Niki

Lucky Group placed Niki inside the Khudozhestvenny building on Arbatskaya Square — the oldest working cinema in the country. The restaurant rethinks the Russian feast: familiar dishes are served through the lens of fine dining, but without pretension. Our undercover restaurant critics rated breakfast 8 out of 10 and dinner 7 out of 10. The menu is led by Dan Miron, who worked in the kitchens of Singapore and Bangkok, including the famous Gaggan. The main room seats 69 guests, and in warm weather a terrace opens, decorated with wildflower bouquets and white linens.

“Probably one of our favorite Russian restaurants in Moscow,” notes our guide's team.

The menu opens with mini chebureki filled with crab or suluguni cheese, followed by Olyutorsky herring and Voronezh beef tartare with sturgeon caviar. For mains, the pozharsky cutlet stands out — tender veal served with adjika and mashed potatoes. Dumplings come with a rich broth, and vareniki are filled with seasonal fillings. The dessert line includes thin pancakes with sea buckthorn and cloudberry, Borodinsky cake, and apple charlotte with ice cream. On weekends until early afternoon, breakfast includes zucchini fritters with salmon and stracciatella.

The bar is ruled by house-made infusions and liqueurs on signature vodka with seasonal berries. Original cocktails from Maxim Gorelik's team carry Russian names — “Rhubarb,” “Quince,” “Tomato” — each showcasing a specific ingredient through an unexpected combination. The non-alcoholic side is represented by uzvar, kvass and kissel. The restaurant also hosts wine dinners with Russian and international winemakers.

The interior was designed by Evgenia Uzhegova. The ceiling is made of Karelian birch, stained glass with a warm honey glow decorates the bar area, and the whole room sits at the intersection of Shekhtel-style Art Nouveau and modern restraint. Waiters wear linen shirts — a detail that quietly supports the overall character of the place. An added bonus is valet parking: call ahead, and the car will be brought to the cinema entrance. Service runs without delay, with unobtrusive attentiveness to every table.