For self-catering visitors and new residents, daily shopping in Grenada comes down to a few things: knowing where the larger supermarkets are, understanding that the island largely closes on Sundays and public holidays, and accepting that imported food costs a good deal more than it does in North America or Europe.
Most of the large stores are along the corridor that runs from St George's through Grand Anse and Morne Rouge, with smaller supermarkets in Grenville and other towns and village minimarts everywhere. This page sets out how it all works and how to avoid arriving at a locked door with an empty fridge.
Where the big stores are
The Grand Anse and Morne Rouge area is the main shopping district for the south of the island. Spiceland Mall in Morne Rouge is anchored by Real Value IGA, one of the largest supermarkets in Grenada, with a wide selection of imported goods alongside local produce, a deli and household items. Around it are banks, pharmacies, clothing shops and fast food. Other shopping centres and supermarkets line the main road through Grand Anse.
In St George's, supermarkets and shops are spread through the town centre and along the Carenage, and the Esplanade Mall by the cruise terminal has a mix of duty-free and local shops. Grenville in St Andrew is the main shopping centre for the east, with supermarkets, hardware stores and the market. Gouyave, Sauteurs and Victoria have smaller supermarkets and many independent shops.
On Carriacou, Hillsborough is the commercial centre; supplies are more limited and some goods arrive only when the cargo boats come in.
Usual opening hours
Weekdays. Shops in town typically open around 8am to 9am and close in the late afternoon, around 4pm to 5pm. Large supermarkets in Grand Anse stay open longer, often into the evening. Government offices and banks keep shorter hours than shops.
Saturday. Saturday is a full shopping day for supermarkets and the markets, but many smaller shops in St George's close at midday or early afternoon.
Sunday. Most of the island is closed. Some supermarkets open for limited hours, usually in the morning, and village minimarts may open after church. Do not count on buying anything specific on a Sunday.
Public holidays. Grenada has a full calendar of public holidays, including Independence Day on 7 February, Easter, Labour Day, Whit Monday, Corpus Christi, Emancipation Day, the Carnival Monday and Tuesday in August and National Heroes' Day on 19 October, as well as Christmas and Boxing Day. Most shops close or open briefly. Check the year's list before you travel.
Hours change. Exact hours vary by store and season and can change, so confirm with the store if timing matters.
What things cost and why
Grenada imports most of its packaged food, dairy, meat, wine and household goods, and the cost of freight and import duties shows on the shelf. Familiar brands from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom are often noticeably more expensive than at home. Local produce, bread from local bakeries, fish, eggs, rice and locally produced juices and condiments are much better value.
Shelf prices are in EC dollars and usually include VAT. Cheese, breakfast cereal, imported wine and specialist foods are the items that push up a grocery bill. A practical approach is to plan meals around local ingredients and buy only the few imported items you really want.
Prices for everything shift with freight costs, exchange rates elsewhere and the weather, so treat any figure you have read as a rough guide.
Pharmacies, hardware and other everyday shops
Pharmacies are found in St George's, along the Grand Anse corridor, in Grenville and in the larger country towns. They sell prescription and over-the-counter medicines, toiletries, sun care and baby products. Many common medicines are available, but brands may differ from those at home; bring the generic name of anything you take regularly. Some medicines that are sold over the counter elsewhere need a prescription here, and the reverse also happens.
Hardware and building supply stores cluster in St George's, Grand Anse and Grenville, and since Hurricane Beryl in 2024 they have been especially busy with rebuilding on Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Electronics, phone accessories and appliances are sold in town and in the malls, generally at higher prices than in North America because of import costs.
Bookshops, stationers, clothing stores and shoe shops are mostly in St George's and Grand Anse. For anything unusual, ask locally which shop is most likely to stock it before travelling around.
Practical tips for self-catering
Small habits make shopping easier:
- Shop for the weekend on Friday or Saturday morning, before the Sunday closures.
- Stock up before a public holiday, especially the Carnival period in August when much of the island is focused on Spicemas.
- Bring reusable bags. Grenada has legislation restricting single-use plastic bags and styrofoam food containers, and many shops charge for or no longer supply bags.
- Buy fruit and vegetables at the market or from roadside stalls, and the rest at the supermarket.
- Check use-by dates on dairy and chilled goods, which travel a long way to reach the shelf.
- Use village minimarts for basics such as bread, eggs, water and phone credit; they are often open when larger stores are not.
- Keep some cash for minimarts and markets, even though supermarkets take cards.
Village minimarts and the rum shop counter
Away from the main corridor, much daily shopping happens in small family-run shops in every village. These minimarts sell bread, eggs, rice, flour, canned goods, cooking gas, drinks, ice, toiletries and phone top-ups, and many open early and close late. Prices are a little higher than in supermarkets, but the convenience is real, especially if you have no car.
Many rum shops double as general stores, with a counter selling basics alongside the bar. They are social places where neighbours meet, and buying a few items is a good way to get to know an area. Greet everyone when you go in.
Small shops are mostly cash businesses and work in EC dollars. Some take cards, but do not rely on it. If you are staying in a village, ask your host which shop has the freshest bread and when the bakery delivers.
Shopping without a car
You do not need a car to shop in the south. Route buses run along the main road between St George's and Grand Anse throughout the day, stopping on request, and the larger supermarkets and Spiceland Mall are on or close to that route. Buses are frequent on weekdays and Saturdays and much less so on Sundays.
With heavy bags, a taxi back to your accommodation is worth the cost; drivers wait near the malls and can be called through your hotel. Agree the fare first.
Some supermarkets and shops offer order and delivery services, which can be useful for villas and longer stays, but availability, fees and minimum orders change, so ask the store directly. Villa managers and guesthouse owners can often arrange a grocery delivery before you arrive.
Common mistakes
Arriving on a Saturday evening with nothing in the fridge. If your flight lands late on Saturday, the next morning may offer very little. Ask your accommodation to arrange basic supplies, or stop at a supermarket on the way from the airport.
Expecting every brand. Stock depends on shipments; a favourite product may disappear for weeks. Be flexible and look at local and regional alternatives from Trinidad and Tobago or Barbados.
Assuming US dollar prices. Supermarket prices are in EC dollars. A price that looks alarming in US terms is usually reasonable once divided by 2.70.
Forgetting about cruise days in town. Shopping in central St George's is slower when large ships are in port. Grand Anse is less affected.
Frequently asked questions
Are supermarkets open on Sunday in Grenada?
Some larger supermarkets open on Sunday for reduced hours, usually in the morning, but most shops are closed. Village minimarts may open later in the day. Plan weekend shopping for Friday or Saturday and check the specific store's hours if you need something on a Sunday.
Where is the largest supermarket in Grenada?
Real Value IGA at Spiceland Mall in Morne Rouge, near Grand Anse, is one of the largest supermarkets on the island. Other big supermarkets are along the Grand Anse corridor and in St George's, and Grenville has the main stores for the east coast.
Is food expensive in Grenada?
Imported food is expensive because of shipping and duties, often more than in North America or Europe. Local produce, fish, bread and staples are good value. Self-catering costs drop considerably if meals are built around Grenadian ingredients rather than imported brands.
Do supermarkets take credit cards?
Yes, the larger supermarkets accept Visa and Mastercard, and debit cards that work internationally. Smaller shops, minimarts and market stalls often prefer cash. Carry some EC dollars for these, especially outside the Grand Anse and St George's area.
Should reusable bags be brought to Grenada?
Yes. Grenada has restricted single-use plastic bags and styrofoam containers, so shops may charge for bags or not supply them. A folding reusable bag is useful for supermarkets, markets and roadside stalls.
What closes during Carnival in Grenada?
Carnival Monday and Tuesday in August are public holidays, and many shops, offices and banks close. Supermarkets may open for short hours. Stock up beforehand if you are self-catering during Spicemas, and expect road closures around St George's.
