SOLENE

For a second visit in Johor Bahru, treat SOLENE as the rooftop choice when cocktails and a Latin American-leaning meal matter more than a tightly priced dinner plan. The smarter move is to anchor the evening around drinks first, then order food around the table: the venue’s clearest promise is cocktails, wine, bold Latin-inspired cooking, and views from Level 26 rather than a chef-led tasting format.

Rooftop Latin cooking with a drinks-first reason to go

the restaurant works well for diners who already know they want a higher-energy rooftop setting in Bukit Senyum and do not need a formal fine-dining script. The food direction is Latin American, with vegetarian options and kid-friendly choices listed, so it has more range than a pure cocktail bar. The cocktail angle is also more specific than a generic skyline lounge: Indian herbs and spices are part of the drinks brief, which gives repeat visitors a reason to explore beyond wine.

The main caution is planning. With no published price range or service format here, this is not the venue to pick when the bill needs to be predictable in advance. It is a better fit when the decision is about setting, drinks, and a broad menu rather than chasing a named dish or award credential.

Backed by an experienced regional operator

Its useful trust signal is ownership. The restaurant sits within The Olive Tree Group, founded in 2003 by Leslie Gomez and now operating 32 restaurants and bars across 6 states and 2 countries. That does not guarantee a flawless night, but it does make this a less speculative booking than a one-off rooftop concept with no operating depth behind it.

Book it when the rooftop setting is part of the point. Skip it when the priority is a measured, tightly documented dinner with known pricing, named signatures, or a formal tasting-menu structure.