Must Try: Niko’s Bistro

If you love Italian food, but are looking for a quaint spot to enjoy it, look no further than Niko’s Bistro. Located just minutes away from downtown Calgary, in trendy Kensington (1-1241 Kensington Rd NW), Niko’s offers a concise menu with big flavours at modest prices.

Owner, chef and namesake Niko Miletic opened Niko’s Bistro in 2006 after having worked in some of the city’s top restaurants. Hailing from Dubrovnik, Croatia, Niko spent many years in Italy before coming to Calgary. What was Europe’s loss is Calgary’s gain.

The restaurant is an intimate 45-seat space with an orange and white tufted banquette and fantastic pictures of Dubrovnik peppering the walls. The atmosphere is welcoming, and it’s not unusual for Niko to make the rounds chatting with diners. It sort of makes it feel like you are dining with family. 

During the weekdays, the bistro caters to the working crowd and they often fill for the lunch rush. Evenings and weekends are filled with guests dining on fresh dishes as they enjoy the company of friends or family. 

The menu offers straightforward Italian dishes, and features a selection of house-made pastas, as well as delicious and hearty Italian mains. For the pasta lovers, we suggest trying the Spaghettini Aglio e Olio con Salsiccia, which features homemade spicy Italian sausage with garlic and mushrooms in extra virgin olive oil. If you are in the mood for an entrée, go for the Vitello Saltimbocca – veal scaloppini with prosciutto in a white wine sage sauce. Love Italian food, but looking for gluten-free options? Most of their appetizers and entrees can be modified. 

And of course you can’t forget the wine. No self-respecting Italian meal can go with out, and Niko’s has a well-designed and precise list to choose from.

Be sure to contact them to make a reservation as they are often full most nights.

Looking for somewhere to host your next event? You can rent out Niko’s for private functions, accommodating up to 45 guests for a seated dinner and up to 70 people for a cocktail party. 

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Photo courtesy Niko’s Bistro