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!
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!
Reviews portray Balam as a vibrant, boho-chic Mexican dining spot with a breathtaking Tulum-inspired setting that makes every visit feel like a getaway. The menu earns frequent praise for fresh, flavorful dishes such as ribeye tacos, ceviches, duck, and seafood, with several plates highlighted for their balance of traditional Mexican roots and modern technique. Cocktails are described as artful and well crafted, and the drinks program often complements the lively atmosphere with a stylish bar scene and a well-curated soundtrack. Service is consistently noted as attentive, friendly, and professional, helping guests feel welcomed and well taken care of, though a few accounts mention occasional slow timing or louder ambiances. Overall, Balam is celebrated as a memorable destination for celebrations or a festive night out, offering standout food, strong hospitality, and immersive ambience.
This will be a long review, but I hope it's taken as constructive feedback. It's not just about the food, service plays a major role in the overall experience.
I want to start by saying the food was good. I would have considered coming back for it. However, because of the overall experience, I won't.
We chose this restaurant for a birthday celebration. The décor is beautiful, cozy, clean, & exactly the upscale Mexican vibe we were looking for.
We had reserved for 15 people but ended up being 16, our mistake, & an additional table had to be added. This was done before any orders were taken, & no one changed seats during service.
Throughout the evening, there were several service issues beyond timing & billing. Drinks were accidentally spilled on members of our table, & at one point a drink was knocked over by management. They did replace them, which we appreciated, but it contributed to the overall disorganization of the night.
Meals did not arrive together. Some sides were served long before the mains. Mocktails were delayed. Billing was extremely disorganized, & it took nearly an hour to correct multiple incorrect receipts.
After all of this, as we were finally preparing to leave, the manager approached our table & loudly stated that a Gigot d'agneau had not been paid for.
He referenced us having'changed seats,' implying that this caused the billing confusion. As mentioned earlier, the additional table had been added before any orders were taken, & no one moved during service.
At that point, after the cumulative issues of the evening, his accusatory tone was the final straw for me. I reacted strongly & raised my voice. I could have remained calmer, but being spoken to in a way that questioned our honesty after everything that had happened made the situation escalate.
It's important to mention that the manager was also yelling during this exchange.
Following the argument, I offered to pay for the'missing' dish to resolve the situation immediately. The manager declined & said it was not necessary.
Mistakes happen, especially with large groups. We were patient for most of the evening. However, professionalism & communication matter just as much as food quality. The situation could have been handled calmly & discreetly instead of escalating publicly.
If accommodating large groups is difficult, that is understandable, but it may be better not to accept them.
I hope this feedback helps improve future guest experiences.
Outstanding service with a warm & welcoming atmosphere. Jaime, the manager, & Abdela, our waiter, were amazing - friendly, attentive, & great to talk to. The entire staff was wonderful, the ambiance was fantastic, & the food was absolutely delicious. An excellent experience all around!
Feb 17, 2026
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Had a blast! Went with my girlfriends for valentine's day & we had the best time. The restaurant itself is beautiful, easily instagrammable, & it's perfectly located right outside the mall so it has it's own space/vibe. I have to give much respect to Abdullah who gave us incredible service, our experience was elevated thanks to him. The specialty cocktails were REALLY good too. I can't say much about their regular menu since they had a special set menu for valentine's day. The appetizers were so good too, I preferred the street corn (NOT on the cob) & bone marrow tartare. & THEY HAD FRESH CHURROS FOR DESSERT!!! Balam team, excellent job.
Portions are small for the price they charge. Food is average. Nice looking place. Service was under average, waiters not really paying attention their customers. Left the place hungry.
Mon amie & moi avons passé une merveilleuse soirée. Tout le personnel était accueillant. La nourriture & les cocktails étaient bons & beaux. L'ambiance 10/10. Une mention spéciale au barman Felix, un service à la cliente impeccable & une bonne humeur contagieuse. Merci à toute votre équipe pour cette belle soirée.
I've had nothing but great experiences here. The food is authentic & full of flavor, the atmosphere is warm & welcoming, & the service has always been attentive & professional. It's a beautiful Mexican restaurant with a great vibe definitely worth visiting.
Loved it! Don't go there expecting typical, authentic Mexican food, it's more of an upscale, modern twist. Pricey, but worth it! Service was great as well.
Located next to one of Montreal's best malls, Balam offers amazing cocktails & delicious food. I visited on a Saturday night & it was completely packed. Great DJ, & beautiful Tulum-inspired decor that really sets the vibe. Thanks Stacy for the great service!
Jan 17, 2026
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Atmosphere nice, waitress ok (a little impatient), food so-so! Steak was too dry - not best quality, mashed potatoes excellent, cheap on the amount of tortillas they provided with the fondu cheese (2) & charged 1$ for each extra tortillas- just change that appetizer from 25$ to 30$ & give a normal amount of tortillas, salad was ok.
Very nice looking place. Good music but a little loud. You can't have a conversation. Food is ok but very over priced. I've had better but it's still good.
Tres belle ambiance au coeur du royal mont & la bouffe est bonne mais les plats sont servis avec peu ou pas d'accompagnement. Aucun starter offert même pas des chips mexicaines. Vu le prix élevé (dorade grillée a 60$ av tax & service, peut faire mieux pour attirer plus de clientèle. Aussi un des plats est arrive froid a du etre retourné en cuisine. sinon sevice & management très bien!
If you're looking for an upscale Mexican experience, Balam is the place. The decor is absolutely stunning-it feels like you've been transported to a high-end beach club. We loved the Ribeye Tacos & the Hamachi Tartare; both were incredibly fresh & flavorful. The cocktails are also a work of art . Great music, great service, & a perfect spot for a night out.
