DESIGN / PASSION FOR CULINARY CREATION IN COPENHAGEN

Amator in Copenhagen is not your typical dining spot—it’s an avant-garde culinary studio disguised as a restaurant. Blurring the lines between home kitchen and fine dining. 

Found in Copenhagen’s Østerbro district, a small revolution is simmering—one that redefines what a dining experience can be. Meet Amator, a culinary concept that calls itself a "hjemme spisested"—Danish for "home eatery"—rather than a restaurant or café. 

Mateusz Sarnowski aka Mati Pichci

The name Amator comes from the Latin amator, meaning a passionate enthusiast or lover of an idea. And passion, indeed, is at the heart of this singular space. The establishing force behind Amator is Warsaw-born chef Mateusz Sarnowski, better known by his Instagram moniker Mati Pichci.

Amator breaks from traditional hospitality norms. 

Sarnowski, a self-taught chef with experience at Copenhagen’s world-famous Noma, envisioned a place where food feels personal, intimate, and expressive—not slick or overly refined. 

At Amator, guests are welcomed not by waitstaff but by the very people who prepared their food. 

Each dish is introduced with a story—sometimes a technique, sometimes a heritage anecdote—turning dinner into a lively, narrative experience. 

The 18-seat space itself reflects this unpretentious spirit: a communal layout, open kitchen, and warm, lived-in design elements invite conversation rather than ceremony. 

The ever-evolving menu showcases small, soulful plates built around hyper-local and seasonal ingredients. You might find Jerusalem artichoke velouté with smoked butter, grilled cabbage with tamarind glaze, or wild mushroom tartlets topped with pickled spruce tips. Nordic comfort food is the foundation, but global curiosity flavors every plate. 

And it’s not just the food that makes Amator a standout. The wine list favors natural selections, while the ambiance hums with relaxed camaraderie. 

 Because he is self-taught, Chef Sarnowski insists Amator is not to be called a cafe or restaurant, but rather "hjemme spisested, which in Danish is home eatery. 

There’s no chase for Michelin stars here—just storytelling, shared bites, and an open-hearted approach to dining. Perhaps, some day soon the star(s) will align.

The interiors, crafted in collaboration with Adam Wiercinski of Wiercinski Studio in Poznań, Poland, reinforce the homemade yet artfully considered aesthetic. Many furnishings were custom-made by the studio, blending understated Nordic design with a playful, handcrafted sensibility. 

Amator is a word that comes from Latin and means a passionate,
enthusiast, a lover of an idea or concept who is skilled
but not necessarily a professional.

In collaboration with its founder, this home style eatery was designed by Adam Wiercinski of Wiercinski Studio, a design practice in Poznan, Poland. Many of the furnishings were created by W-S.

Amator opened its doors in May 2024 at Nordre Frihavnsgade 7, 2100 Copenhagen—a quietly confident newcomer that has already become a destination for those who value soul over shine, flavor over flair. 

This wonderful image by Paolo Gaigrani shows Amator's founder Mateusz Sarnowski, aka Mati Pichci. am Instagram nickname and architect/ designer Adam Wiercinski (right) of Wiercinski Studio.