4 Best Hotels in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Three early-19th-century townhouses were cleverly combined to create Halifax's original boutique hotel, a couple of blocks from the waterfront and Spring Garden Road shopping. Rooms vary in size, and rates follow suit but expect period antiques and modern conveniences like flat-screen TVs and iPhone docks throughout. Public areas have their own appeal, with a fire-lit library and garden courtyard beckoning in winter and summer, respectively. 

A lakeside location, friendly staff, and range of room types make this a good alternative to downtown lodgings, and it's less than 5 km (3 miles) from the heart of the city. Rooms are modern, with restful color schemes and comfortable beds. Some include a kitchenette, and many have lake views. The Lakeside Bar and Grill has a big deck overlooking the lake—lovely for breakfast on a summer morning—and a family-friendly menu.

The Hotel Halifax, in a good downtown location, is a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers, with spacious, attractive rooms—many of which have water views. An enclosed walkway provides easy access to the Historic Properties, Scotia Square Mall, and other downtown attractions, and the hotel restaurant, Harbour City Bar & Grill, receives positive reviews.

Like Oscar Wilde and P.T. Barnum, two of its former guests, the Waverley is best described as theatrical. Having operated as a hotel since 1876, this centrally located three-story mansion is packed with history and ornate furniture. The richly embellished wallpapers and upholstery fabrics further add to the inn's flamboyant late-Victorian appearance. Room rates, though, are comparatively understated and include such extras as breakfast, bedtime snacks, on-site parking, and local phone calls.