Alcohol

Imported alcohol is heavily taxed in Fiji.  The local Fiji Bitter, Gold and Premium beers are cheap; however, imported beer is very expensive, as are spirits and wine.  Only heads and deputy heads of agencies have access to duty-free alcohol within Fiji – this can be bought from Victoria Wines and Spirits.  Others should make the most of trips out of the country to buy duty-free alcohol.

• Most supermarkets

• Victoria Wines and Spirits: (3 MacArthur Street, Ph: 331-2884 (3 MacArthur Street, Ph: 331-2884; Damodar City Shop damodar@victoriawines.com.fj; https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaWinesFiji). Excellent selection of imported wines, spirits and beer. Victoria Wines hold wine tasting evenings at Shenanigans in Suva on the last Tuesday of each month.  Book in advance and get on their mailing list.

• Meghji Trading:  Lot 1-4 Garden City, Carpenter Street, Ph:  338 4135

• Distill:  Rewa Street at Flagstaff roundabout, Ph:  331 4921

 

 

Asian Specialty Foods

• Oriental Market:  Downtown Boulevard (also good sturdy plasticware for home and office)

• Yon Tong: (Marks Street) Very good range of oriental sauces and Japanese condiments;

• Lazy Chef's Pantry: (Flagstaff Ph: 310 0220) Well-stocked deli, includes Asian and Italian imported goods

• The Italian shop in Denarau (next to Yaqara/ South Pacific Butchers).  Check here . They are worth stopping at if in Denarau for Italian imports/ cheese/ wine etc.  They will also deliver via the Thursday butchers delivery.

• Yee’s supermarket: Nadi will deliver to Suva on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Email: yeeswholesale@gmail.com for price list.  Especially good for frozen berries.

 

 

Baby Equipment and Clothes

• Nippon: (208 Waimanu Road)  Reasonable range, cheap, not great quality

• RB Pate:l (Ratu Dovi Road, opposite Vinod Patel)  Small range, cheap

• TappooCity: (Pumpkin Patch clothes for toddlers)

• BonJour: (in Vanua Arcade, Victoria Parade) clothes for babies and toddlers

• MHCC: (second floor)

• Jack's: (between Thomson Street and Renwick Road) 

 

 

Books

You may not find the specific book you are looking for; however, the Suva bookshops have a reasonable selection of children’s and adults’ books. Prices are generally expensive for imported new or bestseller books.  Bookshops include:

• USP Book Centre: (USP Main Campus, Laucala Bay; 323 2500; Email: customerservice@uspbookshop.ac.fj)  The best bookshop in Fiji, including an excellent collection of books on the Pacific

• Bookmasters: (173 Victoria Parade)

• Dominion Book Centre: (Thomson Street)

• Pacific Book Centre: (Cumming Street)

• Suva Book Shop: (Downtown Boulevard)

• Just Books: (Sports City, Laucala Bay Road)

• Prouds: (Suva Central Building, Renwick Road)

 

 

Clothes

• Sogo: (Victoria Parade and Cumming Street)  Fijian-made clothes for men and women

• Wai Tui: (Sports City)  Fijian-made swim-wear (including UV-protective gear) for adults and children, and sports-wear

• Jack’s: (between Thomson Street and Renwick Road) 

• MHCC: (second floor)

• Tappoo City

• Damodar (Jack’s)

 

 

Computers and Electronics

• Garden City is setting itself up as the IT centre of Suva, and has a number of shops specialising in selling and repairing specific brands of computer

• Universal Electronics: Excellent electronic center (Knolly Street)

• Daltron: (Ellery St)

• Bondwell: (Moti Street)

• VT Solutions: (Ellery St. across from Downtown Boulvevard Bld)

• Radical Computers: (Samabula, Ph: 337-3345). Specialises in custom-built computers and peripherals, repairs and home office setting up. Fast and reliable.

• Check the facebook group Fiji computers and mobile phones

 

 

Department Stores

• MHCC: (Morris Hedstrom, between Thomson St and Renwick Rd)

• Prouds: (Suva Central Building, Renwick Rd)

• TappooCity: (between Thomson and Scott St)

• Jack’s: (between Thomson St and Renwick Rd)

 

 

Fish

Apart from MHCC and MH Superfresh, fish in supermarkets is mainly sliced and frozen. However, there are places in Suva that have a good selection, though on any one day they may have only one or two varieties.  

• Farmfresh Fish:  home delivery Tuesdays and Thursdays; Phone: Filipe (679) 7084940Email: salesfarmright@icloud.com

• Island Ika: (44 High Street, Toorak Ph: 330 2254 / 707 3226; islandika@gmail.com) Supply is different each day. Currently Closed and selling out of IGA New World, Damodar!

• Lazy Chef's Pantry: (Flagstaff Ph: 310 0220) 

• Wahley’s Butchery (Flagstaff, Ph: 331 3577) Excellent tuna fillets, suitable for sashimi, not on a regular basis.

• Fiji Fish: (Queens Road, Lami, not far past Novatel)  Export quality sashimi and filleted fish.  Will take orders on Monday (Arun: 990-7592 or Mashuk: 999-8843, mashuk@fijifish.com.fj), and then will phone you later in the week when your order is available

• Suva Market: (mainly whole fresh fish). Best time to go - early Saturday morning

 

Furniture/Homeware

• MH Homestore: (Rodwell Street)  Good range of cheap furniture and homeware

• MHCC: (first floor)  Good selection of better quality homeware 

• Courts (Rodwell Street)  Good range of cheap furniture

• Tappoo: (Thomson Street; and Carpenter Street, Raiwai)  Small range of homeware; appliances and whiteware; some beds at Raiwai shop

• Rup’s Big Bear: (Rodwell Street; and Grantham Road)  A veritable Aladdin’s cave!  Large range of cheap homeware and furniture

• Vinod Patel: (Centerpoint, Ratu Dovi Road)  Large range of inexpensive furniture and homeware

• Cost-U-Less: (Sports City, Laucala Bay Road)  Some homeware; occasional items of furniture

• Starest Furniture and Joinery: (Boila Circle, Kalabo, Ph: 334-0078)  Make excellent quality furniture; be precise with measurements and details such as how you want wood stained

• Modern Furniture: (corner of Kaua Road and Baka Place, Laucala Beach Estate, Ph: 339-7044)  Small range of well-made furniture; will also make to order – be precise with measurements

• Comfort Home Furnishing: (Baka Place, Laucala Beach Estate)  Good quality beds and mattresses; small range of other furniture

• South Seas Treasures: (17 Ackland Street, Vatuwaqa; and small shop on first floor of MHCC)  Good range of beautiful furniture imported from Indonesia; also sells homeware items

• Cascade: (Jerusalem Road)  Furniture and homeware items imported from Indonesia

• Pacific Green: (Queens Highway, Malaqereqere, near Sigatoka, Ph: 650-0055, www.pacificgreeninternational.com.)  One of Fiji’s flagship businesses; beautifully designed and constructed export-quality furniture; very expensive (although apparently it lasts forever)

• Watch out for the Indian trade fairs which happen once or twice a year – bargain hard, or risk waiting until the last day of the fair when prices drop significantly

• Courts: Downtown or Samabula branches

• Gokals: Downtown, next to MHCC

• Brijlal: Cumming street

 

 

Handicrafts

• Jack’s: (between Thomson Street and Renwick Road)  Fijian crafts and tourist goods

• TappooCity: Corner of Thompson St, Scott St & Usher St; Suva, Fiji. Phone, +679 331 5422. Mon-Sun 9:00am - 9:00pm

• Handicraft Market: (Stinson Parade)  Fijian crafts – bargaining is necessary

• Suva Flea Market: (Rodwell Road)  Less aggressive than the Handicraft Market

• ROC Market: (third Sunday of every month, 9 am-4 pm)

 

 

Hardware

• Vinod Patel: (Centerpoint, Ratu Dovi Road)  Biggest range, reasonable prices

• Manubhai: (Grantham Road)  More expensive

• Carpenter’s: (Matua Road, Walu Bay)

 

 

Markets

Suva Market Municipal Market, Usher Str at Rodwell Rd.  Excellent selection of local produce on main floor and spices on second floor.  Flowers sold Thursday - Sunday.  There are fish, seafood and meat stalls as well.  (Saturday may have a bigger selection but it is far easier and much less busy on a week day – easy and cheap to park there Mon – Thursday and the selection is still very good)

• Stall on Laucala Bay Road, not far from Flagstaff

• Stalls at Jerusalem Road/Golf Link Road intersection

• Stalls next to Superfresh Tamavua

• ROC Market: (Dolphin’s Foodcourt, Victoria Parade). Features arts, crafts, books, toys, food. Fun for the family.  Third Sunday of every month.

• Westpac Small Business Enterprise Market; food, crafts every month, variable dates, look at Fiji Times for advertisement

• FDB Market held every second Saturday in the morning at the Fiji Development Bank carpark on 360 Victoria Parade.

 

 

Material/Sewing Accessories

• Materialised/ Motiram: (corner of Toorak Road and Suva Street)  Great collection of cottons from around the Pacific; small range of curtain materials; also sells good quality towels, sheets, cushions etc

• Images Interior Design: (2 Brewster Street, Toorak)  Beautiful imported materials for curtains and furnishings

• Atlas: (Marks Street)  Good selection of materials

• Rup’s Big Bear: (Rodwell Street and Grantham Road)  Good selection of curtain materials; will make curtains free of charge

• Lala’s: (Waimanu Road)  Cottons for sheets, tablecothes etc

• Lace Bazaar: (Waimanu Road, near Toorak Road)  Great for sewing accessories

• Threads (Garden City)

 

 

Meat

• Wahley’s Butchery: (Cumming Street; and Flagstaff), Ph: 331 3577, Offers Suva's best quality meats (no halal)

• Yaqara/South Pacific Butchering Company: (Nadi, Ph: 670-3900, Fax: 670-3800, Mobile: 922-2863 Woody, 999-3900). Expensive but high quality.  They take phone orders and do house deliveries in Suva on Thursdays. Phone and ask for a price list. Email: spbcl@connect.com.fj.  Pricelist!

 

 

Music Stores

• Dragon Music: (379 Victoria Parade; Ph: 330 2015; 331 4561; jasonho@connect.com.fj/ dragonmusic@kidanet.net.fj.

• South Seas Music: (8 Usher Street; Ph: 331 5155)

• Sharma Music Centre: (Lakeba Street, Samabula; Ph: 338 1202)

• South Pacific Recordings Ltd (SPR): (7 Usher Street; Ph: 331 3405)

 

 

Pharmacies

Laucala Bay Pharmacy: (Sports City, Laucala Bay Road). Good quality pharmaceuticals and products from Australia.  Will order items from Australia which are not available in Fiji.Pharmacy at Suva Private HospitalCity Centre: (Ground Floor MHCC)Suva City Pharmacy: (Victoria Parade near Fiji Post)Samabula Drugstore: (Ratu Mara Road)Pharmacy at Damodar CityCheck pharmacies near CWM Hospital for after-hours needs.

 

 

Supermarkets

Supermarkets are generally open on weekdays and Saturdays until 8 or 9 in the evening and on Sundays until early-afternoon.  Supermarkets are plentiful in Suva; ex-pat favourites include:

• Damodar City:  (Grantham Rd, Suva, Fiji, +679 327 5100). New complex with IGA New World, Cinema, restaurants, Jack’s of Fiji, Sports City, Vodafone, Digicel, BSP Bank, ATMs and more.

• MHCC: (between Thomson Street and Renwick Road)  Good variety of products; clean and well-stocked.  MH Homestore upstairs has appliances, household goods, clothes etc.  There are also several other shops in the same complex, and a food court on the second floor.  Adjoining car park – entrance on Thomson Street.

• MH Superfresh: (corner of Princes Road and Mead Street, Tamavua). Good variety of products; clean and well-stocked.

• MH Premium: (Flagstaff) A little run-down, awkward parking, but convenient!

• MH Plus: (Ratu Dovi Road, Laucala Beach Estate). A little run-down, but convenient if you are dropping off or picking up children from the International School.

• Cost-U-Less: (Sports City, Laucala Bay Road). Lots of imported goods, especially from USA; also sells homeware, furniture, garden implements etc.

• Joe’s Farm: (Ragg Avenue). Good fresh produce and some hard-to-find grocery items.

• RB Patel: (opposite Centerpoint, Ratu Dovi Road)

• Kundan Singh: (Princes Road)

• Best Buys: (Garden City)

• New World

• Rajendra Food Town

 

 

Second-hand Clothes

There are a large number of shops bringing in second-hand clothes from Australia (allow a couple of hours and you’re almost certain to find a designer label garment which has hardly been worn).  Favourite shops amongst ex-pats include:

 

• Value City: (Rodwell Street, not far past MH Homestore heading out of town; and Vivrass Shopping Centre, Ratu Dovi Road)  Two huge stores

• Deborah’s: (beside Rodwell Street Value City)  A little more expensive but generally good quality

• Bargain Box: (Waimanu Road)

 

 

Shoes

Although there are plenty of shoe shops in Suva, it is very hard to find shoes which will last more than a month!

• TappooCity:  Stocks some good quality imported shoes, including sports shoes

• Dahia Shoes: (42 Cumming Street; 159 Victoria Parade; and 172 Rodwell Road)  Reasonable quality, Fijian-made shoes

 

 

Sports Equipment

• SportsWorld: (18 Waimanu Drive Ph: 331 5910; MHCC ground floor; Ph: 331 0007)

• Adidas: (MHCC ground floor)

• JR White: (Victoria Parade; Ph:330 2325;  Harbour Centre; Ph:330 6499)

 

 

Stationery  DIANA

• Fiji Post shops

• MHCC, MH Superfresh

• Garden City Book Shop: (Garden City, Grantham Road)

• Office Supplies Shop: (Ground floor, Dolphins Plaza, Victoria Parade+ Victoria Parade by the bar

• Anis Party Shop: FNFP Plaza

 

 

Video Rentals

• Rowell Home Entertainment:  (MHCC, top floor)

• IMDVD: (Sports City, Laucala Bay Road Ph: 327 0007)  Excellent range including a great selection of art-house movies

• Movie Express: (Holland Street)

 

 

Water

Most ex-pats filter, boil or buy water in Suva.  If you can’t persuade your landlord to install a filter at the kitchen sink, consider covering the cost yourself – you’ll recoup the money over buying water within a couple of months.

• Aquasafe: (Pleass Beverages, 16 Amra Street, Walu Bay, Ph: 330-8803)  Supply water coolers and bottled water; home delivery for bottle refills; also sell and install filter systems