About
The ByWard Market sits in the heart of Ottawa, Ontario, and it is one of the places where the city's everyday life is easiest to see. It is a market in the working sense: local vendors sell fresh produce, and artisans offer handmade goods, alongside a lively mix of restaurants and shops in the streets around it.
What to expect
- Fresh produce from local growers, a good reason to come hungry and curious.
- Unique crafts made by local artisans, useful for finding something to take home.
- Local specialties, including BeaverTails pastries, a treat many visitors come to try.
- Restaurants and cafés around the market for a sit-down meal.
The market is described as Canada's oldest continuously operating farmers market, a fact that gives the visit a sense of long-standing tradition. Its stalls and storefronts are busy and sociable, and wandering between them is the main pleasure of the visit.
Making the most of a visit
Come with time to browse rather than a fixed list. Sampling food as you go suits the place well, and a walk through the surrounding streets adds to the experience. Because it is a working market with local vendors, it rewards visitors who enjoy talking to the people behind the stalls and choosing things slowly.