Emma WhiteOne of the best things about living in Ottawa is it has plenty of grocery stores in every corner of the city. Whether you’re looking for organic groceries, some unique Asian finds, or just affordable good-quality food, there’s a grocery store waiting for you.
With so many options to choose from, finding one that will suit your needs can be pretty overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you navigate through the aisles and find your ultimate grocery haven!
Costco Wholesale
Location: 1405 Blair Towers Place, Ottawa, ON K1J 1A5, Canada
Website: https://www.costco.ca/warehouse-locations/gloucester-ON-1362.html
Contact details: 613 691 7607
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Costco isn’t only one of the best grocery stores in the United States; it’s also one of the best in Canada. As the world’s third largest retailer, you really can’t expect anything less when grocery shopping in this store.
As long as you’re a Costco member, you can enjoy all of their wholesale grocery products and exclusive discounts. The store has everything you’ll need to fill your pantry and kitchen, from fresh meat and produce to fresh deli and bakery.
The mega retail chain has about 40 stores in Ontario, some of which are spread throughout Ottawa. There’s one in Blair Towers, one in Merivale, one in Silver Seven, one in Strandherd, and one in Cyrville.
| Pro Tip: The store is always busy, and finding a parking spot can take time and effort. Go on a weekday to avoid the crowd, or head over to the business centre in Cyrville, as it’s relatively less busy during weekends. |
Loblaws Baseline Road
Location: College Square Mall, 1980 Baseline Rd, Ottawa, ON K2C 0C6, Canada
Website: https://www.loblaws.ca/store-locator/details/1050
Contact details: 613 723 3200
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
It’s hard to talk about grocery stores without bringing up Loblaws. It’s a very familiar grocery store to Canadians and is the country’s largest food distributor.
The store is a one-stop shop, not just for your grocery needs but also for other errands. It has a mobile shop, a flower shop, a medical clinic, an optical shop, and a pharmacy ready to service whatever Ottawa locals may need during their visit.
Loblaws’ groceries include both domestic and international products, ensuring you have everything you’ll need. Whether you’re looking for deli, bakery products, prepared meals, frozen goods, dairy, or fresh produce, Loblaws has it all.
| Pro Tip: Students get a point incentive every Tuesday, so it’s best to do your groceries around that time. The points you earn can be deducted from your grocery purchases. |
Real Canadian Superstore
Location: 190 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Z 6W6, Canada
Website: https://www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca/store-locator/details/1009
Contact details: 613 722 5890
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Real Canadian Superstore has been helping Canadians with their grocery needs since 1979, making it one of the most trusted grocery stores in the country. Often called Superstore, this grocery store has over a hundred stores nationwide.
The store offers a range of fresh produce, meals to go, meats, dairy, frozen food, canned goods, snacks, and more. There’s also a huge pharmacy and a dry cleaning shop indoors, perfect for those running other errands.
The best part about Real Canadian Superstore is that they actually do price matching, so you can get products at a cheaper price. Just show the cashiers proof that you found the product cheaper at their competitor’s store.
| Pro Tip: Download the Flipp app, as it will help you find the best deals around you. The app has a collection of digital flyers from various stores, and the cashiers accept them as proof of price matching. |
Farm Boy
Location: Ottawa Train Yards, 830 Belfast Rd, Ottawa, ON K1G 0Z4, Canada
Website: https://www.farmboy.ca/stores/train-yards/
Contact details: +1 613 288 0616
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
For the freshest and highest quality fresh vegetables and fruits, Farm Boy is your best choice. Although their price point is slightly higher than other grocery chains in the city, you’ll find their fresh produce lasting a bit longer than others.
In addition to the common goods you’ll find in a grocery store, Farm Boy also carries loads of local Ontario products, like artisan cheese and freshly prepared foods. They also have lots of vegan fresh foods and hormone-free, organic meats.
Farm Boy also has its own line of products. Many of these products, such as sausages, soups, and burgers, are made from scratch with no preservatives or chemicals.
| Pro Tip: The Train Yards location has loads of organic produce, perfect for those who love organic food. That said, be prepared for long lines during weekends because it can get very busy. |
Whole Foods
Location: 951 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W7, Canada
Website: https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lansdownepark
Contact details: +1 613 565 7150
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Another American grocery store that’s well-loved in Ottawa (and the whole of Canada, to be honest) is Whole Foods. Its Ottawa location, though not as big as the ones in Vancouver, offers an extensive inventory enough to get a loyal customer base.
Among the best parts of this grocery store is its huge natural health section. Their selection of organic food and ingredients is one of the widest in the entire city, so many health-conscious residents flock to this store.
Whole Foods’ ready-to-eat meals are also relatively healthier than other grocery stores, making them popular despite their higher price point. This particular location has a salad bar perfect for those who want some tasty and healthy hot food.
| Pro Tip: If you’re bringing a car with you, park underground! Parking there is free for the first 1 hour and 30 minutes as long as you get your parking ticket validated at the counter after checking out. |
Your Independent Grocer
Location: 296 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1X8, Canada
Website: https://www.yourindependentgrocer.ca/store-locator/details/2691
Contact details: 613 234 8692
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Contrary to its name, Your Independent Grocer is actually not an independent grocery store but a chain. It has various locations around Ottawa, including one in Riverside, Alta Vista, St Laurent, and Montreal.
Massine’s, located on Bank Street, offers top-notch bakery products, high-quality fresh produce and meats, a well-stacked wine rack, and so much more. It also has a decent-sized pharmacy for those who want to fill their prescriptions while shopping.
The prices are a bit high, though, since it’s located downtown. Look out for their weekly sales, though, because they put a lot of their items on sale, and if you’re lucky, you can score huge deals.
| Pro Tip: If you want to avoid the crowd, come in the afternoon or early evening. It’s usually busy in the morning because a lot of people downtown visit to do their own groceries. |
Produce Depot
– From ale_pelo_mundo
Location: 1855 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 1E4, Canada
Website: https://producedepot.ca/
Contact details: 613 722 6106, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Produce Depot is the ultimate destination for those looking for affordable yet good-quality fruits and vegetables. It has two locations in Ottawa, but the one on Carling Avenue typically offers a wider selection and better prices.
Their fresh produce section has almost every fruit and vegetable you can think of, from common produce like apples, lemons, oranges, bananas, and mangoes to hard-to-find ones like chickpeas, breadfruit and jicama.
Aside from its fresh and quality fruits and vegetables, it also has a butcher shop with equally good meats, a cheese and dairy section filled with reasonably priced items, and a bakery with delicious and affordable baked goods.
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a gift, Produce Depot has fruit baskets, vegetable trays, and cheese platters. Although a bit more expensive than their other fresh produce, they’re already packed, so you can just gift them with little to no effort. |
T&T Supermarket
Location: 224 Hunt Club Rd Unit A, Ottawa, ON K1V 1C1, Canada
Website: https://www.tntsupermarket.com/
Contact details: 613 731 8113
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Another mega Canadian supermarket Chain, T&T Supermarket, is one of the best Asian grocery stores in Canada. Its Ottawa location is packed with all the Asian products you’ll need for your Asian recipes, may it be a gimbap or a hot pot.
You’ll mostly find packaged goods, baked goods, prepared meals, and snacks from China, Japan, and Korea here. It also has a hot food section serving delicious and affordable Asian cuisines for shoppers who need a recharge.
Aside from these, T&T’s fresh produce section also has lots of Asian fruits, like durian, sugar apple, and dragon fruit. And if you’re preparing a seafood dinner, they have live crabs, lobsters, and fish that you can buy.
| Pro Tip: T&T’s website also serves as an online shop for those who can’t go directly to the store. You can order your groceries there and have them delivered directly to your home. |
FreshCo Ottawa
Location: Findlay Creek Centre, 4750 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1T 0K8, Canada
Website: https://freshco.com/
Contact details: 613 822 4549
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
FresCo is one of the best grocery stores to visit for those on a tight budget. Known for its “Fresher, Cheaper” slogan, this discount supermarket offers many of its products at a much lower price than all the other big grocery stores in the city.
If you found an item cheaper at its competitor, just tell the counter and show proof. They’ll gladly match the price, living up to the “Cheaper Guaranteed” posters you see all over the grocery store.
Even with low prices, FreshCo doesn’t fall behind its competitors when it comes to the quality of its products. In fact, some items are subject to a 14-day double fresh guarantee, meaning they’ll replace the item and refund you if it goes bad.
| Pro Tip: If they run out of stock of an advertised item in a current flyer, ask the staff about it. They’ll give you a rain check and an additional 10% off the item once they have it. |
Herb & Spice Food & Wellness Shop
– From centretownottawa
Location: 375 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1Y2, Canada
Website: https://www.herbandspiceshop.com/
Contact details: 613 232 4087, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Last but definitely not least is Herb & Spice Food & Wellness Shop, one of the go-to grocery stores for downtown residents. Offering a range of spices you can’t find elsewhere, this grocery store will help you prepare the most flavourful food ever!
The store’s food section features a huge stock of fresh produce, herbs, spices, frozen foods, meat, fish, and baking supplies. It even has a range of products for those looking for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free ingredients.
As if that weren’t enough to attract loyal customers, the store also added a Wellness section. Here, you’ll find nutritional supplements, medicinal herbs, hygiene basics, hair care products, and a range of skincare products.
| Pro Tip: Post-secondary students get a 10% discount on certain items every Sunday, so make sure to bring your student ID to qualify! Seniors aged 65+ also get the same 10% discount on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. |
