© Ian Scoop · Google MapsSupermarkets by region and practical advice for stocking up during your stay.
The practical side
If you are renting a villa or an apartment, grocery runs are part of the trip. The island has well-stocked supermarkets, neighbourhood grocers and fresh produce stalls. This page helps you figure out where to go depending on where you are staying.
Most of what fills the shelves arrives by ship, mainly from the Netherlands and the United States, and you feel it at the register: expect to pay more than in Europe or North America for a similar basket. Good deals exist, as long as you know where to go.
By region
The main stores, region by region. This list will grow during our stay on the island.
The beaches and Westpunt area, on the west side of the island.
New California Supermarket
In Tera Kora, on the road to Westpunt. A small local supermarket, handy for essentials between two beaches; for a big shop, stop at Centrum Piscadera on your way instead.
The heart of the island, around Willemstad.
Centrum Supermarket
Two locations, in Piscadera and Mahaai, with a large fruit and vegetable section and products from Europe and the United States. The Piscadera store sits right on the way to the western beaches.
Carrefour Market
In the Sambil shopping mall, with the widest organic and dietary range on the island and solid European brands.
Van den Tweel Zeelandia
The go-to for Dutch products, with excellent fresh departments. Open every day, convenient when you are staying around Willemstad.
Jan Thiel, Caracasbaai and the southeast of the island.
Van den Tweel Jan Thiel
On the ground floor of the Papagayo, steps from Jan Thiel beach: a proper full-size supermarket with Dutch products and well-kept fresh departments, open every day.
Luna Park Maxi Market
On Caracasbaaiweg, a neighbourhood market stacked with products from all over the world, handy for topping up without driving back to town.
Good to know
The things that actually change the budget and logistics of a rental stay.
Groceries cost more than in Europe or North America, since almost everything is imported. Dutch chains like Van den Tweel sit at the top of the range, Mangusa Hypermarket on Cas Coraweg plays the volume card with softer prices, and local products remain the best deals.
The same bottle of water or soda often costs more from the cooler than from the regular shelf a few steps away. Buy your drinks at room temperature, let the fridge at your rental do the chilling, and keep the cooler section for what you plan to drink right away.
Go for local and regional fruits and vegetables: fresher and cheaper than imports. The fresh sections at Centrum and Van den Tweel have a solid reputation, and that is where the difference shows.
Sunday is not a problem: the big supermarkets open that day too, often with reduced hours. Van den Tweel keeps the same hours seven days a week; others close earlier than the rest of the week, so aim for the morning.
Specialty products, gluten-free, organic or dietary, remain limited on the island; the Carrefour Market at Sambil carries the widest range. If a specific product is essential to you, pack it in your suitcase.
Past Tera Kora, big supermarkets get scarce. Do the bulk of your shopping at Centrum Piscadera on the way west, keep New California for day-to-day essentials, and bring the cooler for beach days.
This page is written first for travellers staying in a villa or an apartment, with a kitchen and a fridge to fill. Here are our lodging picks on the island.