diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_docker.yml b/.github/workflows/build_docker.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c12d58c58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_docker.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+name: build docker
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  push:
+
+jobs:
+  build-docker:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Set up node version
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '20.9'
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: yarn install --no-immutable --inline-builds
+        shell: bash
+      - name: Webpack build
+        run: yarn run webpack:prod
+        shell: bash
+      - name: Log in to the Container registry
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
+        with:
+          registry: ghcr.io
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      - name: Extract metadata (tags, labels) for Docker
+        id: meta
+        uses: docker/metadata-action@v5
+        with:
+          images: ghcr.io/datavisyn/visyn_core
+      - name: Build and push Docker image
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
+        with:
+          context: .
+          file: ./deploy/standalone/Dockerfile
+          push: true
+          tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
+          labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/deploy/standalone/Dockerfile b/deploy/standalone/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7cc05dee7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/standalone/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# This Dockerfile is used as standalone container for simple deployments, it will be built automatically by GH Actions in the build.yml
+FROM python:3.10-buster
+
+# Copy everything from our backend to our app folder # need to copy backend because we have to install the python packages
+COPY visyn_core/ /app/visyn_core/
+COPY Makefile MANIFEST.in README.md setup.py setup.cfg package.json requirements.txt requirements_dev.txt /app/
+
+# define target folder
+WORKDIR /app/
+
+# Install some build tools and finally python dependencies (numpy is required to build opentsne)
+RUN make install
+
+# Override the setttings.py to use include the bundled frontend
+ENV VISYN_CORE__BUNDLES_DIR /app/bundles
+# Disable the login and always use a anonymous user
+ENV VISYN_CORE__SECURITY__STORE__NO_SECURITY_STORE__ENABLE true
+ENV VISYN_CORE__SECURITY__STORE__NO_SECURITY_STORE__USER anonymous
+
+# copy the pre-built front-end --> comment for development because we mount the volume anyway
+COPY bundles/ /app/bundles/
+
+# expose default port
+EXPOSE 9000
+
+CMD ["uvicorn", "visyn_core.server.main:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "9000"]
diff --git a/visyn_core/__init__.py b/visyn_core/__init__.py
index 0262b9a45..efc5fd608 100644
--- a/visyn_core/__init__.py
+++ b/visyn_core/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
 
 from .plugin.model import AVisynPlugin, RegHelper
+from . import manager
 
 
 class VisynPlugin(AVisynPlugin):
@@ -21,6 +23,15 @@ def init_app(self, app: FastAPI):
 
         app.include_router(create_settings_router())
 
+        @app.on_event("startup")
+        async def startup():
+            # Add the / path at the very end to match all other routes before
+            bundles_dir = manager.settings.visyn_core.bundles_dir
+            if bundles_dir:
+                # Mount the bundles directory as static files to enable the frontend (required in standalone Dockerfile mode)
+                _log.info(f"Mounting bundles dir: {bundles_dir}")
+                app.mount("/", StaticFiles(directory=bundles_dir, html=True), name="bundles")
+
     def register(self, registry: RegHelper):
         # phovea_server
         registry.append(
diff --git a/visyn_core/settings/model.py b/visyn_core/settings/model.py
index bba8bca92..165f87db5 100644
--- a/visyn_core/settings/model.py
+++ b/visyn_core/settings/model.py
@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ class VisynCoreSettings(BaseModel):
     ```
     """
 
+    bundles_dir: str | None = None
+    """
+    Directory where the bundles are stored. If set, a StaticFiles route at / is added to the application.
+    """
+
     disable: DisableSettings = DisableSettings()
     enabled_plugins: list[str] = []