6 Best Malls in Ottawa, Ontario for Shopping Food Movie Fun | Punnaka

best shopping malls in ottawa ontario

  • 2023-02-08 08:58

A Traveller Say: If You are here, Don't hesitate to drive to the Best Shopping Malls in Ottawa! 

You must have heard from people who have been to Canada, maybe for a vacation, education, or employment, that –

The Capital City, Ottawa, has much in stock! From the annual winter festival, Winterlude, to the Gothic-styled Connaught Building,

the Canadian Tulip Festival, the Canadian War Memorial, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Ottawa Little Theatre, and myriads more! 

That's right! 

But, 

Did you know of the best shopping malls in Ottawa – The one's whopping picturesque-styled urban aesthetics while offering a platform of extensive commercial activities? 

I, too, did not! But, once, in having a phonetic interaction with a traveler in Ottawa, I filled my knowledge gap! 

She was chilling there when I gave the call for one of our projects and was overwhelmed with the last evening's drive to some mall. 

She said, "If someone is in Ottawa anytime for a trip or temporary residence,

they must not miss a lot of things, you know, and not a short drive through the beautiful streets to the some of the popular plazas & malls;

I must say that even in the lifeless bricks & stones, there's a complete life hiding...if you are here, do not hesitate to drive to any of the malls in Ottawa!" 

 

An Overview of the City: 

Ottawa, the Capital City of Canada, sitting at the confluence of rivers Ottawa & Rideau, is indeed full of culture & commerce!

The city incorporates multiple Historic landmarks, performing art centers, sports grounds, libraries & schools, corporate offices, parks & recreational spots. 

Also, there lay fantastic destinations of regional cuisines, various streets, and neighborhoods hosting functions & festivals, leagues & contests for the communities! 

Altogether, Dynamic & Lively! 

On the other note,

Ottawa is a bilingual city, sheltering about 1,423,000 people as of 2022! With such a population density and growing lifestyle needs, it ought to give birth to comprehensive plazas & lifestyle destinations.

 

Presenting the Best Shopping Malls in Ottawa, Canada – 

  1. 1. CF Rideau Centre – Rideau Street, Ottawa. St. Laurent Centre – St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa. 
  2. 2. Bayshore Mall – Bayshore Drive, Ottawa. 
  3. 3. Place d'Orléans Mall – Place d'Orléans Drive, Ottawa. 
  4. 4. Billing Bridge Shopping Centre – Riverside Drive, Ottawa. 
  5. 5. Westgate Shopping Centre – Carling Avenue, Ottawa. 

The List of 6 Best Shopping Malls in Ottawa: Note Please! 

  1. 1. CF Rideau Centre

A Four-storey Shopping mall, having over 20 million visitors annually, CF Rideau Centre is one of the largest shopping malls in Ottawa.

Here, you can get the premier brands from across the globe organized systematically in one building only! 

The mall opened its doors for its visitors in 1983 & further expanded in 2013 to platform the latest-rising business endeavors;

altogether, sitting over an area of 1,545,113 square feet! Today, it houses about 180+ retail stores & professional services. 

Do you know all your aspirational luxuries, those that you have dreamt of for years & still do dream of, lay available therein? 

Yes. 

Clothes & jewelry, shoes & bags, sunglasses & prescribed optical, sports equipment, election gadgets & hardware, certified beauty products, books, gifts,

home decor & bedding, groceries & medicines, and anything & everything you need for your daily life lay in stock! 

Rideau Centre is an enclosed mall with a beautiful food court on the top floor –

A sitting arrangement for about 850 people & 16 eateries, lined up in queues throughout the space!

Wall hangings & ornamental fixtures alongside the ceiling-attached lighting set the mood for a perfect lunch or dinner with your family, friends, or date! 

Well,

There are a few exclusive restaurants on the other side of the food court, the fine-dine ones!

There also exists a roof-top park & patio in the mall where you can enjoy the warmth of nature with a cup of coffee in hand; from a cafe in the food court. 

And,

The smell from the is something you are indeed taking back home, trust me! 

Of course, also with a couple of pastries or cakes, if you want! 

But, 

Do you know how long you will spend wandering in the paradise shop? 

I suppose not! 

The moment you land, you are likely to get awestruck! A tall building with geometric patterns made in steel or glass,

romantic village-styled windows on one side, and a grand glasses triptych symbolizing the change of seasons. 

While you step in, the beautiful atrium with glasses guardrails & quartz flooring, elevators & starry light, portraits & plants catches your sight.

While wandering through the lawns, you may encounter the movie theatre; your favorite show is life in about 15 minutes.

You will not be able to miss it!

Location: 50 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9J7, Canada. 

Mall Timings: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm from Monday to Saturday and 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. 

Website: https://shops.cadillacfairview.com/property/cf-rideau-centre

Contact Details: 613-236-6565. 

Best For: Luxurious Shopping, Essential Shopping, Dining & Quick Bites, Cinemas & Entertainment. 

Nearby Shopping Mall: St. Laurent Shopping Centre, 6.1 km 

 

  1. 2. St. Laurent Centre

 

Another of the largest shopping malls in Ottawa is the St. Laurent Centre, reclining over 971,000 square feet!

This place is an enclosed shopping mall to simultaneously focuses on eco-stewardship, lifestyle trends, and customer value! 

It only had 50 stores when it first opened in 1967. In recent times, there exist 190+ stores & non-retail services

Two specialized colleges, a gym, dental care, a saloon & spa, insurance, travel booking, etc.,

altogether organized on three floors with beautiful ceiling-hanging lights. 

Yes. There is a lot! A second-run theatre; multiple food outlets & restaurants positioned at various angles in the cozy food court!

From burgers & sandwiches to classic Italian pizzas & pasta, Asian bowls to Mexican wraps, and English platters to diverse hot continental steaks & sizzlers, there isn't any such food you won't get at St. Laurent mall! 

The mall also hosts live concerts, food festivals, beauty contests, movie promotions, and more! 

Perhaps, 

It is more of a wonderland touring moment, where you can shop, eat, read, perform, watch, play, and wander for hours,

and no one would stop you, alone or with friends, with your date, or with family! 

From the outside, the mall looks like an Urban-styled Gothic Building,

refined with glass art & wall lights! From the inside, the atrium encloses a rectangular skylight with plastic bubble-like balls hanging from them!

The lawns are clean; the floors reflect your image; dustbins are at various corners; elevators ease the movements! 

How would it be?  

Location: 1200 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario K1K 3B8, Canada. 

Mall Timings: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm from Monday to Saturday and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday. 

Website: https://shopstlaurent.com

Contact Details: 613-745-6858. 

Best For: Shopping, Dining, Entertainment, & Various Non-retail Services! 

Nearby Shopping Mall: CF Rideau Mall, 6.1 km 

 

  1. 3. Bayshore Mall 

Do you know Bayshore is another of the largest shopping malls in Ottawa?

Yes. Bayshore Mall, which opened in 1973, sprawls over 833,250 square feet, sheltering about 190+ stores & services on three floors! 

It is significant, indeed! 

And, 

That appears more because of the vast skylight ceiling incorporated since 2012! 

Besides, 

The mall atrium constitutes a marble-floored courtyard; the long lawns and glass guardrails; clerestory windows & elevators, lifts & patios;

the stores residing in a queue throughout the laws and selling exclusive retail products, from apparel to techs! 

Meanwhile, 

You might come across some dessert counters at a central spot or another junk jewelry stall standing at a prime zone, just beside the movie theatre!

You might be unable to take your eyes off the beautiful apparel presented outside the boutique or wander for hours, checking one shop to another for the perfect sportswear! 

You might barely avoid the tempting smell from the bakery and start grabbing quite a few savories & pastries therein!

But such a thing is most likely to happen when you walk up to the top floor, the one having the most romantic food court in the city! No wonder why 8 million people visit this place annually! 

Halt! 

If you are a smoker, this will be bad news for you!

The mall complex prohibits smoking, both inside & outside, in the pedestrian space, sideways, or entrance, to promote healthy lifestyle changes. 

But,

If you are looking towards having a healthy urban atmosphere for a day, driving to Bayshore will not disappoint!

Location: 100 Bayshore Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 8C1, Canada. 

Mall Timings: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm from Monday to Saturday and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. 

Website: https://bayshoreshoppingcentre.com

Contact Details: 613-829-7491. 

Best For: Bakery, Boutiques, Movie Theatre, Grocery-anchored Area, Nail Arts, Spa & Salon, etc.

Nearby Shopping Centre: Carlingwood Shopping Centre, 5.0 km 

 

  1. 4. Place d'Orléans Mall

A vast building, two levels tall, rectangular with both side entrances; a glass tomb, thy specialty, sitting above the brick roof!

It is the Place d'Orléans, one of the largest shopping malls in Ottawa, sitting over an area of 740,000 square feet. 

Inside the mall, 

You can see 130+ stores & service centers, dramatically present at various positions within the atrium. 

However, 

What is unique is the food court! It lay on the first floor, reserving space for food outlets, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and ice-cream stalls.

With a well-lit, well-maintained, & well-decorated food court, offering a pleasant environment & comfortable sitting arrangement! 

The second floor has specialty stores, a gym, dental care, and other non-retail offices.

Stalls from various local brands to the showroom of various international ones, specialty service centers & offices, everything you want for a lovely outing, present at its best!

The supermarket & pharmacy is in the basement! 

Standing on the first floor, you would lose yourself in the beautiful skylight above you and the atrium full of multicultural things you haven't seen together before! 

The place is pet-friendly and even hosts Pets Day Outs! Not that other events do not take place;

the mall hosts food festivals & movie promotions, live music concerts, fashion shows, charity events,

art gallery shows & exhibitions, and a lot more! 

Do you know the doors of Place d'Orléans opened in 1979, 43 years back, struggling for ages to become the big-box power center it is today? See the change yourself!

Location: 110 Place d’Orléans Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1C 2L9, Canada. 

Mall Timings: 9:30 am to 7:00 pm from Monday to Wednesday & on Saturday, 9:30 am to 8:00 pm on Thursday & Friday, and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday. 

Website: http://www.placedorleans.com

Contact Details: 613-824-9050. 

Best For: Eateries, Supermarket & Pharmacy, Gym, Retail Stores, Local Stalls, Pets Care, etc. 

Nearby Shopping Centre: Orleans Town Centre, 500 m 

 

  1. 5. Billing Bridge Shopping Centre 

Billing Bridge Shopping Centre is a medium-sized enclosed shopping complex covering an area of 488,000 square feet.

It is considered one of the best shopping malls in Ottawa, welcoming nearly 7.5 million people annually. 

As the first one-stop shopping mall in the city, the mall opened its doors in 1954 with 20 merchants.

Currently, it retains over 90+ retail stores & non-retail services, arranged on two floors,

alongside a comfortable food court at the topmost level, platforming food outlets of various quick bites! 

The mall is grocery-anchored, having a massive supermarket in the basement area! From all kinds of fresh meats to exotic vegetables,

processed & canned foods to home appliances, everything is available herein! They say it is the necessary market. 

And the above, on the first & second floors, lay the luxury market, where you can shop for branded clothes & footwear,

exclusive accessories & bags, top-notch make-up items & antiques, the latest books & cards, and so forth! 

Certainly,

The mall stocks necessities with luxuries in a very composite way, reaching out to audiences of all ages! 

It is this beautiful semi-circular-shaped building from the front, with clerestory glass windows, a steel structure right at the entrance,

a white duck sitting at the center on both sides, and portico-styled pillars adding an extra roof outside the glass gate! 

When you step in, 

You shall see long laws taking you to the atrium, the one having a beautiful skylight!

There also lay some lanterns & lamps to add extra vibrancy to the setting. A Classic floor design & sleek structures of the stalls,

plants & bed of grasses installed in front of some showrooms! 

Do you want to avoid taking the trip next? Follow the Map that is popping up in the LED displays! 

Location: 2269 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8K2, Canada. 

Mall Timings: 9:30 am to 9:00 pm from Monday to Thursday, 12:30 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday, and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday. 

Website: https://www.billingsbridge.com

Contact Details: 613-733-2595. 

Best For: Essential Shopping, Funky Shopping, Quick Bites, Branded Clothes & Lifestyle Stores! 

Nearby Shopping Centre: Blue Heron Mall, 1.1 km 

 

  1. 6. Westgate Shopping Centre 

Westgate Shopping Centre is a small shopping mall to stand tall with three floors, over an area of 165,840 square feet only, but it is undoubtedly one of the best shopping malls in Ottawa city!

In this mall, you can find a diverse range of products & services from local, regional, national, & international brands. 

Since 1955, the Westgate Shopping Centre has acted as the indoor marketplace for many stores & services;

today, nearly 40 of them; and around 3 million annual visitors! With all-time music, live or on record, festivals & shows,

lighting & season-based decoration, the old historic site transforms into a community lifestyle spot groomed in urban aesthetics! 

You can buy unlimited liquors, those scotch whiskeys & classic red wines! 

You can avail of beauty treatment, dental care, tailoring service, or mobile repair!  

You can buy local tea & coffee, exotic vegetables & fruits, cannabis, pet food & toys, books & antiques, and much more! 

On the top floors, there lay a long food court, platforming buffet & fine-dine restaurants, cafes & bakeries,

ice-cream stalls & dessert counters, food chains & outlets selling quick bites and diverse cuisines from across the globe!

There is also an amusement area for kids; they say – Why should elders have all the fun? 

Besides,

There sits a dance training school, a fitness center, and a movie theatre inside the Westgate Mall! 

The architecture of this shopping mall is completely corporate-styled, made with glass & steel, and designed with wooden patches & wall lights!

The inside of the mall is tip-top, surrounded by clerestory windows, a skylight at the center,

indoor plants positioned at various corners, statues & graffiti, portraits & led display boards!

These boards shall lead you to the stores, offers & ongoing events, and movie show timings! 

Wait!

Take advantage of having the popcorn! They shall melt the moment to put them in your mouth; believe me!

Location: 1309 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7L3, Canada. 

Mall Timings: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm from Monday to Wednesday & on Saturday, 9:30 am to 9:00 pm on Thursday & Friday, and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday. 

Website: https://www.westgateshoppingcentre.ca

Contact Details: 613-722-4433. 

Best For: Kids Entertainment, Comprehensive Shopping & Dining, Liquor Shopping, Beauty Care, and Dental Care.

Nearby Shopping Centre: Carlingwood Shopping Centre, 3.4 km 

 

FAQs on the Best Shopping Malls in Ottawa 

Q.1. Which is the largest shopping mall in Ottawa? 

Ans. CF Rideau Centre is the largest shopping mall in Ottawa, comprising an area of 1,545,113 square feet; the gates of this mall opened in 1983! 

Q.2. Which are the two oldest shopping malls in Ottawa? 

Ans. The two oldest shopping malls in Ottawa are Billing Bridge Shopping Centre and Westgate Shopping Centre. 

Q.3. Which is the second largest shopping mall in Ottawa? 

Ans. St. Laurent Centre is the second largest shopping mall in Ottawa, encompassing an area of 971,000 square feet. The mall, firm on the ground since 1967!

 

Please See: 

Kindly refer to the opening hours listed on the official websites of the malls, as they may be changed or updated. 

Give your testimonial about your experiences at these best malls in Ottawa. 

Reach out to us if there are other best shopping malls in Ottawa besides those listed herein!

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