Gusto Restaurant Suriname
Elevated Surinamese-international cuisine tucked inside Paramaribo's Assuria High-rise
Why Go
Paramaribo has plenty of neighborhood eateries, but Gusto is where locals go when they want the food to feel like an occasion ΓÇö without the stiffness of a hotel dining room.
The Experience
Set on the ground floor of the Assuria High-rise on Recolaan, Gusto pulls off the rare trick of feeling both polished and easy. The room leans modern ΓÇö warm lighting, dark wood, and softened acoustics ΓÇö but the crowd is a real cross-section of Paramaribo: business lunches spilling over from the tower upstairs, families ordering the whole menu, and travelers who Googled 'best restaurant Suriname' and ended up here. Service is genuinely warm; staff will walk you through the menu and happily nudge you toward whatever came in fresh that morning. It works equally well for a quick weekday plate as it does for a slow, wine-forward dinner.
What to Try
The kitchen leans on fresh local seafood, so ask what's just come from the market ΓÇö daily fish specials are consistently the strongest pick. The build-your-own pasta is a crowd-pleaser and better than it has any right to be (choose a cream or tomato base and go heavy on the herbs). Vegetarians are looked after with several standalone plates rather than tacked-on sides. For breakfast or a mid-morning break, the coffee-and-plate combos are a smart, well-priced way to sample the kitchen before committing to dinner.
Insider Tip
Book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner ΓÇö the room fills up with Assuria staff and downtown regulars, and walk-ins routinely wait. Lunch on weekdays is the local secret: same kitchen, faster service, and you can eat well for a fraction of the dinner check. If you're staying nearby, ask about takeaway; they'll pack seafood plates to travel better than you'd expect.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Assuria High-rise, Recolaan 17, Paramaribo. Reservations recommended for dinner, especially weekends. Price range roughly SRD equivalents of USD 2ΓÇô40, so it works for a quick bite or a full three-course meal. Cards generally accepted but bring some cash as a backup ΓÇö standard advice for Paramaribo. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; confirm current hours via their Facebook page before showing up early or late.
Pair It With
- Assuria High-rise area walk — Gusto sits at the base of one of Paramaribo's landmark towers ΓÇö pair the meal with a short walk around the surrounding downtown blocks to work up (or off) an appetite.
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient nearby stay if you want to roll from a long dinner straight into bed without a taxi ride across town.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Book a morning off-road tour, then use Gusto's lunch or early dinner as the reset ΓÇö clean, calm, and exactly what you want after a dusty day out.
- 4x4xJankie rental — If you're renting wheels to explore beyond the city, Gusto is an easy first or last stop on the way in or out of Paramaribo's core.