This new project by Arkady Novikov occupies a set of buildings that were once part of an 18th-century estate in the vicinity of Taganskaya Square.

Gusyatnikoff is a multifaceted project. But, first and foremost, it is a restaurant that serves traditional Russian cuisine.

The first floor is taken up by VIP rooms. Guests are invited to enjoy the classical billiard room, the Eastern smoking room, and the splendid apartments designed for ceremonial dinners, settings all that invite the lighting of a fine cigar.

In the main dining room on the second floor, the décor is imbued with imperial grandeur: restored original parquet flooring from the 19th century, monumental black plaster busts, furniture of dazzling opulence. There are also additional private rooms on the second floor that are ideal for family events or business meetings that you may want hidden from prying eyes.

The Gusyatnikoff Club, in the building next door, takes you back to reality. The furniture, all by Andrew Martin, is of a style that stands in polar opposition to that of the restaurant: ultra contemporary and audacious, with mutinous Mao Red Star leather couches and exclusive tables wrapped in crocodile skin. Theme parties are held from Thursday to Saturday with Russian and international musical acts of all styles, from jazz to rock, as well as with the city’s hottest DJs behind the turntables.

In the intimate karaoke room on the lower level, you have the unique opportunity to experience live karaoke, in which you contribute vocals while a live band provides the instrumental backing.

The food at Gusyatnikoff is Russian, traditional, and foundational. The restaurant’s head chef recommends the delectable Scottish salmon stroganina (frozen fish sliced and served raw), the large selection of pickles, the baked goose leg, and the house-made pâtés. For dessert, there’s sharlotka (a kind of cake), éclairs, open-faced pies, vareniki (sweet dumplings) with various fillings. Sitting at a table filled with traditional Russian dishes, with an emotional gypsy romance playing in the background, every guest becomes a part of history.