Triple C Slijterij: Paramaribo's Neighborhood Bottle Shop for Parbo, Borgoe & Beyond
A no-frills Maretraite slijterij where locals stock up on ice-cold Parbo, Surinamese rum, and Dutch jenever.
Why Go
Tucked on the corner of Jozef Israelstraat and Topaasstraat in the Maretraite neighborhood, Triple C is the kind of unassuming Surinamese slijterij that quietly keeps half of Paramaribo's balcony evenings supplied. It isn't a tasting room or a cocktail bar - it's a proper Dutch-style off-license where you grab your Parbo by the crate, your Borgoe by the bottle, and your questions answered by whoever's behind the counter. For travelers renting an apartment nearby or heading to the interior, it's the practical first stop before the sun drops.
The Experience
Walking in, you get the classic Surinamese slijterij feel: fluorescent lighting, shelves stacked floor-to-ceiling with local rum, Dutch jenever, imported whisky, wine, and mixers, plus a cold section humming with green bottles of Parbo Bier and Heineken. Staff are friendly but businesslike - most transactions are quick, cash-forward, and in Dutch or Sranan Tongo (English works fine too). You'll see delivery boys loading crates into pickup trucks, expats grabbing wine before a dinner in Zorg en Hoop, and older Surinamese gentlemen picking up a half-liter of Black Cat rum on the way home. It's not photogenic, but it's real Paramaribo daily life.
What to Try
Grab a crate (or two loose bottles) of ice-cold Parbo Bier - the national lager is a rite of passage. If you want the truly local pour, ask for Borgoe 5 or the older Borgoe 8 Extra, Suriname's flagship rums distilled from local sugarcane; sip them neat over one big cube or long with fresh coconut water. Black Cat rum is the everyday alternative locals swear by. For something distinctly Surinamese to take home, look for a bottle of Mariënburg 90% - a rocket-fuel white rum that makes an unforgettable (and legal) souvenir. Dutch drinkers will find plenty of jonge and oude jenever on the shelves too.
Insider Tip
Bring cash in SRD - card machines at slijterijen in Paramaribo are famously moody, and small notes make life easier. Also: Suriname's alcohol shops close by early evening on weekdays and don't reopen Sunday, so time your run before 6pm or you'll be knocking on a locked shutter. If you're heading upriver to Brownsberg, Bergendal, or the Upper Suriname lodges, this is a smart last-city stop - prices in the interior are double, and cold Parbo becomes priceless after a day on the water.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Jozef Israelstraat 15 (corner Topaasstraat), Maretraite, Paramaribo. Phone: +597 456-969. Hours: Monday to Friday roughly 08:30-18:00; limited or closed on Sundays - call ahead if in doubt. Payment: cash (SRD) is king; some cards accepted intermittently. It's a 5-10 minute drive from the city center; taxis and Uber-style app rides are cheap. No tasting on-site - this is a shop, not a bar. Please drink responsibly; Suriname's legal drinking age is 18.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A convenient Paramaribo stay just a short hop away - stock the mini-fridge with Parbo and Borgoe from Triple C before check-in for balcony sundowners.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — Grab a cold crate here first, then head to the Suriname River for a tubing session - drinks land perfectly on the boat ride back.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — After a dusty day off-road in the interior, a Black Cat rum and coconut water bought earlier at Triple C is the reward locals recommend.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — Renting a 4x4 for a jungle run? Detour to Triple C on the way out of Paramaribo - the last reasonably priced bottle shop before the interior.