As far as large Canadian cities go, Halifax tends to coast a bit under the radar. From end to end, the city has a great cultural and historic range, beautiful parks, and arguably the best boardwalk in Canada. And while all eyes are new Michelin Stars in other provinces, Halifax chefs are quietly and collectively breaking the fine dining mould. From petite spaces to grand culinary concepts, Halifax has a loudly beating culinary heart rooted in local ingredients and people who grow them.
One can easily spend an entire week leisurely exploring Halifax, dedicating mornings to tourism attractions and evenings to sampling the city’s bites and sips. An ideal visit should take three to five days, topped up by a day or two if you include some day trips. But if a weekend is all you have, the city will still embrace you with open arms.
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This trip was hosted by Discover Halifax who did not review or approve this story.
All images by Kateryna Topol.
Do sleep in North End Halifax
North End Halifax isn’t far from the Downtown, but its wide range of offerings and unique atmosphere set a different scene from the city centre. Here, low-rise houses with decorative porches line the streets. The laidback energy calls for slow strolls around the neigbourhood, peaking into independent shops and cafes and enjoying meals outdoors. In the evening, the energy vibrates through the dimly lit windows of bars and restaurants where people pack in to enjoy some of the city’s best culinary experiences. Stay one, to two nights to properly enjoy the neigbourhood.
What to do in North End Halifax
Explore the Forth Needham Memorial Park and the Hydrostone neigbourhood, known for its’ circa-1920s row houses and the Hydrostone Market. Pop into the 14 Bells Fine Art Gallery before crossing over to Agricola. Slow stroll through Agricola Street, stopping by various boutique shops and get lost at the Halifax Vintage Co-op. Find unique housewares and decor at Isle at Ease or stationery at Cahier Stationery & Life Goods. Pick up a whole new outfit shopping across small local clothing stores like Sattva Boutique, Nor’easter Apparel, Slowly Slowly, and Meyvn Sustainable Apparel.
As you walk, pay attention to the many street art pieces found across North End Halifax, this can be its own guided tour. For a more active adventure, rent some skates and cruise around the Emera Oval.
Breakfast, lunch, or call it brunch
North End Halifax is home to many exciting restaurants, bars, and cafes, many of which are open during the day. But first, pick up a coffee at Rambler’s or Espresso 46 on the opposite side of the neigbourhood. Espresso 46 is ajesent to Warehouse Market, where crowds of locals come to stock up on fresh farm vegetables, baked goods, and butchery products.
Testing out the Happy Patina bifold wallet, handcrafted in Spain from natural full-grain leather. The wallet comes with an all-natural leather care kit, so it can last you a lifetime. The care and attention to detail that goes into the Happy Patina lineup of leather goods certainly made us do a double-take. From November 25th to December 3rd, 2025, customers can enjoy 15 % off all collections and complimentary gift wrapping.
Cucumber and Muffuletta sandwich, with mortadella, Genoa salami, and Swiss cheese.
Have a casual breakfast or lunch at Luke’s Small Goods, where tasty sandwiches are made among interesting pantry staples and baked goods. The menu might seem simple, but each sandwich is packed with flavour. Even the typically simple cucumber sandwich stood on par with fresh Italian cold cuts. Add chips and a pickle to any sando for two bucks.
Opt-in for a sit-down lunch at Edna, nestled at the edge of the neighbourhood on Gottingen Street. This bistro has a cosy atmosphere with a laidback vibe, serves up seasonal menus from brunch to seafood suppers. The restaurant has been around for over a decade and has been award-winning from the start. Cafe Aroma Latino is a great alternative for those looking for a taste of Central American cuisine. This family restaurant and grocer offers a great selection of homemade dishes, handmade empanadas, and other tasty snacks. All art in the space is made by co-op students, and proceeds from sales are donated to the community.
Dylan Brentwood mixing up craft cocktails at Bar Kismet. On the table below is the Ahi Tuna Tartare with Allumettes Fries.
Dinners and nightcaps in North End Halifax
Bar Kismet is the spot that brings folks from Downtown to the North End nightly. This restaurant, set in a classic low-rise house with an appealing storefront, has made many lists: 50 Best, 100 Best, and even has a three-heart listing in the Frommer’s Guide. The backbar is packed with speciality spirits, the bar menu has a robust selection of craft cocktails and unique wines, and the kitchen efficiently preps mouthwatering fresh seafood and handmade pasta dishes.
Down on Young Street, surrounded by neigbourhood restaurants, is The Ostrich Club, another fantastic dining destination located in Hydrostone Market. The restaurant is operated by an all-women team: GM and sommelier Alana Steel, Chef Moira Murray, and bar manager Lindsay Jones. Chef Moira was a contestant on the most recent season of Top Chef Canada (came in 2nd), and Lindsay is well known in the mixology scene as a talented competitive bartender. Naturally, the menu is a smooth blend of well-paired beverages and fine-tuned, intricately plated dishes. Every dish was delicious, but the Shrimp Dumpling is what people come back here for.
Here on Agricola Street, between shops and restaurants, you will also find Compass Distillers. The company started as a production facility but quickly pivoted to opening a bar and tasting room, inviting people in to see their beautiful copper stills and taste the product lineup. All spirits (gins, vodka, rum, whiskies) are made from Nova Scotian-grown grains and other raw ingredients, like sugar and molasses. The terrace and tasting room are a fun spot for a happy hour, whether you choose to taste the spirits or try one of the speciality cocktails.
Mare Knight, bartender at Compass Distillers, walked us through a 4-pour tasting of in-house-made spirits.
A local staple for late-night drinks and live music is the Narrows Public House. The pub is only three years old, but built with parts and memorabilia from other historic places, giving it a historic vibe. The Narrows is open all day and has a lush food menu, but it is the drinks, the stories, and the cask ale that people come here for. “This city used to be run by the Hell’s Angels, did you know?” the barkeep shared while pouring an Oban 14 dram for me, “Go on,” I leaned in.
Bonus: If time is of the essence, but you’re looking to taste as much as possible, consider a walking food tour.
Where to stay in North Halifax
Brewery Park Hotel, located in the centre of the neigbourhood, is a great place to make home for the weekend. It is a self-catering style property built to blend into the classic Halifax architecture. There are King and Queen suites, all of which have comfortable platform beds, sitting areas, and a kitchenette, or what they call a wet bar. All units have beautiful wood finishes, spotlight local art, have plenty of storage, and large windows allowing the light to illuminate the unit. On the ground floor is the hotel’s front desk, open during office hours, where you can store your luggage.
Alternatively, there is a lovely boutique hotel called The Halifax Rooftop, which has an outdoor pool, rooftop terrace, and a sauna.
Brewery Park Hotel
Rooms starting at $199 CAD per night
2853 Agricola St, Halifax, NS B3K 4E7
Book directly on brewerypark.ca or with your favourite booking website: Expedia | Booking.com | Hotels.com | TripAdvisor
The Halifax Rooftop
Rooms starting at $159 CAD per night for a Queen
3574 Acadia St, Halifax, NS B3K 3P4
Book directly on hfxrooftop.com or with your favourite booking website: Expedia | Hotels.com | TripAdvisor
Brewery Park Hotel, North End Halifax.
Halifax Harbour, views, playground, and the Tidal Beacon sculpture.
Halifax Harbour, Queen’s Marque district.
Level up in Downtown Halifax
Downtown Halifax stretches from the Public Gardens to the Waterfront. The look and feel of the neighbourhood changes as you move towards the water, from city living to casual harbour atmosphere. Each day spent in the city can be different, from historic explorations to casual evenings on the harbour or energetic nights out. Spend two, to three nights in the city centre.
What to do in Halifax
Spend time in the Halifax Harbour
The Halifax Harbour is one of the deepest and largest ice-free natural harbours in the world. The boardwalk stretches 4.4 kilometres along the harbour, offering a serene view of the water on one side and bustling leisurely life on the other. Along the boardwalk are restaurants, resting areas, marinas with access to public boat tours, and public playgrounds.
One of the newest developments in the Halifax Harbour is Queen’s Marque, a new waterfront neigbourhood encompassing residential units, a hotel, multiple restaurants, and a public square with a staircase descending into the water (entering the harbour is not recommended). Perched above the harbour, on top of Mystic Halifax, is a 60-foot art installation called Tidal Beacon. The sculpture is interactive and responds to tides, weather, and the surrounding environment.
A great way to experience the harbour is from the water. J Farwell operates public sailing tours directly from the harbour with five daily experiences to choose from (private charters are also an option). The Sunset Wine & Cheese Sail, for example, takes two-and-a-half hours of cruising around the harbour with a small group of guests. The experience includes a hosted tasting of four Nova Scotia wines accompanied by a loaded cheese and meats board ($176 pp). The Beneteau Oceanis 45 yacht sails along the narrows of the Northwest Arm, where you can see beautiful coastal homes, the shipyards, and if you get lucky, even some porpoises leaping out of the silky water.
J Farwell Sailing Tours
Book on jfsailingtours.com
Tours starting at $56 per adult
Walk and learn in Downtown Halifax
The interior heart of the city is at the Halifax Public Gardens, a Victorian-era garden built in the year of Canadian Confederation (1867). Across the park, you will find fountains, statues, gazebos, and a dahlia flower garden. Plenty of wildlife swims in the garden’s pond, unencumbered by the human visitors the ducks often nestle along the walking paths. Free public tours are available by reservation.
Another notable historic stop is, of course, the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. The site is a star-shaped fortress overlooking the city and the harbour from a hill. Here, visitors can learn about the military history of Halifax or go on a ghost tour, whichever fits their travel mood most. Keep an ear out for the daily cannon fire at 12 PM, a ritual performed since 1857.
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
5425 Sackville St | Map link
Citadel admission starting at $9 per adult in shoulder season
Some of the grounds are free to explore.
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
On the left, Maud Lewis’ home at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. On the right, sculpture in front of the gallery.
For a cultural break, visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The gallery museum houses an impressive Indigenous collection of arts, Ta’n a’sikatikl sipu’l | Confluence, which occupies an entire floor and includes seasonal showcases. In addition to the permanent collection and touring shows, the Art Gallery is also home to Nova Scotia’s favourite artist, Maud Lewis, whose tiny house can be seen inside the space.
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
1723 Hollis St | Map link
Admission: $13.16/adult
If you find yourself in Halifax on a Saturday, make sure to visit the Alexander Keith’s Brewery Market. Set in a historic brick building, the market is a city staple for locals and tourists alike. Sixty-five vendors set up shop weekly, offering farm produce, prepared meals, baked goods, art and other locally produced goods. Chefs, shoppers, and tourists can be seen in the market side by side, packing their totes while live music is playing in the background.
Bonus: Pop into the new-ish Halifax Central Library to soak in the architecture and get a different perspective on the city from the higher-up floors and the terrace.
Lunch on Daryâ’s waterfront terrace, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Any time meals in Downtown Halifax
When on vacation, a leisurely meal is always recommended, and Halifax’s culinary scene is here to provide. Begin the day with a pop-in at the Two If By Sea Cafe, Weird Harbour Espresso Bar, Coffeeology Espresso Co, or Terra Cafe for your morning coffee kick and a breakfast pastry.
Take the afternoon meal break at Queen’s Marque’s many restaurants. Daryâ, for example, is located directly on the harbour. The restaurant has a spacious outdoor terrace and beautifully decorated interior with a menu focused on Mediterranean cuisine. Bar Sofia, on the other hand, is focused on sharing plates, taking inspiration from the traditional Argentinian kitchen. Drift is open from early breakfast to late-night meals. This menu is focused on regional ingredients and the community behind them.
Set on the far end of the Halifax Harbour, Water Polo is a destination in its own right. The restaurant opened over a year ago, but this year they opened the outdoor terrace. Exiting directly onto the boardwalk, with an unobstructed view of Georges Island, the restaurant has a French Riviera feel, intentionally set with nautical decor. This landmark seafood restaurant offers a robust selection of fresh seafood meals (and some turf, of course), from decadent sushi rolls to seafood towers and grilled specialities. The cocktail menu is equally exciting, putting forward interesting takes on the classics.
Lunch at Water Polo, Halifax: Shrimp cocktail, sushi roll, and a Sea-Sar cocktail, Waterpolo’s interpretation of a Caesar with lobster oil-washed Ketel One Vodka.
Memorable dining moments
The main culinary attraction in Halifax is Mystic, positioned directly in Queen’s Marque, under the Tidal Beacon sculpture. The restaurant is built into the environment with floor-to-ceiling windows blending the dining room with the harbour. The restaurant operates like a fine-tuned musical instrument, with every team member moving in effortless synergy. At the centre of the room is an open kitchen where every dish is artfully plated with steady hands and kitchen tweezers.
Mystic’s menu is created by Chef Malcolm Campbell, who sharpened his skills across multiple Michelin-starred kitchens, from Gordon Ramsay’s Hospital Road to Auberge de l’Ile Barbe (Lyon, France). The menu, split into Fauna and Biota, uses ingredients sourced from local farmers and producers or foraged by the restaurant’s team. Chef Campbell is often seen at the Saturday market, picking out ingredients for the weekend, while some members of the restaurant team forage daily.
Guests have an option of ordering a la carte or letting the kitchen guide them through a blind tasting, known as the Discovery Menu. Seated in the galley, you will get a front-row seat to the kitchen orchestra. This menu changes daily, and every dish feels personal, especially when paired with the sommelier’s wine selections. Each Discovery Menu opens with an amuse-bouche, a teaser of what’s to come.
Mystic Halifax, front entrance, interior, and one of the wine bottles paired with the Discovery Menu.
A few courses from the Mystic Halifax Discovery Menu, created by Chef Malcolm Campbell.
Happy hours and liquid libations
Between lunches and dinners are happy hours and nightcaps, and a visit to a new city should not be wasted on repeat stops. With a 4-6 PM happy hour, Obladee wine bar is a popular spot among locals. This casual wine bar is focused on sustainable and low-intervention wines, served alongside a full kitchen menu, so it can be your complete evening stop.
Highwayman, on the other hand, is an energetic, happening spot most know for its cocktails. This 40-seat restaurant is set in a historic building and made world news when bar manager Keegan McGregor won the World Class Global Bartender of the Year title in Diageo’s Global World Class competition in 2024. The craft cocktails are paired with seasonally fresh Spanish tapas and pintxos.
Back in the Halifax Harbour is Peacock Wine Bar, which opens at 4 PM, just in time for the early peckish mood. The restaurant has an impressive wine selection accompanied by a chef-driven menu of small plates and homemade pastas. Fresh pints of Guinness and casual banter can always be found at the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse. Beer fans can join an Alexander Keith’s Brewery tour, spend an afternoon at the Stillwell Beergarden (seasonal), or taste some local small brews at 2 Crows Brewing Co..
On the left Paloma at Highwayman, on the right, a glass of wine and wall art at the Obladee wine bar.
Where to stay in Downtown Halifax
The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, across from the public gardens, offers classic hotel luxury in the heart of the city. This historic property has great amenities, an on-premises pub, and offers guest passes to the nearby YMCA (for the pool). The rooms range from petite to classic queen and one-bedroom suites. All rooms are well-equipped and comfortable, while the suites are ideally suited for longer stays, offering privacy of a separate sitting area, large walk-in closets and a mini wet bar.
For a luxury escape on the waterfront, look at Hotel Muir, located in the new Queen’s Marque district. The hotel has a secret bar, multiple restaurants, elevated fitness facilities, a spa, and even offers car service for the guests.
The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites
Rooms starting at $152 CAD per night
1515 South Park St, Halifax, NS B3J 1G9
Book directly on lordnelsonhotel.ca to save 15% or access packages. Compare prices with Expedia | Booking.com | Hotels.com | TripAdvisor
Muir, Autograph Collection
Rooms starting at $320 CAD per night for one King
1709 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 1S5
Book on marriott.com or with your favourite booking website: Expedia | Booking.com | Hotels.com | TripAdvisor
The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, images from the One Bedroom Suite.
The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, images from the mezzanine event space.
Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and Village, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Daytrips from Halifax
A must-visit to Peggy’s Cove
Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and Village are perhaps the most popular tourism attraction in Halifax. This can be a half-day or a full-day visit if you are open to adding a hike to your agenda. Visitors can explore the village, stroll along the shore, settle in for a picnic, or grab a seafood chowder at the Sou’Wester Gift & Restaurant Company Ltd.. If time permits, walk the Crystal Crescent Beach coastal loop to Pennant Point (10km) or choose one of the biking and hiking trails nearby.
Getting to Peggy’s Cove: Rent a car, take a taxi ($80-$100 each way), or join one of many available tours.
Visit local wineries
A lesser-known fact about Halifax, and Nova Scotia, is that it has a wonderful wine region, well-positioned for white and sparkling wines. The region actually has a signature white wine varietal, called Tidal Bay, a crisp, fresh, aromatic wine made from 100% Nova Scotia-grown grapes (specific varietals). An hour and change drive will take you directly into the vineyards.
Benjamin Bridge is the local pride and joy, bottles of which you will likely spot in most restaurants and on the sunset sail. Recently certified as a B Corp, this is a family-owned farm winery open for visits year-round. In the summer months, the winery has a wonderful outdoor terrace, while the cold winters are embraced with winter vineyard adventures, firepits, and holiday lights.
Tip: Join the Benjamin Bridge newsletter to be notified of their rare but fantastic cellar days.
Ten minutes away is Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards, which also makes for a great lunch stop. Another local favourite with a spectacular view and a great selection of German-style wines. This family-owned farm vineyard practices biodynamic viticulture, producing minimal intervention wines. Make sure to try it if you see it on a restaurant menu.
Farm-to-table lunch and wine tasting at Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards, Halifax.
Getting to Halifax
Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) is a half-hour drive from the city (plus-minus depending on the traffic) or an hour by transit. Taxi is always an option, but the public transit actually works quite well. The bus stop at the airport is well marked. Regional Express 320 will take you Downtown ($4.75 cash, see schedule).
