3 Best Restaurants in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Installed in a heritage building across from the Grand Parade, this restaurant is splurge-worthy. While classics like oysters Rockefeller and seared scallops never disappoint, inventive seafood dishes such as lobster-crusted haddock and a 6-pound flash-fried lobster tower elevate the menu. This is also a great place for steak, wagyu burgers, and other delectable items from the grill. Tables are backlit through a wall of stained glass, and the seafood is so good locals keep coming back. 

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.

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.