Subang Jaya is one of the largest townships in the Klang Valley, stretching from SS12 through SS19 in the older core, out into USJ 1 to USJ 26 in the newer numbered subdivisions, and across to Bandar Sunway with its mall complex and universities. Strong dining scene, big student and young-professional population, lighter dedicated cocktail-bar scene than the neighbouring PJ corridor one LDP exit north. If you live in Subang, USJ, Sunway, SS15, or Putra Heights and want a serious cocktail evening, the 18 to 22 minute drive north into central PJ is the short, easy answer. We run two outlets in that corridor.

Our two bars

Dissolved Solids, Damansara Kim, PJ. 43-1 Jalan SS20/11, 47400 PJ. Open Tue-Sun. Maps · WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607

Soluble Solids, SS2, PJ. 50-1 Jalan SS2/24, 47300 PJ. Open Wed-Sun, 18:00 onwards. Maps · WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651

Dissolved Solids is one of Tatler Asia Top 20 Bars 2025/26. Both outlets serve full cocktail lists and a parallel non-alcoholic programme.

The character of Subang Jaya: SS15, USJ, Sunway, one big township

Subang has three distinct sub-areas. The first is the older SS12-SS19 core, with hawker centres, the well-known SS15 mamak corner, and a dense network of student-driven cafés and casual bars around the Taylor's, Inti, and Monash University campuses. The second is USJ, the newer numbered residential expansion to the west spanning USJ 1 through USJ 26, mostly suburban with row commercial along the main roads (USJ Taipan in particular is a busy F and B node). The third is Bandar Sunway at the southwest, anchored by Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Lagoon, Sunway University, and the Sunway hotel cluster.

The drinking culture in Subang is heavily student-influenced and price-conscious. Casual bars and gastropubs in SS15 and USJ Taipan do well; the Sunway hotel rooftop bars pull a more upscale crowd; the small specialist cocktail-bar format with RM 38 to 48 cocktails is rarer here than in PJ proper. That said, there are some respectable cocktail rooms inside Subang itself, particularly inside the larger hotel complexes.

The food scene is excellent. The SS15 hawker centre row, the USJ Taipan night-market stalls, the SS19 dim sum places, the Bandar Sunway chain restaurants around Sunway Pyramid and Sunway Lagoon, the Sunway food court inside the university, and a deep mamak rotation across most blocks. A typical Subang evening starts with food and ends with a drink. The drink is what most often happens 20 minutes north in PJ.

Why drive 20 minutes north for the drink

The PJ corridor (SS2, Damansara Kim, Section 17) sits one LDP exit away from Subang Jaya. From SS15 it is closer to drive to either of our bars than to most KLCC rooftop venues. The drive is mostly highway-grade and predictable.

What that 20 minutes buys you: a smaller room (50 to 60 seats) where the drink is the point rather than the soundtrack; a back bar with 60 to 100 bottles of real depth in vermouth, bitters, and amari; fresh-cut citrus prepped daily; a bartender who can taste mid-build and adjust. Easier parking than Sunway Pyramid on a Saturday night, and quieter rooms than the larger hotel bars.

Our two bars from Subang: drive route and times

From Subang Jaya SS15 or USJ: take the LDP northbound. Exit at Damansara Utama for Dissolved Solids, or continue one more interchange and exit at Section 17 for Soluble Solids. Mostly highway-grade road, predictable. From Sunway or Bandar Sunway: join the LDP northbound via the Sunway interchange, same exits. From Putra Heights or the USJ outer ring: KESAS-SPRINT to LDP also works.

The LRT alternative: from USJ 7, USJ 21, Wawasan, Taipan, SS15, Subang Jaya, or Setia Jaya stations on the Kelana Jaya line, ride to Taman Bahagia. From there a 7 to 10 minute Grab to either bar. About 50 to 55 minutes door to door, around RM 12 to 15 total. Useful if everyone in the group wants to drink.

Add 30 to 50 percent travel time during Friday and Saturday evening peak (17:30 to 19:30). Grab fares from most of Subang are RM 22 to 32, with surge on weekend nights. Return Grab post-midnight is RM 30 to 50.

Drive times from Subang landmarks

  • Subang Parade / SS15: 17 minutes to Dissolved Solids, 18 to Soluble Solids.
  • SS15 student row: 18 / 20.
  • Subang Jaya SS19: 18 / 20.
  • USJ Taipan: 20 / 22.
  • USJ Heights: 22 / 24.
  • Sunway Pyramid: 20 / 22.
  • Sunway University: 22 / 24.
  • Sunway Lagoon: 20 / 22.
  • Putra Heights: 26 / 28.
  • USJ 21: 22 / 24.
  • Subang Airport / Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah: 18 / 20.

Parking at both outlets

Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim has free street parking along Jalan SS20/11 after 18:00 and a covered municipal lot on Jalan SS20/10 within a three-minute walk (RM 2 per hour, almost always has space). Soluble Solids in SS2 has free street parking along Jalan SS2/24 and the SS2 commercial blocks, with the paid lot under the SS2 commercial centre as backup. No parking reservation needed at either outlet. Both are easier-parking propositions than Sunway Pyramid or Subang Parade on a Saturday night, where mall parking can take 10 to 15 minutes and cost RM 5 to 10.

Signature drinks: cocktail and non-alcoholic

At Dissolved Solids, two house signatures to start: the Kopi Sour (whisky, kopi-O, gula melaka, lemon, foamed) and the Pandan Collins (gin, fresh pandan, lime, soda). Both demonstrate Malaysian-ingredient cocktails done with restraint and classical technique. If you would prefer something more classic, the Old Fashioned here is built right, the Negroni is spirit-forward over a single large clear cube, and the Martini arrives properly stirred, properly cold.

On the NA side at Dissolved Solids: the NA Negroni (zero-proof bitters, distilled botanical aperitif, ruby orange), the NA Spritz (sparkling pear, salted lime, vermouth-style infusion), and Black Honey (cold-brew kopi, gula melaka, cardamom). Useful for the Subang designated driver or for the non-drinker in the group.

At Soluble Solids, skip the printed list (there is none). Tell the bartender three short answers: strength (light, medium, strong, or NA), spirit (gin, rum, whisky, mezcal, surprise), flavour direction (citrusy, herbal, smoky, sweet). The drink is built in front of you from the labelled infusion jars on the back wall.

A typical Subang-resident evening at our bars

The Subang rhythm that works best on a weeknight: eat early in SS15, USJ Taipan, or Sunway between 18:30 and 19:30, then drive north to PJ for arrival around 20:00. Two or three drinks at a quiet pace, conversation room, home by 22:30. Saturday shifts everything an hour later, and the LDP southbound is unobstructed post-midnight.

For a Sunway University, Taylor's, or Monash student evening: take the LRT in. The Kelana Jaya line connects directly from USJ 7, USJ 21, Wawasan, Taipan, SS15, Subang Jaya, and Setia Jaya stations to Taman Bahagia. From Taman Bahagia, Grab to either bar is RM 8 to 12 and 8 to 10 minutes. The early-evening window at Dissolved Solids (18:00 to 20:00) is the quietest and best for a first cocktail-bar visit.

For a USJ office team after-work, a Sunway corporate gathering, or a Subang Jaya birthday group, book ahead via WhatsApp. Groups of six or more benefit most from a confirmed seat. Subang Friday-evening peak traffic is the biggest variable; plan to leave Subang by 18:30 to be at the bar by 20:00.

Reservations and walk-ins

Walk-ins are welcome at both outlets. WhatsApp ahead for Friday and Saturday after 21:00 or any group of six or more. The two channels are Dissolved Solids +60 11-4008 7607 and Soluble Solids +60 11-1682 8651. We typically confirm within the hour during open hours.

Hours

Dissolved Solids: Tuesday to Thursday 15:00 to 00:00, Friday and Saturday 14:00 to 01:00, Sunday 14:00 to 00:00. Closed Mondays.

Soluble Solids: Wednesday to Sunday 18:00 to 01:00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Getting back to Subang after

The drive back via the LDP is fast post-midnight, 15 to 22 minutes with no traffic. Police checkpoints occasionally operate on the LDP southbound on Friday and Saturday nights; never drive after a drink. Grab is reliable for the return at 01:00 but surge-priced on weekends (budget RM 30 to 50 back). The LRT from Taman Bahagia runs until around 23:30 weekdays, slightly later on weekends.

Common questions from Subang guests

Is the bar student-friendly? Yes for setting and welcome, less so for budget. A standard cocktail is RM 38 to 48 plus 16 percent, which is at the upper end of the student budget. The early-evening window is when most student guests visit.

What is the dress code? Smart casual. Student-formal is more than fine.

Can I bring kids or family? Children welcome before 20:00. After that the room is built for an adult evening.

Can I bring non-drinking friends? Yes. The NA programme is real, not just sweet mocktails.

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