Cafe Friendz: Kleine Waterstraat's Neighborly Corner
Warm Surinamese plates and easy chatter just off Paramaribo's café strip.
Why Go
Tucked right next to 't Vat on Kleine Waterstraat, Cafe Friendz is the low-key sibling of Paramaribo's buzziest nightlife block, the place locals slip into when they'd rather trade the bass for a plate of home cooking and a cold Parbo.
The Experience
Kleine Waterstraat is where Paramaribo comes to hang out, a short pedestrian-friendly stretch a couple of blocks from the Waterkant and the UNESCO-listed historic centre. Friendz reads exactly like its name suggests ΓÇö small, easy-going, more neighbourhood living room than polished restaurant. Staff greet regulars by name, the ceiling fans keep the tropical afternoon in check, and the soundtrack sits somewhere between kaseko and whatever's playing next door at 't Vat. It's the kind of spot where you order one drink, meet the table beside you, and end up staying for dinner. Come at lunch and you'll catch office workers on quick Surinamese plates; by evening it fills with a mixed crowd pre-gaming the Kleine Waterstraat crawl.
What to Try
Lean into the Surinamese classics the kitchen is best known for ΓÇö a proper bowl of saoto soup (the clear, ginger-bright Javanese chicken soup Suriname adopted as its own), moksi meti rice with the full holy trinity of chicken, pork and salted fish, or a plate of bami with a fried egg on top. Pair whatever you order with a frosty Parbo Djogo (the shareable one-litre bottle) or a fresh markoesa (passionfruit) juice, and finish with a bojo cake if it's on the counter that day.
Insider Tip
Kleine Waterstraat gets rowdy fast after 9pm ΓÇö if you want the food and the vibe without the club-strip volume, grab a table between 6 and 8pm, then walk two minutes to the Waterkant to catch the Suriname River at sunset before the neighbours crank the speakers.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Kleine Waterstraat 17-19, Paramaribo, right in the city centre and walkable from most downtown hotels (5ΓÇô10 min from Torarica, Krasnapolsky and the Palmentuin). Cash in SRD is safest; some venues on the strip accept cards but bring backup. Dress is fully casual ΓÇö shorts and slippers are the local uniform. It's a small room, so groups larger than six should call ahead. Evenings can be humid, so an outdoor-facing table is the play.
Pair It With
- 't Vat Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Literally next door and Paramaribo's most famous people-watching terrace ΓÇö grab a Parbo here after dinner to feel the full Kleine Waterstraat energy.
- Waterkant riverfront — A two-minute stroll delivers you to the Suriname River promenade, best hit at sunset for warungs, street snacks and views across to Commewijne.
- Historic Inner City (UNESCO zone) — Walk off dinner among the white wooden colonial buildings around Onafhankelijkheidsplein and Fort Zeelandia, all within 10 minutes on foot.
- Palmentuin — The palm garden behind the Presidential Palace is a lovely, shady pre-dinner wander and often has resident squirrel monkeys at dusk.