In the title centrosymmetric mononuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni(C14H9O3)2(C3H4N2)2(CH3CH2OH)2], the central NiII ion lies on an inversion centre and is octahedrally coordinated. The equatorial plane is formed by two O atoms from two symmetry-related 2-benzoylbenzoate ligands and two N atoms from two symmetry-related imidazole ligands, whereas the axial positions are occupied by two O atoms from two ethanol ligands. Intramolecular O---H...O hydrogen bonds stabilize this arrangement. The molecules are linked into chains running along the b axis by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds