Bar Chimera and COTE 550 Open at Midtown Manhattan’s New Dining Complex
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — One of the most prominent figures in modern luxury dining has launched his most ambitious undertaking yet.
Restaurateur Simon Kim, the founder behind Michelin-starred COTE and popular Korean fried chicken destination COQODAQ, has opened a sprawling new hospitality complex inside Manhattan’s iconic 550 Madison tower.
The project features two main eating concepts, Bar Chimera and COTE 550, while also laying the groundwork for a future high-end sushi restaurant on the upper floor.
What’s New
The new construction, located in Midtown Manhattan, spans many levels of the famous office tower at 550 Madison Avenue.
The centerpiece of the project is COTE 550, a luxurious new version of Kim’s acclaimed Korean steakhouse concept. Above it is Bar Chimera, a huge cocktail-focused facility centered on social meals, enhanced beverages, and stunning architecture. A third concept, a sushi omakase restaurant led by renowned chef Masahiro Yoshitake, is expected to open later.
The scale of the project is unlike anything Kim has attempted before.
Bar Chimera boasts high ceilings, various specialty bars, spacious dining areas, and a stunning indoor Norfolk pine tree that reaches the atrium ceiling. Meanwhile, COTE 550 occupies a darker, more intimate space below, built around luxury Korean barbecue experiences.
Menu & Experience (with POV)
Both restaurants offer distinctly different experiences.
Bar Chimera serves cocktails, wine, whiskey, small plates, and premium bar food. Standout menu items include foie gras-filled gougère puffs, spring pea lettuce cups, and a signature burger that has quickly attracted attention.
Downstairs, COTE 550 maintains the brand’s unique style of combining Korean barbecue traditions with sophisticated American steakhouse service.
The restaurant’s popular Butcher’s Feast remains the centerpiece, featuring:
- Premium grilled meats cooked tableside
- Traditional Korean banchan
- Signature scallion salad
- Seasonal accompaniments and sauces
- Soft-serve dessert finish
Additional highlights include tableside preparation of exquisite king crab japchae and a creamy bone noodle soup with A5 Wagyu beef.
From my perspective, what makes this project interesting isn’t just the food. It’s how intentionally designed the entire experience feels. Every space seems engineered to create an atmosphere, whether guests come for cocktails, celebrations, business dinners, or special occasions.
Community Buzz
The opening has sparked widespread interest in New York’s dining scene, thanks to Simon Kim’s expanding popularity and the enormous scope of the project.
Since opening the original COTE in 2017, Kim has transformed the restaurant into an internationally recognized brand with locations in Miami, Singapore, Las Vegas, and now a major Midtown expansion. The original restaurant became the world’s first Korean barbecue restaurant to earn a Michelin star.
The new 550 Madison complex looks to be intended to expand on that success while catering to a broader luxury dining audience.
The project also reflects a growing trend in New York hospitality where restaurants increasingly combine dining, nightlife, cocktails, and social experiences under one roof.
Final Thoughts
Bar Chimera and COTE 550 represent far more than a typical restaurant opening.
They demonstrate how modern hospitality is turning into something more — a restaurant, a social club, and a destination experience.
Whether tourists come for Korean BBQ, handcrafted cocktails, or simply to experience one of Midtown’s newest luxury eating places, the 550 Madison project is already establishing itself as one of New York City’s most anticipated launches in 2026.
Stay tuned with CityScoopNow for more Fresh Finds across the U.S. — and tell us: would you choose an intimate steakhouse experience or a massive cocktail-driven social dining venue?