SOLENE Opens on Level 26 of SKS Tower, Johor Bahru's First Rooftop Restobar
SOLENE opened its doors on 15 July 2026 on Level 26 of SKS Tower in Bukit Senyum, claiming the title of Johor Bahru's first rooftop restobar. The venue is the newest concept from The Olive Tree Group, the Kuala Lumpur-based hospitality outfit behind Frangipani and a string of contemporary dining rooms across Malaysia, and it sits on the JB side of the Tebrau corridor roughly 10 minutes' drive from AEON Tebrau City.
For diners in the Tebrau City area, the opening matters for a simple reason: until now the closest genuine rooftop bar experience has been across the Causeway. SOLENE puts a Level 26, charcoal-fired kitchen and a 200-seat dining room on the JB skyline, with an open-air terrace seating 24 for sunset and dinner service.
A Latin American Menu With a Charcoal-Fired Kitchen
The menu leans Latin American, built around a charcoal-fired kitchen rather than a standard gas range. The Olive Tree Group's managing director Leslie Gomez, who also runs the group's Mexican-leaning concepts in Kuala Lumpur, describes the food as bold flavours crafted with premium ingredients and modern technique, with a dedicated vegetarian selection running alongside the mains.
The bar programme does the same thing in liquid form: classic cocktails reworked with contemporary mixology, plus a wine list drawn from the usual-producing regions. The room itself reads contemporary luxury with Art Deco touches, bronze ceiling features, cascading crystal chandeliers, burgundy drapery and floor-to-ceiling windows angled to keep the city skyline in view from every seat.
What the Room Can Do
The main indoor dining area takes up to 200 guests, with a private VIP lounge carved out of one corner. A separate rooftop terrace with seating for 24 is the quieter option for smaller groups who want the open-air experience after sundown. The split layout is designed to handle everything from sunset drinks and intimate dinners to full-scale celebrations, which is the operating model The Olive Tree Group has used across its other venues.
Reservations are recommended for the terrace and the VIP lounge, particularly for weekend dinner service. Walk-ins are accepted for the main dining room but the room fills quickly around sunset, which at this latitude falls close to 7:15pm in July.
Getting There From Tebrau City
SKS Tower sits in Bukit Senyum along Jalan Storey, just off the EDL and a short hop from the Tebrau Highway. From AEON Tebrau City the drive is roughly 10 to 12 minutes outside peak hours; from Toppen Shopping Centre it is closer to 8 minutes. There is basement parking in the tower, and the lift to Level 26 opens directly into the restaurant foyer.
The nearest landmarks are the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium at Gelang Patah in the opposite direction, and the JB city centre a few minutes south. For Tebrau City residents the most direct route is along Jalan Tebrau heading toward the city, then onto the EDL exit for Bukit Senyum.
Who It Suits
SOLENE is pitched at the same audience that has been crossing to Singapore for rooftop bar evenings, and at the corporate and celebration market that currently books into hotel function rooms. The price point is premium, the kitchen runs a full a la carte menu rather than bar snacks, and the room stays open from lunch through to late evening. For a date night, a small celebration, or a sunset drink with the skyline behind you, it is the first option of this kind on the JB side of the Causeway.
Practical Details
- Opening date: 15 July 2026
- Hours: 12:00pm to 2:00am daily
- Venue: Level 26, SKS Tower, 26-01, Jalan Storey, Bukit Senyum, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor
- Unit: 26-01 (main dining), with private VIP lounge and rooftop terrace seating 24
- Capacity: 200 indoors plus 24 on the rooftop terrace
- Nearest landmark: 10-12 minutes' drive from AEON Tebrau City; 8 minutes from Toppen
- Operator: The Olive Tree Group (Leslie Gomez, Managing Director)
- Website: The Olive Tree Group
