Best restaurants in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Mystic – for fine dining

Strikingly perched on the Halifax waterfront like a glass-fronted wave, this fine-dining restaurant showcases Nova Scotia’s distinct terroir in six- and eight-course tasting menus. Chef de cuisine Malcolm Campbell and his team use local ingredients in an inventive combination of traditional and contemporary techniques – think swordfish bresaola crafted into the shape of a rose, seaweed-wrapped lobster in scallop sauce, and saffron chocolate bon-bons served alongside haskap pâtes de fruits on dehydrated sea plants foraged from the Salt Marsh Trail. mysticnovascotia.ca

Tony's Donair – for local street food

Locals debate over who does the best donair in town – Tony's of The King of Donair. The former is a simple corner xxx that has been serving the unique Nova Scotian snack since 1976 Kebab meat is stuffed into a wrap and finished with the famous donair sauce to add a sweet, tangy, creamy finish. Another custom is to dip homemade pizza or garlic dough fingers into the sauce for a comforting snack. tonysdonair.com

The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar – for oyster tastings

Perch at the bar at this candlelit maritime- themed joint for local ales and fresh oysters. There’s always an oyster option from each Atlantic Canadian province, so you can taste your way up the coast. These might be huge, hand-dived Pristine Bay molluscs from Nova Scotia’s Pictou Island area, Prince Edward Island Barstool Cocktails, New Brunswick Beausoleil and Newfoundland Merasheen Bay varieties. Pair with a glass of Nova Scotian sparkling wine – perhaps a zingy, aromatic Gaspereau Tidal Bay. thepressgang.ca

Elle's Bistro – for classic breakfast

Locals line up outside this popular café for morning classics including old school diner breakfast, lobster benedict and breakfast poutine, alongside hot pots of coffee and fresh cinnamon rolls. There's a classic caff-cum-diner feel with bare brick walls and friendly local chat. 1678 Barrington Street

The Highwayman – for local cocktails and tapas

A personal recommendation from a local I met at MUIR hotel's gallery, this intimate, Spanish-style bistro serves tapas using Nova Scotian ingredients. Think scallop crudo served in coconut milk, seasonal corn ribs with Romesco and shrimp skewers with mojo verde.Keegan McGregor won bartender of the year at Diageo's World Class bar awards in 2024, thanks to his concoctions encapsulating the peninsula. New to the menu is the Canadian Tuxedo (that was yet to be named when we tried it on the new menu preview) – a blend of floral haskap berry and sweet maple syrup with bourbon and brandy infused with oats, raisins, dried apricots and Tonka bean to create a bright, floral ode to morning porridge. The Nova Scotia clarified pear soda highball finished with wild blueberry dust is another poignant drink. highwaymanhfx.com

Peacock – for Nova Scotian wine

If you want to taste your way through some Nova Scotian wines while in the city, Peacock Wine Bar in the Queen's Marque District has a happy hour when all Nova Scotian wines and g&ts are half price. Try Blomidon crémant, Lightfoot & Wolfville Tidal Bay, Benjamin Bridge rosé and more. Chef Moira Murray spotlights local ingredients in Italian-style dishes. She won the accolade for Halifax's best oysters recently with her dulse, prosecco and sherry foam topped Sober Island oyster starter. Pasta shells alla norma are made using Abundant Acres tomatoes for extra sweetness, while chillis add a kick to the pulled pork confit and fried aubergine with fragrant Thai basil. peacockwinebar.ca

Salt + Ash – for seafood lunch

There's a nod to the province's surf culture in this relaxed waterfront restaurant. Sit on the deck with a local ale and watch the boats bob by or relax around the contemporary fires indoors. The casual dining menu of East Coast favourites includes battered cod tacos, chowder and plump, fire-roasted Digby scallops, alongside popular wood-fired pizzas topped with the likes of Brothers pepperoni or house-cured salmon. saltashhalifax.com

Peace By Chocolate – for chocolate treats

Nova Scotia has welcomed immigrants from all over the world over the years. At the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Canadians can trace their roots and learn about the history and stories of communities that now call the country home. The Hadhad family were chocolate makers for over 30 years in their homeland of Syria before having to leave in 2012. With the support of the community in Antigonish in eastern Nova Scotia, the family rebuilt the business and now creates chocolate using Syrian and Canadian ingredients. Sample a selection at the contemporary boutique in the Queen's Marque district in Halifax, from luxurious hot chocolate to Nova Scotian cranberry and blueberry-jewelled bars. The packaging adorned with Canadian scenery and sayings means the bars make for great souvenirs to take home. peacebychocolate.ca

Clearwater Seafoods – for airport lobster

Locals are obsessed with lobster, as it's abundant all year round. You can even pick out a live lobster from the tank at Halifax airport to be prepared as you wish, while the display fridge offers whole crustaceans, tails and fresh meat to snack on while you wait to board if you so wish. clearwater.ca

Where to stay in Halix

Muir

Recently opened as part of the impressive Queen’s Marque development, this five-star hotel sits majestically on the waterfront. Muir is Gaelic for ‘sea’ and references are woven into the contemporary ship-like design, most notable in a striking fresnel lens art installation at the entrance. Attention to detail in the plush rooms is exceptional – the sleek bar is stocked with local spirits and snacks (Halifax-based Compass Distillers gin, Lunenburg’s Ironworks rum and artisan bars from Peace by Chocolate set up by Syrian refugees); a QR code linking to natural Nova Scotian soundbites accompanies Canadian spring water at turn down; and curtains open at the press of a button to reveal views over the boardwalk, harbour and Georges Island lighthouse. Breakfast at Drift ranges from the nourishing The Hipster plate to huge frilly pancakes studded with wild local blueberries. Come evening, cocktails spotlight local spirits and ingredients such as foraged forest syrup, while chefs elevate traditional Acadian dishes in the likes of mini rappie pie with Abundant Acres pickled farm salad. Unwind at Windward Wellness, rotating between the sauna and eucalyptus steam room, revitalising dips in the cold plunge, and private sessions in the Himalayan pink salt room that pumps in maritime Atlantic salt air. The concierge can also organise helicopter rides to Cape Breton Island for autumn foliage viewing, whale watching and picnics on the beach.

Doubles from £237, check availibility at booking.com or muirhotel.com

Foodie day trips from Halifax

Peggy's Cove

Nova Scotia’s best lobster rolls – according to locals – are served by Tom and his small team from a blue shack perched above the lobster pots and stilted houses of fishing village Peggy’s Cove, 45 minutes drive from Halifax. The classic tosses lobster meat in a sweet, creamy sauce, while ‘naked’ is dressed in a simple garlic butter, stuffed in a lightly toasted brioche roll on a bed of kettle chips. Iced coffee is laced with maple syrup for a sweet, Canadian-style hit. After lunch, mooch up to the iconic lighthouse complete with swish viewing platform and clamber across the smooth rocks to soak up the Atlantic air and glistening sea views. A short drive further along the coast is Rhubarb, a homely restaurant where you can tuck into steaming bowls of seafood chowder and hot buttered scones. Most of the lobster used in these spots come from Ryer Retail. Stop by to get up close and personal with lobsters, some over 45 years old.

Wolfville and the Annapolis Valley

Drive into the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia's agricultural heartland. The rich, fertile soils yield some of Canada’s best fruit and veg, including Honeycrisp apples, blueberries and pumpkins. There's a fantastic selection available at Noggins Corner Farm Market. Sample the region's apples pressed into ciders at Annapolis Cider Company in Wolfville, that always offers a seasonal flavour to raise money for charity. Across the road, church-turned brewery, Church Brewing Company, leans into its history – there’s a live music stage in the original sanctuary and aptly named seasonal specials are popped up on boards like hymns of the week: think Congregation Pilsner, Illuminate Pale Ale and Church Blonde. Eclectic seating areas are interspersed across the space beneath photographs of cultural icons including a tribute to Gord Downie, the late singer from Canadian band The Tragically Hip.

Down the road at Grand Pré Winery, the Stutz family has lovingly cultivated a small vineyard, wine shop and pint-sized inn. Taste award-winning sparkling cider and Nova Scotian wines at the shop then pop over to Le Caveau for plump Atlantic Canadian oysters and made-to-order charcuterie boards. Rent an e-bike to cycle along the Harvest Moon Trail that connects the valley’s vineyards, ending at The Long Table Social Club that hosts sociable outdoor suppers with views over the Bay of Fundy and Cape Split.