Kid-Friendly Places We Loved Eating in Nova Scotia
One of my favourite parts of travelling is trying local restaurants. During our week in Nova Scotia we made it our mission to mix local favourites with quick family meals. These are the places we actually visited with our 4-year-old and 3-month-old, along with our honest review of each.
đź“ŤTatamagouche
The Railway Dining Car (Tatamagouche Train Station)
If you’re looking for a memorable place to eat in Tatamagouche I highly recommend checking out the Tatamagouche Railway Dining Car! Located at the historic Train Station Inn, it isn’t just another restaurant, it’s an authentic restored dining car that makes dinner feel like part of the adventure.
As soon as we walked in it felt like stepping back in time. The restored dining car has so much character and our son loved getting to eat inside an actual railway car. It was one of those experiences that felt like part of the adventure instead of just grabbing dinner.
the service was friendly and our food was fresh and arrived quickly. There are lots of great options on their kids menu even for picky eaters. My son enjoyed a grilled cheese for lunch and my husband and I both had the burger of the day, which was a bacon cheeseburger, all server with a side of chips.
If you’re planning a visit keep in mind that dinner service requires a reservation but lunch is first come first served. There’s often live music throughout the summer during dinner service and if you’re staying in the area you can even stay in one of the rail cars!
Derado’s Pizzeria
Derado’s has that wonderful small town feel with delicious food to match! The service was very friendly and fast and they had a lovely dog friendly patio as well as an attached store with toys and accessories for dogs (with a separate entrance so dogs are never in the restaurant section). We tried some pizza, poutine, and a baked sub for dinner and it did not dissapoint. My husband also tried their pistachio cannolis and thoroughly enjoyed them.
Cohens Cones
After dinner at Derado’s my sin and I took a quick walk down the street to Cohen’s Cones for some Ice Cream for desert. We both tried Moon Mist which is a Nova Scotia classic and something I will definitely be looking forward to having again next time we visit. I really love that Cohen’s Cones had several options for sizes including premie and baby that are smaller than a single scoop for when you just want a little taste.
đź“ŤTruro
Swiss Chalet
We found ourselves eating here our one night in Turo mostly because we were running out of options and the kiddos were getting hungry. Honestly I would probably skip it next time if there are other options as the service was lacking a little bit. However the food was good and if your kids like Swiss Chalet then it could be a great familiar favourite! Just prepare yourself to have to ask for your kids chocolate milk four times all while they ask you every ten seconds when their drink is coming.
To Try Next Time: Nook and Cranny
We had planned to eat dinner here our night in Truro but unfortunately their fryers were broken so they were offering a limited menu which didn’t work with our chicken nugget loving littles! It’s definitely on our list to try next them as there’s some things I’d love to try on the menu (and several kid-friendly options!)
đź“ŤShubenacadie
Shubie Snacks – Shubenacadie Wildlife Park
Shubie Snacks is a great spot to stop for a snack or a treat after exploring the Shubenacadie wild life park! It’s right by the entrance/exit and there is a lovely little picnic area to sit and enjoy your treat while the kids run around on the grass. They had several flavours of ice cream that you don’t see all the time like Super Hero and Orange Pineapple. They will also make any flavour you choose into a milkshake!
đź“ŤDartmouth/Fisherman’s Cove
Portland Street Creperie
Portland Street Creperie was such a great spot to stop for lunch in Dartmouth. The menu had so many sweet and savory options that choosing was the hardest part! Everything we tried was delicious , and I’d love to go back just to try even more of the menu.
The service was wonderful too. When my son asked for crayons and then realized he didn’t actually have anything to colour, the staff went out of their way to find him a Halifax for Kids book that had some colouring pages. It was such a thoughtful gesture and made the restaurant feel especially family friendly.
Boondocks
Not only is Boondocks super family friendly, with a very fun duck hunt throughout the restaurant to keep the kids busy while waiting for their food, the food was also SO good! I will be thinking about that pepper jelly bacon cheeseburger for a long time! The kids menu has all the classic kid picks for picky eaters and they also have some great seafood options for the growns ups like lobster rolls and fish and chips. They have a lovely large patio with views of the beach. If youre planning on a visit to fishermans cove definitely plan on dinner here as well!
Dockside Donuts
Dockside Donuts were so good we went twice! My family loves a good cinnamon sugar mini donut so we only tried those the first visit and they certainly did not dissapoint. On the second visit we also tried the Banana Foster and the caramel with skor chunks and they were also delicious! Definitely a must try if you’re in Fishermans Cove.
đź“ŤHalifax
The Wooden Monkey
We stopped in at the Wooden Monkey for lunch in Halifax and it was surprisingly quiet with only two other small groups coming in while we were there. I think this spot may be a little difficult with small kiddos at dinner time when it’s busy but they still had lots of kid friendly options on the kids menu. This is another meal I will be thinking about for a while. I had the hot honey pizza and my husband had the lamb burger with goat cheese and both were exceptionally delicious. It was likely one of my favourite meals of the whole trip. Aside from the food, The Wooden Monkey is very passionate about supporting local farmers and growers and their menu even lists where some of the main ingredients are from. So every delicious meal is directly supporting the local community!
COWS
COWS Ice Cream is absolutely worth the hype! Along with tons of fun ice cream flavours, the store is packed with cow-themed merchandise and plenty of ridiculous cow puns. Their waffle cones are made fresh in-house, and you can even have yours dipped in chocolate and covered in sprinkles and peanuts. It’s definitely a fun stop to add when visiting the Halifax waterfront!
đź“ŤMahone Bay
White Sails Bakery & Deli
We Stopped at White Sails after visiting Peggy’s Cove on the recommendation of a local friend and I’m so glad we did! Not only was the food delicious and the view incredible, but the owners themselves are incredible people who give back to their community is so many ways and I’m always happy to support local businesses like that!
They were out of regular french-fries but that turned out a blessing in disguise because their sweet potato fries were the best I’ve ever had! The grilled cheese and salted caramel cheesecake were also and incredible and I would definitely go back for more!
One of the best parts of exploring Nova Scotia with kids is finding places that everyone actually enjoys, and we found some seriously good ones! Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch, a fun sweet treat, or somewhere that feels welcoming with little ones in tow, I hope this list gives you a few family-friendly places to eat in Nova Scotia to add to your trip.
Have a favourite Nova Scotia restaurant we missed? Let me know in the comments! We’re always looking for an excuse to go back.
Planning a trip to Nova Scotia? Check out our 8 Day Nova Scotia Itinerary!
