STRICHKA, a contemporary Ukrainian restaurant designed by AIIX studio, celebrates the quiet strength of cultural identity through food, craft, and design. Opened in 2024, the Kyiv project takes its name from the word for ‘ribbon,’ weaving together heritage and modernity in ways that feel both rooted and current.
At the core is a menu built from local ingredients, each plate conceived as a story where traditions are reinterpreted. This approach spills naturally into the interior, a carefully balanced environment where symbolism and material honesty take precedence. Ceramic plates imprinted with meadow flowers were handmade by Ukrainian artisans, while bespoke furniture, crafted by regional masters, provides a rhythm of authenticity throughout the dining room. Textured walls reference vernacular clay huts, nodding to architectural memory without being overly nostalgic.
STRICHKA’s atmosphere is defined by openness. An expansive kitchen forms the heart of the restaurant, encouraging guests to observe and engage with the culinary process. A monolithic stone table establishes the heart of the space, its form adapted for communal dinners, workshops, or private gatherings.
Artistry runs deep in the details. Authentic Opishnia ceramics and Tripillian jugs are interspersed with wildflower arrangements, dried herbs and natural shades that reflect Ukraine’s bond with the land. Each element carries cultural resonance: mint, poppy, cornflower, and yarrow presented as symbols of healing, protection, and continuity. Each ceramic tile is marked with a unique botanical impression, echoing the individuality of those who shaped them.
For founder Oleksandr Bosenko, the project is about cultural truth expressed through subtle design moves. “We wanted to create a place where Ukrainian culture lives in every surface—not through obvious references, but through symbols and materials that hold memory,” he explains. With its devotion to craftsmanship, ecological materials, and a spatial concept rooted in community, STRICHKA becomes less a restaurant and more an articulation of contemporary Ukrainian identity—quiet, resonant, and enduring.
STRICHKA Kyiv Photography, Yevhenii Avramenko.
