CS Slijterij: A Neighborhood Bottle Shop on Doekhieweg West
A no-frills Paramaribo slijterij for stocking up on Borgoe rum, cold Parbo, and everyday Surinamese spirits.
Why Go
Suriname's slijterijen are a Dutch-colonial holdover reinvented for the tropics: small, tile-floored bottle shops where locals grab a chilled Parbo on the walk home or a bottle of dark rum before a family barbecue. CS Slijterij sits on Doekhieweg West in the Beekhuizen/Blauwgrond side of Paramaribo, well outside the tourist strip of the Waterkant, which is exactly why it's worth knowing about if you're staying long enough to shop like a resident.
The Experience
Don't come here expecting a tasting room or curated shelves ΓÇö a slijterij is a functional local errand more than an outing. Expect a compact counter-service shop with a fridge wall of ice-cold Parbo and Djogo (the oversized 1L Parbo bottle Surinamers famously share), shelves stacked with Borgoe 8 and 5, Black Cat rum, Palm liquor, Marienburg white rum for cocktails, and a rotating cast of imported Dutch jenever and whiskey. Prices are marked in SRD and you pay in cash; the staff is friendly if you speak a little Dutch or English but the vibe is transactional ΓÇö grab, pay, go. What makes it worth the detour is the location: Doekhieweg West cuts through a residential, mostly Hindustani and Javanese neighborhood, so you're seeing a slice of Paramaribo most day-trippers never do.
What to Try
Buy a Djogo of Parbo (the 1-liter bottle) to bring back to your guesthouse porch ΓÇö it's the most Surinamese drink experience there is. Pick up a bottle of Borgoe 8 Year, the country's flagship aged rum from the SAB distillery, for a fraction of what you'd pay in Europe or the US. If you want something more obscure, ask for Marienburg 90% ΓÇö a fiery white rum from the old Marienburg sugar estate that's a favorite base for local punches. A small bottle of Palm liquor (herbal, slightly bitter) makes a great edible souvenir.
Insider Tip
Slijterijen in Suriname close earlier than you'd think ΓÇö many pull the shutters by 8 or 9pm, and Sunday hours are limited or non-existent. Stock up in the afternoon on the way back from Commewijne or the Palmentuin, not on the way out to dinner. Also: bring your own bag. Plastic bags are increasingly discouraged and small shops often don't provide one.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Doekhieweg West 24, Paramaribo. Located north of the city center in the Beekhuizen/Blauwgrond area, roughly a 10-minute taxi ride from the historic Waterkant. Cash (SRD) is king ΓÇö some slijterijen accept card but many don't, so bring bills. No seating, no tasting; this is takeaway only. Verify current hours by phone or in person, as small Surinamese shops rarely maintain accurate online listings.
Pair It With
- Palmentuin — Grab a couple of chilled Parbo bottles here and walk them over to Paramaribo's palm garden for a sunset picnic under the royal palms ΓÇö a very local thing to do.
- Fort Zeelandia — Pick up a bottle of Borgoe as a souvenir after touring the fort and Suriname Museum; the fort is only a short taxi ride south along the Suriname River.
- Commewijne plantation day trip — Stock up on cold drinks the night before a bike-and-ferry trip to the old coffee and cacao plantations across the river ΓÇö there's little to buy once you're on the Commewijne side.