53 Best Shopping in Nova Scotia, Canada

Steps from the boardwalk's southern terminus, this eco-conscious venue is bright, airy, and contemporary. It's open daily, giving you ample opportunity to stock up on edibles and quality crafts from its more than 250 vendors—or to just indulge in the city's best people-watching. Saturday is the best day; vendors don't all show up on other days unless a cruise ship has docked.

This block-long building, a Parks Canada Federal Heritage Site and recipient of a Nova Scotia Built Heritage Award, lures shoppers to the city's North End with all sorts of one-of-a-kind items. Flattened by the Halifax Explosion in 1917, the market site and surrounding area were rebuilt in a charming English-garden style using hydrostone—aka concrete. Shops of note include Made in the Maritimes Artisan Boutique for fine crafts, Lady Luck Boutique for jewelry and accessories, and L.K. Yarns for yarns and needlecraft accessories. After browsing, break for lunch at Julien's Patisserie Bakery & Café or enjoy a fabulous dinner at the Ostrich Club.

Showcasing the work of more than 80 traditional and cutting-edge Cape Breton artisans in its airy gallery, the center, which houses on-site studios for pottery, weaving, and glass- and jewelry-making, also hosts hands-on workshops that are open to craft aficionados. Pick up a copy of the Artisan Trail Map here to find more studios elsewhere.

Fine art, jewelry, stained glass, and other crafts by Maritimes artisans can be found here, along with the owner Paula MacDonald's own pottery made in her on-site studio.

Inside a former boatbuilding shop that dates to 1888, the artisans at Amos Pewter design and create pewter items using traditional methods. Jewelry, sculptures, tableware, and pewter renditions of shells and other natural objects are among the items for sale, along with a new original-design Christmas ornament each year. Interpretive displays explain the history of pewter and Amos Pewter's involvement with the "Economuseum Network," which emphasizes traditional skills. If watching the artisans at work gets your creative juices flowing, you can participate in the Hands-On Experience (C$5), and take home what you make.

Local apples are used to create a range of tasty, award-winning ciders, which you can sample on-premises or ready-bottled to take with you. 

This funky small gallery focuses on emerging to mid-career Atlantic Canadian artists and always carries a selection of highly affordable pieces mixed in with more expensive ones. You'll also find a selection of ceramics, jewelry, and artsy greeting cards.

Maritime-designed clothing, pewter, and jewelry are among the crafts sold here. The adjoining coffee shop affords one of the best photo ops in Peggy's Cove, and the renovated red schoolhouse next door is a venue for summertime theater and concerts.

An attractive small complex of shops, condos, and a marina, Bishop's Landing contains worth-a-peek jewelry, fashion, handmade candies and rum cakes, Halifax's best wine store, and other boutiques.

The vendors at this vibrant Saturday morning market sell everything from local honey, produce, and baked goods to hand-crafted jewelry, ceramics, and photography. There's also a food hall where you can pick up excellent Indian and Korean cuisine to enjoy mid-shop, as well as sweet treats and coffee. 

Whimsical earthenware made on-site is sold here, as well as fun local crafts and folk art.

This bright and spacious store stocks crafts, ceramics, and affordable artworks from emerging Canadian artists, as well as fun and funky giftware and apparel. 

This charming general store is owned by a young family who've created a gorgeous space to pick up fresh-baked-in-store bread, locally made jerky, produce, and all manner of locally sourced goodies from chocolates to maple syrup. There's an ice-cream kiosk open through the summer months, too. 

This bright and airy store stocks a huge range of crafts from local artisans, including jewelry, apparel, jams, leather goods, prints, and photography as well as books by local authors. Most items are trendy rather than traditional, and this is a great place to pick up neat souvenirs. 

This bright and modern gallery showcases local folk art woodcarvings, screenprinting, jewelry, and all manner of made-in-the-Maritimes handicrafts. Some say that the attached café serves the best coffee in Cape Breton, and once you try their baked goods you'll want to grab a few extras for the road. 

Filled with Celtic and clan-related items—crafts, books, clothing, and music—this shop has a custom-kilt maker on-site.

Gorgeous glassware—be it stained, painted, blown, or fused—is sold here. There are also glass-blowing demonstrations. 

You can see handcrafted Grohmann knives displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York—but you can buy them at the factory outlet store here. Prices are discounted and free factory tours usually take place on weekdays from 9 to 11:30 and 1:30 to 3:30.

Local artisans make all the cool jewelry, knitwear, birch-bark soap, and other items sold at this downtown co-op.

Top island retailers—among them Hattie's Heirlooms, the Cape Breton Curiosity Shop, Two Macs Gallery, and the Kilted Moose Trading Company—are represented at Harbourside Boutiques in the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion. They're only open seasonally: sometimes daily in high season, sometimes just when cruise ships are in port. On cruise ship days, you'll also find the Big Fiddle Market, with crafts from more than 50 local artisans.

A pleasant place to stroll through some of the city's oldest buildings, this delightful complex also houses interesting shops and restaurants.

Bright and fun store that sells letterpress artwork and stationery, as well as modern handicrafts—many of which are made by local artists. This is the perfect place to pick up cool and unique gifts that reflect Halifax's artistic vibe. 

In addition to the metal sculptures with engaging and elegant forms, this gallery features photographic art and craft items.

Load up on liquid souvenirs here. Named for the old marine blacksmith's shop it occupies, Ironworks produces hand-distilled vodka from Annapolis Valley apples and luscious liqueurs from local berries. Tours (C$35 per two-person booking) are offered Wednesday to Sunday mid-May–early September.

Tempting Jennifer's sells pottery, glass, handmade soaps, hooked mats, ceramics, pewter, and other craft items made in Nova Scotia by nearly 30 artisans.

The earthenware pottery at this studio is as cheerful as the bright yellow-and-green building on the front harbor in which it's housed.

Butter-soft purses in beautiful, bright hues, pet collars, wallets, bags, and nifty items for the home are the specialties here, all crafted in the adjoining workshop.