Check out Halifax’s most romantic restaurants this Valentine’s Day

OpenTable released its list of the top 100 romantic restaurants in Canada, and three Halifax eateries made the list.

The Five Fisherman, Drift and Crème all made the list, each with a rating above 4.5 stars, according to the platform.

The Five Fisherman is a contemporary seafood restaurant located near the Scotiabank Centre in downtown. The restaurant focuses on local farms and fisheries, with popular dishes including the tuna tartare, filet mignon and seafood chowder.

Drift pays homage to the Maritimes, featuring fresh Atlantic Canadian ingredients. The restaurant is offering a Valentine’s Day set menu on Feb. 13 and 14.

Those looking for something a little sweeter, Crème offers custom cakes, afternoon tea and charcuterie.

If you want to check out one of these places on Valentine’s Day, it is best to book a reservation ahead of time. Research from OpenTable shows that in 2025, dining on Valentine’s Day was up 46 per cent year-over-year, increasing to 54 per cent over Valentine’s Day weekend.

That momentum is expected to continue this year, with 53 per cent of single Canadians saying they would go to a restaurant for a first date for the occasion.

Forty nine per cent of Canadians say they will be dining out this Valentine’s Day.

But restaurants are not only bustling with romantic love. Group dining is also on the rise, akin to Galentine’s Day celebrations.

“Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance anymore and Canadians are embracing the cultural shift, with 51 per cent saying it’s now about celebrating all kinds of relationships, not just romantic ones,” Matt Davis, senior director at OpenTable Canada, said in a press release. “Gen Z is really driving this change, with 59 per cent planning a Galentine’s or Palentine’s Day celebration, 22 per cent above the national average, and 65 per cent of them looking to mark the celebrations by dining out.”

Despite the kind of love you’re celebrating, data shows Canadians are willing to spend a little extra to show that love. Thirty-three per cent are expecting to spend more at restaurants for Valentine’s Day this year compared to last year.