Halifax punches well above its size for nightlife and craft beer. The city has a large student population — Dalhousie, Saint Mary's, NSCAD, and Kings College all have campuses here — and the live music scene reflects it. The Barrington Street and Argyle Street corridor in downtown has the densest concentration of bars and pubs, particularly lively on weekends.
The craft beer scene has exploded since the 2010s. Nova Scotia now has dozens of microbreweries and most of the best ones have taprooms in or near Halifax. Good Robot, Propeller Brewing, 2 Crows, Tidehouse, and Boxing Rock (from Shelburne but with a Halifax presence) are among the worth-finding options. Many taprooms are open Thursday through Sunday with rotating experimental taps alongside their core range.
Celtic and East Coast folk music is a reliable feature of Halifax nights. The Lower Deck and the Olde Triangle Irish Alehouse on the waterfront are the most established live music venues; smaller bars around the Barrington corridor also book local acts regularly.