If you've worked up an appetite exploring Nova Scotia's museums, parks, breweries, wineries, hiking, and gorgeous seascapes, you'll also want to take advantage of the rich Nova Scotia cuisine.

A Canadian maritime province, ports on Nova Scotia cruises boast dishes that are infused with flavors from the ocean to its wild forests. Enjoy these Nova Scotia local food favorites on our Canada and New England cruises:

1 . Nova Scotia lobster

The lobsters fished straight from Nova Scotia's waters are sweet and incredibly tender. When ordering this delicacy from a restaurant, try to find the simplest preparation, so you can really savor the fresh meat. Arguably one of the best places to get lobster in Nova Scotia, Shore Club in Hubbards offers a traditional lobster supper with plenty of succulent extras — including all-you-can-eat steamed mussels

A whole steamed lobster sits on a wooden surface with steam rising behind it.
Freshly cooked Nova Scotia lobster captures the region’s iconic seafood tradition.

2 . Oysters

Nova Scotia cruises provide a chance to try oysters that come in many varieties, from the briny Cape Bretons to the lighter Bras d'Ors — and all of them make wonderful complements to fine local wines. The Press Gang Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Halifax boasts a sampler of four different species of oysters, and its servers offer excellent recommendations for newbies to the oyster world. As you traverse the province, you'll find that many restaurants serve different selections of oysters.

Opened oysters with lemon slices are arranged on a plate beside a glass of white wine.
A platter of Nova Scotia oysters highlights the province’s diverse coastal flavors.

3 . Blueberries

Stop at a farmers market for these blue beauties that are both harvested and cultivated on Nova Scotia. Some favorite dishes made from these plump berries include wild blueberry crisp, blueberry grunt, blueberry sauce, and blueberry smoothies.

A wooden spoon and ceramic bowl are filled with plump blueberries on a rustic wooden table.
Fresh Nova Scotia blueberries shine as one of the region’s most beloved local fruits.

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4 . Fiddleheads

With their nutty, spinach-like flavor, fiddleheads are young ferns that are picked before forest fronds unfurl in spring. See if you can spot them while you're hiking through Nova Scotia's lush forests — but don't try to eat them, as some species may be poisonous. Fortunately, trained foragers at local farmer's markets will tout these springtime delights, so you can sample them for yourself. Fiddleheads are best enjoyed when steamed, or sauteed with butter, garlic, and onion.

A bowl filled with bright green fiddleheads sits on a dark surface, highlighting their curled, fresh appearance.
Young fiddleheads showcase a vibrant springtime delicacy from Nova Scotia.

5 . Nova Scotia oatcakes

Sweet and salty, oatcakes taste delicious with a cup of coffee and are served across the province for breakfast or as a simple dessert. Keep an eye out for the LaHave Bakery, or other local bakeries that are famous for their oatcakes. If you fall in love with these sweet treats, they'll be easy to make in the comfort of your own kitchen.

A stack of golden oatcakes topped with oats rests on a white plate, showing their rustic texture.
Classic Nova Scotia oatcakes offer a sweet, hearty treat enjoyed across the province.

Savor each taste of the local Nova Scotia cuisine at ports like Halifax and Sydney on Nova Scotia cruises, and you'll come back new, feeling revitalized. View Canada & New England cruises.