Last reviewed
Chapter 04Dartmouth
Downtown Dartmouth restaurants, breweries and cafés near the ferry
Dartmouth restaurants, breweries and cafés a short ferry ride from Halifax: where to eat and drink in downtown Dartmouth near Alderney Landing.
Find your next table
Get your bearings
The other side of the harbour.
Dartmouth restaurants are a ten-minute ferry ride from downtown Halifax, and most of the restaurants in downtown Dartmouth sit within a few blocks of the Alderney ferry terminal, along Portland Street and the streets around it. That makes downtown Dartmouth one of the easiest food trips in the city.
The restaurants in downtown Dartmouth are mostly small, independent rooms, and the breweries are close together. Many people take the ferry over for a meal, walk the harbour trail, then ride back to Halifax with the lights of the city in front of them.
Restaurants / 4 places
Dartmouth restaurants a short walk from the terminal
Dartmouth restaurants range from a seasonal kitchen on Portland Street to fish and chips by the ferry.
-
The Canteen
A seasonal, farm-to-table restaurant serving lunch, brunch and dinner. It is one of the reasons people take the ferry over.
-
Evan’s Seafood
A casual seafood counter in Alderney Landing, steps from the ferry, with fish and chips and a warm lobster roll in a creamy sauce rather than cold mayonnaise.
-
The Wooden Monkey
The Dartmouth location of the downtown favourite, on the top floor of the Alderney Landing ferry terminal with views across the harbour.
-
Chanoey’s Pasta
A small pasta kitchen that is a good choice for a casual dinner before the ferry home.
Breweries / 4 places
Breweries and bars near the ferry
Several breweries and bars are within a few minutes of the ferry, close enough to visit two in one evening.
-
New Scotland Brewing
A brewery and taproom in the heart of downtown Dartmouth looking over the harbour, a short walk from the ferry.
-
Battery Park Beer Bar & Eatery
A beer bar with a long tap list and a full kitchen. A good choice when a group wants both food and beer.
-
Brightwood Brewery
A brewery with its own taproom at the bottom of Portland Street, pouring beer made on site.
-
Dear Friend
A cocktail and wine bar a few steps from the waterfront and the ferry terminal. It is the spot for a nightcap before crossing back.
Coffee / 2 places
Cafés in downtown Dartmouth
For a coffee before the crossing, or after it.
-
Two If By Sea
The Dartmouth café that readers of The Coast have voted the city’s best café more often than any other. Come early for the croissants, which sell out.
-
Café Good Luck
A neighbourhood café further up Portland Street that is easy to fit in before or after the ferry.
Across the water
Downtown Dartmouth beyond the ferry
Dartmouth is the older town on the eastern shore of the harbour, joined with Halifax in one regional municipality in 1996. Its downtown is compact: Portland Street climbs east from Alderney Landing, and Ochterloney, Wentworth and King Streets fill the few blocks around it with houses, shops and small restaurants.
Dartmouth calls itself the City of Lakes, and Lake Banook, home to paddling clubs, is about half an hour on foot or a short bus ride from the ferry. The Dartmouth Common, a large park on the hill north of the terminal, has views back across the water to the Halifax skyline.
Two bridges cross the harbour as well. The Macdonald Bridge, opened in 1955, lands at the north end of downtown Dartmouth and has a lane for walking and cycling, so it is possible to walk across one way and take the ferry back.
A second ferry route, from Halifax to Woodside further south, runs mainly at commuter times on weekdays. For an evening out, the Alderney route is the one to use.
A few field notes
Taking the ferry to Dartmouth
The Alderney ferry runs between the Halifax ferry terminal on the waterfront and Alderney Landing in Dartmouth. The crossing takes about ten to twelve minutes and costs a regular Halifax Transit fare. The Halifax–Dartmouth ferry service dates back to 1752 and is often called the oldest saltwater ferry service in North America.
Dartmouth restaurants and breweries cluster on Portland Street and Alderney Drive, so the restaurants in downtown Dartmouth need no car to reach. The Dartmouth harbour trail runs north and south from the terminal for a walk before or after a meal.
Check the last ferry time before you settle in. On some evenings service ends earlier than many bars close, and the bridge crossing by taxi takes longer than the boat.
Find your way · Dartmouth
What are the best Dartmouth restaurants near the ferry?
The Canteen on Portland Street, Evan’s Seafood next to the ferry and The Wooden Monkey upstairs in Alderney Landing are all within a few minutes’ walk of the terminal.
How long is the ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth?
The Alderney ferry takes about ten to twelve minutes from the Halifax waterfront to Alderney Landing.
Which breweries are in downtown Dartmouth?
New Scotland Brewing on Alderney Drive, Brightwood Brewery on Portland Street and Battery Park Beer Bar on Ochterloney Street are all within a few minutes of the ferry.
Are restaurants in downtown Dartmouth open for brunch?
Yes. The Canteen serves brunch, and several other restaurants in downtown Dartmouth open for brunch at the weekend.