44 Best Restaurants in South Shore and Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

Chef-owner Roland Glauser whips up creative seafood, meat, and pasta dishes in a restored building that started out as a butcher shop in the mid-1800s. A Swiss influence is evident in many dishes on the extensive menu, including pork tenderloin Zurich-style (braised with mushrooms and demi-glace sauce). The café has a pleasant garden patio and a craft shop. Reservations aren't accepted at lunch but are requested for dinner.

Housed in a converted stone church complete with stained glass windows, Church Brewing produces tasty beers and has a fabulous menu of upscale pub grub with a farm-to-table focus. There's a huge patio out front that overlooks the hustle and bustle of Main Street, and there's often live music in the evenings and on the weekends. 

An elegant and elevated tasting menu showcases the best of what's local and in season. Expect deliciousness such as butter-roasted cod with clams and lion's mane mushroom with dulse stock, or grilled scallops with green apple and creamed celeriac, followed by desserts like goat's milk panna cotta. 

This café/coffee shop/restaurant in a beautifully restored old building makes a great spot to grab coffee and a tasty baked treat or stay late on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night for dinner. Their menu celebrates seasonal and local produce and offers everything from brisket tacos and burgers to pork belly and seared salmon. 

With a focus on fresh produce and local seafood, the Grand Banker is a great spot for a tasty lunch or dinner overlooking the harbor whether you're in the mood for wings and a craft beer, lobster mac ’n’ cheese, or rack of lamb. There's an impressive selection of Nova Scotian wines, and you can order a five 2-ounce glass sampler for C$22, as well as a cocktail list that embraces locally distilled liquors.  

Initially known for having the best ice cream around, this fun spot expanded into serving excellent sushi and Korean dishes. It has become an appealing option for lunch or dinner as well as dessert. 

Firmly established as the best place to eat along this stretch of the coast, La Cuisine Robicheau overlooks the ocean and specializes in seafood and Acadian cuisine. The excellent pâté à la râpure (rappie pie, a chicken and potatoes dish) is usually the first thing to sell out, so come early. Other good choices include the fricot aux poutines râpées à la poule (chicken soup with potato dumplings). 

The restaurant at the Domaine de Grand Pré vineyard has been showered with accolades, including being named "one of the world's 20 best winery restaurants" by Wine Access Magazine. Aside from the excellent wines, the interesting menu features local seafood, game, meat, and vegetarian options. Wines produced right here are joined on the list by a good international selection.

With a focus on the freshest local seafood, Nichole serves up decadent lobster dip, lobster rolls, and haddock wraps right out of the historic Cape Forchu lighthouse—you can't ask for a better view for your lunch or early dinner (they close at 6 pm). 

The tagline here is "simple good food" but that's a huge understatement at this award-winning restaurant that serves up superb seafood—the fish-and-chips, crispy haddock, and fish tacos are all standouts—and decadent classics like rack of lamb and chicken parm. They also serve gourmet pizzas and offer decadent desserts.

In a gorgeous location by the water, this restaurant is much more than just a deli, with a long menu that includes an award-winning chowder, gourmet sandwiches, hand-rolled, thin-crust pizzas, inventive burgers with an international slant, and plenty of vegetarian choices. In the evening, chef Martin Ruiz Salvador adds a short dinner menu to the options, with dishes like scallop linguine and fisherman's stew. You'll find Nova Scotian and international wines on the drinks list, plus craft beers and cocktails.

You don't have to dine on the waterfront in Digby to enjoy great seafood and good views, and this friendly pub offers both. Just uphill from the main street, its two-story deck has great sea views, and the menu mostly features local seafood that couldn't be any fresher. There are other choices, too, including vegetarian and vegan options, and any dish can be downsized for children. All are made from locally sourced ingredients, cooked to perfection by the talented chef, and there's local beer, locally roasted coffee, and occasional local live music.

The lobster rolls served here are divine, filled with fat chunks of lobster and served with a pickle and potato chips on the side. Order a classic (with celery and mayo), cajun (spicier version of the classic), or naked (pure lobster) and sit by the water to enjoy. Tom's also serves a few other seafood dishes (smoked salmon bagels, seafood pasta, fish cakes) and all are delicious. 

Head here for perfect upscale pub grub and exceptional craft brews, served in a bright dining room or on their spacious patio. You can't go wrong with one of their hearty burgers or fries smothered in butter chicken, but there are (somewhat) lighter options, too. 

This artisanal bakery specializes in French-style pastries, sourdough bread, and excellent coffee. It's name comes from the previous designation of the beautiful heritage building the bakery is housed in: Annapolis Royal Customs House and Post Office. 

Owned by esteemed local chef Martin Ruiz Salvador, each thoughtful dish embraces fresh, local produce and meat, as well as incredible seafood. The Mediterranean-inspired menu elevates mussels and scallops to another level, their pasta is all handmade, and service is exceptional. Be sure to save room for one of their decadent desserts. This bright and modern restaurant somehow fits perfectly into a historic property, and the waterfront location makes for beautiful views whether you dine inside or on the patio.

Enjoying a seven-course tasting menu in chef Dave Smart and his wife Susan Meldrum’s home dining room is one of the most incredible culinary experiences in Nova Scotia. Smart prepares French cuisine, using what’s seasonal and local, and each dish is pure gastronomical joy on a plate—diners are invited to pop into the kitchen and talk to Smart about the food. There are only 12 seats and one service per evening, and you’ll be very lucky indeed to score a reservation but it's worth messaging to see if there are any last-minute cancellations.

Offering seafood, steaks, pasta, and pizza, the food at this dinner-only spot is consistent and delicious, with many ingredients locally sourced. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and the service is top-notch. 

Just outside Mahone Bay this bakery serves delicious, French-style cakes and pastries, as well as incredible breads. There is some seating, and pantry items from local vendors to take home. 

The menu isn't huge at this funky taproom, but the charcuterie boards, sandwiches, and pizza—all of which showcase local produce—do go perfectly with this craft brewery's tasty beers. You can sit out on the spacious patio or inside, and there's even an axe-throwing studio on-site to make your evening a little more entertaining. You can pick up beers to go at the attached retail store.

A warm welcome and elegant surroundings provide a great first impression here, but it's the delicious, fresh, and health-conscious cuisine that lingers in memory. The menu changes seasonally, but always includes dry-rub or honey-glazed pork ribs straight from an apple-wood smoker. The bistro's rooms have a minimalist look that nicely balances the heritage building's original architectural features, and a patio provides outside dining in summer.

This delightfully old-fashioned bakery supplies traditional Maritimes brown bread to all the restaurants in the area and is the best spot to grab sticky pecan buns, ginger snaps, date squares, and other retro baked goods. 

Stop here for fantastic baked treats and heavenly fresh baked loaves—sourdough, rye, French bread, and more—to take with you. They also have a fridge stocked with locally made preserves and other items. 

This rustic midtown spot—a former store, stable, and Nova Scotia's oldest rural inn, dating to 1764—is full of natural pine and local art, and its staff and clientele treat regulars and newcomers like kin. In the windowed front section, a woodstove keeps things warm on chilly nights, and year-round you can order from a menu that's strong on seafood and comfort food. Lighter fare is also served, along with plenty of craft beers.

A waterfront location with stunning harbor views and great seafood make this a prime spot in Digby to sample the world-famous local scallops as well as lobster, salmon, Bay of Fundy halibut, and a few nonseafood dishes for good measure. The lunch menu is lighter and includes chowder, sandwiches, fish-and-chips, and a crispy "seaburger," plus a kids' menu with plenty of choices. On the same premises, the Dockside Restaurant and Bar has a waterfront deck.

This funky spot that started out as a food truck offers an eclectic and tasty menu that runs from jerk chicken bowls to butter chicken poutine to fish-and-chips. The dining room doubles as a gallery space, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. There's a good selection of local craft beers, ciders, and wines. They are known for catering to any food sensitivities. 

If you're in the neighborhood during lobster season, this site is well worth a visit. It's one of the largest lobster-holding facilities in Canada, storing live lobsters in temperature-controlled pounds until they can be packed and shipped to international destinations. You can pick out a lobster and have it prepared in the "cook shack" and delivered to you in the waterfront dining room. Or buy a live one to go.

This cozy café serves up excellent breakfasts, lunches, yummy baked goods, and delicious coffee. Their sandwiches are piled high, there's always an interesting lunch special, and portions are hearty.

This bright and friendly spot is a Chester community hub, and is a great spot to grab breakfast, lunch, or just coffee and a treat. Everything served is fresh, locally sourced where possible, and absolutely delicious. The attached pantry sells specialty food items, locally made jams and chutneys, and a selection of take-and-heat meals to go.

This coffee shop and Japanese fusion restaurant serves up delicious, contemporary cuisine in the heart of Liverpool (a town with few dining options). With a seasonal menu that incorporates many local ingredients, dishes like prawn and lobster dumplings delight. The coffee is excellent, and the pastries are delicious, making this a fab stop for breakfast, too.