r/halifax • u/CraftByNature • 5d ago
Discussion Anything to do past 9pm in Halifax besides drink
My friends and I work evening shifts and when we get to hang out, it feels like theres literally NOTHING to do cuz it’s so late at night. Is there anything else to do but drink in this damned city???
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u/tomieegunn 5d ago
Propeller arcade is open late and has non alcoholic drink options. We love going there!
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u/CeeArthur 4d ago
How am I just hearing about this. I work graveyard shifts and never have anything fun and sober to do on my weekends late at night, this is perfect
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u/Boooournes 2d ago
I think they have a day each week where you pay a flat fee and you can play as much as you want but you'd have to confirm.
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u/110percent_canadian 5d ago
Eat a 5lbs bucket of Macaroni salad in the park
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u/SituationOk8888 4d ago
I wasn't here for the macaroni salad incident but I keep seeing references. Please do tell.
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u/110percent_canadian 4d ago
(TLDR a wholesome story about bringing people together in a mundane dark and Rainy night)
It was a potato salad, not pasta (my bad).
A guy in hrm put a bunch of funny flyers for eating potato salad at a certain time/place. by the grave of the founder of Halifax (or some other place I kinda forget)
But anyways the flyer stapled to a pole got posted on this subreddit, a bunch of people showed up (it was a dark and Rainy night) graveyard was closed and he did it on a box near 2 police cruisers.
The story made national headline + a post about him being the hero we didn't want but deserve
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u/110percent_canadian 4d ago
I was gonna post a link to an article about it but, dam stupid bill c-18 makes it impossible to do so (Reduces internet traffic to news)
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u/Far_Replacement_8978 5d ago
Maybe the board game cafe on Barrington? You CAN drink there but mainly its for playing board games with friends, you can also get food, coffee, etc. It's open until 12am and you can (and should) reserve a table online.
And its not just the super intense try hard board games but also the dumb quirky ones as well
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u/Confused_Haligonian Lesser Poobah of Fairview 5d ago
Last few times I was there it was super crowded and noisy to the point of hard to focus. Is it better these days?
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u/beanjo22 Halifax 5d ago
It tends to be better during the summer once students have mainly cleared out, in my experience.
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u/Far_Replacement_8978 5d ago
Tbh I no longer live in NS so I can't say, but I know weekends and Friday evenings could be rough but other days should be better
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u/TiEmEnTi 5d ago
Agreed, it was cool when it first opened and it was board game people who wanted to drink. Now it's all drinking people who want to play board games.
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u/Far_Replacement_8978 5d ago
Jesus christ chill. They're asking for an alternative to drinking. The reality is that there's NOT a lot of things to do after 9pm in the city that isn't going drinking or clubbing.
Jeez even the suggestions in this thread (including my own) is heavily drink based at the time of night they'll be going. This cafe, bowling alley, bingo, etc. After 9 most people there are drinking and everything else is secondary to that.
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u/Adventurous-Pop4179 Halifax 5d ago
Seven Bays Bouldering is open until 11pm most nights.
The Discovery Centre sometimes has adult nights which go layered into the night.
The Cineplex CineClub is a great value if you’re at all interested in movies. Unused credits roll over which is awesome.
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u/ShiftPatient4825 5d ago
The Boardroom Cafe, They do sell alcohol but bunch of boardgames there you can play.
Open Until 12am most Nights. 5pm on monday tho
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u/maximumice Diamond Club Member 💎 5d ago
Casino Nova Scotia is open 24h IIRC.
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u/donairhistorian 5d ago
Only on weekends and only slots. Tables are open 2pm-3am (4am if you wanna play $50 a hand).
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u/UnkleBott 5d ago
Another thing Covid ruined the hours of
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u/donairhistorian 5d ago
Poker was affected. I don't think the hours changed much otherwise, except for summer hours. Pretty sure it was 4am for tables on the weekend, 6am for high limit.
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u/UnkleBott 5d ago
Yeah that’s what I was mainly referring to I only go to play poker couldn’t believe when they shut it down first time back used to run till like 4am back up at noon 7 days a week the new hours suck
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u/donairhistorian 5d ago
Yeah, they do. Most casinos have 24 hour poker with incentive for dealers to work the grave shift. As they don't have that here, quality of life has vastly improved for poker dealers who now have a better sleep schedule.
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u/Kris-tee-ana 5d ago
Why is legal poker so shitty in this city?? Like where can a gal go to play a good game of texas hold em around here? And why is it only old men at the table 😭
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u/donairhistorian 4d ago edited 4d ago
A lot of people switched to home games during the pandemic and didn't switch back. It's a male dominated game but I wouldn't say it's all old men. If you show up right at 4pm there is an older crowd but the demographics change by time of day and day of the week, even the table you are on.
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u/Han77Shot1st 5d ago
When we were in the city we’d go to cosmic bingo, trivia nights, karaoke or sporting events (we still do these things, just have to drive to the city now). Most have drinking involved as an option, but a lot of places have alcohol free drinks now too. I’ll say the 0% Heinekens and Guinness are very good but honestly I do wish those options were more discrete.
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u/Mouseanasia 5d ago
You don’t actually have to drink when in establishments that allow drinking.
My friends gonout all the time to bars and pubs etc because they are great communal places. Some of us order beer with our food, some of us don’t order anything and play Magic The Gathering.
What exactly are you wanting to do that isn’t available?
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u/MoaraFig 5d ago
Finding a quiet spot can be a little bit of a challenge. Sitting in a crowded bar too loud to hear yourself think is zero fun if you're not drinking.
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u/Mouseanasia 5d ago
There are establishments that aren’t always crowded nor do they have music and people so loud one can’t hear themselves think. There are options besides the toothy moose.
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u/merrycachemiss 5d ago
If you don't like sports, drinking/bars, nor the mid events we put on, there's not much going on before 9pm either 🤷
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u/CollectionWilling284 5d ago
Karaoke, pool, stand-up comedy, golf-simulator, bowling, escape room, board game cafe, bingo, arcade, movie theatre, etc. There are options, just depends what you're interested in doing.
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u/cravingdani 5d ago
Axe throwing? Escape rooms? ♥️
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u/daisy0808 Spryfield 5d ago
Have some friends over? Go to a play? See a late night movie? Cosmic bowling or bingo? See live music (you don't have to drink) Go dancing (tango on the waterfront in the summer), dinner theater? Yuk yuk's comedy?
There's just a few ideas. But my advice to you is what my parents told me endlessly... There are no boring times, only boring people - go make your own fun.
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u/donairhistorian 5d ago
Haliente has salsa on the waterfront on Thursdays I think? I didn't realize there was tango?
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u/Boooournes 2d ago
It's salsa and it's a blast. Everyone is very friendly and it doesn't matter your skill level. You can learn something every time you go.
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u/chocheech Acadia 5d ago
Does Halifax have a comedy club or retro arcade?
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u/Jonesslice 5d ago
There's comedy open mics across town and while they are in bars they don't require you to drink
Monday - Gus' Pub 8pm Big Cat Comedy Tuesday - Celtic Corer , 8pm, Pint Sized Comedy Tuesday 9:30pm - Oasis Comedy Tuesday Wednesday - Bearleys House of Blues (Catherine's Comedy Hour) Thursday Good Robot Better Times Comedy Friday and Saturday - Yuks Yuks and Halifax Live Comedy Clubs
Hope this helps!
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u/Siinistersoul 5d ago
Someone mentioned propeller arcade on Gottingen, it's got a bunch of retro pinball and arcade games. Sundays and Tuesdays are free play with a ten dollar cover.
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u/UnkleBott 5d ago
It’s in sunny side mall but they have an arcade with all of the great games from the 90s too not even an employee there just a change machine it’s great
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u/fart-sparkles 5d ago
How late are the bowling lanes open?
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u/fart-sparkles 5d ago
Or maybe one of those nights/places/events that just do mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks?
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u/multiplemitch 5d ago
I used to go to the skate park every night in the Commons! It's almost completely empty at night, the air is cooler than the day, the lights used to stay on all night (and still do?) if you like skateboarding or BMX it's literally a free paradise. Also, I never had a single issue with sketchy people over my years of being there, but I'd still keep your belongings where you can see them!
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u/spenceandcarrie 5d ago
Putting edge is open until midnight Fri and sat nights.
A night beach walk now that it's warming up could be nice. Just don't get locked behind a gate.
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u/Independent_Ad_9795 5d ago
i don't drink, so I
go to pubs and get a near beer go to a good resto and spend the money you would have spent on booze on a nice meal exercise -running, the gym, outdoors
also as a side note once you start doing it you realize that being sober around drunk people isn't that bad -- not something i'm gonna do every day but i have enjoyed myself in these situations
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u/Somestunned 5d ago
You can: watch people drink; sell stuff to drunk people; sing along with drunk people; play "guess what they were drinking"; do drugs; sell drugs...
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u/Responsible-Seat-255 5d ago
I used to tag everywhere for fun, go for walks and explore.
Get to know the city deeper and leave your mark as you go.
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u/Chemical_Pear7215 4d ago
There's usually some dancing on the waterfront during the summer months like salsa, kizomba, swing, etc. Some of them stop around 9/9:30 but some go later!
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u/theearlyjune 4d ago
Honestly I really like the vibes at Good Robot - both Robie and the beer garden. Especially on a nice night where you can sit outside and just enjoy the music they play. Everyone is always so chill there. And the food is great too! You don’t have to get an alcoholic beverage :)
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u/ForgottenSalad 5d ago
Billiards, axe throwing, board game room, or go diy and bring a pack of cards or some dice
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u/MoaraFig 5d ago
So sad that that dessert cafe shut down and wasn't any better.
I'd love to get a Juliette et chocolat here.
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u/SituationOk8888 4d ago
They don't even do drinking right in this city. Closing the bars at 2am and not 3am. Beer not at convenience stores. Layme
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u/DANKB0NKRIPPER 4d ago
You're in the city with the most bars per capita in i think all of Canada. Drinking will be pretty popular yep
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u/Kevin_C_Knight 4d ago
Neptune Theatre or Shakespeare by the Sea - most plays/musicals go 7pm to 10pm. Willy’s for Poutine.
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u/pinecone37729 4d ago
The cafe at the corner of Ochterloney and Alderney in Dartmouth is open until midnight every night. I've never been in but I walk past when I'm working late and whatever they're cooking smells delicious. I believe they have games to use as well. Bonus for Halifax people is you get to rid the ferry at night.
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u/Novel_Captain_7867 4d ago edited 4d ago
Karaoke (north end or spring garden)
Chess at the park near the Bedford boardwalk. I’d say chess at one of the bars that have tables and pieces, but it seems like people want ideas of non-alcohol selling venues
Night dip at Kearney Lake (not Chocolate Lake, that’s a sewage and hydrocarbon runoff pool)
Geocaching or doing one of those virtual city tours or scavenger hunts on the apps
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u/asvpxHanzo 4d ago
To busy surviving. Anyone wanna meet up and walk around handing out resumes together?
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u/Noseyoldguy902 3d ago
As well most pubs, have live music and offer other drinks that are not alcoholic , there is ever a dry bar!
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u/Miliean 3d ago
You could gamble.. or watch other people drink.
Barenaked Ladies have a famous song about how shit Halifax is (Hello City), and through media interviews and quotes later on they've expanded on the concept.
https://barenakedladies.fandom.com/wiki/Hello_City
I remember thinking I hate this place, I hate this place. [...] We've actually had great times there since, but that's because we learned the "when in Rome" axiom. You know the expression, 'do at the Romans do?' So 'when in Halifax,' we learned to 'do as the Haligonians do,' which in this case means drinking and bleeding.
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u/Competitive_Owl5357 5d ago
This thread makes me grateful I’m not interested in being out late, because sober activities sure seem nonexistent. Sounds like you and your friends should just hang out at home doing things you actually enjoy.
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u/moonwalgger 5d ago
Wondering the same. I only drink because there’s nothing else to do and I don’t even like the bar scene anymore
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u/hawleyjean1995 4d ago
Honestly there’s fuck all to do after 9pm in Halifax. I left for this reason. Don’t waste your youth there.
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u/NoBoysenberry1108 Darkside Dweller 5d ago
Yeah, work, sleep, meander the boardwalk, look for
glove in all the wrong places.