Romantic Date Ideas in Halifax During Winter
Written by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete & Dalene Heck
For some, a romantic winter weekend involves cuddling up in a cozy retreat, wearing matching fuzzy socks, sipping hot chocolate, and lounging by a fireplace. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, that describes our weekends at home (minus the matching socks)! So for us, when we want to break from the ordinary and indulge in some romance, we head to a city.
Thankfully for us, Halifax is just down the road, and it has a way of making romance feel effortless; the city offers far more than just your standard “dinner and a movie” routine. Thankfully for you, we jotted down all our hot date ideas into this article!
Amp Up the Romance: Date Ideas in Halifax
Before you just book any ol’ dinner reservation and call it a day, read on for spots with intimate and romantic vibes, plus a lot of other ideas to make it a date to remember.
Dine at These Romantic Restaurants in Halifax
Tribute
It’s stylish, the tables are few, and the food is absolutely divine – the best we’ve had in Halifax, probably. We found Tribute to be a wee bit noisy for our liking, but no matter, it’s a place we’ll return to again and again for the delicious fare (especially those espresso mashed potatoes)! Be sure to make a reservation; it books up well in advance.
Café Lunette
If you agree that Paris is one of the most romantic places in the world, then you’ll be happy to book at this French-inspired spot on the waterfront. The decor transported us! Our meals were exceptionally good, too. Although we found it to be the perfect brunch spot, Café Lunette is also open for dinner.
Sweet Hereafter
If your boo has a sweet tooth, then make a stop at Sweet Hereafter dessert bar and order a cheesecake flight. Yes, you read that right. Five different flavours (chef’s choice) will be delivered to your table, and you can both sample and playfully fight over who gets the last bite of your faves. It’s a perfect after-dinner spot, or if you’re crazy like us, it also works pre-dinner!
Peacock Wine Bar
Peacock Wine Bar has become our go-to pre-dinner spot when we’re in the city. The decor is inspired, as is the cocktail and snack menu. The food changes regularly to keep patrons interested, and on this most recent visit, we loved the burrata, with lavender, sichuan, plum, and black sesame toasts.
Others
We make an effort to try new spots during most of our visits to the city, and other romantic restaurants in Halifax that we’ve enjoyed in the past are:
- Black Sheep, we adore it primarily for the ambience. We’ve had many deep conversations over great meals here!
- We recently tried The Orient and are excited to add it to our list of recommended places. Chef Ivan serves up supremely authentic and high-quality Chinese food, and what’s more romantic than sharing plates? Not much else.
Skip the Restaurants and Learn to Make Pasta Together
Cooking classes are our jam, and even though we sometimes make fresh pasta at home already, we’re always game to learn more. Roberta from Paolucci Pasta offers classes at your home or inside the Halifax Brewery Market.
The Market offered a serious “Lady and the Tramp” vibe, immediately elevating the romance of the experience. Roberta had everything lined up for our chosen meal (walnut-and-ricotta-stuffed pasta with a blue cheese cream sauce), and expertly led us through all the steps to make our own dinner.
We learned so much! And it was worth every step because both the pasta and the sauce were silky, smooth, and super delicious.
Take in Live Music
We have taken many trips into the city to watch live music (see upcoming events here), but something that has always been on our list is to see a candlelight concert. The Narrows String Quartet – a local and very talented foursome – led us through an evening of adapted music from popular Queen and Beatles songs. It was a truly beautiful sight, and the music was fantastic
Visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
For a long time, we’ve been eager to visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, mostly to see the Maud Lewis exhibit, but we found ourselves loving it all.
For starters, Maud is a hugely inspirational artist. Originally from near Digby (not far from our house!), her paintings are world-renowned and worthy of every accolade, but what drew us to her most was her love story with husband Everett. They met when Maud answered an ad to be a housekeeper and quickly married.
Not only do they have plenty of Maud’s art on display, but they also have Everett’s. Inspired by his wife, Everett took up painting in a similar style. In addition to the two artists’ work, their tiny home is also on display. Lifted from Digby and transported across the province, it now has a permanent space at the Art Gallery, as it is a dramatic piece of artwork in its own right.
Shop Together
Agricola Street
Agricola Street is the heart of Halifax’s North End, perfect for a slow wander, plus it’s packed with character and eclectic stores. We lingered in Agricola Street Books, toured a couple of high-end vintage clothing shops, and picked up a few supplies from a craft shop.
We could have spent a whole afternoon here by stopping into more shops and cafes and sampling a variety of libations, but with limited time, we only wandered for a short while and admired the colourful storefronts. What we loved most is that it feels like a genuine neighbourhood gem rather than a tourist trap.
Farmers Markets
If there’s one thing we love, it’s a good market. No matter where we are in the world, strolling through the stalls and admiring the treats and wares is always a special experience. And depending on the time of year, Halifax has a few places worth stopping at on Saturday. In winter, you can always count on the Seaport Farmers Market (on the Waterfront) and the Halifax Brewery Market (located in the old Alexander Keiths Brewery).
Seeing we’d already visited the Seaport Market in the past, we decided to explore the Brewery Market. We ended up with a full bag of local art and goodies, grabbed a coffee from Laughing Whale, and stopped by Roberta’s stall (our pasta instructor from the night before) to get some of her popular pesto. What we loved most about this market, however, was the diversity in the vendors. It’s not every day we get to practice our Turkish when buying authentic baklava!
Play Together
As you might know, we’re gamers (I mean, we’ve even created our own!), so a stop at the popular The Board Room Game Cafe is always an excellent date idea in Halifax for similarly minded couples. There is a wide array of games to choose from, great diner-style food, and a genuinely fun atmosphere. Be sure to plan ahead and make a reservation; it often gets packed in there!
Go Outside
Walk Along the Halifax Waterfront
Walking along the 4.4-kilometre boardwalk on the Halifax Waterfront is certainly romantic. With every step, we felt the charm of Halifax. We sure felt the bite of the cold winter Atlantic wind, but on the plus side, we didn’t have the crowds to contend with and at times felt we had it all to ourselves.
For the best views, we climbed to the top of the ‘Rise Again’ steps at Queen’s Marque—for a great vantage point to see the whole waterfront. And further down, we had a clear view of Georges Island from the end of the pier. Plus, when we got too cold, we tucked into a cafe to grab a coffee or stopped into one of the many shops.
Explore the Citadel
The walking paths around the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site offer fantastic views of downtown Halifax. We walked along the Perimeter Loop, a locals’ favourite. It’s a 1.5km path that offers views of the harbour, downtown buildings, and bridges. We stopped for a popular photo of the old clock tower and a panorama of downtown.
Go Skating
We had planned to go ice skating at the Emera Oval, but given the harsh winter wind, we decided to save it for another trip. The Emera Ice Skating Oval is located on Halifax Common and, during the winter, is the largest outdoor, artificially refrigerated ice surface East of Quebec City.
The oval is the size of three NHL rinks and offers hours of fun and exercise for a romantic skate. Best of all, skate rentals are free (with a government ID), and there is hot chocolate and washrooms on site. We hope to hit the ice next time we’re in the city.
Walk in the Wilderness
It’s amazing that with a quick drive from the hustle and bustle of downtown Halifax, you are in the wilderness, wondering if there is even a city nearby. A stroll along the trails in either Point Pleasant Park or Sir Sanford Fleming Park is certainly a romantic thing to do with your partner.
During the winter, the woods are certainly quiet, and at times, if it’s cold enough, you will get views of sea smoke rising off the water. In Point Pleasant Park, the paths will wind through tall trees, offer a coastal view, and pass by old fort ruins. In Sir Sanford Fleming Park, a brisk walk along the Northwest Arm will give a gorgeous view of the Dingle Tower.
Where to Stay in Halifax
On our romantic trip into the city, we wanted a quaint, cozy inn for the weekend, close to all the downtown amenities. That’s why the Halliburton House Inn was a great choice. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, the staff was extremely courteous, and there was free parking (which can be challenging downtown). It was the perfect spot to stay.
*** This post was produced by us and sponsored by Discover Halifax.
