Empire Apartments Suriname: A Poolside Base in Paramaribo
Apartment-style stays with an outdoor pool, sauna, and a sun deck just minutes from downtown Paramaribo.
Why Go
Tucked onto Celinastraat in the Verlengde Hooge Straat neighborhood, Empire Apartments trades the polish of a big-brand hotel for something more useful in Suriname: a quiet, self-catering apartment with a pool you'll actually use after a sweaty day in the tropics.
The Experience
Empire Apartments feels like a hybrid between a serviced apartment and a small boutique hotel. You get your own space (kitchenette, AC, WiFi, some rooms with a balcony), plus the shared perks travelers rarely find at this price point in Paramaribo: a free-form outdoor swimming pool, a sun deck and terrace for lazy afternoons, a sauna for cool-down evenings, and a small bar and lounge for when you don't feel like heading back into the city. The 24-hour front desk and free private parking make it a practical launchpad for road trips into the interior, and the residential Celinastraat location keeps things calm at night while still putting the Central Market, cathedrals, and Waterkant riverfront within easy reach.
What to Try
Start your morning with a swim before the equatorial sun peaks, then head 1.9 km into central Paramaribo to wander the UNESCO-listed wooden colonial quarter, browse the Central Market for pom, bara, and fresh tropical fruit, and photograph the pale-blue St. Petrus en Paulus Cathedral ΓÇö one of the largest wooden buildings in the Americas. Come back for a sauna and pool session in the late afternoon, then walk out to nearby local spots like 'T VAT Sidewalk Cafe or 168 Restaurant for dinner. If you're doing a full Suriname loop, use the on-site parking as your staging point for a Brownsberg or Commewijne day trip.
Insider Tip
Ask reception about arranging a car or 4x4 rental directly through neighborhood operators (like 88 Car Rental or 4x4xJankie, both a short walk away) rather than booking online in advance ΓÇö same-day walk-in rates in this pocket of Paramaribo are consistently cheaper, and the staff can point you toward a driver who knows the unpaved routes into the interior.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Celinastraat / Verlengde Hooge Straat 54, Paramaribo. 3-star apartment-style property (formerly Suriname Empire Apartments, rebranded in 2022). Zorg en Hoop Airport is about 3 km away; Johan Adolf Pengel International (PBM) is roughly a 45-minute drive. Amenities include a free outdoor swimming pool, sauna, bar, shared lounge, sun deck and terrace, air conditioning, free WiFi, free private parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Non-smoking rooms; select units have balconies. Typically rates well (around 8.3/10) on major booking platforms ΓÇö best value is usually direct or via Booking.com for longer stays.
Pair It With
- 'T VAT Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Casual open-air spot around the corner ΓÇö an easy dinner when you don't want to drive back into central Paramaribo after a pool afternoon.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — Nearby local favorite for a quick Chinese-Surinamese meal, one of the classic fusion cuisines you should try at least once on any Suriname trip.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — Neighborhood activity operator handy for booking a river tubing day trip straight from your Paramaribo base.
- 88 Car Rental Suriname Guide — Walkable rental agency ΓÇö perfect for grabbing wheels to explore Commewijne plantations or head south toward Brownsberg without committing to a full tour.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — Local 4x4 rental for travelers planning to push beyond the paved coastal strip into Suriname's interior.