Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a thriving waterfront city that is home to many very good restaurants. Most of these restaurants utilize locally sourced ingredients, and a wide variety of fresh seafood items are regularly available.
Presented here are brief profiles of the 17 best restaurants located in Halifax, NS, Canada.
The Press Gang Restaurant and Oyster Bar
$$$
5218 Prince St, Halifax, NS B3J 3X4, Canada
+1 902-423-8816
Housed in a restored 18th-century building, the Press Gang Restaurant and Oyster Bar is a favorite dining spot for both local residents and visitors to the area.
The raw bar at this Halifax establishment normally features a huge selection of fresh oyster varieties. Meal starters here include seafood chowder, warm spinach salad, torched oysters, and beef tenderloin chunks with bacon and blue cheese.
Among the dinner choices are chicken and gnocchi, seared Atlantic halibut and seafood risotto.
Open Wednesday through Saturday, the Press Gang provides full bar service, and live music on the weekends.
McKelvie's Restaurant
$$$
1680 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 2Y3, Canada
+1 902-421-6161
For more than 30 years, this waterfront restaurant has been serving impeccably fresh seafood, and mouth-watering steaks. Housed in a century-old former fire department building, McKelvie's serves lunch Monday through Friday, and dinner service is offered on weekends.
The lunch menu here features a range of seafood appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, tacos, lobster rolls and grilled seafood.
On McKelvie's dinner menu, the selection of dishes includes shellfish fettucine, Nova Scotia lobster, Black Angus NY strip steak, breaded scallops and braised lamb shank.
Full bar service is available at this Halifax restaurant, and an attractive, outdoor beer garden is on the premises.
Salty's
$$
1877 Upper Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 1S7, Canada
+1 902-423-6818
This downtown Halifax restaurant consistently offers excellent food and drink options, along with spectacular views of Halifax Harbour. Hungry diners come from near and far to partake of the steamed mussels and oysters on the half shell that Salty's is famous for.
Some of the outstanding dishes served at Salty's include seafood casserole, fried shrimp, crab cakes, pan-fried haddock, whole lobsters, lobster risotto and bouillabaisse.
Full bar service and free Wifi are offered at this Halifax eatery, which is open seven days a week. Indoor and outdoor seating is available at Salty's.
Ristorante a Mano
$$
1477 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 3Z4, Canada
+1 902-423-6266
At this large trattoria on Halifax's waterfront, patrons regularly enjoy large portions of delicious Italian-style food.
An ample selection of soups, salads and appetizers are on the menu at Ristorante a Mano, and a dozen pasta dishes are available. There are nine varieties of pizza, and numerous types of entrees rounding out the menu.
Prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin, chicken parmigiana, pistachio-crusted tuna, rack of lamb and beef short ribs are just some of the great dinner entrees served at this restaurant. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday, and full bar service is provided.
Sea Smoke Restaurant & Bar
$$
1477 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 3Z2, Canada
+1 902-406-1051
This upscale, Asian fusion restaurant is located at Halifax's Bishop's Landing complex. The large interior dining area here features a modern look, and the outdoor dining section is right on the waterfront.
Lunch highlights at Sea Smoke include raw bar oysters, Korean fried chicken sandwich, seafood and corn chowder, smoked pork ribs and chili scallops.
Among the outstanding dinner choices are sticky lemon chicken, lobster stuffed mushrooms, beef tenderloin and their seafood tower.
An array of sushi and sashimi items are served at Sea Smoke, and the bar there produces a wide variety of cocktails. Open daily.
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar
$$$
1712 Market St, Halifax, NS B3J 2E3, Canada
+1 902-425-8355
Customers at the Keg Steakhouse will discover a wide variety of delicious steaks as well as several chicken, ribs and seafood options. Steak-lovers here will appreciate being able to choose from New York strip, sirloin, filet mignon, top sirloin, rib steak and prime rib varieties.
The menu at the Keg Steakhouse also features a pleasing assortment of salads, appetizers, burgers and vegetarian items.
A casual atmosphere is in place at this Halifax steakhouse, and full bar service is provided. Open seven days a week.
Henry House
$$
1222 Barrington St, Halifax, NS B3J 1Y6, Canada
+1 902-423-5660
The Henry House is a warm and comfortable, British-style pub that serves a broad spectrum of food items.
Pear & goat cheese salad, Reuben sandwich, smoked salmon club sandwich and salt cod fish cakes are just some of the menu highlights at this Halifax restaurant.
The selection of burgers at this Halifax restaurant includes beef, beef and brisket, black bean and lamb varieties.
Pub-style dinners at the Henry House include steak & kidney pie, chicken curry, Shepherd's pie, fish & chips and British bangers and mash. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the Henry House also offers a huge assortment of beers and cocktails.
Stories Fine Dining
$$$
5184 Morris St, Halifax, NS B3J 1B3, Canada
+1 902-444-4400
Stories is an upscale restaurant located in the elegant Halliburton Hotel in downtown Halifax. Known for its elegant atmosphere and excellent service, Stories is open Wednesday through Saturday.
For meal starters, this Halifax restaurant has crab cakes, sea scallops, a house-cured charcuterie and a goat cheese plate.
The main dish selection at Stories includes grilled Ahi tuna, Faroe Islands salmon, a vegetable gratin plate and braised short rib cap.
An extensive selection of beers, wines and cocktails are available here, as are several elegant desserts. Private dining rooms are also available for special occasions at Stories.
Le Bistro By Liz
$$
1333 South Park St, Halifax, NS B3J 2K9, Canada
+1 902-423-8428
This attractive and comfortable bistro has been serving tasty, French-inspired cuisine since 2011. Serving lunch and dinner every day, Le Bistro By Liz features an on-site atrium, open kitchen and live entertainment four nights per week.
The lunch and dinner menu here features soups, salads, crepes, large plates, desserts and more. Standout menu items include mussels with wine sauce, chicken curry pasta, braised lamb shank, seafood risotto and beef tenderloin with red wine sauce.
A large assortment of desserts is available at Le Bistro, and full bar service is offered. On weekends, an a la carte brunch is featured here.
Edna
$$$
2053 Gottingen St, Halifax, NS B3K 3B2, Canada
+1 902-429-2550
Edna is a small restaurant that serves supper Wednesday through Sunday, and brunch on the weekends. The brunches here are very popular with local residents and tourists alike.
Some of the appetizer highlights here include beef tartare, tuna poke and corn & scallion fritters. Seared scallops, gnocchi and squash and rib eye steak are just some of the entree choices at Edna.
For dessert, diners here can choose from espresso pannacotta, cheesecake square, sticky toffee cake and hot chocolate pot de creme. An extensive, rotating selection of wines is available at Edna, along with full bar service.
The Stubborn Goat Gastropub
$$
1579 Grafton St, Halifax, NS B3J 2C3, Canada
+1 902-405-4554
Located in downtown Halifax, the Stubborn Goat is a popular establishment that offers a pleasing menu of upscale comfort foods.
Among the small plate options here are harvest vegetable succotash, tenderloin beef tartare and cinnamon-lime chicken wings. The large plate options include burgers, a lobster club sandwich, portobello Wellington and half-a-dozen varieties of macaroni and cheese.
Another highlight here is the delightful, a la carte brunch served on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, the Stubborn Goat features full bar service, and an extensive wine list. During the warm weather months, the restaurant also operates an outdoor beer garden.
Da Maurizio
$$$$
1496 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 1R9, Canada
+1 902-423-0859
Located in Halifax's Brewery Farmer Market, Da Maurizio has been serving high quality Italian cuisine since 1988. Serving dinner only, this upscale restaurant is open Monday through Saturday.
Some of the appetizer options here are foie gras, bruschetta and cinnamon-rubbed lamb chops. Entree choices include grilled veal chop, Angus beef tenderloin, herb-crusted salmon and many pasta dishes.
For dessert, Da Maurizio features chocolate hazelnut mousse, cannolis, tiramisu, ice cream and gelato.
A large wine selection and full bar service are provided at Da Maurizio.
The Mercantile Social
$$$
1579 Hollis St, Halifax, NS B3J 1V3, Canada
+1 902-425-8682
Offering indoor and outdoor seating, the Mercantile Social is an upscale eatery that serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
The lunch menu at this upscale eatery features items such as tuna tartare, an onion ring tower, pork tacos and chicken and waffles. Dinner choices here include poached halibut, roasted pork tenderloin, braised beef short ribs and beef tenderloin.
A large bar area is in place at the Mercantile Social, and their wine list is very comprehensive. The Mercantile Social is also a favorite spot for holding private events, with three private rooms available.
