The CUSA student discount card has expanded to include 90 businesses in more than 110 locations across the city.
Launched last September, the discount card provides students with 10 per cent off products and services in food, retail and entertainment locations with some businesses offering up to 25 per cent discounts.
For CUSA vice-president (finance) Om Maradia, the expansion is about accessibility.
“We have quite a few places; restaurants, bars and salons. [We] have so many options,” Maradia said.
The previous program required students to pay a $10 fee to obtain a card. The aim of the program should be to provide value to students at no cost, he said.
“Given the environment and economy, we are currently faced with higher costs of living,” Maradia said. “[The discount card] is something that can positively impact students and the businesses likewise.”
By targeting arts and culture hubs, Maradia said CUSA hopes to help students integrate into the city’s local scene without financial barrier.
From flower cafés to vintage thrift shops, here is a list of the arts-related businesses newly accessible through the CUSA discount card:
Retail and fashion
Octopus Books
On the corner of Bank Street and Third Avenue, this independent book store is known for social justice, environmentalism and political action reads.
Their shelves offer a curation of everything from prison abolition and Indigenous history to 2SLGBTQ+ fiction — like the popular Heated Rivalry.
Far more than a bookstore, the Glebe-based shop serves as a meeting place for monthly reading clubs and author events.
Witch Chest
Catering to the wants of witches and the witch-curious, this ethereal shop specializes in tools for energetic rituals and nature-based magic.
Visitors can find everything from handmade bath salts and crystal-infused candles to cauldrons and ritual jewelry.
Founded by a practicing Celtic hearth witch, the store serves as a home for the Ottawa witch community, prioritizing local products from witchy artisans.
More retail and fashion stores include:
- Adorit
- Darling Vintage
- Planet Botanix
- Green Fresh Supermarket Nepean
- La Tiendita
- Midori Gifts
- Purple Urchin
- The Recollective Second Hand
- The Ink Spot
- Thrive Select Thrift
- Wallack’s Art Supplies & Framing
Entertainment and Gaming
Escape Manor
Tucked inside the Manor Lounge restaurant on Elgin Street, Escape Manor is known to be rated highly by visitors.
The manor operates as a brunch, lunch and dinner spot offering a range of casual fare and shareables, scratch cocktails, craft beer, wine, puzzles, games, live music and, of course, escape room experiences.
Bytowne Cinema
This vintage cinema claims to be “home of the best movies in Ottawa.”
Originally opening its doors in 1947 as the Nelson Theatre, Bytowne Cinema is Ottawa’s “go-to” independent cinema, running since 1988.
Offering a curation of select independent and Toronto International Film Festival featured films, repertory classics and genre favourites, the theatre has retained its vintage style.
House of Targ
Known by local Ottawans for its pinballs and pierogi, House of Targ is a family-friendly restaurant and arcade.
Their pierogi menu features classic flavours like the traditional potato and cheddar, as well as more unique combinations like their “kickstart my heartichoke” — an artichoke hearts, spinach, roasted garlic and cream cheese pierogi.
The arcade transforms into a live venue, with themed events like dance parties and drag from Tuesdays to Sundays.
BATL grounds
Just under a 20-minute drive from Parliament Hill, Batl grounds is an archery, axe and knife throwing centre that claims to be “anything but parliamentary.”
With locations across Ontario and the United States, the venue invites thrill-seekers to participate in a range of unforgettable archery, axe and knife-throwing experiences. Guests can also join recreational “Batl Leagues” and tournaments with friends.
More gaming and entertainment experiences include:
Cafés and Dessert
Dessert First
Just steps away from the Ottawa Library is Dessert First. As the name implies, the café is dessert-focused, offering customers platters of pastries, sweet beverages and a selection of vintage cakes crafted with vibrant ornamental and coquette designs.
For customers not looking to indulge in sweets, their menu also features breakfast, brunch and dinner items.
Haven’s Creamery
Hand-crafted, small-batch and proudly Canadian ice cream awaits.
Haven’s Creamery offers a range of ice cream delicacies from sticky toffee pudding scoops, vegan options and even ice cream cakes – all made with signature locally sourced ingredients.
The owners are former health-care professionals, and they said they saw a need for a “community-focused brand” that ensured every scoop is made with quality ingredients.
Stella Luna Café
Founded by Gelato Chef Tammy Giuliani, the Stella Luna uses century-old Venetian recipes to create small-batch treats with a fraction of the fat of traditional ice cream, allowing for flavors like their Sicilian Pistachio and Madagascar Vanilla to shine.
Beyond the gelato counter, Stella Luna functions as a neighborhood comfort food spot serving up savory buttermilk waffles, authentic panini, and a “Famous Alpine Hot Chocolate” made entirely from scratch.
In 2022, the previous owner appeared in a GiveSendGo data leak after making a $250 donation to the “Freedom Convoy” protesters, putting the café under backlash and scrutiny from the Ottawa community. The business came under new ownership in 2024.
More café and dessert spots include:
- Equator Coffee Roasters
- Keepin’ It Vegan
- Ice Flame
- Lavender Pastry and Café
- Maverick’s Donut Company
- Miss Bean Café
- For God Shakes
- Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana
Restaurants and bars
Beyond the Pale
A brewery that hosts book club meet ups? Beyond The Pale has been brewing beers for the Ottawa local community since 2012. Offering 16 distinct taps that rotate seasonally, the City Centre staple is as much about community connection as it is about craft lagers and ales.
Their expansive taproom serves as a versatile neighborhood hub, famously hosting the “Silent Book Club” where patrons can trade the traditional pub roar for a quiet afternoon of reading with a pint in hand.
When temperatures warm up in the summer, the brewhouse transforms to a large patio, providing an experience for those who enjoy a drink or meal in the sun.
Other restaurants include:
Featured image by Itoro Umanah/the Charlatan
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