To an unaware passerby, the Pastrami Club in Málaga, Spain appears to be an unassuming pastrami shop. However, beyond the visible storefront, the space reveals itself as a sprawling nightclub. The venue, which was designed by local firm Paco Lago Interiorismo, is accessed via a secret entrance located in the “men’s bathroom,” where everything—toilet included—is upside down and suspended from the ceiling.

The design team established a sense of continuity throughout the rest of the Pastrami Club by leaning into the idea of the unexpected. “Surprise defines Pastrami Club,” says interior designer Paco Lago, who points to the lounge with its unique play of lights or beyond the the exclusive pink room, hidden behind a red curtain. The VIP access area, he says, “appears as if you have gone down to hell.” Further, Lago was inspired by New York speakeasies from the 1920s. “The imprint left by those clandestine spaces was such that since then all cities have their exclusive secret club,” he says.

The Pastrami Club is disguised by its functional sandwich storefront

Once inside, patrons are submerged in a sensory experience. In the bar area, a custom coffered ceiling disguises lamps that can remain fixed or move rhythmically. Pink, black, and gold hues dominate the color palette, although each light can change color and intensity—illuminating the space in a different hue—and the backbar is bedecked with backlit niches and spy mirrors that feature metallic chain curtains. As for the VIP room, Lago aimed to create an Instagrammable zone with a slightly theatrical appearance. “From the outset, we abandoned conventional design thinking about a clandestine club concept and manifested surprise with a different narrative at different levels.”

Design firm Paco Lago Interiorismo executed surprise and intrigue at every turn

The speakeasy-style venue comprises a sprawling bar area, VIP room, and more