The best (of) date day in Halifax

Figuring out what the best things to do, eat and see in Halifax is easy! We have taken the guess work out of it with our annual Best of Halifax readers choice awards. So we’re using that intel to put together a date day itinerary that is sure to be a hit. Let Halifax be the third wheel on your budding romance.

You can say thank you by inviting us to the wedding.

Get caffeinated

Start your date over on the dark side, asking that special someone to meet you at Alderney Landing so you can take a stroll up Ochterloney and get your day started with a caffeine hit.

Two If By Sea has been a staple of downtown Dartmouth for 15 years, and has taken home the gold for Best Cafe so many times—13 in total—that we had no choice but to make it the first-ever BOH Hall of Fame entrant in the cafe category. Chalk it up to the TIBS coffee and croissants—oh, those croissants!

Stroll the waterfront

Next, who doesn’t love a ferry ride? Hop on the ferry and hit up downtown Halifax.

There’s a magnetic pull that draws people to the heart of the city, where the Halifax waterfront buzzes with energy. This urban boardwalk is also home to some great restaurants and cafes, as well as the Canadian Museum of Immigration, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Georges Island National Historic Site, and of course the Seaport Market on Saturday and Sunday.

View art

Ok, you’ve got all the fresh air you need, so it’s time for a little cultural pit stop. You want to make sure you have the same art sensibilities as your beloved before you take things any further.

Since 2018, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has continually won our gold award for the Best Gallery in Halifax—and for good reason. Located on Hollis Street, the gallery exhibits incredible art from Nova Scotia and beyond. In 2024 they showed Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins’ Three Dimensions exhibit, consisting of three installations including “Balancing Act,” described as “a large-scale claw crane game where participants can stack sculptural components and create ad-hoc components.”

Get your face messy

You’re probably starting to get a little pang in your stomachs, which means lunch. And since by this time you’re probably getting pretty comfortable with each other, let’s do some ugly eating and take down some burgers.

It’s a bit off the beaten path, but worth the walk: just go straight down Queen Street of Spring Garden, literally 10 minutes, to Darrell’s Restaurant. It has taken home the gold for Best Burger so many times, it deserves to be immortalized—which is why, with this year’s win, they’re joining the BOH Hall of Fame. If that doesn’t convince you to get out and finally try the utterly iconic, practically canonized peanut butter burger, we don’t know what will. And don’t skip on the spicy Darrell’s fries.

Digest with the ducklings

After taking down a peanut butter burger, you’ll probably need to walk it off and luckily, we have the perfect place that allows for exercise, but also feels romantic.

You voted for the Halifax Public Gardens to be the gold winner of the Best Public Space category this year—a decision that is sure to make sense to those who have visited the park, centrally located between Spring Garden Road and Summer Street. Whether it’s walking along to smell the dozens of flowers planted near the paths, gawking at the newborn ducklings, or attempting to catch a glance of the elusive turtles, the Halifax Public Gardens are always worth the trip.

Pick out a book you’ll both enjoy

Find out what else you have in common by perusing a local independent bookstore. A great way to get to know each other is to start your own little book club of two.

Halifax’s favourite independent bookstore is Bookmark and it’s right there on Spring Garden. A local favourite since 1988, this place is a treasure trove of great titles.

Drink wine, eat pasta, get cozy

You’ve made it this far and now, it’s time to really turn up the heat on this date as day turns to dusk.

The Bertossi Group’s literal golden child, The Bicycle Thief, scores the top spot for Best Restaurant for the fourth time since its opening in 2011. This resto is just as much a staple in our readers’ hearts as it is a staple of the Halifax Waterfront. The Bicycle Thief exudes a classy, come-as-you-are vibe, serving up an Italian-inspired menu with a classic Nova Scotia twist. They also have an extensive selection of wines to keep the mood sexy.

Get silly and turn up

Now that you’re tipsy and totally feeling each other, the possibilities are endless for late night activities—assuming you aren’t ready to just go home (wink).

If dancing is your thing, the best place to do that is The Seahorse Tavern, where the vibes are always high. (At least according to our party-loving readers.) Karaoke you crave? Belt it out at Bearley’s House of Blues. If you want to keep it a bit more low key, why not test yourself with some trivia or play some board games at The Boardroom Cafe?