Review: Faraway Nantucket

Why book?

Nantucket is a funny kind of beach destination, one where you go as much for the wide sandy beaches as you do the charms of the towns and the history. Faraway leans into the latter, conveniently smack in the middle of town with bikes to get you to the sand, but a contemporary design and pumping patio scene to make you want to come back again.

Set the scene

Nantucket is already a scene, from the generations of New Englanders in their popped collars and red pants who ferry in for the warmer months to the artsy types that live there year-round. What Faraway does is smartly, subtly, create a vibe that feels like something fresh for the island—but also entirely of the island. The collection of four 200-year-old houses that comprise the property are charming with their wooden porches and shingled exteriors, keeping the right amount of familiarity. But the thoughtfully designed restaurant, Sister Ship, with its long cocktail bar and terrace that sweeps across the property’s entire courtyard, adds a healthy amount of cool to what has traditionally been a charming, but not exactly edgy, vacation destination. Manhattanites and Los Angelenos (yes, there were Californians there!) mingle in these spaces, creating a scene that feels fresh.

The backstory

The Faraway is a project from Boston-based Blue Flag partners who started developing the concept in 2019; it’s managed by Life House, whose own property is a short walk up the hill, a bit further out of the town center. Blue Flag created the property with a narrative attached, a former islander who stowed away on a ship, returning home with a fortune and great stories, and filling these homes with all her treasures—another subtle way the property leans into local lore, without making it feel kitsch.

The rooms

The rooms are extremely tasteful and feel more like a well appointed New England home than a hotel. A selection of queen, king, and sophisticated bunk rooms fill the four homes, and are all breezy and light to create a lot of warmth in the space. There are a lot of blond woods and pastel linens and minimal furniture, so rooms feel remarkably uncluttered considering the size of the homes. We were on a top-floor suite, which was spacious enough to fit my family of three very comfortably. The design is smart and fun at the same time. Patterned wallpapers and rattan chandeliers punch up the spaces and give it some quirk. Rooms have mini-fridges, which I found extremely useful in keeping my snacks and drinks cool, while bathrooms are comfortable with Le Labo products and spacious showers.

Food and drink

The hotel is extremely well thought out and designed, and you may feel this most via the food and drink. In a town filled with outdoor drinking terraces, the terrace you want to be on is at Faraway. It is a total delight, with its rattan furniture, vintage umbrellas, potted plants, and outdoor sofas making it the place to be for cocktail hour, where the bar mixes up a stellar original cocktail list (no mudslides here). Book a table in advance, as you may compete with the whole town to get a space. The vibe (and exceptional design) carries through into Sister Ship, the life blood of the hotel and a fine destination restaurant all its own. The bar recalls 1920s glamour spots in Paris with its vintage lamps and brass shelves, while the restaurant is a mash-up of thoughtfully designed spaces that can feel like you are dining in the exquisite home of someone far more interesting and sophisticated than yourself. Lots of throws, pillows, and nautical touches. The menu is seasonal and New American, and could include Atlantic scallops and a bounty of New England produce, or delicate halibut Provencal.

The neighborhood/area

The hotel is really in the middle of town (on Centre Street, no less). For my money you can't beat the location. I loved walking out of bed and cruising the streets for a coffee in the wee hours, or people watching from the terrace. Everything is a stroll away, including one of the many beaches in the area. Grab a free hotel bike to explore the island a little more. Breakfast wasn't offered during my stay, so each morning we strolled down the cobbled road to pick up coffee and bagels and then brought them back to enjoy on the hotel’s porch, which was actually a lovely way to start each day.

The service

The service was fine. Nothing remarkable. A little cool at times, but they got the job done eventually. I had to ask for a few things that should have been explained to me upfront, which I found a little disappointing; but overall the experience was lovely. In full transparency, this stay coincided with the industry experiencing a major staff shortage. A lot of the team seemed new, young, and temporary, so I would let any minor issues slide. Overall it worked.

For families

There is no pool and very little common space for kids to play in. If you book a larger room, you can easily fit a Pack ’n Play, etc. One nice feature is that the quad room, which has two sets of bunk beds, can connect to a queen or king to accommodate families. That being said, it’s not a no-brainer hotel to come to with your kids. But the nice side of that is that it keeps the restaurant and terrace crowd cool and kid-free in a big way.

Anything left to mention?

For its location and patio scene alone, this is the place to book in Nantucket. Great for couples or a group of friends.