Enjoy seafood within sight of the famous Peggy's Cove lighthouse at the Sou'Wester.

GO WEST

Take a road trip to visit the rugged coastline and historic fishing villages west of Halifax and you can experience the fresh seafood that made Nova Scotia famous. Perched on the rocks above the Atlantic in the fishing village of Peggy’s Cove, the Sou’wester is a local legend for its seafood chowder, traditional fish and chips and home-style gingerbread. (It’s worth the 30-minute drive just for that dessert.)

If you’re lucky enough to be in Tantallon on a Wednesday, check out the Shining Waters Marine Lobster Supper. Served at a marina overlooking the sparkling waters of St. Margaret’s Bay, the meal includes a 1.5-pound lobster, mussels and much more. Call ahead to reserve your spot.

You can also enjoy a traditional seafood feed from Wednesday to Sunday at The Shore Club Lobster Supper in Hubbards. There are even steak, chicken and vegetarian meals for landlubbers.

Nearby on Hubbard’s Shore Club Road, the Dauphinee Inn Dining Room is another sure-fire destination for mouthwatering seafood. Highlights include boiled lobster, creamy seafood chowder and pan-fried haddock.

The Hamachi House is a local legend for its flavourful sushi.

JAPANESE JOURNEY

Take your taste buds on an Asian adventure with a visit to one of the Hamachi restaurants around Metro. The flagship Hamachi House on Morris Street has a floating sushi bar and an extensive sushi and sashimi selection. Back on Lower Water Street, the Hamachi Steakhouse Bar & Grill offers Japanese-style teppanyaki tables, with the chef working his magic right in front of diners. Uptown in The Hydrostone on Young Street, Hamachi Kita Sushi & Asian Flare marries the trademark Japanese dishes with other Asian influences, including unforgettable Thai BBQ. Across the harbour in Dartmouth on Portland Street, Hamachi Grill & Sushi House offers exactly what the name suggests and has a large patio.

Morris East's mushroom, brie and truffle oil pizza is a creative take on an old classic.

Image © Scott Munn

5 PRIMO PIZZAS

1. At Saege bistro on Spring Garden Road, chef Geir Simensen garners rave reviews for his artful use of local ingredients, and nothing typifies that better than his pizza with fennel sausage from the Halifax City Farmers' Market and fenugreek havarti from Fox Creek.

2. Pizzeria a Mano on Lower Water Street is the latest project from the talents behind Bish World Cuisine and once again, they’ve worked their magic. Case in point: the Fichi pizza, made with fig comfit, arugula, porsciutto and bocconcini.

3. Foodies consistently vote Tomavino’s on South Street as having the city’s best pizza and when you sample creations like the Ambrosia (sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach and Italian sausage), you’ll quickly see why.

4. It may be new, but Morris East on Morris Street is capturing taste buds with the pizzas that come out of its wood-fired oven. The mushroom, brie and truffle oil pizza is especially tasty.

5. A wood-burning oven is also the secret to success at Argyle Bar & Grill on Argyle Street, where the Spanokopita pizza is a Greek twist on an Italian classic.

Baan Thai's patio is the perfect place to escape the bustle of Spring Garden Road.

Image © Janice Hudson

UNDISCOVERED PATIOS

The bistro-style patio at Stories on Morris Street is a magical escape. Surrounded by flowering shrubs, ornamental trees and flowers, it’s a natural haven in the middle of one of Halifax’s oldest city blocks and the perfect place to enjoy chef Scott Vail’s seasonal creations.

Milano’s Ristorante on Chebucto Road is newly renovated for the summer with a refurbished bar and two outdoor spaces, with grapevine-covered latticework giving the space an Old World flavour.

The unique patio at Sweet Basil Bistro on Upper Water Street in the Historic Properties is tucked away in a courtyard overlooking the rugged stone and brick façade of Morse’s Tea Building. While there, enjoy the fragrant smells wafting from the chef’s herb garden.

The second-storey patio at Baan Thai on Dresden Row is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Spring Garden Road’s busy shopping district. Popular with Thai aficionados, it launched a new patio this year.

Metro's second Jack Astor's location recently opened in Dartmouth Crossing.

TAKE TWO

The Jack Astor’s Bar & Grill on Chain Lake Drive is a longstanding Halifax favourite for an informal night out with friends, boasting a diverse menu, creative drinks and a relaxed atmosphere. Now the city has a second Jack Astor’s, recently opened on Shubie Drive in Dartmouth Crossing.

Fine dining just steps from Halifax Harbour at Bish World Cuisine.

A MEAL WITH A VIEW

One of the city’s finest restaurants, Bish World Cuisine on Lower Water Street also has one of Halifax’s best patios. Nestled between the boardwalk and the harbour, it offers sweeping ocean vistas—the perfect setting to enjoy chef Maurizio Bertossi’s fusion creations.

Perched on the end of Cable Wharf (just off Lower Water Street), Murphy’s on the Water has one of the waterfront’s best patios, with the ocean on three sides. It’s the perfect spot to while away a sunny afternoon. Further north on the boardwalk, Salty’s on the Waterfront is in the heart of the Historic Properties, with dozens of outdoor tables overlooking Halifax Harbour.

Create your own unique stir-fry at the Mongolie Grill.

Image © Gwen North

STIR IT UP

Create your own unique stir-fry at the Mongolie Grill on Granville Street. Choose from 17 different vegetables, plus shrimp, scallops, beef, pork and chicken. Accompanying them are 18 different made-from-scratch sauces, ranging from basics like honey garlic to fiery Mongolian varieties. After you’ve filled your bowl, take it to the fry station to be cooked. It’s a pay-by-weight concept, with a discount for vegetarian creations.

Boston Pizza recently renovated its Chain Lake Drive location.

NEW & IMPROVED

Boston Pizza on Chain Lake Drive recently reopened after an extensive seven-week renovation. The attached sports bar is now home to Atlantic Canada’s largest plasma TV, while the restaurant boasts a new glass-enclosed and heated patio, new artwork, a contemporary colour scheme, a paperless kitchen and a total of 275 seats. You can also visit Boston Pizza downtown in Granville Mall. 

Chef Martin Keyzlar and partner Mary Beth have built Fiasco into a truly memorable dining experience.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

It’s little wonder that Fiasco on Brenton Street is so popular with local foodies. Chef Martin Keyzlar is a wizard at matching fresh local ingredients like Digby scallops and Atlantic salmon with flavourful European-style sauces. Working with partner Mary Beth, he offers a dining experience that you’ll be talking about long after you leave.