Wayla
- client Uncapped Hospitality
- location New York, NY
- status Completed 2019
- photographer Nicole Franzen
- area Cafe: 425 SF, Interiors: 850 SF
Wayla offers a bright and fresh Thai menu of homestyle comfort food favorites, highlighting seafood and fresh herbs. The 40-seat, subterranean dining room is inspired by lively Thai street markets. The space features brick walls, deep red and turquoise banquette seating, and colorful teal ceramic tiles along the bar and window counter. Shelving along the tables are filled with ornaments from the team’s personal collection gathered during visits to antique markets in Thailand. The backyard, designed by Bespoke Only, features a mix of lush greenery such as tropical palms and native New York grasses. Bamboo and wicker chairs set around vintage “Southeast Asian wedding banquet tables” were sourced from antique markets and arranged in the open patio that is centered by a large antique American hutch. Hanging string lights and candlelit lanterns tie the space together.