The 10 best supermarkets in Asunción

To pick a supermarket in Asunción, think about the branch, not just the chain: the same brand can be open on Sunday at one location and closed at another, and hours change on public holidays. Choose the nearest branch that covers your shopping, check that address's Sunday hours, and for a big cart compare it with home delivery.

Which kind of grocery store suits you?

• Hypermarket or large supermarket: for the weekly or monthly shop, with butcher, bakery, cleaning products and drinks under one roof. Best with a car and a list.
• Neighborhood supermarket: for daily top-ups. Usually a few blocks away and quick.
• Convenience stores: for one missing item at night or when everything else is closed. You pay for the convenience.
• Municipal market: for fruit, vegetables and dry goods in bulk. Mercado 4 is in the Pettirossi barrio, at Rodríguez de Francia and Perú, and spills into San Roque, Ciudad Nueva and Pinozá (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

The ranked list above shows options; use this guide to decide which fits your week.

How do you know if it's open on Sunday?

Don't assume every branch of a chain keeps the same hours. Look up the exact address on your map app or the chain's website and check that store's Sunday hours. Some close earlier on Sundays; some don't open.

On national holidays, hours change again. The ones that matter most are May 1, May 14, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, December 8 (Virgin of Caacupé) and December 25 (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Around those dates, and on December 24 and 31, do the big shop a day or two earlier.

Which area works for the weekly shop?

Choose by route, not straight-line distance. If you live or work near Avenida Mariscal López, which runs through Villa Morra (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), a branch on a side street or a trip outside office hours can save time at rush hour. From downtown, Sajonia or Barrio Obrero, Mercado 4 is handy for produce and a neighborhood store for the rest.

A simple rule: the big supermarket for the monthly cart at a quiet hour, the neighborhood one for the week.

Delivery or in person?

Delivery makes sense when:

• The cart is heavy (water, drinks, cleaning supplies).
• It's very hot: in summer Asunción's heat index can top 40 °C, with short thunderstorms (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• You know exactly which brands you want.

Before ordering, check the delivery fee, minimum order, coverage area and payment options (cash, card on delivery or online). For meat, vegetables and fruit, going in person lets you choose.

How can you save at the supermarket?

• Bank promotions: several banks and wallets offer cashback days at supermarkets. Check your card's current campaign before picking a shopping day.
• Weekly flyers: compare the price per kilo or liter, not per pack.
• Shelf price: if the checkout charges more than the shelf label, say so on the spot. If it isn't fixed, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Secretariat (SEDECO) through the form on its website (SEDECO⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Receipt: keep it until you get home and check it.

What should you bring?

• Reusable bags and an insulated bag for dairy and meat, especially in summer.
• Cash in guaraníes as well as a card, in case the card machine fails or for the market.
• Your list on your phone, sorted by store section.