Babaïa is an Afro-Latino restaurant that opened in 2026 at the Marché du Lez in Montpellier, serving cuisine inspired by the flavors of the sun. The menu draws on culinary traditions from the Maghreb, Colombia, Mexico, and Senegal, bringing together authentic recipes that celebrate the cultures and produce of these regions. It's a lively, friendly spot with a welcoming indoor dining room and an outdoor terrace right on the banks of the Lez — an ideal setting to gather with friends or family over a meal or a cocktail.
The food centers on sharing and discovery, with a mix of hot and cold dishes and plates to pass around the table. Highlights include smoky baba ganoush with pomegranate, labneh with zaatar and warm bread, hummus, a coconut-and-ginger cod ceviche, cecina with creamy burrata, kefta-style bricks, grilled elote with guacamole, tajine-style chicken tacos, and the signature Babaïa mafé with peanut sauce. To finish, there are sweet treats like a corne-de-gazelle millefeuille, poached pear with verbena, chocolate mousse, and house-made artisan ice creams in flavors such as thyme, rosemary, honey-pine nut, and cactus lemon. Most dishes sit in roughly the €8-21 range.
A cocktail bar rounds out the experience, with signature creations designed to pair perfectly with the menu — drinks like the Clover Club, Summer Daiquiri, Baba Martini, and Babaia Amanecer, or classics such as the Paloma, Bogota Mule, Tequila Sour, and Caipirinha, generally priced around €9-11. And every Sunday, Babaïa offers a brunch formula or full menu available all day, for a relaxed, sun-soaked moment in a warm, convivial atmosphere.