Our 6 Favourite Restaurants
in Halifax for 2026
Where Locals Eat (& Where We Send Our Guests)
Like most liberal-arts school graduates, after university I ended up working in bars and restaurants to pay the bills. Decades ago, there weren’t too many dining options in this little seaside city and I was smart enough to work in the busiest bar/restaurant in downtown Halifax.
At that time and era, with more disposable income than I needed, my co-workers and I would dine out often around Halifax. Over the decades we’ve salivated as we watched our little city grow and become more cosmopolitan – especially in terms of food.
Fast forward to today and for a small city of around 500,000 people, Halifax punches well above it’s size in terms of food and dining with fresh local seafood paired with an array of global influenced flavours from decades of immigration to Nova Scotia.
Naturally, as a tour guide one of the questions I’m asked most often is:
“Where should we eat in Halifax?”
Thankfully my previous life in the local dining scene has given me an insider’s expertise to answer such a fundamental travel question. From hidden seafood shacks to stylish and intimate dining rooms, this city is packed with unforgettable restaurants run by a number of friends and people I’ve know for years.
Below are some of my favourite Halifax spots for 2026. It pained me to leave so many other great choices off this list, but these are places my family and I personally love to visit and recommend to our guests no matter the season.
Whether you’re visiting for a weekend to Sable Island or planning a longer stay multi-day adventure, these dining spots will give you a well-rounded taste of Halifax’s incredible food scene.
(ps: no donairs, I hate donairs)
Evan’s Fresh Seafoods
★★
This is the underground, super secret, you-have-to-be-in-the-know to wander in here for lunch. If you’re looking for authentic seafood, Evan’s Fresh Seafoods on the other side of the harbour on the Dartmouth waterfront is a hidden gem hiding as a fish monger.
If you’re in Halifax, take the ferry across the harbour to Alderney Landing and visit this high-quality spot that serves up some of the best fish and chips anywhere, along with traditional cold lobster rolls, unique hot lobster rolls, seafood chowder, scallop burgers and other East Coast ocean delights. It’s working class, casual, delicious, and located in the middle of the ferry terminal along with other local food options. No fast food chains here.
Evan’s also features a gluten-free fryer for their fish and chips and has gluten-free breads and buns as well. And buy fresh or frozen seafood to take home with you.
Local tip: Grab your food and enjoy on the patio outside while watching boats, ferries and container ships cruise through the harbour.
EDNA
★★★★
I am biased with this choice. Located in Halifax’s historic north end near my house, EDNA Restaurant is our family’s favourite food spot in the city whether it be for dinner, lunch or Sunday brunch.
Eat. Drink. Nourish. Always. EDNA’s menu changes seasonally, but you can always expect unique, comforting flavours with a highly refined touch. There’s no one cuisine. It’s not a seafood restaurant. It’s not Italian. It’s just really good with homemade pastas, perfectly cooked seafood, and excellent cocktails.
Prior to COVID, EDNA was an established highlight in Halifax’s restaurant scene. Recognized by Air Canada as one of the 10 best in the country. But with the trials of the pandemic the owner closed the restaurant and it sat empty for over a year until two former employees crowdfunded to purchase the spot. Our friends Cora and Heather are the new owners and EDNA is better than ever!
Incredible casual food in a unique and beautiful restaurant. It’s ideal for food-loving travellers on a date night looking for a true taste of modern Halifax cuisine.
Local Tip: After dinner stop in across the street for live music at The Local, especially on Wednesdays with world-class jazz!
CHKN CHOP
★★★
When travelling you sometimes want to devour something you know you’re doctor and cardiologist wouldn’t strongly discourage against. Like really good, Montreal-style chicken. This is why CHKN CHOP exists.
The vibe is a like a piri-piri Portugese chicken shop in the Mile-End neighbourhood of Montreal. But this Halifax favourite is known for juicy, flavour-packed chicken, house-made sauces, that hit the spot after a long day of exploring. Somehow… even the side dishes might be better than the chicken dishes. Roasted brussell sprouts with parmesan and lemon. Paprika green beans. Mac & Chz with scallions!
Take away or dine in. Check their Instagram account for the weekly fried chicken special that is too die for, just ask the funeral home next door.
Local Tip: On a hot summer day go for ask for a slushy margarita while dining on the patio.
Salvatore’s Pizza
★★★
Halifax is a university town, therefore it is naturally a pizza town. Ask any local about the best pizza in Halifax, and Salvatore’s will be the name that has been coming up for over three decades!
Located further north in the quaint Hydrostone Market that was built after the 1917 Halifax Explosion, this iconic pizza spot serves thin-crust, New York–style slices with premium ingredients, bold flavours and perhaps the best pizza dough you will ever experience.
The current owner Chris worked for the original founder Salvatore before he took over the business, and the staff today claim it is the happiest kitchen in the city. The food reflects that.
Order delivery, pick up, or we usually stop for a bite to eat on the patio during our Collision Course tour. You can order slices at lunch or there are whole pizzas, mouth-melting hero sandwiches, or fresh and savoury salads.
Salvatore’s is not only a Halifax rite of passage. It’s a pizza pilgrimage to a higher experience.
Top Tip: Become housemates with someone who works in the kitchen at Sal’s like I did for a few glorious years.
Water Polo
★★★★★
Anyone planning a trip to Halifax invariably comes across the rave reviews and recommendations for the Bicycle Thief, located right on the Halifax waterfront. And for good reason. But good luck getting a table especially in tourism season.
What most people don’t know though, including locals here in Halifax, is that last year the Bicycle Thief owners opened a sister restaurant called Water Polo just a 3-minute walk away in a new waterfront development. Water Polo pairs bold Mediterranean flavours with local Nova Scotian seafood in a menu designed for sharing across the table.
This is elevated seafood in a fine dining setting that feels like you’re aboard George Clooney’s yacht floating on Lake Como in Italy.
Think vibrant small plates, fresh ingredients, creative cocktails, and a simple, nautical atmosphere.
The massive waterfront patio might be the best part however. You will always be able to get a walk up table in the summer meaning it’s a fantastic choice for groups, celebratory dinners, or visitors who love seafood, tapas-style dining.
Local Tip: Grab a seat at the bar in the summer during lunch, and good luck leaving before dinner.
Bar Kismet
★★★★★
Since 2017, owners Jenner and Annie have elevated Halifax’s dining scene with their complimentary talents at Bar Kismet. This is beautifully curated spot known for Annie’s refined, seafood-focused small plates and Jenner’s world-class cocktail creations. Jenner is a renown global mixologist and his creations helped Bar Kismet become known as one of the 50 best bars in North America. Although Annie has stepped back from day-to-day kitchen operations, her staff have kept Bar Kismet ranked as one of the top 10-20 restaurants in Canada.
From the exterior this cozy space looks like a North-end row house, but inside it blends creative dishes with a relaxed, intimate atmosphere – perfect for food adventurers and beverage lovers alike.
Local Tip: Make a reservation online. It’s a small space that is continually booked out.
Food Is Part of the Halifax Experience
At Picture Perfect Tours, we believe great food is just as important as great stories and scenery. Halifax’s restaurant scene reflects the city itself -welcoming, creative, deeply rooted in the ocean, and full of character from around the world.
When you tour with us, we’re always happy to point you toward the best restaurants in Halifax, whether you’re craving seafood, comfort food, or something a little unexpected.
And we stop for snacks and meals throughout our adventures – whether it’s lunch at Le Caveau on our Farm To Tide Tour; or visiting The Half-Shell, an outdoor oyster bar above the Lunenburg waterfront; or a roadside lobster roll from Tom’s in Peggy’s Cove. We know where to eat.
Join us on a guided experience that pairs unforgettable sights with local knowledge you won’t find in a guidebook.
👉 Learn more at Picture Perfect Tours and our Nova Scotia Tour Page and come hungry – we’ve got plenty more recommendations where these came from.
