Saba Wishes
The Bottom's neighborhood supermarket for provisioning your Saba stay
Why Go
On an island of just five square miles, where restaurants close early and cottage kitchens outnumber hotel dining rooms, a good grocery run is half the vacation. Saba Wishes sits right in The Bottom — the sleepy Dutch-Caribbean capital — with long daily hours and shelves stocked to bridge the gap between imported staples and local rhythm.
The Experience
Walk in and you'll see the tell-tale signs of small-island retail: goods arriving by weekly cargo ferry from St. Maarten, prices that reflect the freight, and a friendly Saban rhythm at the register. The store carries the everyday mix you'd want after a hike down The Ladder or up Mt. Scenery — cold drinks, bread, cheese, pasta, snacks, cleaning basics, and enough fresh produce to throw together dinner back at your cottage. It's not fancy, and that's exactly the point: this is where locals shop, students from Saba University grab lunch supplies, and villa renters top up between excursions.
What to Try
Grab a chilled local beer or a bottle of Saba Spice (the island's homemade rum-and-spice liqueur) if you spot one, some Dutch cheese and crackers for a sunset picnic on Fort Bay, and whatever tropical fruit came in on the latest boat — supply on Saba is boat-dependent, so the produce section is a snapshot of the week.
Insider Tip
Ferries and the cargo boat generally land midweek, so shop Wednesday or Thursday for the best selection of fresh produce, dairy, and bread — by Monday the shelves are noticeably thinner. Bring cash or a chip-and-PIN card; U.S. dollars are the currency, but card acceptance on Saba can be spotty when the internet hiccups.
The Practical Stuff
Located in The Bottom, Saba's capital village, easily walkable from most guesthouses in town and a short taxi from Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport or Fort Bay harbor. Open daily 8:00 AM–9:00 PM (Mon–Sun). Phone: +599 416 3729. Expect Caribbean import pricing — budget roughly 20–30% above U.S. mainland grocery costs. Bring a reusable bag; single-use plastic is discouraged across the Dutch Caribbean.
Pair It With
- Brigadoon Guide — After a supermarket run to drop groceries back at your cottage, walk over to this beloved Windwardside institution for a proper sit-down dinner — Saba's dining scene is small enough that one great restaurant meal per stay is a treat worth planning around.
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — Right in The Bottom, Angelina's is the perfect casual lunch spot to pair with a morning grocery stop before you head out to hike or dive.
- Bizzy B Bakery — Pick up freshly baked bread, pastries, and Saban-style johnnycakes here in the morning, then swing by Saba Wishes for the fillings, cheeses, and drinks to build a full picnic.
