A big thanks to 76 Main Ink Press Hotel for hosting our stay so we could write this review of our experience. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
Every year, as soon as our kids are out of school, we begin our summer travels and always make sure that our itinerary includes stops along the East Coast to visit their cousins. Both last year and this, one of those stops was Nantucket for a quintessential New England summer.
We arrived on the island after a flight from Athens to New York, a night at the TWA hotel at JFK and then a short 37-minute flight from New York to Nantucket. From there, we headed straight to our hotel, 76 Main Ink Press Hotel. Here’s what our stay was like:
76 Main Ink Press Hotel
Nantucket may be best known for its whaling heritage and windswept shores, but 76 Main Ink Press Hotel offers a bold reinterpretation of the island’s storied past. Housed in a lovingly reimagined sea captain’s home (originally built in 1883), and unveiled in 2024, this 20-room boutique hotel brings the island’s media legacy to life with artfully curated design, literary references and just the right dose of retro flair.
The hotel is owned by Bruce Percelay, founder and publisher of N Magazine and The Nantucket Current. The hotel’s ‘ink press’ theme, found throughout, is inspired by his publishing background. Percelay also owns other properties like Nantucket’s 21 Broad and Boston’s Revolution Hotel.
Set on historic Main Street and powered entirely by locally generated solar energy, 76 Main is the only hotel of its kind on the island, marrying sustainable innovation with coastal sophistication. And while the past echoes throughout (from vintage typewriters and antique newspapers to rooms themed around iconic local news events and beloved authors), there’s nothing old-fashioned about the experience.
As a former editor at an interior design magazine and currently a travel editor, the marriage of design and travel is one of my big passions. This hotel delivers on design in a big way and features plenty of ‘wow’ moments within, starting with the newspaper-covered walls pictured above in the reception area. Every space is like a love letter to Nantucket’s rich cultural and literary heritage.
The Rooms
We stayed in two separate rooms to accommodate our family of four. I stayed in a Queen room with our daughter …
… while my husband stayed in the King room next to ours with our son. Our rooms were intimate and I breathed a sigh of contentment as soon as we opened the doors thanks to the easy, breezy, quintessential Nantucket style in a soothing palette of nautical whites and blues.
The beds were deliciously comfortable and the flooring in the bathroom made me smile – the same pattern I have at home.
For the ultimate hideaway, Cottage Suites are also available, which will give guests more space to spread out. They offer private garden escapes for an even heightened home away from home feeling.
The hotel is currently offering three special offers, all available through October 2025. One example is
Nantucket by Sea: Immerse yourself in the coastal charm of Nantucket with this exclusive offer featuring premium caviar and Nantucket Crisps, a gourmet charcuterie spread from Lemon Press, stylish beach essentials from Four Winds, a signed Elin Hilderbrand novel and a curated bottle of wine from Current Vintage. Available through October 2025 with a minimum 3-night stay and 10-day advance booking required. View all offers and book here.
Common Spaces
It’s easy to linger at 76 Main Ink Press. There are so many gorgeous common spaces that just beg guests to sit down and stay a while. Throughout the hotel, commissioned artwork and vintage media artifacts celebrate Nantucket’s unique place in publishing history. The result? A stay that feels more like inhabiting a storybook than booking a room.
In the mornings, guests can enjoy a continental breakfast in the kitchen (included and served from 8am to 10:30am) and it was one of my favorite parts of our stay. We met many of the other guests each day, over tea, coffee and pastries.
Free drinks were available throughout the day and cookies, snacks and drinks were served between 5pm and 7pm.
All the staff members we met and interacted with were wonderful. Our son has a number of food allergies and they went out of their way to find snacks that were safe for him to eat. It’s hard to express how much that kind of service and kindness means.
Location
You can’t beat the hotel’s location, just steps from downtown’s bustling cobblestone streets. Step outside the hotel and you’ll find yourself in the heart of the action in under a minute. You’ll find lots of great shopping; my first stop was Hill House Home, the quaint dress shop known for its iconic nap dresses … the perfect Nantucket wear! Thanks to the island’s ban on chain retailers, you’ll find plenty of boutiques, one-of-a-kind shops and local artisans, along with galleries and charming cafes to pop into.
We also never miss a chance to visit the Hospital Thrift Shop. Founded in 1929 by a devoted band of women who began knitting, sewing and selling homemade goods to support Nantucket Cottage Hospital, the Hospital Thrift Shop has since evolved into a charming institution housed at 17 India Street in a lovingly preserved 1792 building. Each summer, it overflows with three floors of thoughtfully curated secondhand clothing, books, housewares and furniture, all generously donated by islanders and visitors alike.
More than just a bargain hunter’s paradise, the shop is a beacon for community spirit: the proceeds from each season’s sales have raised over $8 million for medical equipment and hospital improvements, including recent record-setting gifts of around $600,000 per year. Charming, sustainable and deeply rooted in island history, it’s an essential stop for travelers seeking a genuine taste of Nantucket’s heart and heritage.
Dinner
When it’s time for dinner, check out any of the island’s many restaurants, taverns and waterfront bars. We dined at The Proprietors Bar & Table, one of the hotel’s partner restaurants and known as a must-eat spot on the island. It’s nestled in the heart of downtown Nantucket on India Street in a charming clapboard building.
It’s warm and cozy inside with exposed wooden beams and stamped tin ceilings … and the food is delicious. They have lots of interesting drink options and to eat, we enjoyed a sampling of tasty eats like fried broccoli, roasted chicken and lemon meringue pie ice cream.
Since we had just arrived on the island from Europe, the jet lag started to set in and we were happy to call it a night and head back to 76 Main for a deep, jet-lag induced sleep in their welcoming and comfortable beds.
Getting Around
It’s easy to get around Nantucket thanks to the Nantucket Wave. We were able to jump on the free shuttle just a short walk from the hotel and from there, were able to make it to the other side of the island where my brother-in-law lives in about 20 minutes.
The kids love riding the shuttle and once in Madaket, we enjoyed time at the beach …
… and of course, ice cream at Millie’s.
The shuttle runs every 30 minutes and was an easy journey to the hotel when we were ready to head back.
Our stay at 76 Main exceeded expectation, from the service and the overall charm of the property to the location. It’s the perfect getaway for couples or families looking for a quintessentially American summer vacation. We made memories to last a lifetime and hope to return again soon. Book your stay here.
KEEP READING: Explore Nantucket Like a Pro With These Essential Tips From a Local
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