12 Best Places to Shop in Halifax, Nova Scotia

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.

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 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.

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.

This friendly independent bookstore has been serving the reading public for more than 30 years, with an excellent range of fiction, nonfiction, and local-interest books.

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. 

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

On certain days (posted on the website), the boardwalk is the place to watch master craftsmen blowing crystal into graceful decanters and bowls, which can be purchased in this shop's showroom.

Tareq Hadhad arrived in Nova Scotia as a Syrian refugee in 2015 and started up this successful chocolate business with his family, becoming the subject of a book and subsequent movie. Originally based in small-town Antigonish, this flagship store on the Halifax waterfront sells a selection of boxed chocolates and tasty bars, many printed with messages of hope.

Store owner Pete Luckett's lively personality and passion for fresh produce made him a star of Canadian TV, and they keep customers pouring in to his "frootique" stores. Stop by the vast Halifax flagship for a quick bite in the café or a ready-made gourmet sandwich for a picnic at the nearby Public Gardens.

The country's oldest children's bookshop, in business for more than 40 years, is packed with books, many of them by Canadian and local authors. The store somehow manages to shoehorn a slew of toys amid the tomes.