The sister-and-brother team behind the growing local chain Mezcal Mexican Bar & Kitchen has spent the past few years introducing Detroit diners to the regional depth of Mexican cuisine. Their newest project turns to another pair of daily rituals — coffee in the morning and wine in the evening.
Sandra Haro and Jose Granados will open Balam Coffee & Wine on March 16 at 207 E. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on the same block as their original Mezcal location.
How the Yucatan Peninsula Influenced Balam Coffee & Wine
At Mezcal Mexican Bar & Kitchen, with locations also in Midtown and Dearborn, the siblings have built a reputation for moving beyond familiar restaurant staples to spotlight regional dishes. The menu includes northern Mexico–inspired aguachile de ribeye, enchiladas covered in Zacatecan-style mole rojo, and carnitas based on the family recipe their father once served at a small stand in Guanajuato.
Haro tells Hour Detroit that she and Granados wanted to create a space at Balam that evokes the airy, warm cafés one might find in Mexico City or Tulum, situated on the Yucatan Peninsula.
“We often go to Yucatan, and we love the people, we love how you feel over there,” says Haro. Balam, she adds, “reminds us of a little piece of over there.”
To accomplish this, Haro says the team sourced several pieces. Among them are sleek tables and seating made of parota wood in Guadalajara and woven lighting fixtures from Yucatan. A wall of illuminated niches displays traditional Mayan ceramic sculptures that her family acquired during trips to the Mayan Riviera. The café seats about 30 to 35 visitors.
The name Balam means “jaguar” in the Yucatec Maya language. The jaguar is associated with strength, protection, and spiritual power in Maya tradition.
What to Expect on the Menu
The drink menu reflects that same sense of connection to culture as the space itself, drawing inspiration from nostalgic Mexican sweets.
The mazapán latte nods to the crumbly peanut candy made famous by the brand De la Rosa. Another favorite, the chocolate Abuelita, layers Mexican hot chocolate with espresso. The Mexican wedding latte draws inspiration from the buttery pecan cookies often served at celebrations, flavored here with a traditional wedding cookie syrup.
Coffee beans are sourced directly from Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state. Alongside the drinks, guests will find pan dulce produced by a local baker, fresh-squeezed juices, and light bites like wraps or charcuterie designed to pair with the wine menu.
As the day moves into evening, the space transitions into a wine-forward bar highlighting bottles from across Latin America. The list includes Argentinian pours like Trivento’s White Malbec and Santa Julia’s El Zorrito Natural Orange Chardonnay.
For those who know where to look, Balam reveals another layer. A hidden lounge serves cocktails highlighting agave spirits from across Mexico — from herbaceous sotol from the north to raicilla, an ancestral spirit from Jalisco — along with a selection of Mexican wines, still uncommon in metro Detroit.
With Balam, the siblings continue building on the cultural foundation they first introduced at Mezcal — one that brings more specificity and depth to how Mexican flavors and traditions are experienced in metro Detroit.
Balam Coffee & Wine is open daily, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and closes at 9 p.m. on Sundays.
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