Emma WhiteWhether you’re a stressed adult in need of retail therapy, a teen looking for a hangout space, or a tourist trying to get an impression of the city, shopping malls are safe bets that won’t ever let you down.
And in Ottawa, we take our shopping malls seriously. Think gigantic malls with hundreds of stores, massive food courts with diverse cuisines, and even colleges in the middle of a mall!
If you’re thinking of exploring Ottawa’s retail scene, here are the best malls around the city that will surely give you an epic shopping spree!
CF Rideau Centre
Location: 50 Rideau Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J7, Canada
Website: https://shops.cadillacfairview.com/property/cf-rideau-centre
Contact details: +1 613 236 6565
Operating hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Starting off the list is the National Capital Region’s largest mall, CF Rideau Centre. From the most popular clothing and jewellery choices to trendy tech toys, this mall can satisfy whatever splurging desire its over 20 million annual visitors may need!
CF Rideau Centre has about 180 spread across three floors, ranging from personal care to home care items. Aesop, Apple, Bailey Nelson, Lego, Bentley, Lacoste, Swarovski, and Swatch are only a few of the shops you can see here.
But that’s not all. The mall also boasts a massive food court with endless options for your taste buds. From delicious Thai dishes to mouthwatering Greek cuisine, you can easily turn your shopping trip into a full-blown food adventure!
| Pro Tip: To avoid paying parking fees, consider using public transportation to get here! The mall is highly accessible to buses and trains with bus shelters on both sides and an O-Train access underground. |
Bayshore Shopping Centre
Location: 100 Bayshore Dr, Ottawa, ON K2B 8C1, Canada
Website: https://bayshoreshoppingcentre.com/
Contact details: +1 613 829 7491
Operating hours:
Monday to Saturday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Spanning over 830,000 square feet and boasting over 190 stores, Bayshore Shopping Centre is one of the most popular malls in Ottawa. It’s the go-to mall for locals in the West, and even those downtown make the drive just to hang out here.
With the hottest brands, like Sephora, Apple, Steve Madden, Lululemon, MAC, Torrid, and Birks, all under one roof, it’s a shopaholic’s paradise. And if you want a break from all that retail therapy, there are spas where you can pamper yourself.
After its 2016 renovation, both the food court and parking deck were expanded. The food court now offers a more diverse range of restaurants, while the parking deck now has 4,000 free parking spots for customers to use.
| Pro Tip: Park on floor 2 or 4! These don’t have direct entrances to the mall, but going down one flight of stairs is more time-saving than trying to find a spot on floors 1, 3, and 5, which often get packed first. |
St. Laurent Shopping Centre
Location: 1200 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1K 3B8, Canada
Website: https://shopstlaurent.com/
Contact details: 613 745 6858
Operating hours:
Monday to Saturday: 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
St. Laurent Shopping Centre is another huge shopping mall in Ottawa, housing over 190 stores and services. It’s a one-stop mall that can help you get everything done, from retail errands to more practical tasks.
The mall is a bustling hub of activity, with numerous non-retail tenants taking up a large portion of its space. It has a tax consultant office, a law firm, a dry cleaning shop, a tailoring shop, a gym, a second-run theatre, and even a career college!
It also doesn’t fall behind its competitors when it comes to the retail scene. It houses brands like Bentley, Charm Diamond Centre, Griffin Jewellery, Hudson’s Bay, Pandora, Roots, iLahui, and so much more!
| Pro Tip: The mall’s website has a map, so it’s best to use that if it’s your first time visiting. The entrances can be confusing, and finding elevators and washrooms can be difficult. |
Place d’Orleans Shopping Centre
Location: 110 Place d’Orléans Dr, Orléans, ON K1C 2L9, Canada
Website: https://www.placedorleans.com/
Contact details: +1 613 824 9050
Operating hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Thursday and Friday: 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Established in 1979, Place d’Orleans Shopping Centre remains one of the top shopping malls in Ottawa. It’s a bit smaller than the first three malls on the list, but it still has an impressive area of over 740,000 square feet and over 130+ stores inside.
The mall is located in Orleans, but it has a bus station right next to its entrance and is easily accessible by bus or train. It also has about 3,800 complimentary parking stalls if you want to make the 17-minute drive from Ottawa.
It has almost everything you’ll need in a mall, from fashion brands to grocery stores. You can do groceries at Farm Boy or grab a cup of coffee at Tim Horton’s after going on a shopping spree at American Eagle Outfitters, Claire’s Edde Bauer, H&M, and more.
| Pro Tip: This mall is relatively calm and quiet compared to bigger ones in the city, so it’s perfect for those who want a relaxed shopping spree! |
Ottawa Train Yards
– From ottawalifeinmag
Location: 165 Trainyards Dr, Ottawa, ON K1G 6M8, Canada
Website: https://www.ottawatrainyards.com/
Contact details: +1 613 723 7490
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Located in the east end of the city, the Ottawa Train Yards is another must-visit shopping mall. Although there aren’t any trains here, you’ll find over 150 top-notch retailers, services, and restaurants catering to the diverse needs of its shoppers.
From household names like Walmart, Home Depot, and Canadian Tire to boutique shops offering unique and niche products, Ottawa Yards has something for everyone. And with regular sales and discounts, your wallet won’t feel the pinch either.
Other brands you can explore here include Skechers, Gap, Old Navy, Figaro, Marshall’s, SAIL, Roots, David’s Bridal, Ricki’s, Movati, and more. You’ll also find loads of food choices where you can refuel before continuing your shopping spree.
| Pro Tip: Try to get here as early as possible. The Train Yards get really busy, especially in the afternoon, so you might have a hard time navigating through the place or finding a spot to eat. |
Carlingwood Shopping Centre
Location: 2121 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 1H2, Canada
Website: https://carlingwood.com/
Contact details: 613 725 1551, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Thursday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday:10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Carlingwood Shopping Centre is a true trailblazer in the Ottawa shopping scene, having been around since the late ’50s. This mall features a diverse roster of national and local retailers, making it a go-to destination for shoppers in the Carlingwood neighbourhood.
Fashionistas will love Ardene, Cleo, Melanie Lyne, Ricki’s, Champs, and Coats Co.
Although its food selection isn’t as huge as its clothing selection, there are still tasty options, like Thai Express and Jimmy the Greek.
The best part about the mall is that it’s very accessible to people with mobility devices. With only one floor to explore, they can enjoy shopping without worrying about stairs or finding a working elevator.
| Pro Tip: The mall hosts various events every now and then, which they announce on their website. Some events they’ve hosted before include carnivals and photo ops with popular cartoon characters. |
Les Promenades Gatineau
Location: 1100 Bd Maloney O, Gatineau, QC J8T 6G3, Canada
Distance from Ottawa: 15 minutes
Website: http://www.lespromenades.com/
Contact details: +1 819 827 2020
Operating hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday and Friday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Les Promenades Gatineau, just 15 minutes away from Ottawa, is another must-visit mall for those who love going on retail therapy. It houses about 150 shops and services, ranging from clothing stores to government offices.
The mall is filled with known local brands and well-loved international retailers. Ardene, Bikini Village, Change Lingerie, Skechers, Urban Planet, Old Navy, Marie Claire, La Vie en Rose, and H&M are just a few of the many options for fashion lovers.
Les Promenades Gatineau also has a plethora of services to offer, such as Canada Revenue Agency, CBI Excellence Physio and Rehabilitation, Les Promenades Gatineau Dental Clinic, Econofitness, and plenty of hair salons for some self-care pampering.
| Pro Tip: Go over the mall’s map on their website before heading over to see which stores to go to first. This is a huge single-storey mall, so it’s essential that you get everything you need from one side before going to the other. It’s also easy to miss smaller shops. So if this is your first time, you’ll really need the help of a map or the staff. |
