I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a review of one of my favorite bars in the city! In terms of food, I've only eaten at Dirty's on a few occasions but have yet to try something that I didn't like. What I enjoy most about Dirty Nelly's is the atmosphere. Whether your out for a night out with friends or just grabbing a drink with colleagues after work, it's one of the best places to go in the city. The crowd is more mature than some locations in the city so you never have to worry about rowdy or obnoxious patrons. So far I've been fairly lucky at snagging a seat on a busy Saturday night but I would definitely wait around to get in if necessary! The dance floor is small but great, the band is always energetic and the servers are fantastic! I went in one night with a few of the girls and our server blew us away with her drink choices. She made great drink suggestions and substitutions (including raspberry vodka instead of regular in a cosmo... do it!) that after a few orders we were just trusting in her to bring us something fun! You can't go wrong with a visit to Dirty's! read more

If you like Ruben sandwiches ,don't order one here. Big disappointment Two pieces of poorly cut corn beef with very soggy toasted bread, not even rye bread. Then served with potato chips not French fries! Certainly not "Montreal style". Don't be fooled when the server says "one of my favorites" read more

Ate there this evening, meh. Crab cake appetizer and sticky toffee cake were a good start and fine finish, but our spacey waitress got one of our orders wrong, then left both the wrong meal and its replacement on the bill. When we asked to split the bill she asked if we could 'do the math, I'm not very good at that...' Hang on to your day job, doll. Shepherd's pie was good. read more

Considering there are so many pubs downtown, it can be tough to pick one and I imagine the competition for customers is fierce. However, there are a few places downtown that are "die-hards" for me and DN's has become one of those places. Anytime I have been there, it has been full of people conducting lively chatter and listening to a great band. To be honest, given this criteria, you could be in ANY pub downtown (they can all feel a little homogenous in that way). But one thing that sets DN's apart is their atmosphere - it feels so cozy and warm, like a library - all dark wood, amber/low lighting, and pretty stained-glass windows. You step inside, order a pint and are immediately transported to the Irish countryside. You almost expect to turn around the see a table of tweed-clad farmers discussing football or something. The last time I was there I had their sweet potato fries, which were delicious (give the Old Triangle's a run for their money!) and they have a good selection of beer. The service was quite prompt considering how busy it was. We sat inside, but I have sat on the patio before and it's in a nice location - you're blocked from the wind/damp coming off the harbour, and you are in line with the other colourful patios of the Argyle St district so there is usually some neat people-watching to be had and fun energy to absorb. However, the last time I was there it was also extremely loud - I had to yell at the people next to me in order for them to hear what I was saying, which was a little annoying, especially since we were on the opposite end of the bar from the band. So, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as a place to have an extensive conversation (at least not on Saturday night) unless you are comfortable having your faces within inches of each other and yelling into one another's ears. But if you want to hear some great music, have a drink, snack and a few laughs, this is a great choice! read more

This is one of our usual after-work drinks and appies pub option. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable, the space is large, and the drinks and appetizers are pretty great. I finally tried it for lunch and was just as pleased. The music, Irish in flavour, was a little loud for the lunch crowd, but lent to the homey feel that the rest of the decor gives. The most important part of any restaurant is, of course, the food. Irish touches are all over the menu like a co-ed on a stranger at the seventh bar on St. Paddy's day. Try one of their traditional pies, like the chicken pot pie, with a yummy creamy sauce and very flaky crust. If you want something a little more Americanized, try the steak sandwich. Sliced steak and cheddar in a sweet sauce loaded on a hoagie. Yum. Or, order the rustic potato chips if you're sharing. Kettle chips breed with potato skins to give you this addictive baby. Wash any of it down with a few Limerick Lemonades and you're bound to turn any crappy day into a buzzed one. Sláinte agus táinte! read more

Just quick review to say that the food was delicious! The drinks just as delicious. The calamari was perfectly seasoned, the salmon was beautifully plated and tender (not overcooked) and the chowder was creamy but not too thick or rich. Good service! Of course we will be back ASAP so I can give a more detailed review ;) read more

Try the garlic fries, but be warned: your whole table has to share them. They are potent (and delicious)! Great staff, good beer selection, and a nice but unexpected find in historic properties. read more

New patio is fabulous. New menu is mouthwatering. Cobb salad is heavenly! read more

I feel like I'm alone in my lack of love for this bar. Everyone I know things it's terrific and they often exclaim, "let's go to Durty's!" when we try to decide on a bar. Maybe it's because I'm not a pub person. Or maybe it's because I hate how damn crowded it is every time I go (you can't move, let alone get a place to sit). The bit of food I have tried is good, but nothing to get me excited. I will give the joint this: despite the busyness, I will say that staff seem to be on their A game at all times and you don't feel like you're being ignored (so long as you can get near the bar or get a table to place an order). read more

To celebrate my and my sister's birthday in April 2012 (which are just 10 days apart) we met up at Durty Nelly's for a few drinks and dancing. The bar is clean, nice atmosphere, and the decor was apparently put together in Ireland, then shipped over to Halifax. The space is narrow, with the long winding bar running down 3/4 of the inner side. The place is on a corner, so there are two patios that get fairly packed on every summer evening. The staff are friendly and attentive. I do recommend their Lychee Martini and the Whoa Nelly! There is a live band that plays on the weekends and the music is usually a fun mix of Celtic, country, oldies and rock. The crowd is mostly people between 30-60 yrs old. On weekends, it gets very packed to the point you may have to squeeze your way through to the back. The washrooms are clean, modern and yes, there is an Dyson hand dryer! We had so much fun the first night, that we went back for my other sister's birthday in October. For the summer of 2013, it was my and my husband's go to spot for a night out and we had a blast every time! read more

We went here twice. The atmosphere was great and lively. The drinks were delicious. Now the nachos were huge and could feed a group of people. The mussels were great as well. read more

Durty Nelly's - Irish Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

WOW. Now, if you used to frequent this spot when it was The Mercury (which, I unfortunately did), than you know what I am talking about. Durty Nelly's is just absolutely stunning inside with it's traditional pub look, which I hear is actually pretty authentic as I was told they imported a lot of the wood structures in from Ireland. I can tell you that I was just blown away by the change when I first walked into this place a few weeks ago on my visit to my hometown of Halifax. The main bar is beautifully designed and the space is very clean, considering it's a pub and all. I can tell you that I settled right into this atmosphere quite well! My friends told me that the food was good and I quite enjoyed my fish & chips, a large serving that was very filling. Their tartar sauce is not the usual glop you get at restaurants, I actually ate this stuff with my fish - and I don't like tartar sauce usually. Not sure what they add to it, but it was yum! I also tried the yam fries (a friend's favourite) and found them to be quite tasty and perfectly crisp. Our server was very friendly and the wait for food was not long at all. It's always nice to have a server that's in a good mood in an environment like this one. I also quite enjoyed the background music (Celtic/Irish & Maritime style), but that could be because I hadn't heard this style in quite some time - you know what they like in Calgary! I was very pleased with my visit here and left still in awe of the changes inside. Even if you never went to The Mercury, I can still guarantee that you will find the decor amazing. My only wish is that I could have come here on a busier night to see it really come alive, next visit to Halifax for sure! read more

We are from Calif and visited in Oct 2015 and had a fabulous time! Our bartender was Melanie "Red" and she was absolutely amazing!! Lots of fun and the beer and food were great! would highly recommend! Hope to get back some day!! read more

I would sum up Durty Nelly's in two words: Plastic Paddy. Don't get me wrong: I understand the owners spent a great deal of money fixing the place up to look like some of the prototypical pubs of Ireland, and it shows: the place looks great. The problem is, it's just a little too shiny for an Irish pub. I expect an Irish pub to look like people have been smoking and spilling Guinness on the floor for the last 200 years, and this just ain't it. So as great as it looks, it just doesn't have that authentic Irish pub feel. The beer selection also doesn't wow me: it's heavy on the Molson product, with most of the Irish standards, but pretty light on Microbrews. The food is decent, but, in my view, overpriced for pub fare, especially compared to some of the better pubs in the city. Service can be a bit slow and a bit arbitrary (you can end up waiting a bit while others who arrived after you get served). Nonetheless, it seems to have attracted a loyal following, as it has been busy if not packed every time I've been in. It tends to attract a more mature crowd (I'd say the 25 to 35 age range) than some of the downtown bars. And they are usually in a mood to have a few drinks and a good time. Sometimes a little too much of a good time: if you are averse to having a bit of beer spilled on you, DN may not be your hang out. I will say this: they have nice washrooms. I love the TV's and the high tech hand dryers. DN is generally not my cup of tea. However, those who like it, as they say, seem to like it allot. read more

Durty Nelly's is an extraordinary place with an authentic Irish air. Upon my visit, the pints were poured to perfection. Also, you cannot help but notice the different, albeit subtle themes in each section of the pub. Finally, atop the great music, was the great food. As a committed vegetarian, I enjoyed a real, vegetable burger, not one of those frozen retreads that most restaurants slap onto a menu and then charge $10+. At Durty Nelly's you could see and taste the care that was taken in putting together my menu item. I will definitely be returning in the near future. Almost forgot -- the service -- they welcome you "home," upon entering, and are (despite a busy pub environment) extremely attentive to your needs. read more

This is my favorite place in Halifax. The atmosphere is incredible. The decor was brought over from Ireland. It's about as authentic as you can get - right down to the folksy "Celtic" music they're always playing at a comfortable volume. Very easy to have a conversation with someone without having to struggle. Their outdoor patio is also wonderful as they're equipped it with heating lamps to ensure you don't get too cold! The service is excellent. Friendly and knowledgeable staff all around. I've never had a bad experience with the employees. I went frequently with my mother before she passed away, and afterward one of the waitress actually bought me a drink. It was something I appreciated very much and honestly won my loyalty. I try to bring all my friends here as often as possible. The food itself is perfect. My father is one of those ridiculously hard-to-please types and even he couldn't find anything wrong with it. There was one hiccup where the kitchen forgot to actually send the order out with the waitress and so it got cold - when he complained they actually offered to make him anything else on the menu, free of charge. The drinks are great and come quickly even when it's busy. My longest wait was maybe 20 minutes for my Lamb Stew, which is by far my favorite thing to order. I've tried just about everything on the menu and it's all fantastic. They even have soft pretzels and burgers if you're looking for something a little more traditionally Canadian. read more

Quiet Irish pub during the afternoon when we were in. Had their seafood chowder, had a bowl. If you plan on having anything else get the cup. It's very filling and served with a molasses bread. My friend and I sat at the bar for our small lunch. The bartender was friendly. There's a good selection of local beers and spirits. read more

Went out here for drinks with friends late one Friday night and was impressed by the festive atmosphere. There was live music and dancing and it was the kind of environment conducive to making new friends. The drinks weren't too expensive, and it didn't take too long at the bar to get served. I wouldn't mind going again at all. read more

Durty Nelly's - Late night - Irish Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Me and two of my friends went here last night for supper and a couple drinks. Wasnt very busy inside when we sat down but it slowly picked up and by the time we left it was crowded.Anyway we sat down and we were served by Kathy our waitress, very friendly and talked to us for a couple minutes. We all had burger and fries but we each got a different kind of burger, i had the Bigger Better Burger. Drinks came out as soon as we ordered them and food came out not long after we ordered that so the wait times were fine. The burger i had was massive and had alot of flavour, the fries were golden and tasted good. Overall a great experience and let me say this place has the best hand dryer i have ever used! Its a Dyson and you stick your hands down and it dries your hands in like ten seconds! Anyway i do recommend this place and the reason its not a perfect five out of five is because the burger was very good but not the best iv had. Still you should try the burger. Thanks for reading. read more

Enjoyed lunch at Durty Nelly's today. I had the ploughman's lunch, my husband had the Durty Nelly burger (with extras) and my friend had the BBQ steak pizza with Caesar salad. Mine was very tasty with a nice selection of greens, cheese and tasty ham. The whole wheat scone was delicious! The burger with the wedge fries were very good (according to reports from my husband). My friend really enjoyed the pizza and salad and was happily surprised that the salad had real bacon (unfortunately not all restaurants do). We all had coffee which was regular quality. Service was fine, a slight delay when getting our bill but nothing really to complain. All in all a fine establishment for a pub style restaurant. The menu is not pages and pages but honestly do we need a novel to select a lunch? read more

I used to be a huge fan of Durty Nelly's, the service is awesome (especially Kathy, with a 'K') the beer is great, atmosphere is good.. but they recently changed thier menu... gone is what in my opinion was one of the best burgers in the city, the "Whisky Smokehouse Burger", replaced with a dry, somewhat tasteless (when you scrape the overly sweet "bacon" jam off it) whisky burger. Gone are the hand made, crispy onion rings that garnished it... and the fry portion was cut in half (not necessarily a bad thing, but fries are cheap). Other dishes have gone as well and the replacements are sub par. The prices for the oris4 strew have increased... come on? Very disappointed. The only reason for 3 stars is service, beer and atmosphere.. Though, for the love of His Noodliness, enough of The Rankins. read more

Durty Nelly's - The new burger.. dry.. bun falls apart.. and rather revolting "bacon" jam. Bring back the "Whisky Smokehouse Burger"!!! - Irish Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Not great. I had the Smoke Burger with fries. It was $14 + tax and tip, and not worth it. The burger was topped with smoked cheddar and "crispy" onions. I couldn't taste the cheese, and the onions weren't crispy. The beef patty itself was overcooked and tough. The fries were chewy, not crispy. Overall, perhaps standard fare for a pub, but it could be much, much better. read more

I went here on a whim with my boyfriend for the first time, and I am definitely in the middle on this place. I loved the environment it was so fun and lively and the inside of the restaurant is beautiful. Although it was busy I expected the service to be a little better, the waitress was very nice but she got my whole order wrong. I asked for a rickards red and got a rickards white. I ordered the chicken sandwhich and asked for no tomatoes, and there were tomatoes on it.. I also asked for any kind of spicy sauce on the side and there was no sauce on the side. The waitress also did not come back to check on us so I wasn't able to get any sauce. The food was also mediocre, the chicken has so much fat on it i had to pick it off and the fries were alright as well. Honestly if the chicken had been all white and shaved of the fat I would have really enjoyed the food. My boyfriend got the fish and chips and seemed pretty satisfied, overall it was alright but hopefully my next visit will be better because I really enjoyed the environment. read more

Don't know why it took so long for me to try this place. Hands down one of the best pubs in Halifax. Great food, great service, great atmosphere & great beer selection. read more

Durty Nelly's - Beef short ribs - Irish Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

See all

Great service. Nice draughts. Excellent live music. A fantastic Irish pub. Great vibe inside. Didn't eat any food

I went to Durty Nelly's tonight and I have to say the service was amazing. I sat down and within minutes I had a beer in my hand, the server was amazing. Next, I had ordered the roasted chicken salad and overall I thought it was ok, the chicken was rather plain but the rest of the salad was good. read more

This appears to be a popular spot and one that everyone congregates to (I ate there Thursday night, Friday afternoon, and ended the evening Friday night). The food is good, but pricey. However I think every restaurant down Argyle Street is going to be expensive. On Thursday I had the fish chowder (this is a must) and a cheesesteak (made with lamb instead of beef). Not too bad. Friday I had the Irish Poutine. This plate was edible but not the best. However, they don't serve you a lot and it comes in a large bowl. Looks can be deceiving. It really filled me up. Made with gnocchi instead of fries. Both nights we sat and had a few beers. Sat on the patio the first night. The waitress was super nice and easy to tease with. Really good at taking and dishing out jokes. Friday night we sat inside to eat late in the afternoon and then came back in the evening for drinks. A large crowd was in there Friday night. Both nights they had live music playing which started around ten pm. Thursday was a folk/bluegrass/traditional style music. Friday night a different band played cover songs. All in all, this was a good place to go. read more

See all

Hands down the best fish and chips I have ever had!!! Great services and awesome location!!! Too bad its unhealthy to eat fish and chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner ;) ALSO atmosphere of the pub was awesome, music and people were great!! read more

Booked a space for 30 at Durty Nelly's on very short notice. Despite the limited time-frame, the management and wait staff welcome us with open arms. The catered "pub grub" (sweet potato fries, regular fries nachos, spinach & artichoke dip, fried chick bites, calamari) was VERY tasty and the perfect size for our group. The personal faves of the group -- nachos, calamari, and dip!!! Manager Paul was kind, attentive, and generally awesome as was our server Kyle. In my short time in Halifax, I've been impressed with hospitality at hotels, bars, and restaurants. The people at Durty Nelly's knock it out of the park! read more

As good as Irish Pub's get! First off, I would love to give this place a few less stars but not for good reasons. I lived up top of this Pub while it was being constructed for nine months. Trying to sleep while someone is drilling below your bed at 7am is not something I would recommend to anyone. After they were finished I was expecting a thank you note from the owner to everyone on our floor or at least a free meal. Nothing. Later on, I sucked it up, let it go and went to this Pub. I still have some "not so good" feelings about the lack of consideration they showed me, but I was honestly blown away by their food and their environment. This Pub is beautiful on the inside! Their staff are very fast and friendly and their food along with pricing is perfect! Durty Nelly's is on one of the busiest and most competitive streets in Halifax, Argyle street. I think they knew that competition was high and that they would have to ensure they had a beautiful, unique restaurant that was competitive with the rest of the pricing and food quality on the street. And they did. Big time! It wasn't soon after they opened that they had special events and performer's come in and entertain live for the customer's. Once again they are batting at one hundred as their shows are top notch! As I've mentioned before, I'd love to find fault because this restaurant caused me to lose nine months or so of sleep without apologies. But strictly as a restaurant reviewer, this place is one of the best in Halifax. If you want some of the best, authentic, Irish Pub food in the city, head to Durty Nelly's! read more

Do they know they spelled dirty wrong? Just wondering. I've really enjoyed the couple times I've been here. I find it a great place to kick back with a beer and friends and just chill out. I haven't actually tried anything from the menu, but I'm sure I'll eventually snack on something. We usually just go here for drinks for a bit. I enjoy the pub very much. I think it's pretty interesting inside and has some really great people in it. It's pretty huge with a lot of seating, so, more often than not, you're going to be able to find a table in here. I didn't realize that everything was handmade in Ireland, but that makes it all the more unique. Whenever we're in the area we like to stop by for a beer or two... or three. read more

I generally find the food quite good and the staff to be friendly but it can be a madhouse on a Friday afternoon. This is a testament to the place and what they have done with what was a dreadful bar before they took over and renovated. Pour a good pint of Guinness and I like their build your own caesar idea they do for brunch. My one comment on the decor is their claim to fame is that the bar was built in Ireland and shipped over so it's supposed to be "authentic". Having been to Ireland (and please don't take this as pretentious) there is nothing authentically irish about this place other than the beer and the Irish dude who works (or worked) there. It its your typical North American Irish pub but its a fun place with good food so thats why the 4 stars...just don't travel here thinking that it's like pubs are in Ireland. read more

It was an interesting experience. the decor was cool and it was classy all around.. it took an ok amount of time for our orders. I got a small caesar salad and a glass of Coke/Pepsi...now the caeser and it's dressing was rather bitter, the leaves had brown bits on it and the croutons were not that good, not crunchy but rather stale and not in a good way. I tried some fries from my friend's plate and the fries were...meh ok...and had a piece of the 3 types of cheese which was ok. What really erks me is my bill coming to 8.65 FOR A SMALL CAESER AND A COKE/PEPSI. Thats a bit huge in my books espically the quality of it...nope, not coming back, paid to try and now good bye read more

Atmosphere = 1/1 star. Warm inviting wood décor made the venue a comfortable place to spend some time. The music was some great soft/classic rock, can't go wrong with van Morrison. The place is also generally noisy but it's a pub. Service (1/2 stars) The waitress was very polite but not knowledgeable enough of the menu. There was also a significant wait time based on the amount of people in the restaurant. One star was lost here for not having a dessert after we ordered it (tell us you don't have it before we order it! Food (1/2 stars) Outside of the traditional pub food everything else seems to be a let down. For example the Beat salad has about 1/4 of a bit sliced as thin as paper, served over a bunch of salad mix with a lump of cheese thrown on top. The clubhouse falls to pieces when you eat it but tastes good. Main Enjoyment: The atmosphere. But I go to a restaurant mainly for the food. Main Complaint: The banana split... their homemade ice cream is full of ice crystals (similar to a jumbo freezie) and melts in a madder of seconds. Then there is a large additional amount of liquid cream and whip cream poured on top to make the ice cream melt even faster. The banana was soggy and nasty. It made me sick. read more

We has Jezus Murphy draft, the Braised beef gnocchi dish and rosemary fries. The beef dish was a a little on the small side we didn't have much beef and the gnocchi could definitely use a bit more seasoning. With that said I would give it a solid 3.5/5. The fries were wonderful, a little greasy but good 4.5/5. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and of course the beer was wonderful ! read more

See all

It was a cold, rainy day in June, so we were looking for a pub that conveyed a sense of warmth, and, without the help of Yelp (no internet) we came upon Durty Nelly's, and in spite of them not posting a menu, we went in, because we were looking for chowder, and they had a small sign claiming their chowder is award winning. Well, this was not false advertising. I clearly am a tourist, and have no reference point , but the chowder was the best I ever had. The scallops were huge and plentiful, as were the rest of the seafood in it. Perfect consistency. The beers on tap, and Bourbons were plentiful. read more

A fun place to stop in and eat on Argyle. We've never missed getting and outside table, although we go early (before 6 PM). The atmosphere is fun, did I say that? The service is very friendly and helpful. Lots of beer choices. The food could be pubby and bad but it isn't. She had quesadilla and chicken. I had fish and chips and nachos, wings - all good. We've been there twice this summer and would not think twice about stopping in again. read more

Great pub food! Went there for a late lunch early dinner with my 10 yr old and he loved it...food came fast...a must stop if you are in the downtown core read more

Durty Nelly's - Cesear salad, pulled pork sliders, fish bites and wings...amazing - Irish Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Real nice bar build out but food isn't as nice. Over priced for sure. I bought the chicken fingers and was surprised when I had to pay more more just to get some fries with it. Really added up and wasn't worth the 20$ for pub food. Staff was very friendly and place was clean enough. read more

Brilliant Service and ambiance! Great selection of local beer and ciders along with tasty food. I had the Irish breakfast at brunch and returned for dinner and highly recommend the seafood chowder! Fun pub quiz too! read more