14 Best Restaurants in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Come to this fab spot to grab breakfast where they serve authentic Central and South American dishes in a cozy location.

Tasty sushi, fresh sashimi, feather-light tempura, gyudon, and teriyaki are among the authentic Japanese dishes that are artfully presented here on the extensive menu. Seating is available both inside the pint-size eatery and, in summer, out on a small street-front patio, and takeout is another option. Vegetarians should note that meat-free dishes may include fish broth, so make your requirements known.

Traditional Vietnamese subs, noodle soups and bowls, fusion tacos, and more at this fast-service spot just across from the Halifax Public Gardens.

History surrounds you in Privateer's Warehouse, where two eateries share old stone walls and hand-hewn beams. The main-floor pub sticks to pub grub, which is served at long trestle tables; the patrons here consider ale an entrée, so you can just order a beer and join the fun. The second-floor Beer Market is less casual, with more refined dishes on the menu. There's another branch in Clayton Park.

House-made pasta rules at this tiny café where a talented young chef creates dishes based on his nonna Maria's recipes brought over from the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Delicious African stews—beef, goat, curry chicken, eggplant—with tasty sides such as jollof rice and enjera bread are served in Mary's friendly downtown restaurant.

In a handsome 1906 firehouse across from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, McKelvie's is that rare find that hits the sweet spot between upscale and down-home. Though all the menu mainstays are here, from oysters Rockefeller to surf and turf, the best bets are the contemporary twists on seafood classics. Although the restaurant has been in business for over 30 years, its look is as fresh as the ingredients used here.

Casually cool yet warm and intimate, Morris East stakes its reputation on local artisanal ingredients. Gourmet wood-fired pizzas, topped with the region's best veggies, cheeses, and charcuterie and cooked using Annapolis Valley applewood, are the specialty. Libations have local flavor too: spirits handcrafted in the province go into the cocktails. There's a short wine list, or you can bring your own (corkage C$15).

Here you'll find sweet and savory crepes with unexpected fillings such as garlic mashed potato, or pesto with goat cheese and chicken, as well as classic flavors.

Overlooking Privateer's Wharf on the harbor, Salty's wins the prize for best location in Halifax. Steaming bowls of shellfish stew and curried scallops crown a menu sure to satisfy seafood lovers, though there are also meat and pasta options. There is a less expensive Bar & Grill on the ground level. Salty's serves meals outside on the wharf in summer, but be warned that it can be very windy.

Casual, boisterous, and hugely popular, this place has a patio right on the waterfront—on the landward side, look for the "tree" of old bicycles stacked outside. The lengthy menu slants Italian but also features meat-heavy main courses, all with interesting accompaniments that incorporate the finest Nova Scotian ingredients. Reservations are strongly recommended.

At this pub in what was once the house of a prominent Canadian politician, Haligonian brewers uphold beer-making traditions dating back to 1754, and you can sample the results, along with craft and bottled beers from beyond the city. The food is impressive, too—especially the Nova Scotia salt cod fishcakes and beer-battered fish-and-chips. In winter fireplaces keep the ironstone building toasty.

This fun, funky spot attracts health-conscious diners with its macrobiotic and organic food, locally brewed beer and wines, and fair-trade coffee. Aside from being good for you, though, the food here is also just plain good. Menu mainstays (the lentil burger, grass-fed braised beef, and line-caught haddock) are bound to win over skeptics. There's a second branch in Dartmouth.