South End
The South End of Halifax is the southern or bottom half of the peninsula. This area is known for its historic Victorian homes and its combination of residential and commercial spaces. Dalhousie as well as Saint Mary’s University are part of the South End, making it a common neighbourhood for student living. Many beautiful outdoor spaces are found here, like Saint Mary’s Boat Club and Point Pleasant Park.
North End
The North End lies north of Citadel Hill and the Downtown/Waterfront areas. It’s known for its relaxed and artsy vibe, with many cute shops and houses. This area also has a great culinary scene with many restaurants and cafés. Some of the best are Edna, Café Lara, the Narrows, and Almonak. It’s a great place to spend your day!
West End
The West End begins a couple of blocks northwest of our campus. It consists of the Quinpool Road area, which contains popular shops and restaurants, as well as pharmacies and grocery stores. For example, the Ardmore Tea Room, a popular and affordable breakfast diner (very popular with students), is right on Quinpool along with lots of other places to eat—all about a 10–15-minute walk from Studley Campus. The Halifax Shopping Centre, Halifax’s most popular shopping mall, can also be found in the West End and is only a short bus ride from campus. The West End is also a popular area for student housing.
Downtown
The Downtown area is certainly the busiest and most vibrant area of the city. From green spaces like the Public Gardens, Citadel Hill, and the Commons (which sort of divides the city between the South End, North End, and West End), to exciting nightlife and restaurants, Downtown Halifax has it all! The Waterfront might be the best attraction (in my opinion), as it offers amazing views of the water on the boardwalk, and is full of small shops, food shacks, and fancy restaurants. Downtown also has great places to shop, especially on and around Spring Garden Road.
The Hydrostone
The Hydrostone neighbourhood is north of the North End. Interestingly, this area was built for displaced families after the Halifax Explosion in 1917. Hydrostone is a mostly residential area of boulevards but also has great shops and restaurants. The Hydrostone Market has a European vibe with artisan vendors and eateries. It’s about a 40-minute walk from Studley Campus through the North End, but there are also Halifax Transit buses that will get you there.
Dartmouth
Did you know you can cross the harbour on a Halifax Transit ferry using your U-Pass? Just as you would use the bus, take your DalCard to the ferry terminal to explore Dartmouth! There’s a great market at Alderney Landing, open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, right where you get off the ferry. Downtown Dartmouth is also full of great local shops, restaurants, and cafés. A bus ride away is Dartmouth Crossing, home of big box stores and IKEA (for cheap hot dogs, meatballs, and frozen yogurt). You can also explore the outdoors by walking the boardwalk or checking out Shubie Park and Lake Banook. And you get the best view of the Halifax skyline from Dartmouth!
The burbs
You’ll likely hear about some other outlying areas of Halifax and may even find yourself in them at some point!
Bedford: Halifax Harbour opens up to the Bedford Basin just past the McKay Bridge (aka the new bridge), and at the end of the basin you’ll find Bedford. There are some nice shops in Sunnyside Mall, and the Chickenburger is a local institution that’s been around for eons.
Clayton Park: Once you get off the peninsula, if you head up from the Bedford Highway you’ll find Clayton Park. It’s a large residential area but perhaps best known for being the home of the Canada Games Centre, BMO indoor soccer facility, and Bayers Lake big box shopping district.
Eastern Shore: Follow the coastline through Dartmouth and you’ll be on the Eastern Shore where you can find Fisherman’s Cove, great beaches (Rainbow Haven Beach, Conrad’s Beach), beautiful hikes along an old railway trail (Salt Marsh Trail), and popular surfing destinations (Cow Bay, Lawrencetown).
Purcells Cove: This area starts on the other side of the Northwest Arm, which is a great place to go sailing, canoeing, or paddleboarding. Visit Fleming Park with great trails and the iconic Dingle Tower, or any of the other beautiful spots along the coast as you get further from the city.