Tasty Sandwich & Coffee Bar
Rooftop coffee, paninis and city views atop Kirpalani
Why Go
Ride the escalators to the third floor of Paramaribo's Kirpalani Superstore and you land in a bright, wood-and-brick café that looks out over the copper-domed Arya Dewaker temple and the rooftops of the historic center — an unexpectedly cinematic perch for a paramaribo cappuccino.
The Experience
Tasty (officially Tasty Fresh Food & Coffee Bar) is the in-house café of the Kirpalani department store, but locals treat it as a standalone hangout. Big windows on the J.A. Pengelstraat side flood the room with light, ceiling fans hum over reclaimed-wood tables, and the soundtrack leans acoustic and unobtrusive. Come at 8 a.m. and it's businesspeople with laptops and Dutch pancakes; by mid-morning shoppers arrive for lattes and smoothies; the lunch and dinner crowds spread out over paninis, salads, pasta and pizza. Portions are generous, service is warm without being fussy, and the third-floor view over central Paramaribo — Hindu temple in the foreground, red tin roofs behind — is the kind of detail that makes you linger over a second flat white.
What to Try
Order the Eggs Benedict — regulars swear it's the best version in the city — or a hot panini with a fresh-pressed juice. For dinner, the pasta dishes and the shrimp-and-sirloin surf-and-turf punch above the café setting. Coffee lovers should try a Moroccan mint tea alongside a latte flight; the smoothies and cold-pressed juices are a smart antidote to the Paramaribo heat.
Insider Tip
Angle for a window table on the J.A. Pengelstraat side (west-facing) around 5ΓÇô6 p.m. ΓÇö the late-afternoon light hits the Arya Dewaker temple's dome and turns the whole room gold. Weekends fill up fast because seating is limited, so call ahead or arrive right at opening. And don't leave the building without wandering one floor down through Kirpalani's grocery hall for Surinamese snacks to take home.
The Practical Stuff
Address: J.A. Pengelstraat 163, Paramaribo (3rd floor of Kirpalani Superstore, elevator or escalators from the ground floor). Open MondayΓÇôSaturday 8:00ΓÇô20:00, Sunday 12:00ΓÇô20:00. Moderate prices ($$). Free off-street parking, takeout and delivery available, cash and digital payments accepted. Family- and laptop-friendly; air-conditioned.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — Compact, well-located Paramaribo stay a short drive away ΓÇö walk over for breakfast Eggs Benedict before a day of exploring the historic center.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Fuel up on paninis, pancakes and strong coffee at Tasty before heading out on a half-day ATV adventure into Suriname's backcountry.