Contemporary Aegean Eatery Opening in SoHo

Selene by Kyma will be located at 23 Grand Street within the ModernHaus SoHo Hotel, occupying a three-story, 10,000-square-foot space. The restaurant is one of the most anticipated New York openings for 2026 and will seat between 250 and 300 guests. The project is a collaboration between Reno Christou, co-founder of the Kyma restaurant group, and James Ragonese, a hospitality veteran from LDV Hospitality, known for operating Scarpetta. Christou has over 35 years of experience in NYC's Greek dining scene, including time at Milos, Avra, and Periyali, while Ragonese has over 20 years of leadership experience. A central feature of the restaurant's design is a retractable-roof atrium, an homage to Selene, the ancient Greek goddess of the moon. The design, crafted by Kondylis NYC Design House, is described as "Earth-driven Mediterranean," blending SoHo minimalism with organic plaster walls, terracotta lighting, and custom furniture produced in Greece. The menu aims to fill a niche between the high energy of Kyma and the formality of other upscale Greek restaurants like Milos or Avra. It will emphasize clean, coastal flavors with a focus on fresh seafood, whole grilled fish, charcoal-kissed octopus, and chilled crudos. The Kyma brand, co-founded by Merkourios (Mike) Angeliades, has existing locations in Flatiron, Hudson Yards, and Roslyn, N.Y. The group is also expanding outside of New York for the first time with a new location in West Palm Beach, Florida.