Looking for great places to eat and drink in Dartmouth Nova Scotia?
Downtown Dartmouth has a lot to offer when it comes to food and drinks. Whether you’re looking for a casual dining experience or just want to grab some quick takeout, there are plenty of options available in the downtown area.
Often overshadowed by the more well-known food scene in Halifax, Dartmouth has its own unique culinary culture that is definitely worth exploring. The downtown area is up and coming, with a vibrant arts scene and a growing number of independent businesses, including quite a few trendy new restaurants.
And with so many great restaurants and pubs, it can be hard to decide where to go first!
To help you out, we’ve listed some of the best places to eat and drink in downtown Dartmouth Nova Scotia.
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The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Dartmouth: Coffee and Cafes
Two If By Sea
Where: 66 Ochterloney Street
Hours: 8 am – 3 pm, 7 days a week
Located in the heart of Downtown Dartmouth, Two If By Sea is known for its baked goods and amazing coffee.
Serving up mouth-watering croissants and super-sized scones, as well as muffins and cookies, it’s a fantastic place to grab breakfast or a snack!
Be sure to pair those baked goods with a coffee or espresso-based drink that’s roasted locally (right next door!).
Café Good Luck
Where: 145 Portland Street
Hours: 8 am – 3 pm, 7 days a week
A neighbourhood cafe in downtown Dartmouth, Cafe Good Luck serves breakfast, lunch and brunch.
They are licensed and offer coffee, pastries and home-made ice cream pints!
Using fresh local ingredients, they serve simple egg based breakfast sandwiches and quiche to sandwiches, shrimp rolls and German potato salad for lunch.
Portland Street Creperie
Where: 55 Portland Street
Hours: 8 am – 3 pm, 7 days a week
The Creperie is another of our personal favourites! They offer a wide variety of sweet and savoury crepes as well as coffee, tea and smoothies.
There are always new and unique crepe creations – including a Halifax favourite – the Donair crepe, although my kids prefer the Nutella crepe.
Port City Coffee
Where: Alderney Landing, 2 Ochterloney Street (Dartmouth Ferry Terminal)
Hours: 7 am – 2 pm Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday
Conveniently located in the Ferry Terminal at Alderney Landing, Port City Coffee serves excellent coffee and espresso based drinks.
Add a delicious cookie, baked treat or breakfast sandwich to your order for a quick snack while you explore downtown Dartmouth!
They also have dairy-free (oat/almond) milk options available.
Coffee Matters
Where: 33 Alderney Drive
Hours: 7:30 am – 4 pm Monday to Friday, 9 am – 2 pm Saturday and Sunday
Featuring down-home Newfoundland hospitality, Coffee Matters is located right on the corner across from Alderney Landing.
It’s a comfortable place with free wifi and plenty of room to sit, work or enjoy a snack.
You’ll find homemade soups and sandwiches on the menu, as well as some delicious wraps, salads and flatbread pizzas. Gluten-free bread is also available.
Best Places to Eat and Drink in Dartmouth: Drinks and Pubs
Battery Park
Where: 62 Ochterloney Street
Hours: 11:30 am – 11 pm Monday and Wednesday, 11:30 am – 12 am Thursday to Saturday, 11:30 am – 11 pm Sunday. Closed Tuesday.
Battery Park Beer Bar features 20 rotating taps of local East Coast beers, as well as a selection of delicious snacks and meals to go along with them.
Burgers are on the menu here, with a variety of options from the classic to fried chicken or lamb, or even the Dartmouth style burger. There’s also a wine menu and a courtyard patio in the summer to sit and enjoy your beverages.
North Brewing Company
Where: 899 Portland Street
Hours: 12 – 10 pm Tuesday to Thursday, 12 – 11 pm Friday and Saturday, 12 – 10 pm Sunday. Closed Monday.
North Brewing Company is another Dartmouth micro-brewery. Although it’s located just outside of Downtown Dartmouth (it’s actually near Cole Harbour), we’re adding it to this list because it’s worth stopping by!
It’s also conveniently on the way to Lawrencetown or Rainbow Haven Beach if you’re looking to get out and explore beaches and other things to do in Dartmouth.
Stop by their full-service taproom and retail shop for some great beer or cider. If you can’t decide, why not try a flight?
They also have a unique menu with plenty of sharing plates available. You’ll find the usual nachos and fries, including uniquely flavoured masala fries or chaat fries supreme, along with popcorn and other interesting snacks. There are also hamburgers and other handheld sandwiches, as well as a kids’ menu.
Most of the menu is gluten-free, and there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.
Lake City Cider
Where: 35 Portland St
Hours: Mon – Wed: 11 am – 8 pm, Thurs – Sat: 11 am – 9 pm, Sun: 11 am – 7 pm
Lake City Cider crafts beautiful ciders in the heart of downtown Dartmouth.
The fresh pressed cider uses apples from Nova Scotia’s famous Annapolis Valley, but it’s fermented, filtered and bottled on site.
Try some ciders in the tap room, or grab some bottles to go! And when I say bottles, they’re the same size as wine bottles, perfect to enjoy on a hot summer weekend.
Brightwood Brewery
Where: 35 Portland St
Hours: 12 – 8pm Monday to Wednesday, 12 – 11pm Thursday, 12pm – 12am Friday and Saturday, 12 – 7pm Sunday
Originally starting as a basement brewery, Brightwood now boasts its own taproom and brewery in downtown Dartmouth.
Stop by the taproom to sample one of their beers that are brewed on-site and grab a bite to eat.
Brightwood shares the space with Lake City Cider, mentioned above.
New Scotland Brewing
Where: 16 Portland Street
Hours: 12 – 10 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 12 pm – 1 am Thursday to Saturday, and 12 – 10 pm Sunday. Closed Monday.
A community-based microbrewery, New Scotland Brewery is in the heart of downtown Dartmouth overlooking the Halifax harbour.
Using local ingredients, they produce small batch mead, beer and cider. Stop in for a beverage or order some to go. You can also enjoy live music every Thursday and Friday.
Best Places to Eat in Dartmouth Nova Scotia: Restaurants and Take Out
Evan’s Fresh Seafood
Where: Alderney Landing Ferry Terminal, 2 Ochterloney Street
Hours: 11am – 7pm Tuesday to Friday, 8am – 7pm Saturday, 11am – 5pm Sunday. Closed Monday
Evan’s Fresh Seafood is a completely gluten free fish restaurant and take out bar. Fish and chips is the specialty, but the chowder is also amazing!
Grab some frozen crab cakes or choose from the impressive selection of fresh seafood to take home.
The Wooden Monkey
Where: 40 Alderney Drive #305 (Alderney Ferry Terminal, Level 2)
Hours: 11:30am – 9pm every day
The Wooden Monkey is a popular restaurant with two convenient locations – one in Halifax and one in Dartmouth on the top floor of the Alderney Landing Ferry Terminal.
Using locally grown produce, as organic as possible, the Wooden Monkey serves quality food and supports local farmers and businesses.
You’ll find sandwiches, salads, pizzas and pasta on their menu and a large selection of local craft beers and locally produced wine. There are plenty of gluten-free and vegan options as well as a kids’ menu.
Celtic Corner
Where: 69 Alderney Drive
Hours: 11am – 10:30pm 7 days a week
Downtown Dartmouth’s local pub, the Celtic Corner has traditional maritime music with traditional pub food.
The rooftop patio has great views of the harbour, there’s Guinness on tap and a traditional Irish brunch served on weekends until 3 pm.
Vines Fusion & Grill
Where: 73 Alderney Drive
Hours: 12 – 2 pm and 4:30-9 pm, Tuesday to Sunday
Based on the fusion of Italian and Indian cuisine, Vines Fusion & Grill offers take-out or dine-in options.
Dine on the outdoor patio overlooking Alderney Drive or indoors in the quiet dining room. Entrees vary from seafood to lamb and steak or choose from a variety of Indian main dishes.
They also offer some interesting cocktails – my recommendation is the Raspberry Limoncello, as well having wine, beer and cider on the menu.
Yeah Yeahs Pizza
Where: 66 Ochterloney St
Hours: 3 – 8pm Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday.
Keeping it simple here, there’s only pizza on the menu at Yeah Yeahs Pizza.
Pizza is available by the slice or can be ordered as a large 18” pizza. Garlic fingers, salad or a slice of cheesecake can be added as side orders.
Gluten-free crust is available.
Stone Pizza
Where: 79 Alderney Dr
Hours: 11am – 8pm Monday to Wednesday, 11am – 9pm Thursday to Saturday, 11am – 8pm Sunday
Starting with a homemade pizza crust, delicious sauce and fresh, local ingredients, Stone Pizza will build your pizza order right in front of you.
All of the pizzas are cooked on traditional pizza stones using fresh, high quality and local ingredients.
Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and keto diets can be accommodated.
The Canteen
Where: 22 Portland St
Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm and 5pm – 9pm Tuesday to Thursday, 11am – 2:30pm and 5pm – 10pm Friday, 10am – 2pm and 5 pm – 10pm Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Conveniently located on the lower end of Portland Street, only steps away from the Alderney ferry terminal, the Canteen offers lunch, brunch and dinner menus.
Influenced by classic French, Italian and traditional Nova Scotian cuisine, the seasonal menus feature a variety of sandwiches, salads and soups, including favourites that kids will love.
Chef Renee Lavallee is a Top Chef Canada contender and adds her own flair to the menu.
Be sure to try some of the seafood based dished, like the haddock burger or canteen chowder. The crobster roll is also delicious!
There are also veggie options, like the falafel bowl or chickpea and coconut curry. But really, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!
Millstone Public House
Where: 102-67 King’s Wharf Place
Hours: 11:30 am – 11 pm, 7 days a week.
A public house is a spot where friends, family and community naturally gather to share a meal and have a few drinks. This is what Millstone Public House embodies.
Stop by and enjoy lunch or brunch, craft beer, burgers and wings or order some takeout to go.
We’ve visited the location on Baker Drive in Dartmouth, and it can be busy on the weekend, but the wait is worth it! I’m a big fan of their mussels, but the chicken club also had rave reviews.
Free parking is available across the street, just ask for the code.
Jukai Japanese & Thai
Where: 49 Kings Wharf Place #103-104
Hours: 11 am – 9:30 pm Monday, 4 – 9:30 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 am – 9:30 pm Thursday to Saturday, 11 am – 9 pm Sunday
Voted the best sushi in Dartmouth, Jukai Japanese & Thai is located right on the waterfront at King’s Wharf.
Choose from a large selection of freshly made sushi or the popular all-you-can-eat options.
Dine in, where you’ll be treated to great views of the Halifax harbour or take-out is also available. Come hungry!
John’s Lunch
Where: 352 Pleasant Street, Dartmouth
Hours: Thursday to Monday 11:30am – 7:30 pm Thursday to Monday. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Declared Canada’s Best Fish by Canadian Living, John’s Lunch has also been voted Best Seafood and Best Fish & Chips by the local Halifax newspaper, The Coast.
Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Dartmouth, John’s Lunch is a welcoming East Coast diner experience that will keep you coming back for more.
While they’re known for serving up delicious fish and chips, you’ll also find other seafood on the menu, as well as pizza, sandwiches and burgers and other diner favourites.
Ol School Donuts
Where: Dartmouth Crossing, in the Canadian Tire parking lot
When: 12 – 4 pm Saturday and Sunday
If you’re heading out to Dartmouth Crossing, whether for shopping or weekend errands, be sure to stop at Ol School Donuts.
Located in the Canadian Tire parking lot on weekends, this big red schoolbus serves old-fashioned donuts, just like Granny used to make – but with unique and decadent toppings.
Pick up a box of ten mini donuts with the choice of two different toppings, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Humble Pie Kitchen
Where: 77 King St
Hours: 11 am – 6 pm Tuesday to Friday, 10 am – 4 pm Saturday
New Zealand style savoury hand pies are what you’ll find at Humble Pie Kitchen. Buy them hot and eat in the café or take a few to go and cook at home.
The pies are baked several times throughout the day, so whether you stop in for lunch or dinner, they’ll be fresh!
Steak and cheese or turkey and brie are the most popular, new fillings are added seasonally.
Whether you’re a local looking for somewhere new to try, or you’re visiting the area and looking to check out the best places to eat and drink in Dartmouth Nova Scotia, there’s something for everyone!
Looking for Places to Stay in Dartmouth?
Our recommendation is Hampton Inn & Suites, conveniently located in Dartmouth Crossing. Check here for other accommodations.
