Drinking alone at a good cocktail bar is one of the small pleasures most adults eventually discover. Half an hour or an hour with a single drink, a notebook or a phone or just your own thoughts, and a bartender who lets you exist quietly without forcing conversation. We see solo drinkers most days at both outlets. Here is the practical case for trying it.
Why solo cocktail drinking is underrated
1. The bartender's attention. A solo drinker at the bar counter gets more direct bartender attention than any group. The bartender will explain the drink they are making, recommend variations, tell you about the spirit you are drinking. It is the closest thing to a free cocktail education.
2. You can taste properly. A group conversation pulls you out of the drink. A solo drinker can actually focus on the flavour, the temperature, how the cocktail evolves as the ice melts. The drink reads as more interesting when you are paying attention.
3. The room reads differently. Sitting alone at a bar means you are watching the room rather than performing in it. Most cocktail bars are more interesting from the bar seat than from a table.
Which seat to take
At any cocktail bar including ours, the best solo seats in priority order:
- Far end of the bar counter. Maximum visibility of bartender prep, least foot traffic, easiest to people-watch.
- Mid-counter near the bartender's station. Best for conversation if you want it, slightly more traffic.
- Window seat (if available). Best for the laptop-and-drink solo evening; quieter than the counter but separated from the bar action.
- Small table for two. Less ideal but works if the counter is full. Bring a book.
Avoid: the centre of a banquette designed for a group. You will look lost and the staff will assume you are waiting for someone.
What to order, alone
Different from group orders. Three rules:
1. Pick something you have not had before. A solo drink is a tasting opportunity. The Negroni you always order does not reward you the way a Last Word or a Boulevardier or a Bee's Knees might.
2. Spirit-forward over long-and-sweet. A Martini, an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan, a Negroni, these reward slow drinking. A long highball loses its texture in the 30 minutes you will spend with it.
3. Ask the bartender what they would pour themselves tonight. They will tell you something true. Bartenders generally have a "tonight I would actually drink X" answer ready, separate from what they have to recommend for paying customers.
Pace and timing
One drink per 30-45 minutes is the right solo pace. Two drinks over 90 minutes is the natural session length. Three is the upper limit unless you are reading something deep.
Best timing for the solo cocktail experience: weekday afternoons, 15:00 to 18:00. The room is quiet, the bartender has time, the light through the window is good. Both of our outlets are at their best for solo drinkers in this window.
Phone / laptop etiquette
Reading on a phone or working on a laptop is welcome at both bars. We do not have wifi passwords behind the counter (just ask), and the bar counter has charging ports at most seats.
The only soft rule: do not take a call at the bar counter. Step outside for calls. Voices on speakerphone or in tight conversation carry across small rooms.
Conversation, if you want it
If you want to talk to the bartender, the easy opener is "what are you working on?", they will explain the current drink, and the conversation builds from there. If you do not want to talk, opening a book or a phone signals it clearly; no offense taken either way.
Conversation with neighbouring drinkers is fine but read the room. Some solo drinkers want the silence. Some are happy to chat.
Both outlets, solo-friendly notes
Dissolved Solids, Damansara Kim. Better for the afternoon solo drink (opens at 14:00 or 15:00). Counter has 8 stools with good bartender visibility. WhatsApp
Soluble Solids, SS2. Better for the evening solo drink (opens at 18:00). The customisation model is especially rewarding solo, the bartender will spend more time on your build. WhatsApp
One small thing
If this is your first time drinking solo at a cocktail bar and you feel awkward, remember: nobody else in the room is looking at you. They are looking at their own drinks and their own people. You are invisible in the best way. By the second drink, you will wonder why you have not done this more often.
Frequently asked questions
Is it weird to drink alone at a cocktail bar?
No. Solo drinkers are common at any cocktail bar and bartenders welcome them. You get more direct bartender attention than any group, you can actually focus on the drink's flavour and how it evolves with melt, and you watch the room rather than perform in it. Most adults eventually discover solo cocktail drinking is one of the small pleasures.
Which seat should I take as a solo drinker?
In priority: far end of the bar counter (max bartender visibility, least foot traffic), mid-counter near the bartender's station (best for conversation if you want it), window seat (best for laptop-and-drink solo evening). Avoid the centre of a banquette designed for groups; you will look lost and staff will assume you are waiting for someone.
What should I order alone?
Three rules. Pick something you have not had before; solo is the tasting opportunity. Spirit-forward over long-and-sweet (Martini, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni reward slow drinking). Ask the bartender what they would pour themselves tonight; they will tell you something true, separate from what they have to recommend for paying customers.
Can I work on a laptop or read a book at the bar counter?
Yes at both Dissolved Solids and Soluble Solids. We do not have wifi passwords behind the counter (just ask), and the bar counter has charging ports at most seats. Soft rule: do not take phone calls at the counter; voices carry across small rooms. Reading or typing is welcome and the cue is clear to staff and other drinkers.
What's the best time for a solo cocktail in PJ?
Weekday afternoons between 15:00 and 18:00. The room is quiet, the bartender has time, the light through the window is good. Dissolved Solids (43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Damansara Kim, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607) opens earlier and suits an afternoon solo drink. Soluble Solids (50-1 Jalan SS2/24, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651) opens at 18:00 and the customisation model is especially rewarding when you are alone at the counter.