Las Tías Suriname: Paramaribo's Cuban-Latin Fiesta on Johannes Mungrastraat
Sizzling fajitas, tropical cocktails, and waiters in vibrant Cuban attire in the heart of Paramaribo.
Why Go
Tucked into a colorful corner of Welgelegen, Las Tías is where Paramaribo goes when it wants a plate of Latin America served with a wink and a rum-spiked lemonade. It's loud in the best way — clinking glasses, sizzling cast-iron, and staff in fuchsia-and-turquoise Cuban shirts turning a regular Wednesday dinner into something that feels a little like Havana.
The Experience
Step off Johannes Mungrastraat and you leave Suriname's Dutch-colonial hush behind. The dining room is a burst of painted wood, warm lantern light, and Latin rhythms drifting under conversation. It fills a genuine gap in Paramaribo's food scene ΓÇö there's Javanese warungs, Chinese noodle houses, and roti shops on every corner, but very few kitchens doing proper Cuban-Tex-Mex fusion at this level. Come for a leisurely business lunch during the 7:30 AMΓÇô3:00 PM daytime service, or make it a full evening on Wednesday through Saturday when the kitchen fires up again at 6:00 PM and the cocktail list really starts working. Couples tuck into corner tables; groups take the larger banquettes and share platters family-style. It's polished enough for a special occasion but never stiff ΓÇö you'll see families with kids at 7 PM and dressed-up date-nighters at 10.
What to Try
The sizzling fajitas (chicken or beef) are the calling card ΓÇö they arrive still popping on the skillet. The lamb birria tacos have a small cult following, and the beef enchiladas and quesadillas are reliable crowd-pleasers. Order the arroz amarillo con yuca as a side ΓÇö bright saffron rice with tender cassava is a proper Latin-Caribbean flex. Save room for the dulce de leche cheesecake. On the drinks side, the homemade lemonade is famous (spike it with rum if you're in that mood), and the tropical smoothies double as dessert.
Insider Tip
Book ahead for Friday or Saturday evening — the second seating from 6 PM books out fast with locals celebrating end-of-week, and walk-ins often get turned away by 8 PM. Also: bring cash if you can. Credit cards work but incur a 5% commission on the bill, which stings on the higher-end entrées that push past 1,000 SRD. If you're coming for lunch, aim for 12:30 PM to catch the fuller menu before the afternoon lull.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Johannes Mungrastraat 75, Paramaribo (Welgelegen neighborhood). Phone: +597 434-162. Email: lastiassuriname@gmail.com. Hours: MonΓÇôTue 7:30 AMΓÇô3:00 PM; WedΓÇôThu 7:30 AMΓÇô3:00 PM and 6:00 PMΓÇô11:00 PM; Fri 7:30 AMΓÇô3:00 PM and 6:00 PMΓÇô11:30 PM; Sat 8:00 AMΓÇô3:00 PM and 6:00 PMΓÇô11:30 PM; closed Sundays. Price range: $$ΓÇô$$$ (moderate to upscale; mains can exceed 1,000 SRD). Reservations accepted and recommended for weekend dinner. Wheelchair accessible. Dine-in, takeout, and delivery available. Card payments incur a 5% surcharge.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient nearby stay so you can walk (or short taxi) back after a long dinner and lingering cocktails ΓÇö no worries about driving after mojitos.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Burn off the fajitas the next morning with a jungle ATV run, then come back to Las T├¡as for a well-earned second round of birria tacos.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — A daytime river adrenaline hit pairs perfectly with an evening reservation at Las T├¡as ΓÇö you'll have properly earned the dulce de leche cheesecake.
- 88 Car Rental Suriname Guide — Grab a car for a Saturday countryside loop, then aim back into town for the 6 PM dinner seating when the kitchen and bar are at full tilt.