Experience memorable evenings at Balam with the mesmerizing sounds of our DJs, while savoring exquisite dishes and refreshing cocktails. Get ready for a unique sensory experience!
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Our Specialties
Guacamole, Tacos & Ceviche
Amenities, services & more
We accept: Master Card, Visa, AMEX, Interac, Mobile Payment, Contactless Payment
Every Friday & Saturday, come and experience memorable evenings at Balam with the captivating sounds of our DJs, while savoring exquisite dishes and refreshing cocktails. Prepare yourself for a unique sensory experience!
Balam offers a vibrant and elevated dining experience that transports guests to a Tulum inspired setting with its stunning decor, warm ambiance, and stylish design. The menu features sophisticated, contemporary Mexican cuisine, with many diners praising the flavorful, fresh ingredients, exceptional ceviches, and savory tacos. While the cocktail menu is a standout favorite, the atmosphere is often noted as energetic, making it an excellent spot for a festive night out. While service is frequently described as professional, attentive, and welcoming, some experiences vary regarding wait times and volume levels, particularly during peak hours. Overall, it remains a memorable destination for those seeking high quality dishes and a unique atmosphere in a beautiful location.
The thing is that the service is very slow coming from the waitresses. I saw the drinks being quickly ready from the bartenders & just waiting to get picked up & this probably explains why the drinks taste dilluted. Its really too bad because it is a very beautiful place with a lot of potential but there is some training to do, especially with the price you are paying you expect a similar, decent downtown upscale service & we did not get that at all. It felt very fast chain unfortunately. Hopefully it gets better, but it does make me second guess another visit
Drinks were watered down; we had to ask them to add more liquor to our cocktails.
No water was served when seated. We had to ask the waitress after being seated for a good 15-20 minutes. Felt like we were disturbing the waitress when asking for a request.
Overall; nice atmosphere & decor; top notch music; food was good; but they need to work on their service or else they'll loose clientele.
I was surprised that a restaurant like this has such a terrible service. Waiting for the drink forever so that the main came before a simple beer. Waiters wasn't really available but we almost got 2 times the food of someone else.
Jun 7, 2026
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Balam is one of my favorite spots in Montreal. The ambiance & overall vibe are incredible, creating the perfect atmosphere whether you're there for dinner, drinks, or a night out. The food is absolutely delicious & the attention to detail in both the service & experience really stands out. The live DJ & violin performances add a unique energy that makes every visit memorable. Highly recommend!
I would give it 5 stars for atmosphere if it wasn't for the music being way too loud (live dj ), the point of going out to eat with friends is also to talk without shouting. Besides that, everything was great.
Balam is an interesting one, we went for Mother's Day & were greeted with a complimentary mimosa! We arrived 3 hours early of a reservation due to mischeduling a different event. Despite this service was spot on, friendly, & accomodating for our unique situation. I'm sure it helped that we came before it got busy but it was appreciated.
When it comes to the food, it was generally good. The guac & chips were delicious, the quinoa salad was one of the best I've had. The tacos (shrimp/octopus & duck) while good, were perhaps underwhelming relative to their ingredients or just not to my taste. The churro dessert was sublime however.
A real winner here is the cocktail menu. I had the pleasure of trying two drinks that came in smoked containers that were both wonderful. I also had a dessert drink called a'Gold of the Gods' that was arguably the best equivalent to an espresso martini I have ever had.
Atmosphere in the restaurant is however average, at least during early afternoon. The walls are somewhat drab, or deliberately done as an aesthetic. All the plants are plastic. I could see it looking better in the darker hours of the day. The center bar is very nice, but some of the seating is a bit cramped. I had to move my chair so servers could pass behind me multiple times.
Altogether, I could see myself returning & trying some of their other fare or to at least reorder one of the drinks. We had a good time & a good Mother's Day, & we appreciate the staff at Balam for making it a good one!
Great intimate spot away from the tourist area. We had the carnitas & fish tacos, flavorful. Get the green salsa it's worth it. Service was good , drinks spot on. Would go back on a Thursday or Friday night to maybe get a better feel of the festive ambiance. All in all solid choice.
Experienced exceptional food & service at Balam last night. The staff was very friendly & accommodating & we were very impressed with the dishes & drinks we had. Music was perfectly balanced so that it added to the atmosphere without making it difficult to speak to each other.
The waiter was brutal -- never filling up water / never asking if we want another drink despite walking by our table many times / two of share a dessert brings one spoon --- no table recognition at all -- i had to constantly push -- another cocktail more water , cutlery, done with this course etc. re: ask for a beer more than once as they forgot etc....honestly we go out all the time -- this is the first review i have ever posted but its unfortunate there is zero table training
