Restaurante Brasileiro
A slice of Belém tucked into Paramaribo's Brazilian corner
Why Go
Suriname's gold-rush history brought thousands of Brazilians north, and the little kitchens they opened along streets like Gongrijpstraat still serve the most honest plate of Portuguese-speaking comfort food you'll find in the country.
The Experience
You'll know you're in the right place when the TV is loud, the language on every table is Portuguese, and the smell of charred picanha and simmering black beans hits you at the door. Restaurante Brasileiro is a neighborhood spot in the pocket of northern Paramaribo where garimpeiro families and Brazilian expats have carved out their own culinary enclave — a stone's throw from Klein-Belém, the Tourtonne micro-district nicknamed after Pará's capital. Expect vinyl tablecloths, a self-serve buffet or à la carte grill (a la kilo lunches are common in this corner of town), cold Skol or Brahma beers, and staff who'll happily chat in Portuguese, Dutch or a bit of English. It's not fancy and it doesn't try to be — the point is the plate: rice, feijão, farofa, a hunk of grilled meat, and something sweet stewed in the tropics.
What to Try
Go straight for the churrasco — picanha if it's on, or the mixed grill with linguiça and frango. Pair it with rice, feijão preto (black bean stew), farofa (toasted cassava flour) and a scoop of vinaigrette salad — the classic Brazilian 'prato feito' quartet. If they run a per-kilo lunch buffet, load a plate with feijoada on Wednesday or Saturday when Brazilian kitchens traditionally serve it. Don't skip a small guaraná Antarctica soda or an ice-cold Brahma, and if there's açaí, brigadeiro or pudim de leite at the counter, that's dessert sorted.
Insider Tip
Lunch is the move, not dinner. Brazilian working-class spots in Paramaribo run hardest between about noon and 2 pm when the grill is fresh and the buffet is fully stocked — arrive later and you're picking through leftovers. Bring small SRD notes; card machines in this neighborhood are hit-and-miss, and it's polite (and often necessary) to ask 'quanto é?' in Portuguese rather than assuming an English menu.
The Practical Stuff
Located on Gongrijpstraat in northern Paramaribo, walking distance from the Tourtonne Brazilian quarter (Klein-Belém). Best reached by taxi or rental car — it's a 10–15 minute drive from the historic center and there's no reliable tourist bus route. Cash (SRD) preferred; call ahead to confirm hours as small family-run Brazilian spots here often close Sundays or between lunch and dinner. Very casual dress, no reservations needed, and English is limited — a translation app helps if your Portuguese is rusty.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient Paramaribo-North base that keeps you within a short taxi ride of Gongrijpstraat and the Brazilian quarter ΓÇö perfect if you want to stroll back after a long, beer-soaked lunch.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Big Brazilian-style protein plates are exactly the fuel you want before (or the recovery meal after) a muddy interior day trip on quad bikes.
- 88 Car Rental Suriname Guide — Gongrijpstraat isn't on the tourist grid, so having your own wheels makes it easy to pop up to Klein-Bel├⌐m for lunch and then continue exploring greater Paramaribo on your own schedule.