DJ Liquor Store: Paramaribo's One-Stop Shop for Parbo, Borgoe & Beyond
An air-conditioned bottle shop on Prins Hendrikstraat where every traveler's rum run begins.
Why Go
Suriname's drinking culture is a delicious mashup of Dutch beer halls, Caribbean rum shacks, and Javanese warungs, and DJ Liquor Store is where that whole world lines the shelves in one cool, quiet room. Duck in off the heat of Prins Hendrikstraat and you'll find local icons like Parbo beer and Borgoe rum sharing space with Johnnie Walker, Hennessy, Absolut, and a surprisingly deep wine wall, all watched over by staff who actually know what they're pouring.
The Experience
Walk in from the tropical glare and the first thing that hits you is the AC, closely followed by the sheer variety. The shop is spacious and well-organized by category, so browsing feels more like a small European wine merchant than a corner off-license. Grab a basket and drift from the beer fridges (Heineken and the beloved green-label Parbo) past the rum aisle, into whiskey and cognac, then over to sparkling wines and a small non-alcoholic corner for the designated drivers. Accessories, glassware, corkscrews, ice buckets, and gift bags live near the counter, which makes this the go-to spot if you've been invited to a Surinamese home for dinner and need to show up looking sharp. Staff switch easily between Dutch, English, and Brazilian Portuguese, so you can actually ask 'what's the rum a Surinamese uncle would drink?' and get a real answer.
What to Try
Start local: pick up a bottle of Borgoe (the Surinaamse Alcoholische Dranken Maatschappij's flagship rum) in either the everyday Borgoe 8 or the smoother, aged Borgoe Extra. A six-pack of Parbo, ideally in the classic 'Djogo' 1-liter bottle, is non-negotiable for river trips or hotel-balcony sunsets. Whiskey drinkers should look for Johnnie Walker Black at duty-free-friendly prices, while cognac fans get a solid Hennessy selection. Round it out with a bottle of Surinamese-style ginger beer or a can of Fernandes soft drink from the non-alcoholic shelf to build your own Parbo-and-lime session at the hotel.
Insider Tip
Message ahead on WhatsApp (+597 745-6356) with your order, especially for anything heavy like a case of Parbo or a Borgoe gift set, and they'll have it bagged and waiting by the time your taxi pulls up, which is a lifesaver if you're headed to Commewijne, Brownsberg, or an Upper Suriname river lodge and don't want to burn your afternoon browsing. Also worth knowing: Suriname's supermarkets stock beer but rarely the aged rums, imported wines, or nicer whiskies, so this is genuinely your best pre-trip stop.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Prins Hendrikstraat 44 Bn, right in central Paramaribo, walkable from the historic inner city and most downtown hotels. Contact: +597 472-226 or WhatsApp +597 745-6356; orders and catalogue at djliquorstore.sr. Payment: cards generally accepted, though carrying some SRD cash is smart for smaller purchases. Languages: Dutch, English, and Portuguese. Best time to visit: late morning or early afternoon on weekdays for the calmest browsing; expect a rush on Friday afternoons and before public holidays when locals stock up. Not a bar, this is a retail bottle shop, so buy here and drink elsewhere.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A short ride away, making DJ Liquor a natural stock-up stop on the way to your room for sunset drinks on the balcony.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — Grab a cooler of Parbo and a bottle of Borgoe here first, then head to the river; nothing pairs with a Suriname watertubing day like an ice-cold local beer waiting at the takeout.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — After a dusty ATV adventure in the interior, a well-aged rum from DJ Liquor is the reward you'll want back at the hotel.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — If you're renting a 4x4 for a road trip to Brownsberg or Bigi Pan, load up here first, as bottle-shop selection thins out fast once you leave Paramaribo.