Our Story
Cocktails & Peruvian food in the heart of Oaxaca
Waikicha was founded by veteran mixologist Enrique Sánchez in 2026, in the heart of Oaxaca. The concept is a reflection of Enrique's Peruvian roots, his decades-long career in San Francisco, and his love for the gastronomy and culture of Oaxaca.
The bar offers crafted cocktails with thoughtfully balanced ingredients and flavors for every palate. The food menu is designed by Chef Rodolfo Castellanos, Oaxacan native and the first winner of Top Chef Mexico. The two met in 2009 while opening La Mar San Francisco and became homies.
In Quechua, "Waiki" means "brother" and "Waikicha" means "dear brother". In Cuzco, you'll often hear local guys call each other "waiki" or "waikicha" - meaning "homie".
Locally-sourced
We source our ingredients from the local community. Some key Peruvian ingredients are grown with the help of local farmers. Other products come from families who practice ancestral techniques and/or regenerative agriculture. Our main dining room is decorated with art from local artists.
Stylish but unpretentious
Our presentation is creative. We serve fun and tasty items inspired by our experiences in life. That said, we like to keep things fairly casual and approachable. We're a place where people want to hang out and spend time.
Peru in Mexico
Our concept is to introduce flavors from Peru to Oaxaca, and vice versa. Our bar program features Mexican spirits we produced with local distillers. Our food menu features Peruvian dishes created from Mexican ingredients. This blend celebrates both the similarities and differences between the gastronomy of both cultures.