Red Shoe Pub

Live Cape Breton music seven nights a week in Mabou, owned by the Rankin Sisters. The Red Shoe is the spiritual home of Cape Breton fiddle — a small, packed room where the players are world-class and the audience knows when to stop talking.

What to expect

• A snug pub with low ceilings and tables tight to the music
• Top Cape Breton fiddlers, pipers, and Celtic players nightly
• Pub menu of well-executed Maritime classics
• Step dancers in the aisles when a tune calls for it

Don't miss

• A Wednesday or weekend session — known nights for big names
• The seafood chowder and the lobster roll
• A pint of Big Spruce or Route 19 with the music

Good to know

• Cover charge for evening music; cash or card on the door
• Get there early — the room fills fast in summer
• Family-friendly during early sets
• Closed for parts of winter; check ahead

Pair it with

• A whisky tour at Glenora Distillery up the road
• A stay at Duncreigan Country Inn around the corner
• A round at Cabot Cape Breton in Inverness