Main shopping promenades

The top spot for a shopping spree in Ottawa is Sussex Drive, where the Basilica of Notre Dame and the Royal Canadian Mint are also located. The street is lined with high-end fashion retailers and numerous galleries. On Sparks Street – which became North America’s first pedestrian zone in the early 1960s – there are more than 75 shops between Elgin Street and Lyon Street. Preston Street, a beautiful boulevard, is the heart of Ottawa’s Little Italy; the locals lovingly call it “Corso Italia.” Here you’ll find owner-operated boutiques, galleries, stores selling children’s clothing, toys and furniture, and top-notch Italian restaurants.

Markets

The lovingly restored market hall, Byward Market (byward-market.com), is home to one of Canada’s oldest markets. The stalls here sell fruit, vegetables, meat, cold cuts, cheese and flowers year round, and they’ve been doing so since 1826. Naturally, maple syrup and souvenirs are available here, as well. There are also countless bars and restaurants around the market hall. Every Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, you can buy fruit, vegetables, meat and cheese, baked goods, sweets, dairy products, plants and handicrafts at the farmer’s market in Lansdowne Park (900 Exhibition Way, Lansdowne Park, ottawafarmersmarket.ca/lansdowne-market). The market is held outdoors in the summer, and in the market hall in winter. Every Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm from June to October, the Main Farmer’s Market (201 Main Street) is held on the campus of St. Paul University. It’s a mini version of the Lansdowne Farmer’s Market, offering only locally grown and produced products – from homemade bread to natural bath additives.