Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Nova Scotia

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in Nova Scotia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Dear Friend

4.9

4.9 (367)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

Dartmouth

About the restaurant

Dear Friend is Downtown Dartmouth's cocktail & wine bar. Join us in our cozy, European style cocktail bar or on our vibrant patio for great food, amazing cocktails, attentive service and awesome music. Located in the heart of Downtown Dartmouth on Portland Street, we are steps away from the Dartmouth Waterfront and Alderney Ferry Terminal. Our small plate food menu showcases Chef Bradley George's take on fresh Nova Scotian seafood and cured meats, as well as small plates with Asian and Spanish influences. Our bar team features some of the best the country has to offer; always creating new flavours and perfecting classics. Join us for our Oyster Happy Hour, everyday from 4pm-5pm, or book a table with friends to imbibe. We have lots of space for walk-ins as well!

Top review

AndrewVIP

Dined 7 days ago

No better place in Dartmouth. Great food and great service and interesting drinks.

La Piazza Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (74)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Italian

Halifax

About the restaurant

La Piazza Ristorante opened in June 2015 and is a family-owned Italian restaurant. As you step inside, the warm and inviting atmosphere immediately embraces you, making you feel like part of the family. La Piazza takes immense pride in serving Italian cuisine made with love. La Piazza is proud to have won platinum winner for best Italian restaurant in 2020, and 2022 in the Community Votes!

At La Piazza, pasta lovers are in for a treat with a wide variety of pasta dishes. For those craving the perfect slice of pizza, the wood-fire oven delivers a crispy, thin crust topped with the freshest ingredients. Whether you opt for a classic Margherita or a gourmet prosciutto and arugula combination, the pizza at La Piazza is nothing short of delicious! We also have a fantastic wine selection and cocktails to pair with any meal!

Top review

Tracy

Dined on 4 Dec 2024

Food is delicious and consistent. The lighting is cosy and it’s so nice to see the Woodfire pizza oven flames.

Bar Sofia - Halifax

4.7

4.7 (824)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Latin

Halifax

About the restaurant

Showcasing the vibrant essence of Latin cooking, Bar Sofia is a paradise for lovers of shared plates and cocktails. Led by celebrated Chef Anthony Walsh, Bar Sofia playfully nods to his family’s Argentinian heritage as well as the next generation of food lovers, artists and adventurers.

Top review

Michelle

Dined on 10 Dec 2024

This was our first time here and we will definitely be back. It’s beautiful inside, the service was excellent, and the food was delicious.

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Anne's Bravas Brussels Sprouts

SHUCK Seafood + Raw Bar

4.6

4.6 (593)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Seafood

Halifax

About the restaurant

It’s obvious we’re all about oysters (they’re chilling on ice as soon as you walk in), but one look at our menu and you’ll see that Shuck is so much more.

Our raw bar features the freshest fish and shellfish with inventive flavors designed to complement, never cover up. Our snacks, sides, and starters are perfect for sharing, and our mains elevate favourite classics from down home to down right delicious.

Warm wood paneling and eclectic glasswork create an atmosphere that captures the spirit of Maritime living. There’s no red carpet here, but we have laid out the best in paper over our tablecloths so you can get to slurping, sharing, and savoring. Join us for lunch in a jiffy, or hang around for a while over dinner for an experience that’s modern, authentic, and unabashedly East Coast.

Top review

James

Dined on 18 Nov 2024

Food was excellent , as was the service by our waiter, Grace. How ever, we were celebrating a special anniversary (52years), and although both host and waitress were aware of this, but other than wishes of happiness no special treat was offered. This is my first restaurant visit I didn’t enlven get a cupcake in honour of the occasion.

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Popular dish

Seafood Chowder

Darya

4.6

4.6 (755)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Mediterranean

Halifax

About the restaurant

A refined yet earthy dining destination on the Halifax waterfront, Daryâ offers a fresh, bright take on Eastern Mediterranean cooking. Featuring a globally-inspired wine list, vibrant cocktails and a large, sunny patio, Daryâ’s spirited, relaxed atmosphere invites diners to break bread with friends and loved ones and sample as many flavours and textures as possible.

Top review

Diana

Dined 7 days ago

Valuable price for brunch buffet. Nice food, great service and great dining experience.

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Experience

Buffet Brunch at Darya

Seaside Shanty

4.5

4.5 (30)

CAN$30 and under

Seafood

Mahone Bay

About the restaurant

The Seaside Shanty has been a pillar in the community of Chester Basin for over forty years, providing guests with friendly and attentive service and the best that the coastal waters have to offer. Not only is it a completely scratch kitchen, The Seaside Shanty is committed to using local suppliers/farmers as much as possible and is touted for having the best chowder and lobster roll on the south shore!!

Come enjoy the food and stay for the breathtaking view!

Top review

Debbie

Dined on 9 Nov 2024

Wonderful server! Great food ! Serving size good for me but perhaps c or old be a little bigger for my male partner! Sorry to hear we were there on last weekend of the season due to slow business these past few weeks! Looking forward to their reopening in the New Year!

The Cable Wharf

4.5

4.5 (38)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Seafood

Halifax

About the restaurant

Nestled on the edge of a picturesque Halifax wharf, the Cable Wharf offers incredible seaside views and a sophisticated atmosphere. Boasting bright natural light, tranquil harbour views all around, and a fish market where you can hand-pick fresh seafood. Our menu includes oysters, whole fish, and other seafood delights, carefully selected and prepared to showcase the best of what Nova Scotia has to offer. Let us treat you to a dining experience like no other, surrounded by the beauty and essence of the Halifax waterfront.

Top review

Christine

Dined on 1 Nov 2024

Absolutely phenomenal dinner! Both steak & lobster were fantastic! The oysters, wow, we got a second order for dessert. Our server, Elvira, was a delight! Friendly & knowledgeable, she was lovely. All the staff we interacted with were great! Recommend 💯

Sea Smoke Restaurant

4.4

4.4 (857)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Seafood

Halifax

About the restaurant

Located on the beautiful Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, Sea Smoke Restaurant & Bar happily boasts one of the best views in the city.

Food prepared with precision is served by a friendly & proud service team.
Incredible cocktails are created seasonally by an experienced bar team with something to satisfy any craving. A tailored wine list features many varietals by the glass and special offerings by the bottle.

Looking for a place to impress that special someone? Look no further! We also offer take-out & offsite catering.

Top review

Brad

Dined on 13 Dec 2024

Excellent place to eat. Great views. We have enjoyed this restaurant a few times.

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4.3

4.3 (50)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Seafood

Halifax

About the restaurant

This is the place for simply sensational seafood in Halifax! We are the only venue in Halifax to offer fresh lobster and oysters all under one roof. Come and experience the richness of Nova Scotia"s maritime tradition in a relaxed, warm restaurant atmosphere. Located on the historic Halifax waterfront, Waterfront Warehouse blends fine dining with a view of Halifax Harbour. Select your own lobster from our tanks; enjoy a selection of oysters from our Oyster Menu or savour the mouth-watering flavours of our Cedar Planked Salmon. Stay toasty by the giant fireplace as you watch the ships go by. For group bookings please email warehouse@rcr.ca.

Top review

Scott

Dined on 25 Oct 2024

Jamie was our server; knew when and what we needed before we even asked. I appreciate the recommendations and we thoroughly enjoyed the food. The Shrimp Cocktail has 12 shrimp, and the piece of Fish with the Fish and Chips was so big my wife and I didn’t eat it all. Best Fish and Chips I’ve ever had. The filet was attached to the breading and was clean and white through and through! I recommend this restaurant!

Betty's at The Kitch

4.2

4.2 (657)

CAN$30 and under

Wine Bar

Lunenburg

About the restaurant

Wine Bar & Wood-Fired Pizza...

i’m a betty. you’re a betty. everyone’s a betty.
betties love wine. betties love wood-fired pizza and small plates.
betties REALLY love wine.

Top review

Heather

Dined on 9 Dec 2024

We had a wonderful meal. The service was quick and friendly. The server was attentive and read the mood of our party perfectly. We had a great time. The Monday east coast curry special was very tasty and added a nice variety to the wood fired pizzas offered on the menu

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