What to eat French Guiana? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Guyanese meals are served from midday to 2pm and from 7pm to 10pm. It should be noted that most restaurants are closed on Sundays, and that during major vacations, closing days can sometimes be modified.

Life isn't exactly cheap in French Guiana, and the restaurant business is no exception. However, there are a few tables in town serving a dish of the day for around €10. For a more elaborate menu, you're looking at €30 to €40. The real bargain in French Guiana is the soup prepared by the Hmongs and served in most of the department's markets: healthy, economical and tasty! Bring cash with you to restaurants, in case credit cards are not accepted.

Visit the markets in Cayenne (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), Saint-Laurent (Saturdays) or Cacao (Sundays) to discover all the tropical fruits and vegetables, and enjoy the famous Hmong soup with your family.

Order a madras from a food-truck, and enjoy it on the bench next door, in the shade of the palm trees. Madras is the most popular Guyanese dish.

Prepare a couac salad for picnics during forest walks.

Add some spice to the already spicy dishes offered by many restaurateurs. Sensitive palates, however, will find something to suit them just about everywhere.

For overnight stays in a carbet, if the place you've chosen doesn't offer meals on site, you'll usually find a small kitchen area where you can prepare your own meals. Ask your host for more information, and remember to do a bit of shopping, depending on what the place has to offer.

While you're at it, avoid imported products and opt for local harvests. You'll save a lot of money and be surprised by new tastes and textures!

Timoun (Creole for children) are welcome in all restaurants in French Guiana, and children's menus are often available.

While smoking is forbidden in restaurants (the same rules apply here as in mainland France), smoking is generally tolerated on the terrace as long as you don't get in the way of others. The easiest way to find out is to ask the restaurant staff.

Bakeries, cafeterias and ice-cream parlors are generally open all day, until around 7 p.m., or even a little later in the case of ice-cream shops (ice cream is always a good idea in this heat!). However, there are no hard and fast rules here, and to avoid wasting your time, it's best to make a quick phone call. Bars generally open around 6pm-7pm and close around midnight-1am, some on weekdays, others only at weekends.

Prices for gourmet breaks and alcoholic beverages are relatively similar to those in mainland France, with the possible exception of rum- and cachaça-based cocktails. Local natural juices are highly recommended for quenching thirst, with passion fruit(maracudja) and cytherea plum being the most common. Fresh, sweet beverages to give your body a boost!

Serving yourself a generous ti'punch at any time of the day or night is a local custom. Usually, the waiter brings the bottle of rum, liquid sugar and limes directly to you, so you can mix your own cocktail!

Children are accepted wherever a bar permit is not in force. However, they may sometimes be allowed on a bar terrace until the early evening.

While smoking is prohibited in gourmet shops, cafés and bars, smokers may be tolerated on the terraces of these establishments.