A cocktail bar is a better group venue than a restaurant for the same group size. The drinks arrive at conversation pace; the bartender steers; no kitchen-timing anxiety; the bill at the end splits cleanly. Both our PJ outlets handle groups of 4 to 14 with 24 to 48 hours notice. This page is a working guide to booking and running a group cocktail bar evening in Petaling Jaya.

Group capacity at both our outlets

Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim: seats 18 total across counter and side tables. Comfortable group bookings up to 10. For 11 to 14 the room becomes fully reserved (we will tell you on booking). Above 14, venue hire (full buy-out) is the cleaner format.

Soluble Solids in SS2: seats 14 total. Comfortable group bookings up to 8. For 9 to 14 the room becomes fully reserved. The no-menu format scales less well than Dissolved Solids for large groups because each drink is built individually, which takes time. For groups over 10, Dissolved Solids is the easier choice.

For groups of 15 to 60, see our venue hire page. Either outlet can be bought out for a private event with minimum-spend pricing.

How to book a group

WhatsApp the bar. We confirm within the hour during opening hours.

Include in the WhatsApp:

  • Date and time (start and approximate end)
  • Group size (and whether the number is firm or might shift by 1 to 2)
  • Occasion (birthday, work outing, reunion, celebration, no occasion)
  • Dietary or accessibility needs (some guests not drinking, dietary restrictions, wheelchair access)
  • Any bottle or cake the group plans to bring

We will confirm and recommend the right seating configuration. For groups over 10, we usually ask for 48 hours notice; for groups of 4 to 6, 24 hours is fine; weekday walk-in groups of 4 often work without notice.

What to order family-style

The best group experience is one starter round that lets everyone taste everyone's drink, then a second round where each guest orders for themselves based on what they liked.

A starter round for 4 at Dissolved Solids:

  • Calamansi Highball (long, citrus, low-ABV)
  • Old Fashioned (short, spirit-forward, slow)
  • Pandan Collins (long, Malaysian-local, refreshing)
  • Kopi Sour (medium, Malaysian-local, coffee-anchored)

For 8 to 10, double the above. Family-style sharing works because the four cover the four main cocktail templates (highball, stirred, collins, sour). Each guest finds their preferred direction for the second round.

A starter round at Soluble Solids: tell the bartender the group size and the spread of preferences (some lighter, some stronger, some citrus-led, some bitter-led). They will build 4 distinct drinks for the group and explain each one. For groups over 6, this works less well; consider Dissolved Solids instead.

Cost per person

Standard cocktails are RM 38 to RM 48. Bar snacks add RM 20 to RM 40 per person. A two-drink evening with shared snacks lands at RM 100 to RM 160 per person all in.

For a group of 10:

  • 20 cocktails at RM 40 average: RM 800
  • Shared snacks: RM 250 to RM 350
  • Subtotal: RM 1050 to RM 1150
  • 16 percent tax and service: RM 168 to RM 184
  • Total: RM 1218 to RM 1334
  • Per person: RM 122 to RM 134

For higher-end groups ordering three drinks each plus more snacks, budget RM 180 to RM 220 per person.

Bill splitting

Both bars handle split bills cleanly. Three approaches:

Equal split by card. Total bill divided by group size, each person taps their card for the same amount. Works at both outlets with our card terminals.

Individual cards per drink. Each guest pays for their own drinks. We track who ordered what; you tell us at the end and we run separate charges.

Single bill, one host. One person hosts and pays the full bill, then splits with the group privately (DuitNow QR transfers are universal in Malaysia). Often the simplest for work outings.

Group occasions we handle well

Birthdays. Bring a cake; we plate it and bring out cutlery. We will sing if you want (or not). Candles on request.

Work outings. Quiet enough to talk shop; cool enough to feel non-corporate. 4 to 10 is the sweet spot; above 10 it starts to feel like a function rather than a bar visit.

Reunions. Both bars suit the format. Counter seating works for 4 to 6; we will configure two tables together for larger.

Anniversary celebrations with friends. The hosts plus 2 to 6 close friends. We can prep a slightly more involved first round if the hosts WhatsApp the briefing ahead of time.

Pre-event drinks. Pre-concert, pre-show, pre-dinner. Tell us the hard end time and we will pace the round accordingly. Last drink served 30 minutes before the hard departure.

For non-drinkers in the group

Both bars carry a real non-alcoholic menu. At Dissolved Solids: NA Black Honey, NA Kopi cocktails, NA Pandan Collins, hot or iced kopi-O straight. At Soluble Solids: custom zero-proof builds (the bartender uses non-alcoholic aperitivo, alcohol-free spirit, infusion jars, and bitters to build something stirred or shaken to brief). A group with 2 to 3 non-drinking guests is well served at both bars.

When to upgrade to venue hire instead

Three signals you should book a full venue hire (buy-out) instead of a group booking:

15 or more guests. Group bookings cap at 14. Above that, you are buying out the bar.

Hard requirement for the whole room. Birthday speeches, work presentations, surprise parties. Group bookings share the room with other walk-ins; venue hire is private.

Custom drinks programme. Bespoke cocktail menu for the event, signature drink named after the occasion. Possible with 7 days notice at venue hire pricing.

See our venue hire page for buy-out pricing and what is included.

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