Halifax is a vibrant, friendly, unique, and diverse city with so much to offer. I love every chance that I get to explore the city, and while every season offers something special, there is a lot that you can do year-round.
Inside and outdoors, Halifax highlights local history, great cuisine, a mix of exciting things for families and couples, and something for every budget.
These are some of my favourite things to do in the city, from quick visits to longer stays. Read on for suggestions for rainy days, winter stays, or a slice of local history.
Visit the markets and go shopping
Across the city there is a mix of great shopping opportunities, whether you want to buy something special and home made, fresh baking, cheese and wine, clothing, or a souvenir.
The highlight of shopping in Halifax is the range of markets, because they cover everything you may want to buy. Three markets stand out in the city: Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, Halifax Brewery Farmers Market, and Hydrostone Market.
Whether you’re arriving by cruise ship, road trip, or you’re visiting for a few days, these markets have some of the best shopping in the city. You can buy bread and fruit, sandwiches and pre-made meals, arts and crafts, and so much more. Each of the markets is in a different neighbourhood, too, giving you the chance to shop and explore more of the city.
Halifax also has a number of shopping malls, or I’d recommend taking the ferry across to Dartmouth to explore the downtown with more stores, shops, restaurants, and bars. For the music lovers I highly recommend Renegade Records.
Museums, historic sites, and art galleries
Halifax is an historic city. The Mi?kmaq have lived here for thousands of years, while the modern city was founded by the British in 1749. That started with the first fort in the area, Fort George, or as it’s now known today, the Halifax Citadel.
Remnants of the original fort can still be found on the site, and today you can tour the Halifax Citadel, explore the history and stories here, and even enjoy a spirit tasting. Every day at 12 PM the Royal Artillery also fires the noon gun at the Citadel.
Some of the other interesting museums and galleries in Halifax include the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, with a section dedicated to the sinking of the Titanic; the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, looking back on the immigrants who have come through the port to settle in Canada; the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, with a look at wildlife and Indigenous history; and Africville Museum, looking back at the first African Nova Scotian community that thrived here for over 100 years.
Art lovers need to visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia as well, where you can find a mix of modern and classic pieces from the province’s artists, but the highlight is the Maud Lewis gallery. One of the province’s most notable artists, she lived in Marshalltown, in a small home that she covered nearly every surface with her art. Today you can see the restored home in the gallery, along with some of her best works.
Cheers to local breweries and distilleries
Canada has exceptional craft breweries and distillers, and Halifax has a number of great examples of this where you can sit down for a pint, take a brewery tour, enjoy an upscale cocktail, or buy something you love to take home.
For a popular tour of the beer making process, Alexander Keith’s Brewery is fun and informative, with the chance to sit down for a pint at the end in the classic Stag’s Head pub.
Around town you also should stop to enjoy Garrison Brewing Co., Halifax Distillery Co., 2 Crows Brewing Co., and Good Robot Brewing Co. There are more than 25 places to enjoy beer, wine, spirits, and cider in Halifax, or try a tasting at the Halifax Citadel.
My favourite brand in the city has to be Compass Distillers, who make award-winning gin, coffee liqueur, whisky, and so much more. I highly recommend trying their Gin Royal in a gin and tonic.
Sit down and relax with exceptional cuisine
Foodies will fall in love with Halifax, not just for the fresh seafood, but for the inventive pairings, the local flavours, and the dedication to great cuisine.
There are dozens of exceptional restaurants and bars in the city that offer amazing cuisine, but I have a few favourites.
Visit The Bicycle Thief for fresh oysters, antipasti, and Italian inspired plates; Edna for seared scallops, risotto, and fish; Le Bistro by Liz for French-inspired soups, croque monsieur, crêpes, and brunch; and 2 Doors Down for a diverse menu that includes biscuits, burgers, lamb, and pork belly.
Two other favourites that I have to mention on their own are the Bluenose II, and The Narrows Public House. The Bluenose II is a classic in the city; an institution that serves families fried clams, fish, and lobster, as much as locals who come in for breakfast, prime rib, or pasta.
And The Narrows makes all of their food from scratch, with classic dishes that would have been served in the city 100 years ago, most notably their square meals that come with delicious house made molasses brown bread and mustard pickles. Among those meals consider the Dutch Mess with braised haddock, Fried Bologna Dinner, Boiled Dinner with corned beef brisket, or the Chicken Fricot.
Keep in mind that menus often change seasonally.
Enjoy the live music scene
A visit to Halifax just won’t be the same unless you check out some of the fantastic live music. The city has music somewhere in the city every night of the week, from rock and pop, jazz and blues, to traditional folk.
I have a few favourite live music venues in Halifax, but there are more than a dozen that are worth checking out.
By far my favourite is Bearly’s House of Blues, where you can catch the incredible Garrett Mason on Tuesdays, and a full week of shows and performers. Not to mention great deals on beer many nights of the week.
The Local Restaurant & Bar is a crowd favourite, popular with students as much as the locals, and it’s well worth stopping by for Gin & Jazz night on Wednesdays, and live music on Thursdays. Definitely ask for the Compass gin in your gin and tonic.
The Narrows Public House also has traditional live music on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. And consider checking out Old Triangle Irish Alehouse, Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub, The Split Crow Pub, and The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar.
The Carleton is another institution in the city, with a mix of local musicians and touring acts so you can sit and enjoy dinner and a drink, and hear great music. Plan to purchase tickets in advance as they often sell out for this wonderful, intimate venue.
With thanks to Tourism Nova Scotia and Discover Halifax for their partnership.
All photos by W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.
