Bed & Breakfasts in Nova Scotia | Homey Hotspots in Canada's Ocean Playground

At Stella Rose B&B in Wolfville, you can wake up and start your day with a piping-hot breakfast beneath an awning festooned with real grapevines. You can also take your morning meal in the refined dining room if you’d rather—Ontario and England natives Robyn and Neil will happily accommodate you, as it’s their mission to make this little guesthouse one with lots of heart. The farm-to-table breakfast, cooked up using locally-sourced ingredients, is nothing short of phenomenal; choose from fun options like an English breakfast inside a muffin to fishcakes with fresh salad and biscuits.

The B&B’s Annapolis Valley location means days can be spent wandering the local vineyards such as Benjamin Bridge. Just an eight-minute drive out of town, this vineyard is recommended for its customer service and informative tours. Or, you can relax at home with a good book in pristine gardens with their pink rhododendron-studded flowerbeds.

If you’re an early riser, book yourself the Sunrise Terrace room on the house’s east side and wake up to rays shining through expansive windows each morning. There’s also a suite in the western part for those who prefer to watch the sun melt into the horizon from an elegant wing-back chair. Accompany these panoramas with a bottle of wine—just ask the staff for a corkscrew and glasses. You can also enjoy your drink of choice from a sunbed in the back garden, maybe with some fresh fruit harvested by your own hands at Elderkin’s Farm Market, Bakery & U-Pick, under a 10-minute walk away.

For fans of supremely quaint country houses, Delft Haus is the place. Floral fabrics, period pieces and rustic hardwoods reign supreme in this genteel accommodation in Annapolis Valley. Enjoy room to breathe with amenities like twin basins for both yourself and your partner, then cuddle together next to the electric fireplace for a relaxed first night in. Your four-poster bed will make you want to linger under the sheets in the morning, although the promise of a hearty breakfast will get you moving.

Nibble on delights like fresh fruit, home-harvested honey and molasses bread from a menu that changes daily—keep an eye out for blueberry buttermilk pancakes and Belgian waffles served with locally produced maple syrup. The province hosts Canada’s highest number of farmers’ markets per capita, and these markets (plus nearby U-picks and the B&B’s back garden) provide the produce on your plate.

After your meal and cup of Twinings tea, take in an idle hour on the Victorian veranda facing floral-lined paths that lead out to age-old oak and ash trees. Or you can strike up a conversation with friendly owners Alyson and Charles and ask for their help in planning your itinerary. Whether you’re looking to explore the apple orchards of the surrounding valleys or see sweeping Fundy Bay on the coast (home of the world’s highest tide), there are tons of activities to choose from in the region.

For city slicking with a vintage-inspired twist, Halifax Waverley Inn is just the spot. This Victorian house—minutes from Cornwallis Park and St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica—is as 19th century on the inside as it is on the outside. Its rooms are chock full of retro design elements, from stately sleigh beds in dark woods to high alcoved ceilings and heavy drapes. Modern amenities still make an appearance, though: run yourself a luxurious Jacuzzi bath or just flick on the cable TV and lose yourself in your favourite show. You’ll have all the necessary ingredients for getting a good rest while gearing up to explore the seaport city of Halifax.

The historic downtown area is a 15-minute stroll from the inn. Head here to take in folk art at the The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, or learn about the region’s tumultuous naval history at The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Up for some adventure after your culture fix? There are harbour explorations and nature cruises to sign up for at the Tour Boat Center on the waterfront, also just a 15-minute wander from the hotel.

Come morning, your filling breakfast comes continental style. For dinner, head out to The Bicycle Thief on Lower Water Street—which claims to serve “North American food with an Italian soul”—for a mouthwatering meal like local scallops with a pistachio Gremolata crust and garlic butter.

Spread across no less than three red-brick townhouses, The Halliburton is a characterful B&B in the midst of Halifax’s downtown. Even in the heart of the city, you’ll have a leafy garden courtyard to rest in after a day taking in the sights—like The Halifax Citadel, Canada’s most-visited national historic landmark. This hilltop architectural marvel, with sweeping views out over the city and harbour, is well worth a wander. Take a guided tour, making sure to stop to see the gun salute at noon or the military parades that pique the attention of passersby throughout the day.

Back at your room, you’ll snuggle under luxe linens on a comfy pillow-top mattress while fresh coffee brews in your personal Keurig machine. Throw on a custom playlist through the smartphone-linked radio for some ambient background tunes to really get you into vacation mode. Visiting in a cooler season? Book a suite and get the fire roaring, or just settle in with a novel next to the hearth in the library.

Unlike many B&Bs, The Halliburton has its own highly regarded restaurant, Stories, for evening meals as well as breakfast. Dine on East Coast fusion food here, like Faroe Islands salmon with lobster hash and tomato tarragon butter, or duck magret with bourbon-infused mashed sweet potato. Complement it with a Nova Scotia wine—think Riesling from Gaspereau Vineyards or vintage Cuvee by L’Acadie over in Wolfville.

Tucked away in the green and serene countryside of Cape Breton, Iona Heights Inn is in an idyllic spot for a chilled retreat with a modern feel. Its rooms are themed after the coast, with maritime-inspired crafts in blues and reds contrasting against fresh white walls. Drink in the views of Bras d’Or Lake from your windows as you wrap yourself in a chunky comforter—all while munching on free homemade chocolates, no less!

With its toy room, arts and crafts nook and playground, this B&B’s also geared up for kids. At dinnertime, little ones will have a children’s menu to choose from at the place’s own rustic Frolic and Folk pub—or you can make the most of the venue’s babysitting service and eat in peace. Order hearty dishes like seafood chowder or Guinness beef stew washed down with draught Organic Spruce stout, or go back to your room for a mouthful of small-batch liquor picked up from the on-site Little Dipper Boutique.

For early risers, Jill’s Chocolates & Cafe opens up from 8 a.m. onwards—fans of the sweet stuff can book an artisan chocolate-crafting class here. Iona Heights’ owners can also sort you out with kayaking tours on the lake, like one from Gillis beach where you’ll paddle east to MacInnis Pond beach for lunch and a traditional ceilidh (an Irish social event filled with folk dancing and storytelling). On the way home, you’ll slice through bright blue water past gypsum cliffs and a train trestle dating back to 1918.

With features straight out of the 1800s—think intricate stained glass windows that’ll stop you in your tracks—Victoria’s Historic Inn and carriage house really does live up to its name. This house just off Main Street in Wolfville, a town set in the passage splitting the Minas Basin from the Bay of Fundy, was built by William Henry Chase, a businessman known as “The Apple King”. As it’s a short walk from the downtown area’s restaurants and boutiques, you can be wandering around the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia University within eight minutes. There are about a half-dozen vineyards in under a 20-minute drive from the hotel, too.

Back in your room, kick off your shoes in refined surroundings: these spaces have a vintage-inspired feel thanks to pretty patterned wallpaper and chic chaise longues. Upgrade and you’ll get a double Jacuzzi bath to soak in, a fireplace to stretch out beside and a balcony for breathing in some fresh air. The dining room continues the Victorian theme, with period furniture and paintings for you to admire while you eat. Browse through the B&B’s exclusive packages if you’re after an extra special stay; some include trips to Tidal Bay for a private wine-tasting and a fancy lobster lunch, while others mean you’ll have sparkly wine and flowers to greet you in your room when you arrive.