MacDonald House Lawrencetown beach cafe & Crafts

4144 Lawrencetown Rd, Lawrencetown, NS B2Z 1R1, Canada
+1 902-247-5297
$$$ Art cafe
(52 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

MacDonald House Lawrencetown Beach Cafe & Crafts is a cozy, art-focused café tucked into a charming character home just off Lawrencetown Road, with an atmosphere that feels both homey and creatively inspired. It’s the kind of place where locals and visitors alike come not only for a cup of coffee but also to browse through a curated collection of handmade pottery, vintage clothing, and unique art pieces that fill the upstairs boutique. The café’s overlooking a small point by the backyard, offering views of surfers on the waves—a quiet but lively spot where the rhythm of ocean life subtly blends into the café’s pace.

The menu here is modest, featuring simple, homemade fare like paninis, grilled cheese sandwiches, and a rotating selection of comforting soups—one visitor even raved about their cream of mushroom soup enough to take some home frozen for the trip. Coffee offerings lean toward the classic and well-crafted: cappuccinos, lattes, and americanos that suit both early morning caffeine runs and slow afternoon breaks. Because the kitchen has a limited menu and items can sell out, it’s a place you visit partly for the experience—the vibe and the setting—as much as for the food.

Visitors typically drop by after local outings, such as trips to nearby wildlife or beach adventures, appreciating the relaxed space for casual meals or a quick coffee in the sun. The café is often busy, a sign it’s becoming a favored stop among locals who value supporting neighborhood businesses. The friendly interaction with the owner and staff adds to the welcoming and personal feel of the place.

For those who enjoy small, thoughtful local shopping experiences as part of their outing, the adjacent crafts and vintage clothing area upstairs offers a variety of reasonably priced finds—from Nova Scotia pottery to fine art prints and secondhand threads. It’s an inviting combination of a small-town café and lifestyle spot that rewards visitors with more than just food and drink.

Overall, MacDonald House Lawrencetown Beach Cafe & Crafts suits anyone looking for a laid-back place to pause during a day out around Lawrencetown, whether you’re after a warming soup, a good coffee with sea views, or browsing unique local crafts. Sunny afternoons are especially pleasant here, when you can enjoy the calm of the backyard perch and watch surfers catch waves nearby.

Highlights
Great coffee
Great tea selection
Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Solo dining
What they serve
Coffee
Quick bite
Best for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dessert
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Parking
Free of charge street parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Tuesday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Wednesday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Thursday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Friday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Saturday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Sunday

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

52 Reviews
Janelle Hickey

02 Jan 2026

The food is homemade and DELICIOUS. Hands down the best scones I’ve ever tasted. The real star of the building is upstairs in the joint pottery/used clothing/vintage goods shop. Very reasonably priced treasures to be found up there!

Amy

24 Dec 2025

This place is so special. The menu at the café is limited and they frequently run out of stuff, but the location is so beautiful that it's just a treat to go.

Meagan Schmitz

16 Dec 2025

What a cute little place! We stopped here on our way back from Hope for Wildlife. Lots of local handmade art and thrift clothing in a super cool character home. Atmosphere is great and we had the cream of mushroom soup - it was to DIE for. I loved it so much that I bought a frozen container of the soup and made a stop to buy ice packs and a cooler so I could take it back home with me on the plane.

David Macdonald

18 Nov 2025

Dropped in today to check this place out. Very nice spot. Met the owner and had a great chat. Been under new ownership for 4 to 5 months now and a lot of positive changes. Busy spot, so word must be getting out. Wonderful coffee and great offering of sweets. Nice seating area with an amazing view. Looking forward to going back soon. Great to have a local business and see it supported. Highly recommended.

Don Kane

19 Oct 2025

Great craft shop. Good selection of used clothes. Fine art prints. Great NS pottery. Wonderful place to shop for that "great gift idea notion"! Small local food outlet and sandwich shop. Backyard point of land overlooks the surfers sliding across waves. Calm relaxing place to have a family picnic.

Les D

11 Oct 2025

My favorite coffee shop in the city! Where eles can you get a great hot beverage and enjoy it over looking the ocean. You can also walk out back along a trail overlooking the ocean and watch surfers while enjoying your beverage.

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