Ottawa's retail personality lives away from the Parliament sightlines: 1924 market canopies in Hintonburg, Canadian-only makers' shelves on Wellington West, and dealer booths stacked with point blankets and Expo 67 ephemera. Three days of markets, boutiques and souvenirs worth carrying home.
Ottawa's oldest continuously running farmers' market, open under its steel canopies at Parkdale and Wellington since 1924. Roughly 40 vendors sell Ontario produce, maple syrup, honey and cut flowers daily from about 7:00 to 18:00.
A Wellington West shop at 987 Wellington that stocks only Canadian-made goods — walnut cutting boards, Ottawa-poured candles, ceramics, leather and wool from roughly 250 makers. Open Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sunday 11:00-17:00.
Held in and around the 1898 Aberdeen Pavilion, this producer-only market gathers more than 100 Ontario farmers, cheesemakers and bakers every Sunday 9:00-15:00, moving fully indoors from November through April.
The Ottawa Art Gallery's ground-floor shop at 10 Daly Avenue sells prints, jewellery, small ceramics and textiles by Ottawa and Outaouais artists. The building is free to enter and stays open late on Thursday evenings.
Ten blocks of Richmond Road mixing independent labels with outdoor gear: the MEC flagship at 366 Richmond, Bushtukah for Canadian-built canoes and packs, Sassy Bead Co and a run of consignment boutiques. Doors open 10:00-18:00.
Canada's first pedestrian-only shopping street, closed to cars since 1967, runs four heritage blocks one street back from Parliament. Expect maple and flag souvenir shops, tailors and lunch counters; it is quietest at weekends when the civil service is off.
Ottawa's downtown mall packs about 180 stores across three levels at 50 Rideau Street, including Hudson's Bay with its striped point blankets, Simons and Nordstrom Rack. Open Mon-Sat 10:00-21:00, Sunday 11:00-18:00.
Bank Street between the Queensway and Lansdowne is the city's most walkable independent run — Mrs. Tiggy Winkle's toy store, The Papery for stationery, bookshops and a dense row of cafes. Most retail closes by 18:00 on weekdays.
Across the river at 100 Laurier Street in Gatineau, Quebec, this shop is the region's most reliable source of authenticated Indigenous art: Inuit soapstone carvings with igloo tags, Northwest Coast prints and beadwork. Open 9:30-17:00.
Ottawa's nightlife strip in daylight: Sugar Mountain at 286 Elgin for bulk retro candy sold by weight, Perfect Books at 258 Elgin for Canadian fiction and local history, plus small gift and gear shops across three compact blocks.
Two floors of dealer booths at 1179 Bank Street in Old Ottawa South, heavy on Canadiana — Hudson's Bay blankets, Quebec pine furniture, vintage RCMP badges and Expo 67 ephemera. Open Wednesday to Sunday, roughly 10:00-17:00.
The Royal Arch on Somerset Street West opens a strip of Asian groceries and housewares: Kowloon Market for produce, Vietnamese and Chinese bakeries, and shops selling cleavers, clay pots and loose tea. Many doors stay open until 20:00.