UK Michelin closure
Somssi at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair closed just five weeks after earning its first Michelin star following chef Jihun Maxime Kim’s departure — a reminder of how chef moves can rapidly upend a restaurant’s trajectory. (timesandstar.co.uk)
Somssi by Jihun Kim was added to the MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland at the awards ceremony held at the Convention Centre in Dublin on 9 February 2026. (michelin.com(michelin.com)) Chef Jihun Maxime Kim announced his departure from the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair in an Instagram post dated 17 March 2026, writing that the move marked “my departure of the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair after an unforgettable journey—full of highs, lows, and everything in between.” (thecaterer.com(thecaterer.com)) Mandarin Oriental Mayfair confirmed to trade press that Somssi has closed its doors and thanked Kim for his contribution to the hotel’s culinary programme in a statement to The Caterer. (thecaterer.com(thecaterer.com)) The venue had operated as an intimate 14-seat chef’s-table counter and was launched in the former Dosa site after Akira Back concluded his operations at the hotel in late July 2025. (restaurantonline.co.uk(restaurantonline.co.uk); boutiquehotelier.com(boutiquehotelier.com)) Following Kim’s exit, Somssi’s online presence showed as “temporarily closed” on Google and the restaurant currently appears as “not found” on the Michelin Guide listing, with the hotel pausing bookings for the chef’s-table venue. (thecaterer.com(thecaterer.com))
