Riverside
Grill smoke and river breezes on Paramaribo's Waterkant
Why Go
Right where colonial Paramaribo meets the Suriname River, Riverside trades white tablecloths for open-air grills, cold Parbo, and the kind of sunset that makes you order a second round of shrimp.
The Experience
Riverside sits on the Waterkant, the historic riverfront strip that skirts the UNESCO-listed inner city, so you're eating with wooden trading houses on one shoulder and the wide brown river on the other. The vibe is unpretentious bar-and-grill: plastic chairs, ceiling fans, a laid-back crew, and a soundtrack that drifts from Surinamese kaseko to soft reggae as the light drops. Locals treat it as a late-afternoon anchor ΓÇö you show up for a Parbo Djogo (the shareable liter bottle), watch the korjaal boats cut across the water toward Commewijne, and stay long enough to see the grill fire up in earnest. It's the sort of place where the staff will nudge you toward whatever came in freshest that day, and where a two-person dinner easily stretches into a three-hour hang.
What to Try
Grilled shrimp is the house signature ΓÇö big river prawns rubbed with local spice and thrown on the open flame; order them with bakabana (fried plantain) and a peanut dipping sauce. The mixed grill plates (chicken, beef, and fish with rice or roti) are the workhorse order, and any daily catch off the Suriname River is worth asking about. Wash it down with an ice-cold Parbo or a Borgoe rum and coke, the unofficial national pour.
Insider Tip
Aim for a table on the river side about 45 minutes before sunset ΓÇö Waterkant faces roughly northwest, so you get the full color show over the water, and the kitchen is fastest before the after-work crowd rolls in around 7pm. Cash (SRD) still moves faster here than cards, and a small tip in local currency lands better than USD.
The Practical Stuff
Address: RRFW+W48, Waterkant, Paramaribo, Suriname. Easy 5ΓÇô10 minute walk from the Presidential Palace and Fort Zeelandia along the river promenade; taxis and the app-based Rydr rides drop you at the curb. No reservations culture ΓÇö just walk in. Best for casual dinner and drinks; expect mid-range prices in SRD. Bring mosquito repellent for after dark.
Pair It With
- Waterkant (Riverside Boulevard) — Stroll the historic riverfront promenade right outside the door ΓÇö colonial trading houses on one side, river traffic on the other ΓÇö as a pre-dinner warm-up.
- Fort Zeelandia — The 17th-century Dutch fort is a 10-minute walk upriver; pair an afternoon visit with a sunset table at Riverside.
- Commewijne ferry crossing — Catch a small boat from the Waterkant jetty across to the old plantation district, then circle back for grilled shrimp and a Parbo.
- Caf├⌐ 't Vat — After dinner, wander into the Palmentuin-area bar scene for a nightcap where expats and locals mix late.