... memories …read more... When I lived and worked throughout Canada's Atlantic Provinces, Ottawa was almost like a second home to me during the 70's and 80's. I travelled / stayed there often, via business, and even more so for pleasure stays. I chose to stay at hotels offering rooms with kitchenettes. Which allowed me the option to shop during walks and stays, and dine back at my hotel. The Byward Market area was one of my favourite spots to walkabout, browse, and shop. And especially so during the summer and fall months, when it was so alive with street venders, and others featuring locally-grown fresh fruits and veggies. It was a good while ago, but a standout for me during these stays was a fish/seafood shop. I used to purchase squid there. Then on the way back to the hotel, catch a bottle of white wine, and some butter. Cooking the squid back at the hotel was fun, and made for several very fragrant, tasty, and much-enjoyed meals. Street vendor selections of farm-fresh offerings of fruits and veggies, were a delight to see during summer and early-fall stays. Their products not only contributed to meals, were often purchased and enjoyed 'in hand' and enjoyed during walkabouts. And before I forget, so were the several tasty 'beavertails' enjoyed, at any time of year, from a bakery there. (previously reviewed) My visits to the Byward Market, and area, were via day time browsing and shopping walkabouts. They were fun, interesting, and much-enjoyed.

This area of the city is a popular destination that you must see for sight seeing in Ottawa…read more There's a lot to see and do down here, and more Restaurants than you can possibly eat at in a month of Sundays! They also host special events down here. Certain streets are pedestrian only, where you will find crafters and fruit/vegetable vendors, people who sell honey and maple syrup, Beavertails, and seasonal items all sold at booths on the streets. This visit, I found a rare treasure: a bracelet with my name on it!! The Byward Market is coming up to a remarkable anniversary: in 2026, it will be 200 years old!! Found this snippet on the internet: "The ByWard Market is where Ottawa was born. Established by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal; Lt-Col. By himself laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George and York Streets to be extra wide to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages that brought foodstuffs to the market every day." We seem to gravitate there at least once a year in the warmer months. It's also a terrific area for people watching!!

This establishment has always played apart of my life here as a Ottawan, and I am a colossal…read moredevotee to the fairview malls. Since the closure of the nearby Rideau street McDonalds, there has been fewer suspicious activity around, which is a shame as I enjoyed the entertainment. Whats a nice day at the mall without someone pulling a racoon out of their coat? Regardless, they have a New York Fries, which automatically gives it much more value. Always nicely decorated as well. Beware of the first floor as some report getting asked odd questions by even odder individuals.

Oh gosh this mall was exhausting ! The amount of people I felt like I was in a movie. Non stop…read moreyelling and running around was wild. They did have a lot of stores but it was way to much we left. The outlets was wayyyyyy better

I ventured over to Ottawa Trainyards to check it out. I didn't really need anything, but I did get…read moresome cool items. While waiting for the traffic lights to change, I liked seeing a store directory. I came here without any knowledge of the stores here. I liked coming here to figure it out. The Trainyards is like Heartland Town Centre in Mississauga. It is a bunch of stores that cover a lot of land. Think of it as a neighbourhood of stores. You have to strategically figure out where to park and walk to the stores that are around you. During my visit, I parked a grand total of three times. I stopped by Michaels and got some good items that were on sale. I was a happy shopper! I then parked in front of the Gap outlet. I also visited Old Navy and Sail that were on either side of the store. I then decided to drive and check out what other stores were there. I spotted Kettleman's Bagel Co. and parked to have lunch. The selection of stores is cool. If you are more of a mall shopper, this setup may not be for you. If you do like box stores, you'd like it here. My only problem I had was dealing with a woman in a minivan who was waiting for me to leave my spot to pull through. She actually honked at me. I didn't appreciate it and gave her a signal to say that I was staying. I was pulling up my GPS and I was under no obligation to move out of a parking spot to convenience an impatient idiot. (289)

Hey! This is a big mall! Way bigger and better than I remembered it. I guess it's been a while…read more.. and about time we came back! There's a Kettleman's Bagel shop here; wish we had one in Kanata / Stittsville! The mall was big enough to be inviting to return. We will definitely come back! And I will update this review when we do.

Nice selection of thrift store clothing that is in good shape. I think they are selective about…read morewhat they accept. I find the quality and prices very good AND it's a registered charity; part of the Big Sisters/Brothers organization so proceeds are going to an excellent cause. They now have a small housewares section but don't have room for big items like furniture. I do make sure this place is on my list when I'm on the hunt for something. Ample free parking and close to other shopping on Merivale.

Thrive Select Thrift Store is a thrift store that sells clothing and accessories, and 100% of their…read moreprofits go to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ottawa. I like that the impacts of donations and purchases stay local. And organizations that help kids always have my support. The clothing at Thrive appears to be geared towards youth and so skews on the younger side, in my opinion. The racks are filled with brands like Old Navy, Garage, and Ardene. Prices are cheaper than places like Value Village. They had some new items like Funko Pops and Squishmallows, while I was there, but I guess these depend on donations, perhaps these were from a business (?) They also had some used video games and controllers. They also have (new) Big Brothers and Big Sisters merchandise. Staff are friendly. I believe that many of them are volunteers. They are located in the Emerald Plaza. Lots of free parking in the plaza.

Went to Tanger Outlets Ottawa and honestly had a really good time…read more There's a ton of stores and I actually found stuff here I couldn't find online or at regular locations which surprised me. The deals were really good too Old Navy was solid as usual and even Lululemon had that 2 for $100 leggings thing. They have QR codes everywhere so you can just scan and join their rewards/app on the spot and get coupons while you shop which is kinda nice, didn't feel complicated. The vibe was cute too there's like a fire pit in the middle (even though it was sunny lol), music playing, and I swear I smelled mini donuts at one point with some bangers playing lol Also random tip but if you're signed up with Lindt you can get free chocolate bag for your birthday (and like up to 30 days after). Only thing is the food area is super small, like a couple spots, so don't expect a full food court. But honestly you won't really care because there's a lot to walk through. Would go back for sure.

Good selection of stores here. I am not a huge shopper unless I need something so I always go with…read morea purpose. The food court has 4 places to eat... nothing for me tho. Japanese, Subway, Greek... nah but the washrooms inside there are handy and clean. The stores I would normally go are Bath and Body Works for foaming soap and hand sanitizer.. love their candles too. Van Houte maybe for a rare treat. Tommy Hillfiger but nothing fits right as I have an athletic build so... I just look. I love Softmoc, I do have too many shoes and boots but that's allowed! My ultimate spot there is Chilly Chiles as I love hot food/sauces and the staff there are great. I love the kitchen store too but I have wayyyyy too much of that stuff as I love to cook and already have fancy glasses. Mid week is best to go for service and parking - weekends, I avoid.

Mall security is great for protecting our privacy from people live-streaming which is against…read morepolicy, it's good to know that security is on top of things as this woman on a mobility scooter has been making shoppers and staff uncomfortable. She is very reckless on that scooter and is not mindful of others even outside in the parking lots, foot paths, and on the road too.

I love bayshore and shop there often, but there was this hair product salon station in…read moreparticular..this guy kept promoting it, it's the KK salon by cole's. He pulled us over and used me as an example after I said no anyway, like 2-3 times. Used my mother and sister as examples like we were dolls and didn't even fix her hair, the serum totally messed up my hair and my curls fell. Only reason it's bumped down to 3 stars. Do not recommend the KK hair products, mad expensive. $50 for hair serum!?!?!? He attemped to push my mom, who could NOT get it, and pushed more eventually gave up and gave dirty looks. Other stores are great, found the book I was looking for at Cole's too.

Such a cool store! I'm so happy I randomly walked in. I found so many unique items and discovered a…read morelot of amazing local Canadian brands. It's a great place for gifts or for finding a little piece of Ottawa to bring home

Great store with a wonderful selection of Clothing and all kinds of hidden treasures, many locally…read morehandmade. The knowledgeable staff are friendly and helpful without being overbearing. Take your time while shopping so you don't miss laugh out loud moments as you look at the many cards, stickers, magnets and patches. A store worthy of the time to enjoy. I always look forward to stopping at Milk when I'm in the Byward Market.

It's a huge mall with lots of stores, something for everyone. The prices and deals were good …read more There are cafes / hot and cold drinks /smoothies/pastries. There are banks in the mall too. Also the mega bus has a drop off and pick up from here which is good Fr passengers . Sport chek is the best way out fr passengers taking the mega bus .

This is not a bad mall (I give it a 3.5)…read more What I like: The huge Toys R Us on site. They have activities set up for the kids on the weekend which is a bonus. The food court is not bad either. They have quiet a few different options like Burrito Gringo, Taco bell/KFC, Tim Hortons, ect. They also have some food options on the first floor like Kernels, Cinnabon and Purdy's where you can get scoops of ice cream. The light rail also connects to this mall which is nice. What I find this mall lacks: Clothing stores like H&M, and Zara, and a Sephora would be nice. I find they have an outdated selection of stores and I would love to see new ones pop up. Parking is parking, its never fun during busy holiday times, and it can get a bit messy here (nothing compares to parking at Bayshore though, lol). I don't come here to drop a pretty penny, more so just to walk around and hit up some of the food options and Toys R Us when I am trying to kill some time.

We stumbled into this unique candle shop after a disappointing visit to a nearby spa on our…read morehoneymoon. We were looking for eucalyptus candles to try to create our own spa in our hotel as the spa nearby was full of spring breakers. We had a lovely chat with the shop owner who helped us pick out some lovely candles and then recommended a quiet spa not too far away. Because of this awesome shop owner we were able to have our spa honeymoon after all! We love our candles from this shop and highly recommend stopping by!

From the owner: Located in Old Chelsea, Quebec, Bougie Doozy Candle in just minutes from Ottawa, Ontario.By using…read moreonly the highest quality food-grade paraffin wax, dyes and leadfree wicks, combined with our unique three-day production process, we ensure you'll get the brightest colours, most intriguing patterns, and the longest burning life possible. As the candle burns, the glowing effect intensifies and the colours become more prominent. The shell outlives the original wick by several times, and while larger Doozy's may be refilled and re-wicked in our atelier, Doozy Candles retain their functionality as a votive candle holder, vase or decorative container.Our candles are made for people who burn candles regularly. People who appreciates old fashioned craftsmanship. A piece of wax art that creates an ambiance like nothing else! Once you burn Doozy, you will not want to burn other candles! Prized for their artistic and aesthetic value, every Doozy Candle is truly unique- no two are alike.

College Square is an acceptable outdoor mall/plaza. It's shaped like a square so you can walk…read morearound the perimeter and get to every store. The anchor store is Loblaws, which is quite large with a good Joe Fresh (clothing) selection. There is also a medical clinic in the Loblaws. There's an LCBO and Rexall Pharmacy here. The retail stores are Aldo, Le Chateau, Addition Elle, Reitman's, Bath and Body Works, Carter's Osh Kosh, Dynamite, Femme Carriere, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger and New Balance. The Aldo and Le Chateau are outlets, so they have stuff from past seasons. The Femme Carriere here has a large clearance section. There's a Chatters here too (hair salon that sells salon products). And a BMO, a computer store called NCIX, and a Roger's Video. The only real restaurant here is Chances R. For food though there's a Timothy's Coffee and an Extreme Pita as well. There's a long lane way (next to Loblaws) that connects the square to another area like an annex of sorts. This other area has a Home Depot (with a Harvey's inside), Pizza Pizza, McDonald's, Tim Horton's and Subway. I go here sometimes mostly to check out the Femme Carriere clearance section and the Le Chateau outlet.

This is a fairly large mall, and quite handy for the neighbourhood. It's especially handy for…read moreanyone working or studying at Algonquin College across the street. In the years I have been coming here, there have not been a lot of good restaurants to choose from in this plaza: "Chances R" has been there only for ever! But more recently, a snazzy new Kettleman's Bagel, and a Popeye's have also opened up.These last two are not sit-down-get-service types of restaurants, but they are still popular. There's also a Tim Horton's nearby. The fact that there are so many take-away restaurants that succeed in this mall says a lot about the clientele here. Loblaws is indeed the anchor store (as Jennifer P noted). I have been frequenting their take out prepared foods counter, and I'm pleased to see the variety of take out dishes that are ready for you, such as: fresh prepared sushi, various salads: vegetables and / or potato, as well as macaroni salad. Loblaws also provides the chain store standard of a whole prepared chicken for about $8.00 (this is usually too much for me to eat alone, just before going to class!) This mall is sort of a big box store mall, a bit like an outlet mall - although I'm not convinced that the prices are any better than anywhere else. However, there is a good selection of stores here. Lots of clothing and shoe stores. It would seem that we as Canadians really enjoy our coffee, as this mall also has a Timothy's, and across the street at the college, there's a Starbucks in the Commons building. I can attest that the parking lot at College Square is pretty much always full! So, do drive carefully.