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Coffee was great but something wrong with the chocolate croissant. It was too doughy too much chocolate, not crispy or light. I wonder if it's vegan because the buttery lightest that makes croissants so good was missing. Other croissants looked better. I'd give this place a second chance unfortunately I'm leaving the country!
This is a photo taken from the inside. During the summer months, the exterior walls open to the street, which makes for a great indoor/outdoor experience. Great place for a lunch meeting or a relaxing time drinking coffee alone and playing on your phone. It is 2022, right :) Great facility.
Just did a quick stop to grab a cappuccino. Local said the crossiant is good, but no appetite to have one. The cappuccino costed $3.50 and comes at about 6oz. No seating at all due to the pandemic. The service is about 5 mins for the drink to be ready. The drink is alright.
My cousin wasn't lying when she said Two If By Sea had the best croissants I would ever eat. THEY ARE SO DELICIOUS. We stopped for a grab-and-go breakfast before heading to the Ferry and waterfront to explore. The café is super cute. It's about a 3-5 minute walk to the ferry. There's plenty of seating on both floors, and the windows were completely open when we came because it was a beautiful breezy Thursday morning. There were people sippin' their coffee, doing work on their laptops before heading to work. We got the almond croissants which were warm, flakey and literally perfect. They have a almond cream filling with pieces of almonds inside the cream. Ugh. I literally was in heaven eating this croissant. The filling had the perfect amount of sweetness. I can't eat super sweet things, so this was perfect. FUN FACT: Two If By Sea won the gold award for "Best Cafe of Halifax" in 2016! This place is literally bomb!
G r e a t. Overall I thought Dartmouth was incredibly underwhelming, other than the view of Halifax... And this coffee shop and pizza place upstairs.
I think this may be the nicest coffee shop in Dartmouth. Located downtown Dartmouth, Two if by Sea has a modern feel to it. The space is small but open. The building itself is rather unique as well. Seating is limited but I managed to get a table which had a copy of the Metro and fresh flowers sitting on it. Both the girls working were nice. The menu is small as well, offering croissants (which are apparently delicious but not vegan) and coffee drinks, which I suppose that's all a coffee shop really needs. They do offer soy milk for drinks so that is a plus but do wish they would bring in at least one thing suitable for vegans to eat. On a solo visit it was not so bad but can't say it's really a place I'd wanna go with friends since it is so cramped and open aka not a good place for private conversations. Still, it's a nice little unique spot that is great for Dartmouth and my chai soy latte was delicious!
10/10/13 (according to my Excel spending spreadsheet). Stopped in Halifax as part of a 12-day roadtrip through Eastern Canada with folks met through a Craigslist ad. Then took the ferry to Dartmouth and walked here. As soon as I heard Against Me!'s New Wave album being played, I knew I was in love. I noticed all the dudes (yes, at the time it was all dudes working) were wearing black just like the guys in Against Me! usually do. Awesome. I got the Zane's Macchiato Special which contains a shot of espresso with a cup of macchiato. Perfect jolt in preparation for the long drive to North Sydney, Nova Scotia, then catching the Marine Atlantic ferry to Newfoundland. The guys who work there were friendly, willing to chat with us "foreigners," albeit I was really the only foreigner since I lived in the United States, the others were living in Montreal. If by some stroke of God, I'm back in Darthmouth, NS, I'll definitely stop by here again!
1) Hip, young, urban staff that seems to love what they do. 2) Croissants the size and weight of your head. Weekly special recipes. 3) Adding some major culture to the downtown Dartmouth scene. 4) Awesome prices on all drinks including great promotion days. 5) Did I mention the croissants?
I'm not sure there's anything I can add that hasn't already been said. But let me say this: if you still haven't experienced Two if By Sea Cafe, then get your butt on over to Dartmouth. You won't regret it. I was here the very first day this place opened. I had been looking forward to it for months, and was not disappointed. Co-owners Zane and Tara know their way around coffee and baking, respectively. They also know how to use social media and grow word of mouth. But most importantly they understand the value of community. Dartmouth has been experiencing a bit of a slow renaissance over the past 3 or 4 years, but TIBS kicked this renaissance into high gear when they arrived on the scene in the fall of 2009. TIBS participates in many community events. They have just started up a monthly TIBS Family Dinner in conjunction with a local chef. I had the pleasure of attending a one-woman play here during Nocturne. It was a wonderful experience to sit with friends enjoying beverages and mini-croissants (usually only available at special events), while watching a performance unfold at the next table. Zane makes the best cappucino I've ever had. If he's not working, the cappucinos are still excellent, but missing a little something something. I also enjoy the cafe lattes. The pain au chocolate will send you into another world. The almond croissants are delicious, but be forewarned - they are very sugary. I can munch on one of their giant cookies for days. I've had some amazing croissants of the week specials. My favourite is made with apple, cheddar, bacon and green onion. Mmmm. I wish the specials were available on weekends. I used to drive from Burnside on my lunch hour sometimes to pick up one of these babies, but now that I work in Halifax I'm too far away. It is ALWAYS busy at TIBS, but it doesn't usually take long to find a table. However, if you have your heart set on a croissant, make sure you go early. They usually run out by afternoon. I've heard about varying levels of service, but I don't believe I've ever had anything but great service. Maybe a little rushed at times, at worst. In fact on my second visit, Zane remembered my drink order, and also recognized me from Twitter. He responded to a concern I had posted previously about opening on Sundays (they used to close on Sundays at the time). I'm a huge TIBS fan. And now I want a cappucino...
Don't believe the hype. Anyone who has had a real croissant would not refer to those heavy, fatty pastries as croissants. I had the almond croissant and it was like a rock in my stomach for the rest of the day. Very little flakiness. The chai latte was adequate. Nice atmosphere.
For me TIBS is definitely the place to get my croissant fix. Look out for the specials like the olive croissant. Sadly, they don't make it as often. It is pricey, but for a once-in-a-while sinful and buttery indulgence, its definitely worth the price. My favourite is always the savoury types rather the sweet ones. Try the one with prosciutto if you're like me. If all those doesn't delight you than just go for the original flavoured. Thankfully they've opened a branch in Halifax, so you don't have to go all the way to Dartmouth when you have the urge to eat great croissant. The good part is, the quality is just the same. Staff are as friendly as ever - except at times when they are busy, so its understood that they'd probably won't pay much attention but, heck! you are there for the croissant, so put up with it :)
I've only been here once, but I was attracted to it by its uber popular reputation. I'm a bit torn, I want to love it; they have a great menu, the croissants are to die for! Seriously Delicious! But, I found the atmosphere less then enjoyable. The server was either having a really bad day or hates her job. She wasn't very kind or helpful; and when we asked what kind of croissants they had left, she kind of snapped. It was also very loud inside; there were a few families in there with children. It isn't a very big space, so it kind of made it a little uncomfortable. I'd deffinately go back! But, what I'd suggest if you go to TIBS is to take your beverage and treats to go!
Busy place. Smells great in here. Staff were fine. Place is very clean. I got a kids chai as it was a better size and price for me - very good. Nephews loved it. We also tried the Cheddar onion and chocolate pistachio scones. Cheddar one was 10/10 very good. Chocolate pistachio one was just not as good - not as moist, not as flavorful. Lots of other super tasty looking baked goods here as well. Lots of dine-in tables. 2 single-person gender neutral bathrooms. read more
3 months ago
Highly recommend the chocolate croissant. We went there specifically to try this at the restaurant. Everyone is friendly. They have lots of options to choose from, including the Moonmist croissant and almond croissant. The cafe was closed, but the pizza place upstairs ends up serving the baked goods and pizza upstairs. It was a very chill atmosphere with a few tables and clean. Definitely recommend if you want to try an amazing croissants. read more
3 years ago
Coffee was great but something wrong with the chocolate croissant. It was too doughy too much chocolate, not crispy or light. I wonder if it's vegan because the buttery lightest that makes croissants so good was missing. Other croissants looked better. I'd give this place a second chance unfortunately I'm leaving the country! read more
4 years ago
This is a photo taken from the inside. During the summer months, the exterior walls open to the street, which makes for a great indoor/outdoor experience. Great place for a lunch meeting or a relaxing time drinking coffee alone and playing on your phone. It is 2022, right :) Great facility. read more
Just did a quick stop to grab a cappuccino. Local said the crossiant is good, but no appetite to have one. The cappuccino costed $3.50 and comes at about 6oz. No seating at all due to the pandemic. The service is about 5 mins for the drink to be ready. The drink is alright. read more
My cousin wasn't lying when she said Two If By Sea had the best croissants I would ever eat. THEY ARE SO DELICIOUS. We stopped for a grab-and-go breakfast before heading to the Ferry and waterfront to explore. The café is super cute. It's about a 3-5 minute walk to the ferry. There's plenty of seating on both floors, and the windows were completely open when we came because it was a beautiful breezy Thursday morning. There were people sippin' their coffee, doing work on their laptops before heading to work. We got the almond croissants which were warm, flakey and literally perfect. They have a almond cream filling with pieces of almonds inside the cream. Ugh. I literally was in heaven eating this croissant. The filling had the perfect amount of sweetness. I can't eat super sweet things, so this was perfect. FUN FACT: Two If By Sea won the gold award for "Best Cafe of Halifax" in 2016! This place is literally bomb! read more
3 years ago
The croissants were delicious! They were huge, completely filled and we're heavy. They were crispy and chewy at the same time. The building has lots of natural lightning, they also have outdoor seating. The interior gives off an industrial vibe. read more
I think this may be the nicest coffee shop in Dartmouth. Located downtown Dartmouth, Two if by Sea has a modern feel to it. The space is small but open. The building itself is rather unique as well. Seating is limited but I managed to get a table which had a copy of the Metro and fresh flowers sitting on it. Both the girls working were nice. The menu is small as well, offering croissants (which are apparently delicious but not vegan) and coffee drinks, which I suppose that's all a coffee shop really needs. They do offer soy milk for drinks so that is a plus but do wish they would bring in at least one thing suitable for vegans to eat. On a solo visit it was not so bad but can't say it's really a place I'd wanna go with friends since it is so cramped and open aka not a good place for private conversations. Still, it's a nice little unique spot that is great for Dartmouth and my chai soy latte was delicious! read more
10/10/13 (according to my Excel spending spreadsheet). Stopped in Halifax as part of a 12-day roadtrip through Eastern Canada with folks met through a Craigslist ad. Then took the ferry to Dartmouth and walked here. As soon as I heard Against Me!'s New Wave album being played, I knew I was in love. I noticed all the dudes (yes, at the time it was all dudes working) were wearing black just like the guys in Against Me! usually do. Awesome. I got the Zane's Macchiato Special which contains a shot of espresso with a cup of macchiato. Perfect jolt in preparation for the long drive to North Sydney, Nova Scotia, then catching the Marine Atlantic ferry to Newfoundland. The guys who work there were friendly, willing to chat with us "foreigners," albeit I was really the only foreigner since I lived in the United States, the others were living in Montreal. If by some stroke of God, I'm back in Darthmouth, NS, I'll definitely stop by here again! read more
3 years ago
1) Hip, young, urban staff that seems to love what they do. 2) Croissants the size and weight of your head. Weekly special recipes. 3) Adding some major culture to the downtown Dartmouth scene. 4) Awesome prices on all drinks including great promotion days. 5) Did I mention the croissants? read more
16 years ago
I'm not sure there's anything I can add that hasn't already been said. But let me say this: if you still haven't experienced Two if By Sea Cafe, then get your butt on over to Dartmouth. You won't regret it. I was here the very first day this place opened. I had been looking forward to it for months, and was not disappointed. Co-owners Zane and Tara know their way around coffee and baking, respectively. They also know how to use social media and grow word of mouth. But most importantly they understand the value of community. Dartmouth has been experiencing a bit of a slow renaissance over the past 3 or 4 years, but TIBS kicked this renaissance into high gear when they arrived on the scene in the fall of 2009. TIBS participates in many community events. They have just started up a monthly TIBS Family Dinner in conjunction with a local chef. I had the pleasure of attending a one-woman play here during Nocturne. It was a wonderful experience to sit with friends enjoying beverages and mini-croissants (usually only available at special events), while watching a performance unfold at the next table. Zane makes the best cappucino I've ever had. If he's not working, the cappucinos are still excellent, but missing a little something something. I also enjoy the cafe lattes. The pain au chocolate will send you into another world. The almond croissants are delicious, but be forewarned - they are very sugary. I can munch on one of their giant cookies for days. I've had some amazing croissants of the week specials. My favourite is made with apple, cheddar, bacon and green onion. Mmmm. I wish the specials were available on weekends. I used to drive from Burnside on my lunch hour sometimes to pick up one of these babies, but now that I work in Halifax I'm too far away. It is ALWAYS busy at TIBS, but it doesn't usually take long to find a table. However, if you have your heart set on a croissant, make sure you go early. They usually run out by afternoon. I've heard about varying levels of service, but I don't believe I've ever had anything but great service. Maybe a little rushed at times, at worst. In fact on my second visit, Zane remembered my drink order, and also recognized me from Twitter. He responded to a concern I had posted previously about opening on Sundays (they used to close on Sundays at the time). I'm a huge TIBS fan. And now I want a cappucino... read more
4 years ago
16 years ago
Don't believe the hype. Anyone who has had a real croissant would not refer to those heavy, fatty pastries as croissants. I had the almond croissant and it was like a rock in my stomach for the rest of the day. Very little flakiness. The chai latte was adequate. Nice atmosphere. read more
For me TIBS is definitely the place to get my croissant fix. Look out for the specials like the olive croissant. Sadly, they don't make it as often. It is pricey, but for a once-in-a-while sinful and buttery indulgence, its definitely worth the price. My favourite is always the savoury types rather the sweet ones. Try the one with prosciutto if you're like me. If all those doesn't delight you than just go for the original flavoured. Thankfully they've opened a branch in Halifax, so you don't have to go all the way to Dartmouth when you have the urge to eat great croissant. The good part is, the quality is just the same. Staff are as friendly as ever - except at times when they are busy, so its understood that they'd probably won't pay much attention but, heck! you are there for the croissant, so put up with it :) read more
I've only been here once, but I was attracted to it by its uber popular reputation. I'm a bit torn, I want to love it; they have a great menu, the croissants are to die for! Seriously Delicious! But, I found the atmosphere less then enjoyable. The server was either having a really bad day or hates her job. She wasn't very kind or helpful; and when we asked what kind of croissants they had left, she kind of snapped. It was also very loud inside; there were a few families in there with children. It isn't a very big space, so it kind of made it a little uncomfortable. I'd deffinately go back! But, what I'd suggest if you go to TIBS is to take your beverage and treats to go! read more
16 years ago
Since I reside on the Halifax side of the harbour I hadn't been to this little gem until just recently. Well lemme-tell-you-sumfin... it is worth the ferry/bus/car/walk/run trip over the bridge across the harbour. And when I read a profile on the restaurant in The Coast that said the owner "created a training regime---complete with a manual of sorts---a six-week to two-month process that teaches the new barista about coffee, milk and lattes before they even talk to customers, a training completed with a series of tests." ... well it was like this cafe was going right for my heart. As someone who slung coffee through university, and kind of considers herself a coffee snob. There is nothing more satisfying than a skim latte made by someone who knows what they're doing. I did have concerns when I saw the size of the cookie. My first reaction was "how do they get it to cook all the way through"... well I think my suspicions were right because mine wasn't cooked all the way through... in fact the middle of mine was mostly batter... it was good but I kept thinking about the raw eggs that were most likely in the recipe. But who knows, maybe that was a one-off. The chocolate croissant - however- was life-changing. DE-LISH! read more
7 years ago
Eight of us stopped in and had muffins and croissants and coffee. It was really, really good. The provolone and prosciutto croissant was especially tasty. read more
14 years ago
Thumbs up: - serious espresso coffees - great spot - nice little terrasse - good atmosphere - delicious muffins (their croissants are way too big for me! ;) Thumbs down: - On busy hours, you may not find a place to sit. :\ I love the Two if By Sea! If you feel like enjoying a delicious cup of coffee, sit back and relax, it definitely worth a try! Enjoy! read more
17 years ago
I love this place even more now that i've had a few more chances to try it out! Two If By Sea is tied for me with Smiling Goat for the best espresso style coffee in the HRM. These guys get extra points for being a tad cheaper though as well. I like everything about this store from the muffins you can see baking away in the background to the green ivy plant in the bathroom. Having the baking take place in plain sight lets people know 'yeah, it's pretty cool- we bake everything here,' without requiring a sign/poster to indicate the fact. I highly recommend the chai latte. This puppy comes with cinnamon and a beautiful foam design on top and tastes absolutely phenomenal. Cute little: I (heart) Dartmouth pins too. Great spot! read more
14 years ago
If you're looking for a spot where everybody knows your name, Two if By Sea (TIBS if you're in the "regulars" circle) is the place to go. True to Nova Scotian culture, the people are friendly -- both the staff and the customers. It can get crowded during early/mid-morning and tough to find a place to sit, but I've never had a problem finding at least one or two spots open. The staff gets to know you if you go in regularly enough, which is pretty cool. They have that hipster style, but it's not annoying because most (except one particular barista) sport it with a smile and friendly conversation. The one particular barista... I figure she's either just a true hipster who can't smile, or perpetually unaware how awesome her coworkers are. Too bad for her; everyone else always seems to be in a good mood and she doesn't dampen the spirit there. I'm sure she's a nice girl on the inside. The mocha is amazing, as is the hot chocolate. And if you are dying for a pastry, this is your place. Tara, the co-owner and baker, does NOT skimp in giving you more than a mouthful. The croissants, for example, often last me for two or three meals and the cookies are massive! The big, chewy cookies that would make Cookie Monster faint from the sheer size. The atmosphere is less polished, which I like. Customers have the option of bussing their own dishes (which is appreciated, I'm sure) but the staff does keep the place sparkling. The place is filled with wooden tables and chairs and the menu is written out on a giant chalkboard, which hangs over the open kitchen. Great music plays unobtrusively in the background and the place hums with conversation. Free wifi here as well, and the place is open late for a coffee shop (at least in my experience in the States): 6pm read more
14 years ago
Amazing coffee? Check Cookies the size of your head? Check Croissants that could feed a family of five? Double check One of my favourite places in Dartmouth. TIBS knows coffee and they deliver every time. Their staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Croissants are both sweet and savory. All are delicious. If you want to take it up a notch, check out one of the TIBS dinners. Chef Renee Lavallee cooks up a storm, you supply your own libations, TIBS coffee and dessert. It's a great way to spend an evening. Hop the ferry back to Halifax and you have a date night for the books. read more
11 years ago
I have been to this location a few times and have never been disappointed with it. The coffee is always fresh and they have a lovely assortment of baked goods (both basic and decedent) also all made fresh daily. They also carry, what I assume to be, there own brand of take-home coffee (Anchored Coffee) They are huge supporters of local fair, and it really shows how much pride they have for there location ( I Dartmouth T-shirts for purchase are a great touch!) Its a coffee house on the smaller end, and is almost always busy so finding a place to sit can sometimes be difficult, but they do have a few bigger tables that actually almost force you to be pushed outside your comfort zone, and sit with strangers. Its refreshing because there aren't many opportunities to have social contact like that. Its always a treat to visit! Good job Staff and owners for making another little nook of Dartmouth so good! read more
6 years ago
I'm a dartmouth gal who has been living all over the place lately (vancouver for the last year, england coming up next), so I don't usually know when awesome new spots open up in little ol' Dartmouth. One place I have heard alot of buzz about was 'Two if By Sea', so I knew it was a must-do on this visit back to NS. People: It was the best chocolate croissant I've ever had. In my life. Hands down. Not kidding. Never disappointed by the coffee (they use 49th parallel from Vancouver, which is awesome). Friendly staff, cute decor, free wifi. What more could you want? This little gem was a much, much needed addition to the dartmouth side of the bridge. I LOVE it here. read more
I can't believe I haven't written a review for Two if By Sea yet. It is my coffee stop on Dartmouth bike trips. They have a bit of bike parking out front, sadly not enough, but there are always light posts to lock your bike to around the corner. This place is known for its croissants, super fatty and fantastically delicious. My absolute fav is the prosciutto and cheese croissant. To die for! If croissants are not your thing they also have the biggest cookies in town, a variety of flavours, but my guilty pleasure is the chocolate chip cookies. Yum! The coffee is also pretty great, roasted on-site, and they have a good selection of specialty drinks and of course "I Love Dartmouth" t-shirts. Take a trip on the ferry, go for a walk along the waterfront and add some indulgence to your day by stopping at Two if By Sea. read more
TIBS was the first real Cafe I've ever stepped foot inside and I loved it as soon as I entered. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. I was amazed by the size of their cookies and even more so by the price of them. 2.25 for a massive, soft, and delicious cookie, so I bought both chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. Along with the two cookies I ordered a soy cappuccino and found it had a lot more taste than my usual Starbucks soy cappuccino and I was really satisfied. Since my first visit I've been there a few more times and ordered other beverages that I wanted to try like a macchiato, and a dirty chai latte which was recommended by one of the Barista's. The Dartmouth location is really close to where I work so I often go there for a drink and sometimes a baked good after work to take home and enjoy. If your ever in the area and want a nice warm place to sit and chat or even just to grab a real coffee, head over to TIBS and enjoy. read more
16 years ago
This resplendent downtown Dartmouth noshery and java joint is as promising as it is immediately fulfilling, providing a space for worlds to collide and indulge in formidable cafe offerings. I have been on the cusp of heading into this relatively new cafe on a number of occasions, but today, finally sealed the deal and jointly my fate as a lover of this wonderful coffee house. Stepping in, the lofty space was abuzz with neighbors chatting, sipping joe, and pouring over newspapers and novels. My eyes were stolen by a display ledge, offering a variety of fresh, in house made croissants, along with muffins and coffee. I was greeted by a sweet, brown haired beauty who told me about the pastries as we chatted about Dartmouth. Their "I Love Dartmouth" pins and shirts are a great reflection of this cafe's desire to truly foster and reside within a strong community on "the other side of the bridge." I ordered the Popeye croissant, loaded with provolone, olives and oregano, along with a 10oz soy latte. Andrew opted for an Americano, and after multiple nibbles of my croissant, ordered one for himself. Buttery, rich, salty and decadent - this croissant was the creme de la creme when it comes to plump, succulent pastries! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, completed with wooden tables and a simplistic approach to decorating. The windows give the cafe a spacious and luminous glow, allowing patrons a connectivity to the surrounding community, with the F.O.O.D. soup kitchen almost directly across the way. I am so happy to have been able to spend an hour at this independent cafe today. The creators of Two If By Sea should be proud of their fresh business, benefiting from youthful energy and a perspicuous approach. read more
14 years ago
13 years ago
Pros: -Croissants the size of a small child. -Watching Hipsters and Soccer Moms vie for seating. -Friendly staff, very knowledgeable in the caffeinated beverage arts. -Not Tim Horton's -Weekly specials. Cons: -Dependant on your time of visit, seating can be an issue. -Squatters (see seating issues). -Limited parking. -Having to choose between the Prosciutto & cheese or Pain Au Chocolate croissant. -Becoming addicted to croissants. -Finding a support group for croissant addiction in HRM. read more
7 years ago
14 years ago
I absolutely love this place! I don't live in Dartmouth anymore, but I make a point to stop here every time I'm in the city. All the drinks are wonderful and the baked goods are to die for! It always smells absolutely amazing and makes my mouth start to water. I've been to a lot of coffee shops and this is by far my favourite! =) read more
9 years ago
9 years ago
8 years ago
Simply put this place was amazing. The latte was scrumptious. Puts those chains to shame. The almond croissant was the best I've ever had. It was kind of stuffed with delicious almond sweet stuff. It was not too overpowering with Sugar (I'm not a big sweets person) but was so much more than just a croissant. If I lived here I would go every day read more
9 years ago
9 years ago
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