Greatest Issues To Do, Eat & See

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We beloved Halifax in Nova Scotia. We weren’t certain what to anticipate for a metropolis with a inhabitants much like our residence in Raleigh, however its downtown felt a lot extra alive and was full of enjoyable issues to do, gorgeous locations to eat, nightlife, public artwork, and that beautiful, walkable waterfront. To be honest, Raleigh is extra unfold out, so the comparability could also be unfair, however we did (jokingly) say a couple of occasions, “Uh-oh… is Raleigh boring?”

Halifax is the type of capital metropolis you need to begin a street journey with. It’s a simple launchpad to small cities and villages, and is made up of compact and walkable, vibrant neighborhoods, with points of interest that reveal native historical past and tradition.

Eating places and eateries have breezy patios, and there are greater than a few beer gardens. It’s filled with pleasant individuals, and it has a 3.8km waterfront boardwalk that pulls you alongside for block after block.

Park the automobile and overlook it; the guts of downtown is concentrated in only a few full of life streets. Over two days in Halifax, we discovered historic citadels, gorgeous Victorian period gardens, vibrant avenue artwork, and one of many coolest libraries we’ve visited wherever.

It was the beginning of our week-long Nova Scotia street journey in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia. Beneath are the highlights from our keep – private suggestions, sensible ideas, and a pattern bullet-point itinerary you may copy on the finish.

First Style of Halifax: Dinner on Argyle Avenue

How did I not see extra about Argyle Avenue after I was planning our journey to Halifax? It ought to be a high Halifax suggestion: a pedestrian-friendly strip of wonderful eating places and bars the place the patios spill onto the road and stay music drifts between them. It was one block from our lodge and the primary place we ate, setting an important first impression.

We settled on The Cussed Goat Gastropub and snagged a small patio desk with front-row people-watching. The menu made my gluten-free coronary heart sing with so many choices! I went traditional Nova Scotia with a seafood chowder (more durable to seek out GF than you’d assume), and Craig devoured the whisky & bacon smashburger, a home favourite.

In case you’re a chowder chaser, Halifax is an ideal vacation spot to start out your Nova Scotia chowder journey, as many spots take part within the seasonal “chowder path” idea, so deliver your urge for food and your spoon.

A couple of steps away is Halifax staple Durty Nelly’s – its Irish pub vibe spills onto the road by day and turns electrical by evening (extra on that under).

And if you happen to assume you might wish to expertise one other pub in Halifax, you’ll have loads of selections. Halifax has extra pubs per capita than another Canadian metropolis!!

• Why it’s price visiting Argyle St: pedestrian-only summer season vibes, tons of eating selections (from tacos to izakaya), frequent stay music, and the simplest “we’ve arrived” dinner we may have requested for.
• Tip: In case you’re gluten-free, ask about devoted fryers and chowder thickeners. We discovered servers very clued-in to dietary wants.

Stroll alongside Halifax Waterfront: The Metropolis’s Social Dwelling Room

We anticipated the beautiful surroundings. We didn’t anticipate the vitality. On a heat summer season night, the waterfront boardwalk is alive: {couples} strolling with gelato, households lingering round playgrounds, meals vans, small rides for the youngsters, avenue performers, and patios with each type of atmosphere from chilled wine bars to maritime pubs.

We wandered, sat within the massive Adirondack chairs, and watched tiny boats moored within the harbor flip into floating dwelling rooms with clusters of mates and households holding boat picnics, music taking part in softly over the water. It felt quintessentially Halifax: social, outdoorsy, and joyfully informal.

You may simply spend a day simply alongside the waterfront exploring the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Seaport Farmers’ Market, retailers, and breweries linked alongside the boardwalk. We didn’t attempt to do all of it; we simply let the boardwalk carry us the place it wished.

Don’t miss: The art-filled Queen’s Marque district, residence to a number of hanging public artworks. The 40-foot Tidal Beacon responds to the tides with mild that rises and falls, culminating in an extended “Lunar Crest” mild present at excessive and low tide. Even if you happen to’re not there on the excellent second, the entire space is a beautiful place to linger at sundown.

• Why it’s price visiting: ten metropolis blocks of straightforward, lovely wandering with museums, markets, and patios layered in. Morning mild is beautiful for pictures; night is for individuals watching and music.
• Tip: Come early within the morning for quiet views and low, then once more at sundown for the total scene.

Cross the Harbour for Breakfast and a Nordic Spa in Dartmouth

Certainly one of our favourite Halifax moments was a mini escape throughout the water. You may catch the ferry to Dartmouth (the Halifax–Dartmouth route is among the oldest saltwater ferry companies on this planet) and stroll alongside Portland Avenue for breakfast.

Café Good Luck makes a imply espresso and glorious breakfast sandwiches (GF choices obtainable); Portland Avenue Creperie appeared scrumptious, too, however opened a bit later that day. Avenue murals pop up alongside Portland St, and the views of Halifax really feel recent from this angle.

From the ferry terminal, we had been simply minutes from Nature People Nordic Spa, our wellness cease. It’s a small, city retreat that felt cozy, intimate, and precisely the reset we wished after a busy metropolis morning. (In case you’re following our Nova Scotia “Nordic spa street journey,” this was our first style and the gateway drug to chilly plunges for me. I shockingly beloved it.)

• Why it’s price visiting: a gradual morning ritual—ferry, espresso, artwork, reset. The town-to-spa rhythm fits Halifax completely.
• Tip: Ferries depart steadily and are cheap. Deliver a lightweight layer; ocean breezes can shock you even in summer season.

Espresso at Bizarre Harbour Espresso Bar

We tried a couple of espresso retailers on the town, and Bizarre Harbour Espresso Bar was our favourite – tiny (standing room solely), shiny and leafy, and pouring the type of espresso that makes you think about a second and possibly a 3rd. It matched our wellness-leaning week in Nova Scotia: clear, easy, glorious.

Breakfast at Bluenose II Restaurant: Outdated-College Halifax Consolation (All Day)

A block or two off the waterfront sits Bluenose II Restaurant—a downtown Halifax landmark since 1964. It’s the type of no-fuss, everybody’s-welcome spot the place the espresso refills preserve coming and the menu spans diner classics, Maritime seafood, and some Greek favorites. Crucially for early birds (and late risers), they serve breakfast each day and are identified domestically for all-day breakfast—useful when your morning turns into midday after an extended waterfront stroll.

We beloved the vibe: fast service, beneficiant parts, and a room buzzing with a mixture of locals and vacationers. In case you’re hungry from metropolis exploring, it’s straightforward to construct a hearty plate—assume eggs your approach, bacon/sausage/ham, toast, and juice, or stage up with a diner-style omelet.

• Why it’s worthy: A real Halifax establishment with all-day breakfast and a central location—nice worth, quick service, and a neighborhood really feel that balances out fancier brunches elsewhere. In case you’re chasing “actual Halifax,” this checks the field.
• Tip: They take reservations for lunch and dinner by cellphone, however breakfast is first-come, first-served—go early on weekends.

Halifax Harbour Tour (The Violet Mac): A Silent, Story-Packed Cruise

We wished harbour views with out the diesel drone, so we booked The Violet Mac guided tour, a Thirties-style, all-electric boat with a contemporary coronary heart. Captain Colin discovered the vessel in Nova Scotia, then painstakingly rebuilt it over 18 months; earlier than that, it had lived a couple of lives, from the River Thames to the Everglades and Lake Erie.

The second we slipped away from the dock, a curious seal popped up beside us as if to bless the outing. With no engine roar, the harbor felt intimate: we may chat in regular voices, hear gulls, and really pay attention to the tales.

The route threads previous close by islands, together with Georges Island, its tunnels, and Fort Charlotte, which as soon as fashioned a key piece of a harbour so nicely fortified that no enemy ever took a severe run at it.

Alongside the waterfront, you’ll spot working ships and showpieces: CSS Acadia (the century-old survey ship that survived the 1917 explosion) and, in season, HMCS Sackville, Canada’s Naval Memorial. In the meantime, the harbourfront buzzes with life: jet boats, sailboats, harbour ferries, cruise ships, navy frigates, even the colorful Harbour Hopper amphibious excursions rumbling down the ramp.

Your information weaves in a few of Halifax’s greatest tales: how James Prepare dinner mapped these waters with assist from native fishermen; how the Halifax Explosion in The Narrows (Dec 6, 1917) devastated town when the French munitions ship Mont-Blanc collided with the Norwegian vessel Imo; how telegrapher Vincent Coleman famously warned an incoming practice, saving a whole lot; and why Halifax nonetheless sends Boston a large Christmas tree annually in thanks.

You’ll additionally hear cultural touchstones corresponding to Viola Desmond’s civil-rights stand, Maud Lewis’s joyful people artwork (her tiny painted home is a metropolis treasure), and the resilience captured within the anthem “Rise Once more.”

As a result of The Violet Mac is electrical, the entire 60-minute cruise glides by on a whisper—no fumes, no clatter—utilizing roughly pennies of energy. It’s higher for dialog, higher for pictures, and admittedly, higher for the harbor. Reserve your tour right here.

• Why it’s price doing: An all-electric, ultra-quiet boat means you really expertise the harbour – wildlife, wind, and world-class storytelling – with out engine noise. Intimate seating (about eight) retains it private, and also you’ll go away with a transparent, memorable grasp of Halifax’s previous and current.
• Tip: Ebook a sundown crusing for golden mild on the skyline; deliver a lightweight layer (ocean breeze!) and a digicam with a quick shutter for wildlife and shifting vessels. Small capability = reserve forward, particularly on weekends.

See historical past come alive at Halifax Citadel

We walked as much as the Halifax Citadel, the principle attraction in Halifax, for a view and obtained hooked on the story. The star-shaped hilltop fort is compact and really digestible: sufficient displays and reenactments to be taught, not a lot that you just really feel overwhelmed. We lucked right into a cannon demonstration proper as we entered the courtyard, the echoes of historical past ricocheting throughout trendy Halifax under.

A soldier in a crimson coat defined barracks life and the way it was based by the British navy; we circled the moat for metropolis glimpses (deliver slightly endurance for views over the partitions). Days later as we drove alongside the Lighthouse Path to Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Website lower than an hour drive away, we realized how some 18th-century immigrants, promised land, wound up working off their passage serving to to construct the Citadel, yet one more thread connecting tales throughout the province.

• Why it’s price visiting: it anchors Halifax’s timeline and provides context to every little thing else you’ll see across the harbour.
• Tip: Examine the each day schedule for guided excursions, the midday gun, and bagpipers; time your go to to catch at the least one stay demonstration.

Chill out in Halifax Public Gardens: A Victorian Oasis

Simply downhill from the Citadel are the Halifax Public Gardens, 16 acres of Victorian symmetry and shade. We wandered in as a band completed taking part in on the ornate bandstand whereas individuals lingered with espresso and ice cream close to the Horticultural Corridor. The scene felt very “old-world metropolis Sunday.”

Search for the elegantly drooping Weeping Camperdown Elms circling the fountain and the dramatic Weeping Beech by the Boer Battle Memorial. Little bridges over the watercourse beg for pictures; the floating seasonal beds across the bandstand burst with colour.

• Why it’s price visiting: a phenomenal breather between historic Halifax and the fashionable downtown buzz.
• Tip: Pair this with a stroll down Spring Backyard Street the place you’ll discover nice boutiques, cafés, and people-watching.

Sit on the Patio at Stillwell Beergarden

On Spring Backyard Street, Stillwell Beergarden is a simple summer season cease on a sunny afternoon: picnic tables, cornhole, a transformed shipping-container bar, and a rigorous curation of Maritime craft beer (plus a couple of wines and ciders). The brief menu rotates with seasonal favorites like lobster rolls, pork sandwiches, and dressed-up sizzling canine.

• Why it’s price visiting: native craft in a setting that seems like a neighborhood occasion.
• Tip: Arrive on the early aspect in order for you a desk, then drift all the way down to the waterfront for sundown.

Discover your structure crush at Halifax Central Library

Wow. The Halifax Central Library is price a detour even if you happen to’re not a library individual. The glass construction stacks like a pile of books, with a dramatic dice that cantilevers over Spring Backyard Street (sure, you may stand inside it and take within the view).

Inside, mild floods by way of 5 ranges, stairs crisscross, and the constructing hums with life: teen areas, recording studios, studying corners, occasion areas, and a rooftop terrace with metropolis views.

We beloved the wall of miniature artworks lower to the dimensions of outdated library playing cards behind the principle desk – tiny home windows into native creativity. Seize a espresso from one of many on-site cafés and linger; it’s the type of civic area that tells you numerous a couple of metropolis’s values.

• Why it’s price visiting: design, group, and views, plus a sunny roof for a mid-day pause.
• Tip: In case you want a break from strolling, this can be a pretty place to take a seat, recharge units, and plan your night.

Dinner with a view at Halifax Beer Backyard (Waterfront)

We ended one night on the Halifax Beer Backyard on the waterfront, which gave us flashbacks to coastal beer gardens again residence: stay music, massive smiles, and a group vibe the place everybody really talks to one another.

There was a line, however it moved. We shared poutine (Craig’s first and he’s a convert) and tacos whereas a trio performed because the sky went Sherbet-orange.

May now we have discovered meals “pretty much as good or higher” elsewhere? Certain. However the vibe right here – upbeat but laid again – felt like the proper option to say, that is Halifax. Many of the drinks record is Nova Scotian, so it doubles as a simple first sip of the province.

• Why it’s price visiting: sundown temper, stay music, harbor views, and native drinks make it a quintessential Halifax summer season.
• Tip: Strains are shorter earlier; think about going for an early dinner after which hopping to a special bar for a nightcap.

Stay music and lunch at Durty Nelly’s on Argyle

At evening, Durty Nelly’s is hopping the place younger adults pack in for the bands, however we fortunately snagged two seats on the bar to absorb the vitality earlier than calling it an “grownup bedtime.” It jogged my memory of my London and Dublin years with the type of sing-along pub environment the U.S. hardly ever nails.

By day, it’s a beautiful lunch spot: we sat on the patio below the nice and cozy solar. Craig had their award-winning seafood chowder with Guinness brown bread, and I tucked right into a deeply savory cottage pie with a phenomenal herb notice. Their Irish espresso is great, too. The intricately carved bar on the pub’s middle was designed and inbuilt Eire and shipped over, and the authenticity exhibits.

• Why it’s price visiting: music at evening, comforting Irish classics by day, and severe chowder.
• Tip: In case you love stay music, examine the schedule and plan to pop again after dinner.

Discover the North Finish & Hydrostone: Murals, Historical past, and a Native Lunch

You probably have time, spend a couple of hours within the North Finish and Hydrostone districts. The North Finish has a deep, advanced historical past. which was formed by the 1917 Halifax Explosion and, later, the displacement of Africville, a thriving African Nova Scotian group. At present, the world is experiencing a renaissance with colourful saltbox homes, indie retailers, cafés, and an thrilling restaurant scene.

We walked Gottingen Avenue to tour their vibrant murals adoring lots of the buildings and alleyways. Don’t miss the artistic Viola Desmond exhibit set inside the nook of her former salon deal with.

We then continued to Hydrostone Market, a two-block European-style strip of brownstone buildings with boutiques and eateries. For lunch, we hit Williams Fish & Chips, a neighborhood staple since 1946. They’ve gluten-free fried fish, which is a rarity for me, and this one was gold. For espresso, we had famous Espresso 46 as a high place in Halifax for espresso, however it was closed once we visited. Cafe Byron was a good different.

• Why it’s price visiting: layers of historical past, public artwork, and native taste.
• Tip: If Africville’s story pursuits you (it ought to), the Africville Museum—housed in a duplicate of the Seaview African United Baptist Church—is a deeply shifting cease.

The place to remain in Halifax: The Sutton Place Lodge (Govt King)

The Sutton Place is the place we stayed, which sits proper within the Nova Centre, straightforward strolling to the waterfront and Argyle St.

Our nook Govt King suite had a separate dwelling space and desk, and a bed room wrapped in floor-to-ceiling home windows with views to the Citadel. We even caught the Natal Day fireworks from mattress. A shock, as we didn’t understand we’d arrived on the province’s “birthday” celebration.

The toilet was spacious and spa-like, and the foyer’s navy-and-gold nautical palette felt quietly luxe. There’s a small out of doors patio with a sizzling tub and firepits; it’s a peaceable spot to decompress after a day in your ft.

• Why it’s price visiting: glorious location, floor-to-ceiling views, and a straightforward stroll to every little thing you’ll need to do.
• Tip: In case you’re road-tripping, valet parking is price it right here; drop your keys and go totally on foot.

Sensible ideas for a 2-night keep in Halifax, NS

• Getting round: Park as soon as and stroll. The waterfront, Argyle, Spring Backyard Street, the Citadel, and the library all join comfortably on foot. The ferry to Dartmouth is fast and enjoyable.
• When to go: Late spring to early fall is patio season, with longer mild and out of doors occasions. Summer season weekends hum with markets, buskers, and stay music.
• Reservations: For dinner on Argyle or waterfront patios, guide or arrive early. In style spots replenish on good evenings.
• Layers: It’s coastal, and breezes can really feel cool after sundown. A lightweight jacket is wise even in July/August.
• Dietary wants: Halifax stunned us with GF-friendly menus. Ask about devoted fryers and thickeners; the workers had been educated.
• Museums vs. meandering: You could possibly spend hours in Pier 21 or the Maritime Museum, however Halifax additionally rewards gradual wandering. Combine one “anchor” museum with plenty of open exploration.

At a look: A 2 Day Halifax Itinerary

Day 1 (Arrival + Downtown Halifax)

• Examine-in: Central lodge (we stayed at The Sutton Place).
• Stroll: Waterfront boardwalk (Seaport → Queen’s Marque), artwork recognizing.
• Espresso cease: Any kiosk alongside the water or a fast detour to Bizarre Harbour.
• Tradition hour: Maritime Museum or Pier 21 OR Halifax Boat Tour (select one).
• Golden hour: Settle into the Halifax Beer Backyard for native drinks & stay music.
• Dinner: Argyle Avenue (The Cussed Goat or one other patio).
• Nightcap: Pop into Durty Nelly’s for a music or two.

Day 2 (Ferry, Wellness, Gardens & Views)

• Morning: Ferry to Dartmouth; breakfast at Café Good Luck; mural stroll.
• Wellness: Nature People Nordic Spa (guide forward; 2–3 hours).
• Noon: Ferry again; lunch close to the waterfront or on Spring Backyard Street.
• Afternoon: Halifax Citadel Nationwide Historic Website (time it for a demo if you happen to can).
• Stroll: Halifax Public Gardens → Spring Backyard Street procuring.
• Beer break: Stillwell Beergarden (mild bites + Maritime craft).
• Night: Again to the waterfront or one other Argyle venue for dinner & music.

Additional Day 3: Morning Add-Ons (earlier than you roll out)

• Breakfast: Bluenose II Restaurant
• North Finish murals and Hydrostone Market (lunch at Williams Fish & Chips—ask about GF).
• Fast return to the library roof for a final metropolis view.
• Early boardwalk stroll for quiet pictures and low.

Different eating places we had famous down for Halifax had been The Picket Monkey (eco-conscious consolation meals) and Two Doorways Down (artistic takes on Nova Scotian classics). I’ve additionally pinned a number of different espresso spots and locations to eat on the map under that we had been contemplating in Halifax.

FAQs about visiting Halifax for two nights

Causes to go to Halifax for two nights

• Gateway to Nova Scotia: Whether or not you’re headed for Peggy’s Cove and the South Shore or the Annapolis Valley and Bay of Fundy, Halifax is a good base to discover day journey choices to different charming fishing villages and points of interest that join you to the province’s tales and spirit.
• Compact, walkable core: The “park as soon as and wander” setup makes a brief keep really feel wealthy, not rushed.
• Waterfront heartbeat: The boardwalk is each an attraction and a connector—you’ll go museums, markets, patios, and public artwork with out attempting.
• Tradition that feels lived-in: From Celtic pubs to indie beer gardens to art-forward structure and murals, Halifax layers outdated and new in a approach that feels genuine, not staged.
• Simple mini-escape: The ferry experience to Dartmouth offers you a very completely different morning vibe—espresso, murals, and a restorative spa—an ideal distinction to downtown vitality.

Closing ideas

In case you like cities which can be straightforward to slide into, the place historical past is shut at hand, good meals isn’t far, and sundown gathers everybody collectively on the water, you’ll love two nights in Halifax.

For us, it set the tone for the remainder of our Nova Scotia street journey: slightly little bit of tradition, lots of recent air, time in nature (with a Nordic spa twist), and lengthy conversations over poutine and stay music. Halifax made us really feel like we’d arrived – each in a metropolis, and in a brand new season of journey.