By Riad Beladi, International Supermarket News
Returning to my beloved home city of Algiers after years away was more than a personal journey—it was a revelation. As my plane descended over the Bay of Algiers, I was struck not just by the familiar beauty of the Mediterranean shimmer, but by the skyline, now dotted with modern towers and elegant façades, stretching proudly into the horizon. The Ottoman and French colonial architecture still stands, timeless and stoic, but around it, Algiers has bloomed into a new city—a city alive with ambition, energy, and unmistakable charm.
But perhaps what moved me most was something deeper than the architecture: the transformation in daily life, especially when it comes to shopping and food culture. Algiers has always been a city of heart and hospitality, but today, it is also a city of choice, flavour, and sophistication.
From the Supermarket to the Superette – Shopping the Algiers Way
Strolling through the neighbourhoods of Hydra, El Madania, and Kouba, I noticed how shopping in Algiers has become a beautiful contrast between the modern and the traditional. On one corner, a large French-style supermarket offers endless aisles of goods, international brands, fresh organic produce, and even imported cheese and fruits the growing foodie population. Yet just a few steps away, you’ll find the “superette”, or as the locals call it, “Épicerie du Houma”—the small neighbourhood grocery that still holds the soul of the community.
These superettes are more than shops. They’re part of the fabric of Algiers. The shopkeeper knows your name, your children, and your favourite brand of couscous. The shelves may be smaller, but the warmth is greater. From fragrant spices to locally produced dairy and olive oil, the quality is uncompromised.
The Sweetest Secret – Algiers’ Pâtisseries
And then there is the jewel of Algiers: the pâtisseries.
I say this with conviction and a hint of awe: Algeria’s pastry scene is the best-kept culinary secret in the world. Algiers has pâtisseries that could rival those of Paris or Vienna—and perhaps even surpass them. These are not simply places to buy sweets. They are art galleries, jewellery shops of sugar and flour, where every creation is a masterpiece of colour, craftsmanship, and elegance.
Whether it’s the almond-rich makroud, the honey-drizzled dziriettes, or the meticulously sculpted gâteau moderne with pistachio and rosewater, each piece seems almost too beautiful to eat. And yet, once you do, it transports you—home, memory, and celebration in a single bite. It’s no wonder Algeria has won multiple international pastry competitions.
A Market of Colours – The Traditional Soul
For all its modern supermarkets and boutiques, the soul of Algiers still lives in its traditional markets. I visited the market in El Harrach and was greeted with a riot of colours and sounds: sun-ripened fruits from Africa and South America, glossy aubergines, fragrant mint, and expertly cut meat displayed in pristine glass counters, reminiscent of French-style butchers.
There’s something honest and invigorating about these markets. The chatter, the bargaining, the scent of oranges and coriander in the air. In one corner, charcuterie is laid out like an orchestra of cured meats and terrines; in another, a woman from Tizi Ouzou offers wild mountain honey and handcrafted pottery.
A City Reborn
Algiers today is a city that respects its past while building its future. It is a place where skycrapers rise beside Ottoman minarets, where global flavours mix with North African heritage, where shopping is not just a chore but a cultural journey.
For me, walking through Algiers was like walking through a poem written in architecture, aroma, and affection. It reminded me that progress does not always mean replacing the old—but often means elevating it, blending it, and celebrating it.
Algiers, you surprised me. You inspired me. And most of all—you welcomed me home.
Riad Beladi
Editor, International Supermarket News
