Last Update in August 2023! We’ve created this ever-growing guide to restaurants, bakeries, cafes, ice cream shops, and stores in Nova Scotia that are friendly to dairy-free diners. It’s a collection based on research and reader recommendations (send yours!) that’s divided into restaurants & shops by city (first) and major chains found throughout the state (second). And we’ve started a section for specialty dairy-free foods produced in this state.
We Update Continuously! You can ignore the original date on this post going forward. We update the information below whenever we’re alerted to a new recommendation, change, or closure.
Photo from Stone Pizza and New Scotland Brewing Co. in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dairy-Free Nova Scotia: Recommended Restaurants & Shops
We’ve listed these recommendations alphabetically by city and then by the restaurant or shop name. For large chains with locations throughout the state, see the Major Restaurant & Grocery Chains section below. We have dedicated posts with dairy-free details for many of the big guys.
⭐️ = Restaurant is either dairy-free, has a dairy-free menu, has dairy-free labels on their menu(s), or lists top allergens with menu items. (At the time of our last review.)
Antigonish
- Cashew Bros – They craft cashew-based, dairy-free ice cream in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, lemon poppyseed, and peanut brittle. They also blend vegan milkshakes. You can find them at the Antigonish Farmers Market.
- Goji’s Neighbourhood Treatery – On any given day, you might discover dairy-free soft serve flavors made with oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or Dole whip. They also have some house-made pops.
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
- Peace by Chocolate – This local chocolatier does use milk in many of their varieties (so cross-contamination should be considered), but they do offer some dark chocolate bars made without milk, and have fun packaging.
- The Townhouse – This brewpub has a few vegan and dairy-free options on their menu, including a few snacks, small plates, and large plates, and they usually offer a vegan dessert.
Bedford
- Honey & Ginger – This is a local natural food and supplement store that carries many local brands, and brings in many special diet foods.
- Lively Bakery ⭐️ – This is a home baker who exclusively bakes gluten-free and dairy-free goods. She bakes in cakes (including custom order celebration cakes for weddings, birthdays, etc), pies, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and many other treats.
- M&J’s Catering and Eatery ⭐️ – All meals at the Caribbean restaurant can be ordered dairy-free and gluten-free. They also have a separate, and very big, “plant world” menu. In addition to their take out and dine in, they have meal plans available.
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
- Noggins Farm – Their markets are basically daily farmers’ markets with local produce and foods made in the area. They often have some dairy-free and vegan surprises.
- Pete’s Frootique – These inviting local stores are filled with specialty foods, including dairy alternatives, and have freshly prepared eats with dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options.
- Resto Urban Dining – Their menu leans heavily toward Italian, but has a range of appetizers, pizzas, and pastas. They have many dairy-free options, if you ask, and are also happy to accommodate gluten-free and vegan guests.
Black Point
- The Little Ice Cream Shoppe – Thanks to Angela for letting us know this shop offers “multiple vegan ice cream options. The ice cream is oat-based and they use a separate churner for vegan options. The ice cream cones are also vegan.”
Cole Harbour
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
- Pizza Pizza – See our Pizza Pizza Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
Dartmouth
- Alexandra’s Pizza – They offer dairy-free cheese to customize your pizza, vegan garlic fingers, and some other dairy-free options on their expansive menu.
- Battery Park – They have a few creative vegan options on their casual menu of bar snacks and sandwiches , plus a few more items that can be ordered without dairy.
- Birdies Bread Co. – We reached out and they let us know that all of their bread in shop is vegan. They focus on naturally-leavened breads, made with locally grown grains. Their pastries change seasonally, but they do frequently carry some dairy free options. And they always have oat milk or almond milk available for coffee drinks.
- Evan’s Fresh Seafoods – They have many gluten-free options on their menu, but they’re also known for being friendly toward dairy-free customers. This is a seafood market and restaurant.
- Freshii – This chain serves bowls, salads, wraps, and smoothies. They offer a detailed allergen menu, and each menu category has at least one or two dairy-free options, ordered as is. But most items can be ordered without dairy easily, since all of their bases, proteins, broths, and toppings (aside from cheese) are made without milk (at the time of our review). Just verify the sauces, as a few contain milk-based ingredients.
- Holy Moly Bubble Tea – They offer oat milk for all of their milk and bubble teas
- Honey & Ginger – This is a local natural food and supplement store that carries many local brands, and brings in many special diet foods.
- Jugo Juice – This Canadian chain blends smoothie with almond milk or coconut water. Just be sure to skip the protein – they use whey. They also serve some wraps and salads that can be ordered dairy free.
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
- Noggins Farm – Their markets are basically daily farmers’ markets with local produce and foods made in the area. They often have some dairy-free and vegan surprises.
- Sprout Therapy – They press their own juices and mylks, including dairy-free, nut-free pumpkin seed milk in a couple flavors. They also have dairy-free, plant-based bowl meals, and they carry various healthy pantry items with many dairy-free options. You can stop by their shop or set up meal plan or cleanse delivery.
- Stone Pizza – They offer a whole menu of vegan pizzas. You can also customize just about any pizza to be dairy-free, since they offer dairy-free cheese, vegan crust, and a few vegan sauces.
- The Wooden Monkey ⭐️ – This local-focused restaurant warmly welcomes special diet diners. All of their menus are labeled for vegan, vegan option, gluten-free, gluten-free option, contains soy, contains dairy, and contains nuts! Their fulfilling sandwiches, salads, seafood entrees, pizzas (yes, they have vegan cheese and gluten-free crust!), and some other items include some enticing dairy-free surprises.
- Wok Box – This is a fresh Asian chain in Canada that is special diet friendly. They offer an allergen guide with their nutrition information, and naturally, most of their Asian menu is dairy-free. They also label which items can be made vegan and/or gluten-free.
Fall River
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
Halifax
- Alexandra’s Pizza – They offer dairy-free cheese to customize your pizza, vegan garlic fingers, and some other dairy-free options on their expansive menu.
- Beavertails – These artisanal Canadian pastries are made with whole wheat flour, hand-stretched, and fried. They can be ordered dairy-free and vegan on request.
- Bliss Bowls ⭐️ – You can find this vegan smoothie bowl maker at the Seaport Farmers Market.
- Budapest Bisztro – This Hungarian restaurant offers a handful of dairy-free menu items, with some vegan options too. Dishes included borscht, authentic lecsó, stuffed peppers, Hungarian lamb shank, and Polish duck, at last check.
- East Coast Bakery ⭐️ – According to the owner, they are a nut-free, dairy-free, and kosher parve certified bakery. They specialize in bagels and breads, but also bake some generously-sized sweets.
- EDNA Restaurant – For brunch, you can order their vegan French toast, or a classic egg breakfast without dairy. For dinner, they told us, “Most of our menu is either dairy free or has the option to be dairy free, with the exception of dairy based dishes like Burrata, of course. We also make a vegan dish to order when requested out of our local seasonal produce.” And they usually have a dairy-free dessert option,
- enVie A Vegan Kitchen ⭐️ – Their creative, from scratch menu suits a diverse range of tastes and special diets – they have many nut-free, soy-free, and gluten-free items, all clearly labeled. In addition to entrees like dairy-free Butter Chick’n with housemade naan and “Bacon” Avocado Burgers with Chili Cheeze Fries, they have house-made desserts, a diverse drink menu, and grab ‘n go eats.
- Fortune Doughnut – They offer five vegan flavors daily, which are made with coconut milk and applesauce, instead of milk and eggs. But you can also custom order from a huge menu of vegan flavors. They have Boston Cream, Samoa, Maple, Birthday Cake Oreo, Strawberry Filled, and so much more.
- Freshii – This chain serves bowls, salads, wraps, and smoothies. They offer a detailed allergen menu, and each menu category has at least one or two dairy-free options, ordered as is. But most items can be ordered without dairy easily, since all of their bases, proteins, broths, and toppings (aside from cheese) are made without milk (at the time of our review). Just verify the sauces, as a few contain milk-based ingredients.
- Gahan House – This pub offers alternative menus, including dairy-free and gluten-free, and they have quite an extensive selection of dairy-free items. At last check, they had burgers, fish and chips, and several other seafood dishes, but they were in the process of a menu update.
- HARVEST | A Farm-To-Table Eatery ⭐️ – They serve bowls, salads, and soups, with dairy-free options, and also make dairy-free, gluten-free energy bites and smoothies. There menu is clearly labeled for dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan guests.
- Heartwood – Cozy up with a hot bowl of house-made soup and a bean melt at this vegetarian eatery. They clearly label vegan and gluten-free options, and most of the menu can be made dairy-free. They offer pizza, sandwiches, salads, and other local favorites made with mostly organic ingredients. Their core location is open year round, but you might spot them at two other addresses around town.
- Mary’s African Cuisine – Thanks to Greg for this recommendation. “The food is amazing and it’s all dairy free.” They do serve a few items with cheese, and their desserts aren’t all dairy free, but most of their entrees are made without dairy, and they do have vegan and gluten-free options.
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
- Naan n Curry ⭐️ – Their menu is labeled for dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, and it includes many dairy-free Indian specialties.
- Odell’s Gluten Free Bakery & Cafe ⭐️ – They have quite a few dairy-free options on their big cafe menu (just ask!). And on the bakery side, you will discover many dairy-free muffins, cookies, bars, cupcakes, breads, and other treats. They do take custom orders, but do not write on cakes.
- Organic Earth Market – This local grocer hand selects each item they carry based on health and sustainability. Consequently, they offer many dairy-free, plant-based, and local foods.
- Peace by Chocolate – This local chocolatier does use milk in many of their varieties (so cross-contamination should be considered), but they do offer some dark chocolate bars made without milk, and have fun packaging.
- Pete’s Frootique – These inviting local stores are filled with specialty foods, including dairy alternatives, and have freshly prepared eats with dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options. Their Halifax location also has a gluten-free bakery on site.
- Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca – They have a vegano pizza on the menu and offer dairy-free cheese alternative, so most of their pizzas can be ordered dairy free.
- Pita Pit – See our Dairy-Free Pita Pit Menu Guide for full details.
- Pizza Pizza – See our Pizza Pizza Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
- Real Fake Meats ⭐️ – Canada’s first vegan butcher shop is located in Halifax! They do have a wide range of vegan meat alternatives (with gluten and gluten-free), but they also make a wide range of dairy-free cheeses, spreads, and dips. And they have frozen meals to-go, plus a full cafe menu with burgers, wraps, bowls, and more.
- Rousseau Chocolatier – They have rotating dairy-free and vegan sorbet soft serve flavors, and also craft some dairy-free confections.
- Schoolhouse Gluten Free Gourmet – They don’t have a storefront, but you can order online and pick up locally. They also ship throughout Canada. This is a gluten-free bakery, and they have a very extensive line of dairy-free pastries, with vegan options.
- Springhouse Plant-Based Market – The year of 2020 wasn’t going to keep this business down. They transformed their vegan restaurant into a plant-based grocery store. They still make meals for takeout and delivery, but also have a deli, baked goods and desserts, and shelves full of dairy-free and vegan provisions. Naturally, there are many gluten-free and allergy-friendly products, too.
- Sprout Therapy – They press their own juices and mylks, including dairy-free, nut-free pumpkin seed milk in a couple flavors. They also have dairy-free, plant-based bowl meals, and they carry various healthy pantry items with many dairy-free options. You can stop by their shop or set up meal plan or cleanse delivery.
- Sweet Hereafter – Craving cheesecake? This sweet shop typically has at least one vegan variety available by the slice, and about a dozen other vegan tofu-based flavors that you can order by the whole cake! They include options like Bailey’s Almande, Strawberry Vanilla, and Chocolate Oreo.
- Swirls Nut Free Baking – They run a peanut and tree nut free cupcakery, and will bake dairy-free and/or egg-free on request.
- The Wooden Monkey ⭐️ – This local-focused restaurant warmly welcomes special diet diners. All of their menus are labeled for vegan, vegan option, gluten-free, gluten-free option, contains soy, contains dairy, and contains nuts! Their fulfilling sandwiches, salads, seafood entrees, pizzas (yes, they have vegan cheese and gluten-free crust!), and some other items include some enticing dairy-free surprises.
- Wild Leek ⭐️ – This completely vegan restaurant, bakery, and juice bar aims to satisfy with casual but unique fare, like delicious “Dragon Fries” and plant-based Donair Wraps. They serve snacks, bowls, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and house-made desserts. Gluten-free and soy-free options are available and clearly labeled.
Hammonds Plains
- Alexandra’s Pizza – They offer dairy-free cheese to customize your pizza, vegan garlic fingers, and some other dairy-free options on their expansive menu.
Kentville
- Maritime Express Cider Co – Their menu is labeled for vegan and gluten-free guests (not to mention, cider is gluten-free and dairy-free). They offer some vegan appetizers, bowls, and other mains for lunch and dinner. This isn’t the best spot for brunch. But they do have some additional dairy-free options.
Lakeside
- Alexandra’s Pizza – They offer dairy-free cheese to customize your pizza, vegan garlic fingers, and some other dairy-free options on their expansive menu.
Liverpool
- Five Girls Baking – This is a bread bakery and shop that sells lots of great local products and some good dairy-free fresh baked breads.
Lower Sackville
- Alexandra’s Pizza – They offer dairy-free cheese to customize your pizza, vegan garlic fingers, and some other dairy-free options on their expansive menu.
- Locally Baked Outlet – Their focus is gluten-free and keto, but they offer some dairy-free baked goodies, too. They even have nut-free items.
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
Lunenburg
- The Seaberry – This kitchen and market focuses on healthy, locally produced foods, natural ingredients, and sustainability. They offer dairy-free fresh baked breads, chocolates, and specialty products.
Mahone Bay
- Oh My Cod! – What a find from Angela! “Oh My Cod serves fish and chips and tartare sauce which is dairy free. The fish batter is made from rice flour and beer. They will also make dairy free/gluten free chicken fingers on request, coated in rice flour and soda. I have a great photo of the fish and chips if you’d like to use it. We’re from the UK originally (now living in Canada) and this is the best fish and chips we have eaten in a very long time.”
- The Biscuit Eater Cafe & Books – They offer some vegan options on their cafe menu, like a tapas platter, veggie sandwich, and soup. They also take custom orders for dairy-free, gluten-free, and/or vegan pastries, but do require a couple days notice.
Musquodoboit Harbour
- Uprooted Market & Cafe – They offer a vegan Buddha bowl, some dairy-free sandwiches, and they sell local produce and other goods, like locally made tofu and baked goods.
New Minas
- Chrismaria Family Restaurant ⭐️ – This primarily Indian restaurant labels their menu for dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan needs. They have many of the usual dairy-free dishes, but also a couple surprises, like naan.
- Cumin Kitchen and Drink ⭐️ – This urban cafe supports local agriculture, and caters to special diets, too. Their menu is labeled for dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, and includes dairy-free items throughout. They offer all-day breakfast with chia pudding, omelettes, and bagel sammies, soups and small plates, boisterous salads and bowls, pastas, sandwiches, and even dessert.
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
- Pita Pit – See our Dairy-Free Pita Pit Menu Guide for full details.
North Sydney
- Alexandra’s Pizza – They offer dairy-free cheese to customize your pizza, vegan garlic fingers, and some other dairy-free options on their expansive menu.
Porters Lake
- In The Raw – You can visit their sprouting center to find healthy, raw, vegan, and organic foods, including desserts, like carrot cake, cheesecake, and chocolate treats. But they also sell their fresh goods through natural food stores.
Stellarton
- Goji’s Neighbourhood Treatery – On any given day, you might discover dairy-free soft serve flavors made with oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or Dole whip. They also have some house-made pops.
Sydney
- Alexandra’s Pizza – They offer dairy-free cheese to customize your pizza, vegan garlic fingers, and some other dairy-free options on their expansive menu.
- Flavor – They have three locations, one downtown, Flavor by the Water (also in the downtown area), and Flavor 19, which is inland near Victoria Junction. Their menus vary slightly, but all three are friendly to special diets. They label gluten-free options, have a couple vegan menu items (as is) and have additional dairy-free menu items and options. They also offer meals to go.
- Freshii – This chain serves bowls, salads, wraps, and smoothies. They offer a detailed allergen menu, and each menu category has at least one or two dairy-free options, ordered as is. But most items can be ordered without dairy easily, since all of their bases, proteins, broths, and toppings (aside from cheese) are made without milk (at the time of our review). Just verify the sauces, as a few contain milk-based ingredients.
- JJ’s Plant Based Eats ⭐️ – They serve all-vegan breakfast and lunch, with some sandwiches, wraps, and Mediterranean items. But they’re also well loved for their donuts.
- MELTwich – This grilled cheese chain has a full plant-based menu. It includes a few vegan melts, the Impossible burger, and a couple poutines. Additional menu items can be custom ordered dairy-free, including burgers, bowls, and additional toppings on vegan grilled cheeses and poutines.
- Pita Pit – See our Dairy-Free Pita Pit Menu Guide for full details.
Truro
- Laurie’s Bakeshop – This is an egg-free, nut-free bakery with many dairy-free and gluten-free options. They even have vegan tortes and they bake custom order cakes.
- Honeycomb Health Market – This is a great spot to find unique, new-to-you, dairy-free and vegan foods. They carry locally-made treats, like Cashew Bros ice cream, snack foods, pantry items, and have a whole food kitchen on site with daily dairy-free menu items.
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
Upper Tantallon
- Mezza Lebanese Kitchen – They have a detailed allergen chart with many dairy-free options, including some wraps, plates, salads, and bowls. Most of their sides are made without dairy.
Windsor
- Beavertails – These artisanal Canadian pastries are made with whole wheat flour, hand-stretched, and fried. They can be ordered dairy-free and vegan on request.
Wolfville
- Noggins Farm – Their markets are basically daily farmers’ markets with local produce and foods made in the area. They often have some dairy-free and vegan surprises.
Photo from Birdies Bread Co. in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Restaurant & Grocery Chains found throughout Nova Scotia
Some recommended restaurant and store chains are getting too big for our city listing britches. They have many locations, or are rapidly growing, and you might stumble across them in a number of towns in this state. Click on them for more dairy-free details.
Thus far, we’ve been able to add all chains to their respective cities above!
Photo from Real Fake Meats in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Local Dairy-Free Food & Drink Producers in Nova Scotia
These dairy-free friendly companies don’t have their own retail location, but are in Nova Scotia. So you have a good chance of finding their products at grocery stores, restaurants, and/or other shops in this state. Keep an eye out!
- Shivani’s Kitchen – This local Indian spice company also makes ready-to-use sauces. They aren’t all dairy-free, but do include dairy-free butter sauce and curry sauce.
- Sun Under the Sea – Their rich and functional dairy-free creamer is shelf stable, and made with the unique blend of collagen marine powder and 70% MCT oil.
- The Cultured Coconut – This dairy-free yogurt has 4 trillion CFU per tablespoon (yes, Trillion) and over 40 probiotic strains. They sell in natural food stores across Canada, but their product should be easy to find in Nova Scotia, since they’re based in Bedford.
Photo from Bliss Bowls in Halifax, Nova Scotia
This Guide is Continuously Updated with Recommendations
We welcome you to recommend other dairy-free friendly restaurants. Leave a comment or contact us and tell us why you like a certain restaurant. Restaurant owners and employees are also invited to reach out and let us know how you welcome dairy-free customers.
Please kindly let us know in the comments if any of these restaurants close. We want to keep this list current for you, but aren’t always notified when a restaurant closes. Let us know and we will quickly update!
This Guide is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that they can accommodate your situation.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.