Temperos Da May
Home-style Brazilian cooking with a 'made-with-love' motto in Paramaribo's Portuguese-speaking pocket
Why Go
Tucked onto quiet Daniel Ijveraarstraat, Temperos Da May (literally 'May's Seasonings') channels the warmth of a Brazilian aunt's kitchen more than a restaurant dining room. It's the kind of unassuming spot where the day's specials depend on what looked freshest at the market, and where the promise stitched into the sign - 'De beste uit de regio. Kook met liefde' (The best from the region. Cooked with love) - actually tracks on the plate.
The Experience
Paramaribo is famously a city where Javanese warungs, Chinese roti shops, and Creole grill houses share the same block, and Temperos Da May adds the Brazilian voice to that chorus. Expect a small, casual room with a takeaway-friendly rhythm - lots of foil-lidded containers heading out the door at midday, a handful of tables filling up with construction crews, garimpeiros back from the interior, and regulars from Suriname's growing Brazilian diaspora who come for a taste of home. Service is in Portuguese first, Dutch and English second, but a smile and a point at the counter warmers always works. Portions are generous, prices sit squarely in the moderate range, and lunches move faster than dinners - the kitchen closes for a proper siesta between 3 and 6 p.m., very Brazilian.
What to Try
Come at lunch for the prato feito rhythm - a heaped plate of rice and beans (feijão) with your pick of protein from the balcão. If it's Saturday, feijoada is the ritual order: black beans slow-simmered with pork, served with rice, farofa, couve (collard greens), and orange slices. Grilled picanha, frango à passarinho (garlicky fried chicken bites), and stewed carne de panela are safe bets any day. Ask what's fresh from the seasoning pot that morning - the name of the place is a promise about the temperos (seasoning blends) they build every dish on top of. Wash it down with a guaraná Antarctica or ask if they have caldo de cana.
Insider Tip
The kitchen genuinely takes its afternoon break - showing up at 4 p.m. hoping for a plate will get you a locked door. Aim for a late lunch around 2 p.m. when the balcão still has a full spread but the room has thinned out, or come at 6:30 p.m. sharp for dinner when everything's just been refreshed. Cash in SRD moves fastest; WhatsApp (+597 874 8397) is the reliable way to check daily specials or place a takeaway order before you walk over.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Daniel Ijveraarstraat 6, Paramaribo. Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-15:00 and 18:00-22:00; Sat 11:00-15:00 only (no dinner); Sun 11:00-15:00 and 18:00-22:00. Phone/WhatsApp: +597 874 8397. Price range: $$ (moderate). Cuisine: Brazilian home-style / regional. Best reached by car or short taxi from central Paramaribo; parking is on-street and easy outside peak lunch. Casual dress, cash preferred.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A comfortable nearby stay - roll out of bed and be at May's counter within minutes for a proper Brazilian-style lunch before heading out to explore the city.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Book a morning ATV adventure into Suriname's backcountry and reward the mud-splattered return with a heaping plate of feijoada and cold guaran├í - exactly what a Brazilian would order after a long day outdoors.