IMAGE SOURCE: ims.sr
Paramaribo has two shopping malls worth an actual visit, plus one that used to matter. Hermitage Mall has been the city's main shopping destination since 2000. The International Mall of Suriname (IMS) opened in July 2024 after a seven-year build and is now the newer, more built-out complex on the city's southern edge. Maretraite Mall, once the biggest of the three, is mostly closed today.
Both malls lean heavily on international chains (Calvin Klein, Hard Rock Cafe, KFC) rather than local craft or souvenir shops. For Surinamese-made goods, the Central Market and the adjoining Vreedzaammarkt, covered in the things to do in Paramaribo guide, are the better stop.
- Hermitage Mall: the original, still the largest. Opened 2000, expanded 2004. 80 stores. Lalla Rookhweg 73, Flora/Beekhuizen area.
- International Mall of Suriname (IMS): the newest and most modern. Opened July 7, 2024. Around 45 stores. Ringweg-Zuid 245.
- Maretraite Mall: opened 2006, now mostly closed. A handful of shops remain. 118 Jan Steenstraat.
Hermitage Mall
Hermitage Mall opened in 2000 with about twenty shops and a food court. A second phase in 2004 expanded it further, and the mall now counts 80 stores across two floors by its own count, making it the largest shopping center in the city.
Address: Lalla Rookhweg 73, in the Flora/Beekhuizen area south of downtown Paramaribo. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 9pm. Sundays and holidays, 4pm to 9pm. Free WiFi is available throughout.
Confirmed stores include Calvin Klein, Skechers, Aldo, All Star, Converse, and Esprit, alongside home goods at Bed Bath & Beyond Home, an electronics section, and a pharmacy. Banking and services are also on site: De Surinaamsche Bank, Digicel, and courier counters. There's also a food court alongside the sit-down restaurants for a quicker bite between stores.
On-site parking is available, though it fills up on weekends, so weekday visits are the easier option if you're driving.
Next door, TBL Cinemas runs five screens at 79 Lalla Rookhweg, including a RealD 3D and a Dolby 3D auditorium. It's the region's main cinema and draws its own crowd separate from the mall's shoppers.
Hermitage Mall also has a Republic Bank ATM on site, useful to know if you're budgeting cash for the trip. Getting there: taxis aren't metered in Paramaribo, so agree the fare before you get in, or call a taxi centrale directly, such as Suriname Taxi Centrale on 1660. The transportation guide covers your options in detail. Full store directory: hermitage-mall.com.
International Mall of Suriname (IMS)
IMS is Paramaribo's newest and most ambitious retail project. Construction started in November 2017. The mall opened on July 7, 2024, after a three-day opening festival, with then-President Chan Santokhi presiding over the ceremony. Total build cost: around $5 million USD. Architect: Peter Tenniglo.
Address: Ringweg-Zuid 245, on the city's southern ring road. Parking: 188 spaces on the north side by the ring road plus 431 more on the south side, with valet parking also available. Free WiFi is provided throughout. Being further from the historic center than Hermitage Mall, a taxi or ride-hailing app (see the transportation guide) is the practical way in.
The mall counts roughly 45 stores, including Calvin Klein, BOSS, Birkenstock, Crocs, Carmen Steffens, and Jack & Jones.
Dining is a bigger part of the pitch here than at Hermitage. Hard Rock Cafe Suriname occupies a 5,250-square-meter space that opened in 2023, ahead of the rest of the mall. KFC, Mingle Cocktail Lounge, and Murphy's Irish Pub round out the food and drink options.
Families get their own draw: a Chuck E. Cheese location with an arcade and a kids' menu, the only one of its kind in the country.
Full store directory: ims.sr.
Maretraite Mall: What's Left
Maretraite Mall opened in 2006 at 118 Jan Steenstraat and was, for a while, the biggest shopping center in the city. That changed once Hermitage Mall expanded and IMS opened. Most of the original stores have closed, and independent visitor reviews describe the building itself as run-down. All Star and Shannah are among the few shops still operating.
It's not worth a special trip for the shops, and the declining state of the building is worth knowing before you go, not just after. If you do stop by, it's mainly for the Republic Bank ATM on site, one of the ATM locations covered in the money guide. The Suriname safety guide covers general precautions worth knowing for the capital.
Which Mall Fits Your Trip
For dining and entertainment in one stop, IMS is the better choice. Hard Rock Cafe, KFC, Chuck E. Cheese, and two bars all sit inside a mall that opened in 2024, so everything feels new. For quick errands, a pharmacy run, or a movie, Hermitage Mall is closer to the city center and pairs directly with TBL Cinemas next door. Maretraite Mall is only worth a stop if you're already in the area and need the ATM.
Check the Paramaribo hotels guide to see which mall sits closer to where you're staying. For more on what else is in the capital, see the Paramaribo destination guide.
