Last checked: November 2026
Georgetown has two big food markets: Stabroek, by the Demerara River, and Bourda, a calmer one a short drive east. Go in the morning for fish, fruit, spices and snacks. For a weekend market outside the city, Parika on the Essequibo is busiest on Sundays.
At a glance
- Main markets: Stabroek and Bourda (Georgetown), Parika (East Bank Essequibo), New Amsterdam (Berbice)
- When to go: early morning on weekdays and Saturdays; Parika peaks on Sunday mornings
- What to buy: tropical fruit, wiri wiri peppers, cassareep, achar, dried shrimp, cassava bread, snacks
- Pay with: cash in small Guyanese dollar notes
- Best for: food lovers, photographers (ask first), anyone stocking up before flying home
What is Stabroek Market like?
Stabroek is Guyana’s largest market, under a Victorian iron building with a clock tower that has stood by the Demerara River since 1881. Inside are fish, meat, fruit, provisions (starchy roots such as cassava, eddoes and yams), groceries, clothes and gold jewellery.
The fish section, called the fish pond, sells trout, bangamary, cuirass and shrimp. Fish vendors buy at the wharf before dawn and start selling early in the morning. Cook shops at the back serve Creole (Afro-Guyanese) lunches. Most trading winds down by late afternoon, so go early.
In July 2026 the government said Stabroek will be restored and extended over the next five years, with about G$2 billion set aside in the 2026 budget to start work on Stabroek and Bourda. Detailed plans were still being drawn up, so expect some works around the building.
What can you find at Bourda Market?
Bourda is Georgetown’s second-largest market, between Robb and Regent Streets in the Bourda ward. It was first built in 1880 and rebuilt in 1902. Its fish pond and beef stalls are its main draws. Vendors sell greens and provisions on neighbouring Bourda Green and along Robb Street.
It is easier to walk than Stabroek and good for fruit and street snacks such as pholourie (fried split-pea dough balls) and channa (spiced chickpeas). Bourda is also part of the government’s market reconstruction plans, though no completion date has been announced.
Which other markets are worth a trip?
Parika. On the East Bank of the Essequibo, west of Georgetown across the Demerara River, Parika is the jumping-off point for boats to Essequibo. On Sundays, hundreds of vendors fill its markets, some arriving from Wakenaam as early as Friday. Get there early, as some stalls sell out by Sunday midday.
New Amsterdam. Berbice’s main market serves the town and the Corentyne. A new market for about 320 vendors broke ground in September 2026, and the old one stays open during construction.
Linden and Rose Hall. Both have local markets for produce, fish and meat, worth a look if you are passing through.
What should you buy at a Guyanese market?
- Fruit: five finger (carambola), sapodilla, mamee, soursop, sweet genip, star apple, passion fruit and pineapple. What you find depends on the season.
- Peppers and sauces: wiri wiri peppers, bottled pepper sauce and mango achar (a spiced, oily pickle).
- Cassareep: the black cassava syrup used in pepperpot. A bottle is a classic thing to take home. See our pepperpot guide.
- Green seasoning herbs: fine-leaf and broad-leaf thyme, shallots and celery.
- Dried and smoked goods: dried shrimp and smoked fish.
- Cassava bread: large, flat, crisp rounds made by Indigenous bakers.
Check your home country’s customs rules before packing fresh produce, meat or seeds.
How do you shop safely at Stabroek and Bourda?
- Go in the morning, when it’s cooler and the produce is fresh.
- Carry only the cash you need, in small notes, and leave jewellery at the hotel.
- Keep your phone out of sight in crowded areas.
- Ask before photographing vendors or their stalls.
- For a first visit to Stabroek, go with a local or a guide.
A friendly question about a price for two or three items goes further than hard haggling.
What is the Kingston Seawall food scene?
The Seawall is where Georgetown goes to lime (hang out) in the evening. In September 2023 the Kingston esplanade, near the old bandstand, reopened with a food court of 18 vendor stalls, play areas, lighting and a police outpost.
Vending is limited to approved zones and mobile carts. It is not allowed between Kitty Roundabout and Sheriff Street, or west to the 1823 Monument. In August 2026 the Public Works ministry warned seawall vendors over unpermitted structures and sanitation, and road works are planned, so expect the line-up to change. Weekend evenings are busiest. Read more in our Georgetown street food guide.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Stabroek Market? Weekday and Saturday mornings, when the fish and produce are freshest. For Sunday shopping, go to Parika.
Is Stabroek Market safe for tourists? Most visits go smoothly in daylight with ordinary care. Carry little, watch your phone and go with someone local the first time.
Can I bring cassareep home? Sealed, shop-bottled cassareep is commonly packed by visitors. Check your country’s customs rules before you fly.
Next step: For what to eat once you’ve shopped, read our Guyanese food guide.
