Skip to Content
A family with two young children, sitting on a waterfront deck overlooking Halifax Harbour and the boardwalk at Stone's Thow Patio in the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in Halifax Nova Scotia as the pub's server arrives with a meal for one of the children.

Dining in Nova Scotia 101

Helpful information and good-to-know rules and regulations for travellers in Nova Scotia

  • Home
  • Dining in Nova Scotia 101: Helpful Information for Travellers

If you are planning to visit – or are currently visiting – Nova Scotia from outside of the Canadian Atlantic provinces… or even from outside of Canada, we’ve pulled together a list of good to know rules, regulations and general information to help everyone, including those with accessibility needs and those travelling with children and/or pets, in choosing where to dine in Nova Scotia.

FAQs: Purchasing and Consuming Alcohol in Nova Scotia

Frequently asked questions regarding Nova Scotia’s liquor laws including, age limit, dining with children, and more.

Yes – the legal drinking age in the Province of Nova Scotia is 19 years of age.

This means that you must be at least 19 years old to purchase liquor as well as to drink alcoholic beverages such as beer, cider, wine, mead, distilled alcohol and spirits, including those available as ready-to-drink canned or bottled beverages while in Nova Scotia.

At restaurants and eateries that serve alcoholic beverages, at wineries, cideries, meaderies, distilleries, breweries, as well as in private shops and Nova Scotia Liquor Commission (NSLC) stores around the province, you may be asked to produce a government-issued photo ID to show that you are at least 19 years of age before you can purchase, order, consume, or in some cases, enter an establishment that is licensed to serve liquor.

For the first timer as well as the return traveller, we always recommend checking out the Nova Scotia Good Cheer Trail to discover the many wineries, breweries, cideries, meaderies, and distilleries. Use their Good Cheer Trail Passport to create your own tasting trail and to collect stamps for a chance to win prizes!

From sampling locally crafted products to enjoying a tasting flight or a glass of your favourite product, you’ll discover quality beverages that feature locally grown grapes, hops, grains, apples, as well as special and seasonal beverages infused with ingredients just as spruce tips, maple syrup, strawberries, and more!

Can’t make it to a winery, distillery, brewery, etc.? Visit a local NSLC store to view their vast selection of Nova Scotian product or visit a weekend Farmers’ Market to discover local producers licensed to sell alcoholic beverages onsite.

Flying into or departing from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport? Be sure to visit Liquid Assets NS on the second level of the terminal past security in where you can have your purchase packaged to fly home with you.

Yes – for travellers with children under 19 years of age, you can dine in establishments that serve food and alcohol up until 10:00 PM. However, if the restaurant has a bar and/or shifts from being a restaurant to become a late-night venue such as a lounge, cabaret, tavern, pub, and/or nightclub, children and young adults under the age of 19 would only be permitted to dine there until 9:00 PM.

If you will be arriving later in the evening at your destination, please check ahead with your accommodation or campground for local restaurant options. We recommend contacting restaurants or eateries in advance for more information as take-out options may be available.

All restaurants in Nova Scotia are required to have specific permits and training before they are permitted to operate, however, when a restaurant indicates it is a “licensed establishment” or “licensed restaurant”, it means the business is licensed to serve alcohol to guests who are age 19+ years of age. Government-issued photo identification will be requested if you are suspected to be under the age of 30.

Places to eat that promote that they are “unlicensed”means that they do not carry nor serve alcohol.

Two people sitting with their dog along the Halifax Waterfront next to The BG beer garden at sunset in the summer in Nova Scotia.
Halifax Waterfront

Dining in Nova Scotia: FAQs Accessibility, Food Allergies, Pet-friendly, and more

For those travelling in Nova Scotia that require specific information pertaining to restaurants to ensure your experience is safe and accessible for you and your group, here are answers to our most frequently asked questions.

According to the Province of Nova Scotia’s food safety regulations, pets are not permitted inside eating establishments in Nova Scotia however dogs may be permitted on outdoor patios. Please check directly with the restaurant or eatery to ensure they allow dogs.

This rule does not include certified guide and service dogs which are legally permitted in all restaurants and on patios.

Bonus! For travellers visiting with pets, many shops and businesses throughout the province are pet friendly! For those visiting Halifax, Dartmouth Crossing Shopping District is a pet friendly shopping area with many shops welcoming leashed, well behaved pets. Click here to view the list of pet-friendly shops in Dartmouth Crossing.

Tourism Nova Scotia has compiled lists of accessible places to dine as well as places to stay, visit, tours, and activities to help with travellers that have accessibility needs to ensure they have plenty of information and choices while visiting with us.

Visit our Wheelchair Accessiblity in Nova Scotia section to view businesses in each of Nova Scotia’s seven travel regions.

Please note: Businesses listed in this section have self-identified as being partially accessible/wheelchair friendly or fully wheelchair accessible. We recommend that you contact businesses directly with questions and for additional information.

NovaScotia.com welcomes all restaurants and eateries to list their business information on this website however not all have so you may discover more places to dine along your travels.

Yes, most restaurants in Nova Scotia are able to accommodate customers with these food allergies and dietary restrictions but you should check with specific restaurants first to ensure they can meet your needs.

Many restaurants may not be 100% free of common allergens including gluten, shellfish, peanut, dairy, etc., so we always recommend that you contact restaurants, cafés, food trucks, and other dining venues directly to check in advance to ensure a safe and enjoyable dining experience for all.

Most restaurants offer a variety of menu options and will note dishes that are vegetarian, gluten-free, and/or vegan – or that can be prepared with substitutions for a gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan request.

You will also find restaurants throughout Nova Scotia that offer Halal dining options, too.

Two people looking at the Nova Scotia Good Cheer Trail passport while visiting Tatamagouche Brewery in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia
Tatamagouche Brewing Co.

Discover Local: Where to find Nova Scotia seafood, wine, craft beer, spirits, producers ingredients and more

If you are looking for a traditional lobster feast, a hearty seafood chowder, to create a charcuterie board with the best local cheeses, or to raise a glass to toast our award winning farm wineries, craft breweries, distilleries and meaderies, you need to check out the Taste of Nova Scotia Culinary Trails!

Taste of Nova Scotia, a non-profit marketing organization that promotes Nova Scotia restaurants and producers committed to showcasing local culinary ingredients and experiences, offers four culinary trails where you can use a digital passport to discover and enjoy local food and drink throughout the province. Discover one – or all four – Taste of Nova Scotia culinary trails:

Nova Scotia Loyal LogoFinding local Nova Scotia ingredients and products has never been easier, thanks to Nova Scotia Loyal. This program highlights local farmers, producers, restaurants & eateries, farm markets, farmers’ markets, and retail stores that offer local items for sale and/or uses local ingredients in their menus.

When you see the Nova Scotia Loyal sticker or tag on a product, you will know that it’s authentically Nova Scotian.Taste of Nova Scotia logo

Culinary ingredients displaying the Taste of Nova Scotia logo on their packaging is another guarantee that you are buying a product that has been grown, cultivated, harvested, and/or produced in Nova Scotia. You’ll discover everything from jams and preserves, honey and maple products to sauces, spices, chocolates, sweets and more!

Another opportunity for discovering local products can be found in farm markets, roadside stands, and in farmers’ markets that can be found in towns and communities throughout the province. The Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia is a non-profit cooperative of farmers’ markets that highlights over 40 seasonal and year-round farmers’ markets that offers the opportunity to not only discover local products but also to purchase products directly from the local farmer, fisher, cheesemaker, chocolatier, baker, etc..

Taste the difference local makes!

Back to top