Bed and Breakfasts in Halifax Full of Home Comforts and Luxury Extras

Spread across three linked heritage townhouses, The Halliburton is a quaint boutique bed and breakfast close to Halifax’s waterfront and historic boardwalk. Make the most of sunny days in the garden courtyard with a cool IPA from nearby Garrison Brewery. On cooler days, curl up in a chair by the crackling fire in on-site Sir Brenton’s Library.

Lunch and dinner are served in the informal yet sophisticated dining room of the award-winning Stories restaurant. The frequently updated menu is filled with dishes made with locally sourced ingredients from farmers and fishermen native to the region. Order artistically presented plates like grass-fed beef carpaccio or a house-cured charcuterie board of top meats.

As for where to sleep, you’ll find rooms dressed in pastel shades, with antique wooden bed frames and writing desks and plush wingback armchairs. Sink into your pillow-top mattress covered in rich-cotton linens, or take a moment to look out over the terrace from your private balcony with a hot cup from your in-room Keurig coffee machine. For a little more luxury, book into the Grand Suite to rest on a regal king-size, four-poster bed and enjoy the comfort of a second room with leather chairs framing an ornate fireplace. You can wander outside on your own patio for some sun or be pampered by the bubbling waters of the jetted bath in your spacious ensuite.

Star of the Sea Bed and Breakfast isn’t your average B&B; days here start with a refreshing dip in the heated outdoor pool. Come afternoon, you can lounge at your leisure on the surrounding wooden deck with a view out to the sea. Wander up to the rooftop terrace to watch the sunset’s colourful display as the day fades, then sit with a glass of wine in the evening and look out over the treetops to the waves beyond.

Housed in a former church built by Irish soldiers in 1846, the renovated bed and breakfast has three uniquely designed suites. Each has three distinct views overlooking the water: McNab Island Lighthouse, York Redoubt National Park and the Northwest Arm. Escape from the world for a while and get cuddly in your seating area—decorated in light pastels, white-painted woods and bright floral-patterned fabrics—to watch sailboats, lobster fishing boats and even whales pass by. You’ll sleep beneath the floating canopy of a king-size bed surrounded by a majestic four-poster frame, or on a pillowy queen-size bed facing the water. Two of the suites also have a small kitchen area, and all include a quaint breakfast corner for private morning meals.

Breakfasts are made from scratch with quality ingredients and served with freshly brewed tea and coffee. Choose from dishes like Pancakes with a Twist made with free-range eggs and unbleached flour, or waffles with juicy blueberries and Canadian maple syrup.

Make yourself at home in one of four cushy suites at The Briarwood Bed & Breakfast, located in tranquil Elmsdale just 10 minutes from Halifax International Airport. You’re in for a taste of decadence in this elegant house, best felt when you slip under your down-filled duvet between Egyptian cotton linens in your stately room. Antiques like wooden beds, oriental rugs over hardwood floors and lamps next to windows dressed in rich textiles let you really get into the “countryside manor” vibe—you can even put your feet up in a plump wing-back armchair, Lord Grantham-style.

In the formal dining room, take a seat around the family table for a sumptuous breakfast of hot and cold dishes. On clear days, take your steaming coffee into the sun-filled conservatory or out on to the spacious patio. From your perch on an Adirondack chair, gaze across the serene grounds and manicured gardens to try to spot wild deer and pheasants who come to drink at the pond. In colder months, the warmth of the fire in the grand front parlour will warm you through as you play a board game or get settled for an after-dinner movie. Or if you just fancy your own space, retreat to your room for a long, hot bath in your deep-soaker tub with richly scented toiletries and a soft robe for when you get out.

Right in the centre of downtown Halifax is the quaint Garden South Park Inn. Built in the 19th century, this renovated Victorian home greets guests via an elegant double-fronted design with bay windows and steps leading up to the entrance. To showcase the building’s decorative front, each of the wooden frames and tiles has been painted in a palette of sweet pink hues, adding to its dollhouse appearance. Inside, stop by the homey dining room, with its gleaming wooden floors and ornate fireplace, for continental breakfasts and evening snacks with tea.

The bed and breakfast has 23 rooms made up of soft-coloured walls, conversation-sparking metal artworks and mirrors. Throw open the large sash windows to fill your space with natural light, admiring your wooden or vintage metal-frame bed and the antique-style lamps that complement the heritage look. Be sure to make use of the complimentary toiletries with a long steamy rainfall shower, or—if you booked a suite—unwind from a long day of sightseeing with a soothing soak in your Jacuzzi bath.

The city-centre location means many of the town’s sites and restaurants are reachable by a slow stroll. Spend an hour or two wandering through the Halifax Public Gardens—just a seven-minute walk away—or visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia for some creative culture in only a 20-minute walk.

Set in a meadow yet less than 20 minutes away from bustling Halifax lies the Snowflake Manor Bed & Breakfast. Enveloped by woodlands and visited by wildlife like curious deer, the painted timber house offers an escape into nature without losing out on luxuries. Spend sunny afternoons lounging in the Manor’s gardens or wandering the tree-dotted grounds leading to the nearby forest. On hotter days, spark up the barbecue for a flame-grilled lunch, then cool off with a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool. The house is perhaps even more magical in winter, when guests can gather amid the snow around a roaring fire for story sharing and hot cocoa.

In your spacious room—one of just three—wake like a true lord or lady of the house in your queen-size antique bed made with luxe satin quilts and matching throw pillows. Mornings start slow and easy here, with a hot cup of tea and a good book in your cushioned seating area (or a bit of in-room breakfast TV if you prefer). When you’re ready, head to the dining room for fried eggs, hashbrowns and crispy bacon. After you’ve had your fill, you can rent bikes from the house and explore the surrounding landscape. In 16 minutes, you’ll reach the sweeping grounds of Oakfield Provincial Park on the tranquil shores of Shubenacadie Grand Lake. Alternatively, look across Fish Lake from the Oakfield Golf and Country Club, an 18-minute stroll away.

Bedecked in a contemporary palette of cream and grey, rooms at Château Bedford Hotel & Suites are understatedly luxurious. Roomy king or queen-size beds offer plenty of space to spread out and invite long naps between crisp white linens and plump pillows. Relax in the armchairs of your own little seating area with a cup of coffee and a newspaper, or sit comfortably at the ergonomic desk to take care of any last business before you unwind. You can make your visit extra special by staying in the lavish Executive Suite, which features its own TV lounge with a 55” screen and a bar. You can also pamper yourself with a long bath in the soaker tub or a revitalising rinse in the walk-in shower.

Build-up your energy for the day with a filling breakfast of fresh fruit, cereal and flaky sweet pastries, all served in the bright dining room. Alternatively, try something hot from the menu like traditional eggs, sausages and bacon or fresh, fluffy pancakes. You can burn off any excess from your bacon-filled brunch in the impressively equipped fitness centre right on-site; the space-efficient gym is stocked with cardio machines and free weights. If aquatic workouts are more your style, you’ll also find a pool here—though you might just opt for a gentle splash followed by a long lounging session on a wicker chair by the water.

After a day of sightseeing or wandering around the bustling town, the place for some time to yourself is Comfort Hotel Bayer’s Lake. Each morning, breakfast is presented in the spacious dining room, where you can arrive and dine when you wish. Help yourself to your choice of items from the buffet of cereal, yogurt and fruit, along with hot favourites like eggs and bacon. Those with more of a sweet tooth can also order waffles in a range of flavours (though we’re partial to the classic butter-and-maple-syrup).

In your plush private room, you’ll be set up with high-tech touches like an iPod docking station for filling the space with your favourite tunes while you get a fresh coffee brewing in your personal pod machine. Settle into your cushy armchair, feet up on the footstool, and throw on a Hollywood classic from the hotel’s collection on your in-room flatscreen. You’ll find a luxurious whirlpool bath in your ensuite just waiting to be filled with fragrant suds, and choice rooms have a corner Jacuzzi right in the bedroom for adding a bit of romance to your stress-busting soak.

Should you have more persistent tensions to work off, there’s a modern gym on-site, or you can opt to melt your stresses away in the dry-heat sauna. If relaxation’s more your vibe, take a dip in the sun-lit indoor pool flanked by elegantly tiled pillars, great for cooling down after cardio sessions or just floating for a while in the warm water.