PJ is the right scale for intimate private events. The small bars here hold 20-40 guests comfortably, which is the most common buyout size in the Klang Valley. The bartender can dedicate full attention. The drinks stay at craft standard. The bill is cleaner than the equivalent KL central spend (typically 20-30% lower per guest). The trade-off: you do not get the rooftop view, but you do get an actual conversation across the room and a night that feels like yours rather than the venue's.

What we mean by "private event"

Anything from 15-40 guests where you want the room to yourselves and the bar to make the night specific to your group. The format suits any event where the cocktail programme is part of the story rather than just the drinks station. Common formats:

  • A milestone birthday (30, 40, 50, 60). The most common single buyout reason in PJ.
  • A wedding rehearsal dinner or "thank you to the family" night. Typically 15-25 guests, early-evening format.
  • A team year-end or "thanks team" event for 15-35 people. Often paired with a custom-drinks-by-team activity.
  • An engagement party, an anniversary, a baby shower with drinks. Personal events where the room standing in for "home" matters.
  • A product launch, brand activation, or small media event. Shorter format (2-3 hours), branded materials, often with a custom cocktail that ties to the product.
  • A book launch, exhibition opening, or creative gathering. Gentler volume, longer drinks (spritzes, highballs), often with a drink named for the work.
  • A hen night or stag night where the brief wants energy without chaos. Custom drinks named for the hen or stag.
  • A friends-only "thanks for showing up" night. The least branded, most personal format.

What our two bars offer for buyouts

Dissolved Solids · Damansara Kim: small upstairs bar above MyNews at 43-1 Jalan SS20/11. Seated capacity 30, standing capacity around 40. Best for buyouts of 18-35 guests. Warm-lit, conversation-volume, with a long table and bar-counter sections that can be configured for the night. The upstairs location keeps the room private from street-level foot traffic and gives the event a sense of arrival when guests come up the stairs.

Soluble Solids · SS2: smaller, at 50-1 Jalan SS2/24. Seated capacity 20, standing around 25. Best for buyouts of 12-22 guests. The bespoke-build format makes this outlet feel particularly tailored when bought out for a private night; the bartender takes the brief for the event and pours through the evening based on the guests rather than a printed menu. Reads as a parlour rather than a bar when bought out.

What a buyout includes

  • Exclusive use of the room for the agreed window (typically 4-5 hours). The bar closes to walk-ins during your window.
  • The full cocktail programme available, plus any custom drinks briefed in advance. Guests order from the regular menu, the custom menu, or both.
  • Dedicated bartender(s) for the group. Solo bartender for groups up to 22, two bartenders for groups of 25-40.
  • Music programming coordinated to the event. We can run our usual or fit a specific brief. Volume tuned to "background" or "energy" as needed.
  • Bar snacks at the regular menu, or a catered spread arranged through one of our partner kitchens for additional charge.
  • Printed cocktail menu for the night, named for the event if you want (e.g. "Anna and Jay's drinks for 14 May").
  • Small branded materials on request (custom napkins, recipe cards, small print items). Lead time matters; 3-4 weeks for branded printing.
  • Basic AV on request (a small PA for a toast, the house playlist switched to a brief-specific mix). Larger setups (DJ, projection) coordinated externally.

The pricing structure

We use a minimum spend, not a flat rental fee. The minimum reflects the regular revenue we would expect for that night and outlet. If the guests order enough drinks to hit it, no further fee. If not, the difference is charged. The structure is fair both ways: a well-attended event hits the minimum naturally; a smaller event pays for the room.

Minimums vary by:

  • Night of the week. Weekend buyouts (Fri-Sat) cost more than weeknight buyouts (Tue-Thu). Sunday-Monday windows are negotiable for off-format events.
  • Outlet. Dissolved Solids (larger room, larger capacity) carries a higher minimum than Soluble Solids.
  • Window length. A 4-hour buyout costs less than a 6-hour buyout.
  • Catering. If we coordinate food, that adds.
  • Customisation depth. Branded printing, complex custom-drink builds, and AV all factor in.

Working range for our outlets in 2026: RM 3,500-7,000 minimum on weeknights for 15-30 guests, RM 7,000-12,000 on Friday-Saturday for 25-40 guests. WhatsApp for a specific quote.

The custom drink menu

For private events we typically build a 4-6 drink menu tailored to the night. The format adds personalisation without overstating it. Guests notice that the drinks are specific to the host without the menu feeling overproduced. The brief includes:

  • The kind of evening (warm and personal, professional, celebratory, somber).
  • Flavours or ingredients to feature (rose, gula melaka, cardamom, mezcal, sake, pandan, kopi).
  • Anything to avoid (allergies, the host's hated flavour, alcohol categories someone in the group cannot drink).
  • A signature drink for the host or honouree, if applicable. The signature is usually the centrepiece of the night.
  • NA versions of each cocktail in the menu (not optional; we include them by default so non-drinking guests have parity).

The menu is named for the event and printed on small recipe cards. The bartender opens the night by presenting it to your guests. This costs nothing extra but requires 2-3 weeks lead time to build and trial.

The evening shape

A typical 4-hour PJ buyout runs in three phases. The first hour is arrival and the opening drink (lighter, spritz or highball, served to the table as guests arrive). The second hour is the main flow (proper cocktails, custom menu drinks, the conversation hits its stride). The third hour is the peak (toasts, the signature drink, the moment the host says the thing they want to say). The fourth hour is the wind-down (digestifs, last orders, the room emptying gently).

Music tracks the same arc: gentle through the first hour, mid-tempo through the middle, lifted slightly for the third, easing back for the fourth.

The bartender paces the bar to the room. If the toasts are landing, the next round waits. If the energy needs lifting, the next round arrives faster. The room is calibrated continuously through the night.

How to brief us

WhatsApp 3-6 weeks ahead with:

  • Date, start time, expected end time.
  • Group size and likely range (e.g. "25 confirmed, possibly up to 32").
  • Event type and feel.
  • Whether food is needed and the format (light canapes, full sit-down dinner via catering).
  • Whether you want a custom menu or branded drinks.
  • Music preferences. Our default is mid-tempo soul, jazz, bossa.
  • "Must-have" guest names, allergies, non-drinkers, dietary requirements.
  • Budget range, or whether you want us to quote against the minimum spend.
  • Any AV needs (microphone, projection, DJ booth).

We will reply within 24 hours with a proposed format, the minimum spend, confirmation of availability, and any follow-up questions.

Reservations and enquiries

See also our dedicated venue hire page for the full buyout brief.

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