Bangkok's sparkling shopping malls are a shopaholic's
paradise! Explore the city's impressive shopping grounds and discover a
wealth of modern, multi-storey shopping malls. From the legendary Mah Boon
Krong (MBK), to the sophisticated Emporium, the trendy Siam Discovery or
Siam Paragon, and Southeast Asia's biggest lifestyle shopping complex CentralWorld,
Bangkok accommodates everybody's taste, pocket and style. The latest addition
to the city's 'mallscape' is the newly and fabulously revamped CentralWorld,
which is officially the largest mall in Southeast Asia.
These malls are where you'll find the city's finest fashion stores, global
brands, book shops, speciality stores, accessories stands and all kinds
of luxury designer lifestyle goods. Not only are you spoiled for choice;
it's all super easy to navigate. Shopping malls are modern and air-conditioned,
thus a pleasant alternative to the bustling hot markets, and most complexes
are easily accessible via the city's modern and efficient Skytrain (BTS)
system. Just don't forget to sport comfortable shoes!
Related Links: Department Stores, Markets
CentralWorld Shopping Complex
The battle of Bangkok's mega shopping malls to be the biggest and
the best has a new outright and undisputed winner: the supermodern, newly
launched, revamped and rebranded CentralWorld. With 550,000 square metres
of retail space and a total area size of 830,000 square metres that is
30% larger than any other shopping centre in central Bangkok, CentralWorld
is now officially the largest lifestyle shopping complex in Southeast
Asia. (READ MORE)
Siam Paragon Shopping Centre
From a sporty yellow Ferrari to a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes straight from
the set of Sex and the City, Siam Paragon is a shopping mall without rival
in Southeast Asia when it comes to luxury goods. This shopping and entertainment
complex is an upmarket, five-storey colossus with 500,000 square metres
of retail space. The gleaming, modern mall opened in December 2005 at
a cost of 15 billion baht (US$ 375 million), and is home to more than
250 famed international and local luxury brands. Let's take a closer look...
(READ MORE)
MBK Shopping Center
Short-named MBK, the multi-storey Mah Boon Krong is probably Bangkok's
most legendary shopping mall, popular with both tourists and locals. Eight
floors packed with 2,000 shops that sell everything from clothing, fashion
accessories, handbags, leather products and luggage to furniture, mobile
phones, electric appliances, cameras, stationery and DVD's (and then some).
MBK (launched in 1986) is a beehive of activity, especially on weekends,
when half of Bangkok converges to shop for bargains. And plenty of bargains
are to be found here! (READ MORE)
The Emporium Bangkok
The Emporium is like a glossy magazine come to life. Behold the seven
layers of shopper's paradise, where the first three floors are dedicated
solely to fashion. Exclusive world-class brand names dominate the ground
floor, hot international designer items, leather and jewellery the first
floor, and glamorous garb for the young and trendy, the second. Fashionistas,
this is your playground. (READ MORE)
Siam Center Bangkok
One of the oldest malls in Thailand, but also one of the most vital. Situated
slap-bang in the centre of what is called 'the battleground of the malls'
- and easily dwarfed by the bigger and flashier malls - few know that
Siam Center was there before all the others. Constructed in 1976, this
original looks good for her age, thanks to the panoply of bright and playful
shops and the ever-younger and fresher clientele, expending their reeling
energies and pocket money... (READ MORE)
Amarin Plaza Bangkok
The stylish Amarin Plaza is linked to Erawan Bangkok via a skybridge.
The five-storey shopping plaza has an almost festive aura to it, drawing
in a mixed crowd - from affluent Thais to expats and business travellers
- with highly desirable brand names such as Guy Laroche, Valentino and
Crocodile, to name but a few. (READ MORE)
Gaysorn Bangkok
Gaysorn is a luxurious, upmarket white marble and gleaming chrome complex
housing exclusively high-end luxury goods and designer labels. Its contemporary
design and an innovative retail concept create a very exclusive shopping
experience. Expect to find a wide range of highly desirable international
brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Hugo Boss, to name but a few,
as well as a selection of Thailand's most innovative designers such as
Fly Now, 'Senada Theory and Kloset Red Carpet. (READ MORE)
Siam Discovery
This trendy shopping complex is still a favourite among Bangkok's younger
and fashionable crowds. Opposite Siam Square, this modern centre adjoins
Siam Centre and showcases a good selection of shops, restaurants and designer
fashion outlets. Expect popular local fashion designers and global brand
names as well as European established names, as well as a number of home
d?r and hip interior design stores. Guess? DKNY, Shiseido, Mac, Swarovski
and many more. Asia Books and Habitat have branches here too. A huge cinema
complex is located on the top floor, while the ground floor houses popular
coffee hangouts including Starbucks and Au Bon Pain.
Open: 10:00 - 22:00
Location: Siam, Pathumwan
BTS: Siam
Erawan Bangkok
Erawan Bangkok, the graceful mall with direct access to the Grand Hyatt
Erawan Hotel right in the heart of the Ratchaprasong shopping district,
has an air of exclusivity about it. A five-storey space covering about
13, 000 square meters, it's a boutique mall that offers a selection of
only the most elegant lifestyle brands. And the shoppers who frequent
the polished hallways and eateries here are equally suave... (READ MORE)
Pantip Plaza (IT Mall)
The mother of them all. Walking through the main entrance of this multi-storey
IT complex, you'll be greeted with the latest copy software for sale (100
- 150 baht), along with DVD's, MP3 CD's, and anything else that can be
put on disk. If you're looking for a new wireless mouse, USB stick, CD-Rom
drive, or whatever you can think of, sift your way through as many vendors
as possible to compare prices and find the best deal. Most IT brands are
well-represented, and the safest places to buy from are credible and established
outlets. The secret is to take your time, and to compare prices. To put
it simply, Pantip is a must, especially if you' re shopping on a budget.
Even just for the experience, it's well worth your time to explore the
sheer variety of IT products on offer, packed from floor to ceiling. Open:
10:00 - 20:30 (every day)
Location: Petchaburi Road, directly across the street from Pratunam's
City Complex and close to the Baiyoke Market and stylish Amari Watergate
Hotel. To get there, take the skytrain (BTS) to Ratchathewi station, and
then either hire a tuk-tuk / taxi, or just walk ten minutes down Petchaburi
Road.
For more IT malls, have a look here.
Peninsula Plaza
Peninsula Plaza on Ratchadamri Road is situated in the prime land between
the Erawan Mall and Four Seasons Hotel. This exclusive centre, catering
mainly towards expats, moneyed Thais and business class travelers, exudes
an air of old-world charm. Various leisurely eateries and cafes are scattered
throughout. You will find diamonds, Swarovsky crystal, sheer fabrics,
antiques and silverware among the wares on display. There is also a grand
gallery, an art shop exhibiting some striking contemporary Thai paintings,
and the International Dance Academy on the fourth floor. Look out for
the magnificent stained glass 'door' on your way out.
Open: 10:00 - 21:00
Location: Ratchadamri between Grand Hyatt Erawan and The Regent
BTS: Ratchadamri
All Seasons Place
All Seasons Place consists of two towers, one of which leads into The
Conrad Hotel. In this gargantuan building, a variety of stores collectively
form the 'All Seasons Retail Centre'. The actual retail space is massive,
and is spread over four levels. While serving quite an upscale clientele,
prices in some of the shops are often scaled down to affordable dimensions
- especially at the end of a season. Clothing boutiques, books, stationery
and shops specialising in high-end sporting accessories can be found here.
There is fine custom-tailoring, an art shop, gallery, an antiques shop
and a wine cellar. The center also houses a health clinic and state of-the-art
spa. Postal and various banking services are available too. The popular
food court, adjoined to the supermarket on the second floor, offers unbelievably
cheap fare in a casual atmosphere.
Open: 9:00 - 18:00
Location: Wireless Road
BTS: Ratchadamri
Platinum Fashion Mall Bangkok
A relatively new shopping center in the Petchburi area, Platinum Fashion
Mall caters especially to wholesale clothing, selling a similar range
of clothing to the Pratunam Market across the street, except in air-conditioned
comfort. The mall has six floors which are filled with small outlets -
most of them specialising in women's clothing and fashion accessories.
Since this is a wholesale mall, you can get items at very reasonable prices
- provided you buy larger quantities, usually three items and up.
The price you pay will be about 30% lower per piece. Some shops allow
you to mix different types of items, for example, purses and bags, shirts
and trousers. And as with most shopping malls in the city, there is also
a food court on the fifth floor, along with caf?and fast food chains.
If you're coming from CentralWorld, you shouldn't have any trouble finding
it. Just head north, cross the small canal, and turn left into Petchburi
Road, a few metres along and you're there.
Open: 10:00 - 22:00
Location: Petchburi, Ratchathewi (next to Pantip Plaza)
BTS: The nearest Skytrain station is Ploenchit
Union Mall Bangkok
Strategically located opposite the ever-busy Central Lad Prao, Union Mall
caters especially for shoppers who find Central Lad Prao too packed, and
Chatuchak Weekend Market too hot. Opened in February 2006, Union Mall
stands eight storeys tall with a total area of 150,000 square metres housing
over 1,000 retail shops. It boasts easy access from the MRT Phahon Yothin
station, an international food court, a myriad of fast food chains, entertainment
areas, tutorial schools, a fitness centre, and a supermarket. Basically,
whatever it is you need, you're likely to find it at Union Mall. An open-air
market outside Union Mall is also worth a browse. You'll find an interesting
range of clothing items, bags, shoes, and fashion accessories at affordable
prices. The market is open everyday from 17:00 onwards.
Open: 10:00 - 22:00
Location: Lad Prao Soi 1
MRT: Phahon Yothin station
Central Lad Prao Bangkok
Opened in 1982, Central Lad Prao is one of the oldest shopping malls and
department stores in Thailand. Favoured by the locals living further away
from the downtown area, Central Ladprao has a total of seven floors including
a basement floor with trendy clothing, shoes, bags, books, DVDs, and a
TOPS supermarket. The department store stocks everything you'll ever need
from cosmetics and car accessories to a Marks & Spencer outlet. On
the top floor is a huge food court selling different types of cuisine,
from popular Thai dishes to international favourites. The usual mix of
fast food chains can also be found here. On the seventh floor of the department
store side you'll find SFX Cinema, a nine-screen cinema complete with
first-class seating and bowling alleys. Adjoining the mall is the Sofitel
Central Plaza Hotel, which houses Bangkok's first convention center. In
front of the mall is an outdoor market bustling with small shops selling
inexpensive fashion accessories.
Open: Sun - Thurs 10:00 - 21:30, Fri - Sat until 22:00
Location: Phahon Yothin (opposite Chatuchak Park)
MRT: Phahon Yothin station (BTS Mo Chit station)
Central Ratchada - Rama III Bangkok
Central Ratchada - Rama III is the largest department store in this part
of the city, and has been a favourite among the locals for almost a decade
now. Like most Central Department Store branches, Central Ratchada - Rama
III is broken down into six floors of products and services, offering
almost everything you'll ever need from cosmetics to fashionable clothes.
Specialty shops including B2S and Power Buy can also be found here. Hungry?
No worries, as fast food outlets and restaurants are in abundance. If
you have spare time, make sure to check out Major Cineplex, a huge cinema
with karaoke and bowling alley.
Open: Mon - Fri 11:00 - 21:00, Sat - Sun 10:00 - 21:30
Location: Sathu Pradit Road, Chong Nonsi, Yannawa
BTS: Get off at Chong Nonsi station, then take a cab.
Esplanade
This structure of organic contours and ample space was designed by the
same Paris-based architects who conceived Bangkok's famous Emporium and
Siam Paragon. Within is a music academy, a 12-theatre Cineplex, and ice
skating rink (the latter to be launched sometime in 2007). This new addition
to the mall scene operates 100 000 square meters of retail space, and
introduces the intriguing concept of 'artetainment'.
In addition, it features one of the most modern auditoriums in the city,
and the Cineplex movie theatres have devised a nifty way to save paper;
the 'now showing' screens are electronic instead of the traditional posters.
Aside from all the usual eateries, cafes and fashionable lifestyle stores,
there are also several health and wellness outlets, from post-natal slimming
and shaping, to fitness, hair and nails. Project Zen Bodyworks has a spa
menu to delight, and Chaho Matcha Teashop stocks Japanese green tea. And
for some action, Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl combines karaoke and bowling
for good clean fun.
Open: 10:00 - 22:00
Location: Ratchada Road
Subway: Thailand Cultural Center
Future Park Rangsit Bangkok
Occupying an area of over 215,000 square feet in Pathumthani (one
of the provinces surrounding Bangkok), Future Park Rangsit is simply one
of Asia's largest shopping malls. Truly a one-stop shopping spot, it offers
a wide range of retail outlets as well as major department stores. Some
of the main ones include Central, Robinson, a Big C Superstore, TOPS Supermarket,
Power Buy (household appliances), Super Sports, B2S (books, music, and
stationery), HomeWorks (furniture and home improvement), and Fitness First.
If you need to fill you tummy, you'll be spoilt for choice as there are
over 70 restaurants and a dozen of fast food outlets to choose from. The
Superstore complex, adjacent to Future Park, is equally impressive as
it features mega outlets like Home Pro, Major Megaplex - a huge cinema
with karaoke and bowling alleys, and Index Living Mall. Other than shopping
and entertainment, Future Park also boasts various other services such
as a post office, eight major banks, financial institutions, and outlets
for all phone networks and service providers.
Open: Mon - Fri 10:30 - 21:30, Sat - Sun until 22:00
Location: Rangsit, Pathumthan
Seacon Square
Opened in 1994, this 96 football field-sized entertainment centre
is a favourite among locals, and one of the biggest malls in Southeast
Asia. Apart from hundreds of shops and outlets selling everything a shopper's
heart desires, lots of family fun can be had on a rainy day at the indoor
amusement park. There is a 38-lane bowling alley, a rollerblading rink,
mini-golf and amusement park on the fourth floor, a 14-theatre multiplex
cinema, as well as a motion 'simulator' theatre. Come here if you want
to let your kids loose, while you do your shopping thing. As this mall
is only 14 km from the new airport, it's a fantastic place to get the
ants out of them before a long flight. Or if you have the energy and want
to get your last kick out of Bangkok, join them.
Open: Weekdays 10:30 - 21:00
Location: Srinakarin Road, Nongbon
BTS: Take a taxi from On Nut station
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