High 5 Supermarket: Statia's Everyday Provisioning Stop
A no-frills neighborhood grocery keeping Oranjestad stocked with pantry basics, cold drinks, and last-minute essentials.
Why Go
On an island where the nearest big-box store is a plane ride away, the humble neighborhood supermarket is a lifeline — and High 5, tucked along Paramiraweg just outside Oranjestad's historic core, is where locals, divers, and self-catering visitors alike swing by for the things you didn't realize you'd need until you got to Statia.
The Experience
Statia is a place that rewards travelers who slow down and settle in — into an apartment, a guesthouse, a rhythm of dive-eat-hike-repeat. High 5 fits that rhythm. It's a compact, unfussy grocery in a residential stretch of Oranjestad, the kind of shop where you push through the door, nod at the cashier, and grab a basket. Aisles are stocked with the practical mix you'd expect on a small Dutch Caribbean island: Dutch pantry staples alongside American brands, local fresh produce when the supply boat has come in, plus frozen meats, dairy, rice, pasta, snacks, canned goods, cleaning supplies, and a cooler wall of soft drinks, water, juices, and beer. Don't come expecting gourmet imports or a deli counter — come expecting a well-run local grocery that makes staying on Statia easy. The staff are neighborly, the pace is unhurried, and a quick errand often turns into a two-minute chat about the weather, the dive conditions, or where to find the ripest mangoes this week.
What to Try
Stock up on breakfast basics (eggs, bread, cheese, coffee) if you're in a rental apartment — restaurants are limited and often closed midday. Grab cold Presidente or Amstel Bright for a sunset on the porch, a few big bottles of water for hikes up The Quill, and any imported snacks or chocolate you're craving since options elsewhere on the island are thin. If they have fresh local fruit — mangoes, papayas, bananas — grab them; supply is inconsistent and they move fast.
Insider Tip
Time your shop around the supply boat. Statia's grocery inventory ebbs and flows with the cargo ship schedule — arrive a day or two after a delivery and shelves are full and fresh; arrive right before the next one and produce, dairy, and popular items can be picked over. Ask the cashier when the next shipment is expected, and if you're self-catering for a week, do your big shop early in your stay rather than saving it for later.
The Practical Stuff
Located on Paramiraweg 39, a short drive or walking distance from Oranjestad's Upper Town. Bring cash (US dollars are standard on Statia, alongside occasional card acceptance — but assume cash is safest for smaller shops). Prices run higher than mainland US or European groceries because nearly everything is imported — budget accordingly. Bring your own reusable bag if you can; single-use plastic is discouraged across the Caribbean Netherlands. Hours are typically daytime with a Sunday closure or reduced hours common for island groceries, so plan weekend shopping ahead.
Pair It With
- A Quiet Getaway - One-Bedroom Apartment Guide — If you're staying in a self-catering apartment nearby, High 5 is your closest stop for stocking the kitchen before you settle in for the week.
- Aquarium Dive Site — Grab cold drinks, snacks, and post-dive recovery basics here before or after a day exploring Statia's protected underwater world.
- Baby Beach Guide — Pack a cooler with sandwiches, fruit, and cold beverages from High 5 for a low-key beach afternoon on Statia's quiet southern coast.
- Alvin V Courtar Park Guide — Pick up picnic supplies for a relaxed break in one of Oranjestad's local green spaces after your shopping run.
