine recognition and a focused evening schedule. Compared with Lemon Press l Restaurant, Catering & Private Event Space, it is less of a casual-flexibility play and more of a planned dinner decision.

Against Cru, the tradeoff is setting versus wine signal: Cru is the better fit when waterfront mood leads the decision, while The Nautilus is stronger when the table wants a town dinner anchored by a serious list. Breeze Restaurant is the safer hotel-setting alternative for groups that want convenience and less edge.

The Pearl and Via Mare are the right cross-shops when the question is less about logistics and more about the exact mood of the night.

Where to look if the timing does not work

Try Cru if the group wants a more scenic Nantucket dinner, or Breeze Restaurant if hotel convenience and an easier mixed-group setting matter more than a wine-led meal.

For a more casual or daytime-friendly backup, Lemon Press l Restaurant, Catering & Private Event Space is the cleaner alternative.

How it compares in Nantucket

Lemon Press l Restaurant, Catering & Private Event Space is the better fit for casual flexibility and daytime-leaning plans, while The Nautilus is the stronger dinner pick when wine matters. If the group wants a lower-pressure meal or catering/private-event practicality, Lemon Press is easier to justify; if the night is built around a central dinner, choose The Nautilus.

Cru is the cross-shop when waterfront atmosphere is the priority. The Nautilus makes more sense for readers who want a town dinner with recognized wine depth, while Cru is the more obvious call for a scenic, occasion-driven setting. Breeze Restaurant is the softer option for hotel convenience and mixed-age groups.

The Pearl and Via Mare sit closer to The Nautilus as evening alternatives, so the decision comes down to mood and availability. With easy booking noted for The Nautilus, it is a practical first try before moving to peers if the preferred dinner slot is gone.