What is Dine Around Halifax?
Dine around is a month-long foodie event in Halifax, Nova Scotia that happens every year for the month of February. Local restaurants participate by creating special menus at set price points and we’ve been participating for the last few years as diners. Menus range in price and are available at $10, $20, $30, $40, or $50. Many restaurants offer multiple menus at different price points as well. For example, a single restaurant might offer a $20 lunch menu and a $40 dinner menu.
Rather than detailing the exact menus this year, we decided to offer up 5 general reasons to take in Dine Around Halifax this year. Our hope is that you’ll sink your teeth in and explore on your own! And, if you’re looking for specific inspiration — check out our Instagram feed because we’ve visiting as many restaurants as we can this month!
7 Reasons to Enjoy Dine Around Halifax
1 – Support Local Restaurants
February is notorious for being a “slow month” in the hospitality scene. Here in Canada, anyway, it’s one of those weird months where the weather isn’t great and many people choose to just stay home. We love that Halifax has created something that helps us all get out and explore during February. There’s nothing like visiting a new restaurant to get you out of a rut!
2 – Exclusive Chef’s Creations
My personal favorite reason to enjoy Dine Around! We are fortunate to have some incredible talent in the culinary scene here in Atlantic Canada — truly. Dine Around gives Chef’s the ability to flex their culinary skills and create things outside of their regular menu offerings. In our experience, when a Chef gets to go outside the box with a special menu it’s usually spectacular. In the years we’ve been enjoying Dine Around we’ve had some really amazing food experiences.
Pro Tip: If you see something on a Dine Around menu that’s “off script” for you, go with that! You might surprise yourself! The Dine Around program is the perfect way to step outside your food comfort zone.
3 – Budget Friendly Taste Testing
Look, this isn’t a budget blog. If you’ve been with us awhile you know we don’t mind spending money on food and experiences so you rarely hear us talk about budget. That said, we completely understand that everyone’s willingness or ability to spend money on restaurant visits varies. Dine Around menus make it easy to plan and budget because the prices are set. You know, before you arrive, exactly how much your meal is going to cost! Many menus include a drink as well so for those diners that are on a budget, this is a great option.
4 – Proceeds Are Donated
Restaurants are given the option to opt-in to donate a portion of proceeds to Feed Nova Scotia — and many do. This means that $1-$2 from each Dine Around menu are donated. Feed Nova Scotia aims to increase food security through food distribution, education and collaboration. Those restaurants that have opted into this program are clearly marked on the Dine Around websites.
5 – Valentine’s Day
This is an obvious one, I know, but here we are anyway! Valentine’s Day is in February which gives you another excuse to enjoy a Dine Around menu. Whether you celebrate V-day with a partner, with friends or want to simply treat yourself (which you totally should), it’s a great way to enjoy a multi-course dinner with menu items you wouldn’t normally see.
Pro-Tip: Some restaurants blackout Valentine’s Day weekend for their Dine Around menu but many don’t! Be sure to check the website for details on the restaurant you want to visit.
6 – Take-Out, Dine In & Delivery Options
Restaurants have gone above and beyond over the past couple years since the beginning of the pandemic. Now, most are offering dine-in, takeout and delivery options and the Dine Around menus are no exception. If you prefer to stay home but still want to enjoy #foodiemonth that’s no problem!
7 – Winter Vacation Packages
The best kept secret of Dine Around, in my opinion, are the hotel packages! Whether you’re coming from away or you’re local and want to plan a staycation — there are some killer options. Many accomodations create full packages that include overnight stays, in-room curated amenities and dining experiences for the month of February.
Pro-Tip: We’ve personally enjoyed the Haliburton Hotel experience as well as the Marriott Harbourfront experience and would highly recommend both!
There are lots of reasons to enjoy Dine Around in February. Whether you’re local and just want to try some new things or you’ve been planning a girls night, there is plenty to choose from. If you want to see specifics this year and get an inside peek at the menu offerings, follow along on Instagram (we’ve created a highlight to make it easy to spot).
Other Blogs Your Might Enjoy
Check out last year’s Dine Around visits (prepare to drool)
Things to do in February in Nova Scotia
Winter accomodations in Nova Scotia with outdoor hot tubs
As always, we love hearing from you in the comments. If you have any questions at all or if you’re planning to try any Dine Around restaurants in Halifax this year, let us know!
* We’re proud to partner with Downtown Halifax to help promote and support local restaurants and attractions. As always, all opinions & photos are our own.
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