Amice Amsterdam opens its doors

Michael Wolf and Jordy Koopmans translate their longstanding friendship into a new restaurant

Chefs Michael Wolf and Jordy Koopmans are opening Amice in Amsterdam. With this, they are taking the next step in their shared passion. A place that is truly all theirs together. The two have known each other since 2009 and worked side by side in the kitchen for years, including at Envy and later Wolf Atelier.

With Amice, they create a restaurant where high-level cooking is done, while the atmosphere remains relaxed and personal. Service and quality are key, but without formal distance or rigid protocols. The aim is an evening that feels natural, from entry to the last glass.

The name Amice, Latin for friends, is the starting point. The chefs themselves describe it as casual fine dining: high-level cooking in a warm setting. “We want guests to feel comfortable right away,” says Michael. “You come here for really good food. For sophistication, pure flavours and top-quality ingredients. Just without fuss and without making it uncomfortable. But as far as we are concerned, life should also be celebrated at Amice, preferably with a glass of champagne.” 

The collaboration between Michael and Jordy forms the basis of Amice. Where Michael is known as a creative and intuitive chef, Jordy brings structure, calm and overview.
“We've had that balance since Envy,” says Jordy. “Michael is the creative engine, I make sure there is structure. We complement each other and guests feel that.”

Energy comes from the kitchen

The large open kitchen is the heart of the restaurant and many tables look directly out onto it. Just like at home, the kitchen is central and the guest sees what is going on. Therefore, the chef's table is not near, but in the kitchen. It is lively there, because quiet kitchens don't fit in here. “We are in the kitchen a lot ourselves, because that is simply the most fun,” says Jordy. “That's where the energy is. We want to keep doing that.”

The goal is clear. Amice should become a warm, vibrant place where people feel comfortable and linger, just like at friends' homes. 

A la carte at a high level

At Amice, there is deliberately no fixed menu structure. Guests order completely à la carte from a compact, product-driven menu in which ingredients recur in two different preparations each time. For instance, langoustine can be served raw with lime and cucumber or from the barbecue with dashi beurre blanc and chives. Dishes such as tuna with acquachile and jalapeño, roasted pointed cabbage with miso butter and classic steak tartare with brioche and caviar also showcase the kitchen's style: fresh, refined, with a French base and subtle Asian influences. The focus is mainly on fish and vegetables, with less meat - not as a statement, but simply the style in which Michael and Jordy do best. 

Classic wines

The wine philosophy is also decidedly classic. No natural wines, but carefully selected references from France, Italy and the new world, among others, with room for champagne and cocktails.

The wine room plays a central role. Here, guests can choose a bottle themselves, with guidance from the team. This personal element is in line with Amice's vision. “When friends come to our house for dinner, I also let them pick a nice bottle from the fridge themselves,” says Michael. “We want to create that feeling here too.”

Design and experience

The interior of Amice, designed by multidisciplinary studio Concrete Amsterdam, translates the feeling of friendship and coming home into a physical space. By removing the barrier between guest and staff, Concrete has created a ‘home for friends’. The traditional kitchen counter has been transformed into a central kitchen table, the bar into a tasting table and the walk-in wine lets guests choose their own wine. This creates an informal environment that breaks with hospitality conventions and invites a personal experience.