How accessible are Halifax’s dancefloors? The Coast went on a bar crawl to find out. Only downtown Halifax bars with a dancefloor are included in this survey (but you can find inaccessible watering holes and restaurants all over the city). Establishments earn one star (⭐) for having an accessible entrance, one if a wheelchair can get up to the bar no problem, one if there are no barriers to the middle of the dancefloor and one if the washrooms are relatively accessible. Half a star (💫) if an establishment is halfway there.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nomad Travel Bar 1741 Grafton StreetInside the Cheers emporium. We've never heard of it either.
⭐⭐⭐💫 Bearly’s 1269 Barrington Street
The women’s washroom isn’t accessible, but staff say they’ll clear out the men’s washroom when needed.
⭐⭐⭐💫 Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub 1645 Argyle Street
The steep slope of Sackville Street makes this entrance kind-of accessible. Once you’re in, though, party’s on.
⭐⭐⭐💫 Pacifico 5171 George Street
The new Pacifico has an elevator that would fit a small wheelchair, but power chairs don’t fit.
⭐⭐⭐💫 Reflections Cabaret 5187 Salter Street
Half a star off for a not-totally accessible entrance.
⭐⭐⭐💫 The Carleton 1685 Argyle Street
There’s a ramp at the ready inside the front door, half a star is lost because it’s not a permanent fixture.
⭐⭐⭐ Cheers Live 1741 Grafton Street
⭐⭐⭐ Hide + Seek 1737 Grafton Street
A manager has to help you enter through Cheers Live.
⭐⭐⭐ Midtown (Boomers) 1744 Grafton Street
Boom town gets ya dancing, but gotta pee? Outta luck.
⭐⭐⭐ Roxbury 1743 Grafton Street
With help from a manager, you can enter through Cheers Live. (The washrooms aren't as spacious as Hide + Seek's, though.)
The Kitchen party can be enjoyed, but the bathroom may as well be down the road at the neighbours'.
⭐⭐ Gus’ Pub 2605 Agricola Street
Like the bar and the washrooms, the VLTs are not accessible. (Luckily for Gus', VLTs are not a part of this survey.)
The main bar is up three steps, but if you’re lucky you may be able to snag a server.
⭐⭐ The Marquee 2037 Gottingen Street
The Marquee entrance isn’t accessible, but you can enter through The Local.
Get in and get drinks no problem. The dancefloor? Nope. Bathrooms? Neither.
⭐ Halifax Alehouse 1717 Brunswick Street
⭐ The Dome Night Club 1732 Argyle Street
Menz & Mollyz Bar 2182 Gottingen Street
Sniggily Wiggily’s 1665 Argyle Street
Nope, nope, nope and nope.
The Daily Grind Cafe & Art Bar 1479 Birmingham Street
The Toothy Moose 1661 Argyle Street. Bouncers may be good at throwing people down the stairs, but no one should have to be carried up that flight of stairs.
— — —
This ranking is non-definitive, is biased towards women’s or
gender-neutral washrooms, and doesn’t include The Bitter End Martini Bar because it was closed for a private event. The criteria were suggested by Vicky Levack, but research executed by an able-bodied editor, so actual
accessibility is not guaranteed.
