ILLUSTRATIONS BY FRENCESCO ZORZI
Much of this harborside district, just north of downtown, was wiped off the map in the Halifax Explosion of 1917—a maritime accident that was then the largest man-made explosion ever. A century later, the neighborhood, which regenerated along with the docks, is now buzzing with entrepreneurs and artists who are opening businesses as colorful and diverse as its brightly painted saltbox houses. Here, six locals point out their favorite spots up North.
Seven Bays Bouldering general manager Paul Denzler recommends…
“Get a haircut at Blue Collar Barbershop. It has a super-cool vibe, and the chairs are all turned inward, so you’re chatting with a group instead of just your barber.”
Blue Collar Barbershop owner Stuart Cochrane recommends…
“The octopus at Bar Kismet is grilled, then tossed in paprika butter and served on a bed of green lentils. Everything they serve is consistently fantastic, and they mix the best old-fashioned in Nova Scotia.”
Bar Kismet chef and co-owner Annie Brace-Lavoie recommends…
“The meatball hero at Rinaldo’s is the thing I crave the most when I’m hungry, but everything they serve there makes me happy. It’s Italian-American comfort food done properly.”
Rinaldo’s co-owner Tony Rinaldo recommends…
“There’s always something new on tap at Good Robot Brewing Co., but my recent favorite is the Creature Feature, a tasty, juicy IPA. I love the atmosphere there, and they just opened an upstairs room that’s a perfect hideaway.”
Good Robot Brewing Co. cofounder Josh Counsil recommends…
“Vandal Doughnuts serves up pure pleasure. Each flaky, yeasty, buttery doughnut brings me so much joy. I’ve never gotten over the one I had that had a Snickers baked into it.”
Vandal Doughnuts cofounder Nicole Tufts recommends…
“Seven Bays Bouldering has these challenging climbing walls where you get a great workout, and then it has an amazing bar/café where we go to work.”
