Halifax Restaurants and Dining

(Halifax, Nova Scotia - NS, Canada)

Eating well is easy in Halifax and the city contains many excellent dining options and notable restaurants. Home to a plethora of downtown cafés, coffee shops, diners and eateries, many of the most popular restaurants in Halifax are just a short walk from the Grande Parade.

Although different cuisines are well represented in Halifax, standing alongside the Atlantic Ocean, seafood is without doubt one of the specialties. Lobster is served at many of the city's restaurants, as well as numerous versions of battered fish and chips. Also popular in the Halifax area, multiethnic restaurants serve a variety of world-class food from all over the world, with numerous Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Thai and vegetarian restaurants being located in and around Halifax city center.

Opening Hours

Restaurants in Halifax normally conform to standard hours in Canada, although some eateries and dining options may vary. Breakfast venues in Halifax open from as early as 06:00 onwards, with many coffee shops in the center filling up between 08:00 to 09:00. Lunchtime restaurants in Halifax open from 12:00, but some do serve brunch from 10:00 onwards.

Halifax's evening restaurants are usually open from 17:00 or 18:00, remaining open until 21:30 or 22:00, often later on Friday and Saturday nights. A number of restaurants in Halifax are closed on Sunday and sometimes on Monday as well.

Places to Eat in Halifax

Many restaurants in Halifax are particularly concentrated around the Spring Garden Road area, with a selection of top eateries along Argyle Street, Granville Street, Queen Street and South Park Street. Also, Halifax's Spring Garden Road, which lies on the western side of the downtown district, is the city's main thoroughfare and is lined with many top restaurants and shops, stretching from Barrington Street to South Park Street. Nearby, the extensive Park Lane shopping center offers an extensive food court, with many fast-food outlets and restaurants, which are always busy at lunchtimes. Many downtown restaurants and cafés offer al fresco dining in outdoor patio areas during the warm summer months.

Cheap pub fare is another popular dining option in Halifax and an array of reasonably priced pubs and bars can be found close to the city's universities. Ranging from sandwiches and Ploughman's lunches, to steaks and salads, pubs in Halifax cater for most tastes.

The waterfront district of Halifax features a cluster of exclusive restaurants with superb coastal views. Here you will find several themed bistros often featuring rooftop gardens, outdoor tables and a gentle sea breeze. Also, many hotels in this part of Halifax are home to impressive restaurants and always welcome non-residents. Advance reservations may be necessary at some hotel restaurants, such as the Sheraton Halifax Hotel, which is popular with both locals and visitors.