While pricey (even by Nantucket standards), Galley Beach is one of the most scenic spots to have a drink on the island. Dip your feet in the sand while you enjoy a well-crafted spritz at the beach lounge and bar, open all day. The sunset views here are spectacular.

Drinkers and diners can make reservations 14 days in advance of their visit.

This bistro and sushi bar takes its culinary inspiration from countries found on the 41st parallel, including Spain, Italy, and Japan. The Japanese influence looms largest on the drink menu, where you’ll find a few Japanese beers, an extensive menu of sake, and cocktails like a cucumber vodka-based martini with sake, passionfruit, and lychee. And If you’re looking for a little taste of Nantucket without leaving Boston, check out its sister restaurant in the Seaport, Lola 42.

Drinkers and diners can make same-day reservations by phone.

Perched above an art gallery and an antique store, Òran Mór is quintessential Nantucket with its homey, subtly nautical decor. The intimate round bar looks like something out of a captain’s cabin, embellished with maritime quotes and illustrations. It may not look like a spot for trendy drinks, but the menu is creative and modern with a perfect mix of spirit-forward cocktails and more tropical, refreshing libations.

Òran Mór is requesting that customers are fully vaccinated. Reserve here.

If you’re looking for outdoor drinking and craving an aperitivo or a glass of wine, look no further than Ventuno’s Back Bar. This charming outdoor bar behind Italian restaurant Ventuno is picture-perfect with its bright red chairs and white trellis strung with lights. The bar offers a short but stellar menu of cocktails and Italian wines by the glass, which can be paired with Ventuno’s delicious antipasti.

Drinkers and diners can make reservations here.

This is the spot for unpretentious and expertly crafted cocktails and a well-selected list of wines (and several sakes) by the glass. The reserve options come with colorful descriptions like “not your mother’s chardonnay” and “orange juice from Italian nuns.”

Drinkers and diners must make reservations, which are released daily at 10 a.m. and can be booked up to seven days in advance. The Nautilus is requiring customers to wear masks whenever they are not seated at their table.

This longtime Nantucket institution underwent a complete revamp in 2017 when it reopened under new ownership. Set apart from the retro dining room, the marble-topped bar runs the length of the historic train car that gives the restaurant its name. Like the space, the cocktail menu is funky and playful, with unique takes on classics like the paloma (containing two tequilas and grapefruit three ways), and the Aperol spritz (made with, among other ingredients, pickled kumquats). The famous piano is still there, and as the bar fills up, patrons will inevitably start singing along.

Reservations can be made up to two months in advance online or by calling the restaurant directly.

Or the Whale (stylized as or, The Whale and named after the subtitle of Moby Dick) has a cheery and elegant dining room, with embellished white tiles and sea-blue accents. There’s a small but solid cocktail menu featuring classics like the Old Fashioned and Negroni done right, as well as a carefully curated selection of wines by the glass. If it’s a nice evening, opt for a seat on the spacious and charming back patio.

Reservations can be made here.

It’s not hard to find a good list of wines by the bottle on Nantucket, but if you want that same selection and quality without the commitment, head to Petrichor Wine Bar. Everything on the list of over 50 wines is available by the glass, served alongside a menu of appetizers and small plates perfect for pairing. Petrichor has a cozy but chic interior and a full liquor license.  

Petrichor is open on a first come, first served basis.

No trip to Nantucket is complete without visiting Cisco Brewers, located about two and a half miles from downtown. It feels less like a conventional brewery and more like an outdoor festival, with multiple bars, tents, and food vendors daily. (COVID-19 may impact this vibe. Call ahead to confirm day-to-day details.) It’s also child- and dog-friendly. If you’re without a car or bike, never fear; a shuttle van makes the trip from 23 Federal St. every 20 minutes. You’ll probably need it after you sample Cisco’s extensive range of beers or have a few Triple Eight cocktails.