Terrace of Krynkina Restaurant on Sparrow Hills, 1909.

Stepan Krynkin, the founder and owner of the restaurant, came from a peasant background. After the revolution, his restaurant was confiscated and turned into a 'reading hut and kerosene shop,' but soon burned down. Now, only remnants of the foundation and some walls remain.

Ivan Shmelev recalls in 'The Summer of the Lord' how he visited Krynkin's restaurant with his father, Sergey Ivanovich Shmelev, a well-known Moscow construction contractor. 'At Krynkin's, we are greeted ceremoniously: Krynkin himself and all the waiters. He leads us to the clean half, to the galdaireika, right by the cliff, from where Moscow is visible as if on the palm of your hand. Huge Krynkin has become even louder than last year when we came here with Gorkin for birch trees for Trinity and stopped by to see Moscow. Lord, how they illuminated it, Sergey Ivanovich!... And how we grieved when we found out!... But how could this happen?! Who will we live with if such a person, and fatally crashed?!' Krynkin exclaims, waving his hands, huge as a yoke. 'But now, you can't find the right people during the day with a lantern! We were so delighted... Vasily-Vasilich recently turned around, shouting: 'Our Sergey Ivanovich has recovered, he has restored from the cold shock!' We immediately drank to the health of Sergey Ivanovich! How could we not drink?! What is all this fuss for if such a person exists, and!... But can Krynkin forget how you raised him from low dust and strengthened him?! I have completely restructured my 'Krynkin paradise' on your credit, now I can even receive the owner of Mother Moscow, His Excellency General and Governor Prince Vladimir Andreyevich Dolgorukov. I reported to them: 'Your Serenity! If it weren't for Sergey Ivanovich!' What more can I say, do enjoy the view of Mother Moscow!

We look at Moscow through the open windows of the galdaireika and the colorful glass, blue, crimson, golden... golden Moscow is the best of all.