BYOB, short for Bring Your Own Bottle, is a concept design by UNFORMALDESIGN for a contemporary speakeasy hidden within Bangkok’s nightlife scene. UNFORMALDESIGN is the Bangkok-based studio led by Italian architect Alessio Carta, working across hospitality, F&B and retail projects in Thailand and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The brief was to design a bar that isn’t found by accident: a hidden destination discovered on purpose, in the spirit of a classic speakeasy.
What is BYOB?
BYOB is conceived as a hidden destination where Bangkok’s different personalities gather beyond the public eye. The concept borrows its atmosphere from classic speakeasy culture (discovery, exclusivity, intrigue) and builds a contemporary bar around it: a place where every bottle carries a story, every guest brings their own, and every night becomes part of a shared ritual.
The bottle as architecture, not decoration
Most bars treat their bottle collection as inventory behind a counter. BYOB makes it the core architectural element of the entire space. Floor-to-ceiling illuminated bottle displays wrap the room, turning an ordinary object, the bottle, into a glowing backdrop that gives the space its depth, its warmth and its visual identity from the moment a guest steps in.
| Design element | Role in the space |
|---|---|
| Illuminated bottle wall | Core architecture rather than storage, and the room’s primary visual identity |
| Warm lighting + dark finishes | Intimate atmosphere, light revealed rather than exposed |
| Reflective surfaces | Depth and layering across a compact footprint |
| Banquet mural | Symbolic soul of the room, the built-in conversation piece |
A surreal banquet as the soul of the room
At the heart of BYOB sits a surreal banquet mural of elegantly dressed pigs: a playful, slightly wicked reflection on ambition, indulgence, success and human nature. It isn’t a decorative flourish; it’s positioned as the symbolic soul of the venue and the artwork every guest ends up talking about, doing the work a generic feature wall never could.
Light, shadow, and a sequence of discovery
Warm lighting, dark finishes and reflective surfaces work together deliberately: light is revealed rather than exposed, guiding guests through a sequence of discovery and anticipation rather than lighting the whole room flat on entry. That restraint is what keeps a small hidden bar feeling intimate instead of simply dim.
More than a bar: a place to belong
BYOB is designed as an experience rather than a transaction: a hidden gathering place where stories are shared and connections are made, and where every visit is meant to feel like entering a world reserved for those who know where to find it. The concept isn’t built to be seen from the street. It’s built to be worth the invitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does BYOB mean as a bar concept? BYOB stands for Bring Your Own Bottle, reinterpreted here as a contemporary speakeasy concept where every bottle in the room’s illuminated display carries its own story, echoed by the guests who visit.
What makes BYOB’s interior design different from a typical bar? The bottle collection is treated as the core architectural element rather than storage. Floor-to-ceiling illuminated displays form the backdrop for the entire space, paired with a surreal banquet mural as the room’s symbolic centrepiece.
Where is BYOB located? BYOB is a concept design for a hidden speakeasy in Bangkok, designed by UNFORMALDESIGN.
Is BYOB open yet? BYOB is currently a completed concept design. Construction timing has not been announced.
Does UNFORMALDESIGN design nightlife and bar interiors? Yes. Alongside hospitality, F&B and retail interiors across Thailand, UNFORMALDESIGN designs bar and nightlife concepts such as BYOB. For a hospitality or nightlife project, reach the studio at alessio@unformaldesign.com or +66 97 112 3561.