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Restaurants in Cape Breton Island
In addition to the individual restaurants we list, please note that most of the inns and hotels in the area have restaurants, and often that's where you'll get the best eats.
We also suggest that you drop in for an espresso and a blow-your-mind breakfast sandwich on a savory homemade bun at the Dancing Goat Café & Bakery (6289 Cabot Trail East, North Margaree) a hopping place where friendly folks who are chatting about fly fishing might be on one side of you and movie star Ethan Hawke (he owns a private island nearby) might be on the other.
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13 Results
Charlene’s Bayside Restaurant and Cafe
In a region that is renowned for its seafood chowder, Charlene’s would top almost any list in the category for its sheer seafoodiness, if that’s a word. Owner Charlene MacNeil packs her version with 7 different kinds of seafood, including shrimp, scallops, haddock, clams, halibut,…$WhycocomaghCoastal Waters Restaurant & Pub
The menu at Coastal looks like it came in a dream to a cafeteria-weary college student (indeed, owners Jason LeBlanc and Keith Moore did meet in college). We’re talking creative pub grub, all with quirky names. That includes the “The Quagmire” and “The Big Lebowski” (both burgers),…$$Ingonish- Cafe/Deli
Farmers Daughter
Started as a roadside fruit and vegetable stand, Farmers Daughter has grown into a bakery, deli, cafe, and gift shop while retaining that original market aspect of the business. Stop for a hot or a cold drink and the house specialty: a hot savory meat pocket called “Stuffed Crust…$Bras D'Or Lakes - Cafe
Frog Pond Cafe
For sophisticated baked goods—a taste of France in Acadian Nova Scotia—stop at the Frog Pond Café. You can’t miss it; it’s the place with the bright folk art signs and pieces around the small parking lot on the right as you leave town. This is also the Sunset Folk Art Gallery, a…$Chéticamp - Acadian
Harbour Restaurant and Bar
Management refers to its fare as “fine dining”, but it’s closer to traditional Nova Scotia fare, done well, and in huge portions. To be frank: if you welcome the “Apple Garden Cake” included with the meal after making your way through the “Seafood Sensation Dinner,” you’ve…$Chéticamp - Cafe
Herring Choker Deli
Up on the highway but just minutes from the center of town, this was once the favorite haunt of the late actor Alan Arkin, a seasonal resident. This kitschy, cheerful café serves delicious breakfast items and sandwiches on the freshest bread made in house, wraps, daily soup…$Baddeck - Deli
Highwheeler Café
Staff at the Highwheeler proudly display their homemade breads, salads, wraps, and desserts in a glass case, one that gets a line in front of it at mealtimes of hungry visitors oohing and ahhing with anticipation. Though not everything is vegetarian or gluten free, those options are…$Baddeck - Seafood
L'abri Cafe
★★★ SEAFOOD[em]French for “the shelter”, L’abri’s name pays homage to the howling 150km/hour winds unique to the Cape Breton Highlands, and the resiliency of the Acadian people who have had to live with and endure them. This tastefully decorated new restaurant, with waterfront views,…$$Cheticamp - Gourmet Canadian
Panorama Restaurant
On the second floor of the Cabot Links Resort, the Panorama lives up to its name; a wall of windows takes in the stunning view over the greens of the golf course to the beach and ocean beyond, the whole scene facing west to pull sunsets right into the room. The menu for this…$$$Inverness - Cafe
Rita's Tea Room
Singer/songwriter Rita MacNeil grew up in Big Pond, and she never forgot her roots during her rise to fame. She always told audiences to stop by for a cup of tea if they were in the neighborhood. Problem was, they did. So Rita opened a tearoom for her fans, housing it in a converted…$Bras d'Or Lake - Gastropub
Route 19 Tap and Brewing
This strapping pub—long lacquered plank tables, high chairs, big view-rich windows (of both the water and the golf course next door)—has a macho air, serving up lots of suds, along with chowder, fish and chips, pizza, and burgers. Standouts on the menu are the sherry seafood pasta…$$Inverness - Cafe
Salty Rose’s and the Periwinkle Cafe
Whether you stay here, eat here, or just browse here, this one-stop-shop is a charmer with a genuinely caring staff. On the dining front, it serves delicious home-made breakfasts, lunches, and Fair Trade coffee to all comers. These range from orange and almond granola topped with…$Ingonish - Pub Fare
The Red Shoe Pub
The famous musical family the Rankins run this neighborhood pub, continuing its long tradition as the daily gathering place for the best local folk musicians. It’s cozy and sometimes crowded, but the hospitality and music are first class and live music performances are held seven…$$Mabou & Vicinity
