Bar Ami

The story

Bar Ami Brings Grounded Mexican Cooking to Antwerp

The Founders and the Kitchen

Katia Basiliades and Jean-Noël Chavée established Bar Ami in Antwerp in 2018, converting a vacant maritime cafeteria into a focused Mexican kitchen. They preserved the original wood paneling and a weathered bar featuring a century-old brass plaque while introducing fresh corn tortillas ground from pure white maize. Le Fooding noted this grounded approach when they placed the restaurant on their 2026 roster. Jean-Noël runs the stove and Katia oversees the floor, ensuring every taco and tamale meets exact standards.

House Favorites and Flavors

The daily blackboard dictates what leaves the pass, though three small street-style tacos remain the anchor for their Mexican menu. You will often find barbacoa braised until it falls apart, chicken tinga tossed in a sharp habanero pineapple salsa, or pork chili verde resting on lightly charred tortillas. Guests seeking something heartier can order tamales wrapped in dried husks and filled with slow-cooked meats or Oaxacan black beans. The meal usually concludes with a silky lime cheesecake or an ancho fudge pie layered with toasted pecans and a whisper of chili.

Room and Pour

The interior stays deliberately intimate, which is why the owners limit reservations to groups of six. Patrons settle onto timeless wooden tables beside the original bar while sipping mezcal flights or a house margarita finished with a light salted foam. The layout encourages conversation without crowding, and the adjacent terrace opens during warmer months for additional seating. This quiet setup matches the straightforward service style that has kept locals returning since day one.