If you’re an Ottawa native, chances are you already know the best places to shop in town. You can navigate Ottawa’s downtown like a professional and know all about the secret treasures nestled in the Byward Market and the Glebe. However, for new students coming from out of town, navigating Ottawa can get tricky and finding a good deal can be even harder. Shopping suddenly becomes an epic quest, especially if you have no idea where to look for things.
“Shopping for the first time in Ottawa was quite daunting, and my first experience of it was in the Rideau Centre, which is huge! I had to buy some necessities (a hairdryer to be precise) but I wasn’t sure which shops to go to because none of the shop brands were familiar to me, coming from the UK. On the plus side, there are so many more cool shops to explore, which is always fun!“- Jessica Doyle, Exchange Student
It would seem that whether you’re an international student or hail from a different Canadian city or small down, Ottawa shopping can be confusing. That is, until now. From one fashionista to another, I present to you the unofficial Companion Guide to Ottawa Shopping!
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Rideau Centre (50 Rideau Street)Travel Time: 5 min. walk (from uOttawa)
This will be your go-to shopping mall during your studies. It’s a short walk from campus and has all your essentials. Whether you’re planning to shop till you drop or have an impromptu shopping trip between classes, the Rideau Centre is the ideal destination for shopping. After its first wave of renovations, the Rideau Centre is quickly becoming a shopping oasis for tourists and fashionistas alike. Nordstrom opened earlier this year, and Simons, a popular Quebec department store, will be opening at the end of next summer.Shopping Hotspots: Forever 21, Lululemon, J. Crew, and Nordstrom
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Bayshore Shopping Centre (100 Bayshore Drive)Travel Time: 30-45 min. bus ride (Route 92, 96, or 97)  Â
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Bayshore may be the furthest mall from campus but it is also one of the best malls in the city. Why is this? Because it has the biggest H&M in Ottawa, that’s why. And that’s not all. A brand new Forever 21 opened last fall and it’s huge. Bayshore also offers all the retail store basics such as Payless, Winners and Homsense, Old Navy, Sephora, Gap, and Aritzia. Don’t let the distance intimidate you. Bayshore is everything you could want in a mall. It’s big, shiny, and up-to-date.Shopping Hotspots: H&M, Forever 21, Claire’s and Zara
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St. Laurent Centre (1200 St. Laurent Boulevard)Travel Time: 15-20 min. bus ride (Route 94, 95, or 96)
Last but not least we have the St. Laurent Centre. It’s a short ride from campus and a great place to do a little retail therapy. This mall not only offers a wide selection of stores including Bench, Lush, and Dynamite, but is also a nice alternative to the Rideau Centre.Shopping Hotspots: Roots, Aldo, and Joe Fresh
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Although Ottawa may seem a bit “daunting” at first, this small city has a lot to offer us fashionistas. The Urban Outfitters on Rideau Street and the Gap Factory Outlet store South Keys Shopping Plaza are just a couple other places to find some awesome deals. It’s one of the many beautiful things about living in the city: finding good stores and great stuff is easy. You just have to look in the right places.
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Are you planning a shopping excursion? Have you found a brag-worthy store in Ottawa? Tweet us @HCuOttawa or snap a picture and tag us on Instagram!
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