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Like any modern city, it’s hard to go anywhere in Ottawa without coming across shops of all kinds. There are the corner convenience stores on almost every corner, it seems.
But when it comes to “the heck with the credit card limit, full speed ahead” type shopping, Ottawa has it’s share of locations as well.
Ottawa has the mega malls, and the little bit eccentric regional shopping areas within the confines of the city. Here, we’ll investigate both.
While all of the larger malls in Ottawa have somewhat similar “brand” stores, which means that Ottawans know pretty much what the major retail outlets in a particular mall will be before they go, a visitor to Ottawa, particularly when coming from afar, will find these shops unique to their experience.
Rideau Centre
The first stop on our shopping tour of Ottawa is the Rideau Centre, and that only because it’s closest to the Parliament Buildings. |
It’s just one block down the street from them, actually.
The Rideau Centre boasts about 180 stores in an enclosed, air controlled, visitor-comfortable environment.
Get completely attired, have your hair coiffed, purchase almost anything electrical, visit a host of restaurants, take in a movie, the list of things to do goes on and on.
One of the greatest attractions of the Rideau Centre is it’s location. Just steps east from Parliament Hill, near the Byward Market and bordered on the west by the picturesque Rideau Canal; it’s a shopping and sightseeing centre all in one! Click here for some in-mall specials at the Rideau Centre!
Want to know the store hours? Where to park? What bus to take? Check with the Rideau Centre web site.
Byward Market
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If you are looking for one of those slightly eccentric, regional shopping areas in Ottawa, it’s hard to beat the Byward Market.
Shopping, eating, wandering, people watching, it’s all at the Byward Market. I’ve written about it extensively on All-about-Ottawa.com, and you can get more information here.
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Bank Street Promenade
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Just a couple of blocks west of Parliament on Wellington Street, you will arrive at Bank Street. Turn left (or south) on Bank, and you are on the Bank Street Promenade.
The Promenade is outdoors, running from Wellington Street in the north to about Gladstone Street in the south, and offers the visitor over 500 shops to suit almost any shopping taste. The Bank Street Promenade stretches over 15 city blocks.
If you relish a really great cup of coffee, on the corner of Bank St. and Albert St. in the Promenade is the Bridgehead Coffee House, offering excellent free-trade coffee’s from around the world, lunch and dinner snacks, and just about the nicest servers you’ll find in Ottawa. One of them is my daughter! We like Bridgehead as, along with some really fine coffee, these good folks have helped put two of our children through University by having them on staff.
If you are planning a visit to the Bank Street Promenade in June or August, their Sidewalk Sales are Ottawa’s largest and longest running.
Please click the link for more information on The Bank Street Promenade.
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Sparks Street Mall
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A couple of blocks down Bank Street from Wellington, as you walk into the heartland of the Promenade, you will cross Sparks Street. Look to your left and right. No traffic – zip, none for four city blocks.
Wander down the sidewalks or down the middle of the street. No cars, no trucks, no noise (except for fellow visitors, bands, music from the shops, etc.) virtually no vehicular pollution; a wanderer’s delight taking in the sites and sounds of the Sparks Street Mall, and just steps away from Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings.
The Mall offers a variety of activities for the visitor’s enjoyment; buskers, cook offs, bands, fine dining, walking distance from many fine local Ottawa Hotels, Parliament, The National Arts Centre, the Canal, and much, much more.
Here’s the Sparks Street Mall web site.
Want more information about shopping in Ottawa? Just click here!
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