
Balam Cocina de Raíz
Maya and Sudcaliforniano cooking in Pueblo Nuevo
Balam Cocina de Raíz is a restaurant on Calle Ignacio Altamirano in Pueblo Nuevo, a quiet neighbourhood near the centre of La Paz. Balam is the Maya word for the jaguar, and the restaurant calls its style "cocina de raíz", cooking from the roots.
It began as a pop-up in Guadalajara serving traditional Maya dishes made with native, organic ingredients and old techniques. In 2023 it grew into a broader contemporary menu that brings Mexican cooking together with the food of Baja California Sur. The project was created by corporate chef Jorge Octavio Hernández Molina, who is from La Paz, and the kitchen is led by executive chef Ivana Vinessa Pérez Preciado. There are vegan options, outdoor seating and a cocktail bar.
It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 2:30 PM to 11 PM, and closed Monday and Tuesday. Diners on Google put it at about MX$200–600 per person, so it is one of the more affordable places in this section.
What you'll find
- Maya-inspired dishes alongside Baja California Sur cooking
- Vegan options
- Outdoor seating and cocktails
- About MX$200–600 per person
At a Glance
- Serves:
- Maya, Contemporary Mexican, Baja California Sur
- Price:
- $$
- Reservations:
- Recommended
- Alcohol:
- Served
Payment
On the Map
More places to eat & drink in La Paz
All Fine Dining →SeaSide Bar Wine & Grill
Mediterranean cooking, a wood-fired oven and a sunset bar over the bay
Sorstis Restaurante
Mediterranean and Italian cooking from a mesquite oven, downtown on Revolución and Constitución
Quemadero
Seafood and grilled meats cooked over fire, on the Malecón
Azotea
Rooftop restaurant and bar of Hotel República Pagana, a block off the Malecón
NEMI
Contemporary Mexican cooking by chef Alejandro Villagómez, recommended by the Michelin Guide
OSO
Small plates, seafood and cocktails in an intimate bistro on Revolución