Liquor prices here roughly track STC Hypermarket in Victoria
STC Duty Free sits airside in the International terminal at SEZ, just after passport control, and regulars treat it as the airport branch of the same STC group that runs the hypermarket near Victoria. Shelves lean hard into spirits, cigarettes, and a smaller run of snacks and boxed chocolates, with pricing that often mirrors town for mainstream liquor brands but not for everyday groceries.
Space is small, in line with Mahe’s “only a few shops inside” reputation, so think one quick circuit rather than a long browse. Spirits and tobacco usually carry the only real savings compared with STC Hypermarket or Spar Eden Plaza, while packaged food, sunscreen, and beach basics tend to cost more than you’d pay in Victoria. Staff keep things moving at peak banked departures, but queues can still hit 10–15 minutes before late‑night long‑haul flights.
What regulars do: stock up on wine, beer, and snacks at STC Hypermarket in Victoria or Spar Eden Plaza on the way to the airport, then use STC Duty Free only as a last stop for spirits or cigarettes if the math works. Price‑sensitive travellers flying at 04:50 or other pre‑dawn slots often rely on this shop because town supermarkets close around 20:00–21:00, and duty free then becomes the only option.
Watch out for multi‑buy chocolate and souvenir bundles that look like value but come out higher than supermarket totals once you convert from SCR. If you care about price, take a phone photo of shelf tags at STC Hypermarket during your trip and compare quickly here before you tap your card.