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In Bangkok you can literally "shop till you drop." From
sophisticated air-conditioned shopping malls to sweaty markets under
canvas, to roadside vendors. It's hard know where to start!
Below is a selection of shopping areas which might help! Most of
these are located close to the BTS (Bangkok Transport System)
or "Skytrain" - a great new overhead rail system which
spans most of the popular Bangkok areas. Worth noting and definitely
worth using (you can get great deals on daytime travel) especially
if you don't want to spend hours sitting in the Bangkok traffic!!
Suriwong/Silom Area
Although predominantly a business area, there are a few good
places including a large branch of Jim Thompson's - one
of the original producers of high quality silk and silk products.
Specialist shops selling jewellry, gemstones, antiques, ceramics,
leather goods, handicrafts, Thai silk and photographic goods are
located around and along Silom Rd. In the back lanes behind Bangkok
Bank building, is Soi Lalai Sap, a lunchtime market which gets
going at noon and finishes about 2.00pm. Bargain for clothing
accessories, leather goods and small gifts.
At night, the area opens up as Bangkok's major nightlife centre,
with markets lining the streets in Silom and Patpong.
Goods are cheap and not always the best quality but you can get
bargains on clothing, "designer" watches, souvenirs
and leather goods. Easy access by Skytrain which runs along Silom
from Sathorn Road and Ratchadamri Road.
Mahesak/Silom/New Road Area
If you're interested in gemstones and jewellry - this is the
place. A major jewellry manufacturing area, there are also boutiques,
art galleries, department stores and shopping arcades, including
the River City Complex, good for antiques, tailored clothing,
and contemporary Thai & Asian paintings. Can be a little expensive
so bargaining is a must. Take special care at jewellry stores
to ensure certificates of authenticity are given.
Ploenchit/Pathumwan Area
Strictly for shopaholics - with one air-conditioned shopping
mall after another! If your bored with shopping, need a diversion,
or simply need a rest, many of the complexes have cinemas, restaurants
and cafes. All the centres below can be reached by Skytrain (Get
off at Chidlom)
Central Chidlom
Bordering on the Sukhumvit area along Ploenchit Road, Central
Chidlom is Bangkok's original favourite department store. Renovated
after a fire destroyed it in the early 1990's, it has everything
you could want in a department store. Fashion clothing, furniture,
household, accessories, art equipment and stationery. Marks and
Spencer - the British store, also has an outlet within the store.
Central Chidlom would not be a favourite with the Thais if it
didn't have some great places to eat. The store has a lots of
different restaurants and cafes - Thai, Japanese and International
- all serving great food at very reasonable prices. You can easily
spend half a day in here!
World Trade Center
One of the older shopping complexes, it can be difficult to
get your bearings, with escalators leading to different Mezzanine
levels, so if a shop takes your fancy, make a note of the number!
As well as brand name shops, Isetan and Zen department stores,
the World Trade Centre also has a number of specialist shops selling
silk, fabrics, antiques, furniture (antique & modern) and
paintings.
For the non-shoppers, there's also a cinema complex , restaurants,
coffee shops, beauty salons and even an Ice Skating Rink! Prices
are very cheap and instructors are available to give lessons!
Siam Square
An entire block of stores catering mainly to the teenage market.
Lots of funky shoe and inexpensive clothing stores for teens,
bookstores, music stores, restaurants and cafes, cinemas etc.,
In the evening, the square is buzzing with the under 20's.
Siam Center
Opposite Siam Square, caters to a wider age group but offers a
similar slightly more up-market range of goods.
Siam Discovery
Next to Siam Square, this sophisticated centre has international
designer stores and all the well known brand name fashion shops,
selling clothes, accessories and shoes. There's also imported
furniture, bookstores, gift shops, etc. Some excellent coffee
shops and restaurants.
Gaysorn Plaza
Formerly packed with high fashion stores and nothing else, Gaysorn
Plaza now has an interesting mix of clothing stores, home and
furniture stores, galleries and almost 2 floors of small shops
selling handicrafts from all over Thailand in an area known as
the Thai Crafts Museum. Particularly beautiful are the range of
home spun and woven Thai silks and cottons and ready to wear clothing.
Narayana Phand
Next to Gaysorn Plaza and opposite World Trade Centre, this is
Bangkok's original centre for Thai handcrafts and cheap souvenir
goods. Come here for your plain coloured silks, cutlery, Thai
style clothing, gift cards, rice paper gift-wrap, furniture and
figurines, wooden home ware, ceramics, and jewellry. Downstairs
in the basement are stalls selling cheap jeans, shorts, shirts,
children's clothes, leather goods and accessories. They also sell
household items, cheap videos, tapes and CD's. Definitely worth
a stop as prices are quite reasonable and vendors are friendlier
than their jaded counterparts in Patpong and Sukhumvit areas.
Mahboonkrong
The original shopping mecca for teenagers, Mahboonkrong is a rabbit
warren of small shops and stalls selling clothing, accessories,
cosmetics, shoes, music, food, electronic equipment, books and
more located on 5 floors between Tokyu Department store and The
Pathumwan Princess Hotel. Don't go there if you're claustrophobic
- do if you like to watch Bangkok's young and trendy strut their
stuff.
Sukhumvit Road Area
Concentrated largely between Soi Nana (Soi 3) and Soi Asok (Soi
21), are several shops, shopping centres and department stores
with a broad range of Thai and imported items. Skytrain stop -
Nana and Asok.
Robinson's Department Store
A small branch found opposite Soi 8, it has a small collection
of household items and clothing, plus a good supermarket well
stocked with fresh food items and Japanese cooking ingredients.
A food hall is in the basement.
Asia Books
Compared with many big cities, Bookshops are still thin on the
ground in Bangkok, especially those selling English language publications.
This branch of Asia Books probably has one of the best selections
of both fiction and non-fiction, that you're likely to find. Close
to Robinson's it's a good place to browse when the weather and
traffic are bad. Smaller branches can be found in the Landmark
Hotel on Soi 4, and in the Times Square Complex opposite Robinson's
Department Store.
Emporium Shopping Center
Not for bargain hunters, the very upmarket Emporium centre
has many top designer stores including Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Versace,
and local designer stores, plus a range of other specialty stores
including book stores, music stores, furniture and home product
stores, beauty salons, etc. There's also a department store with
all the usual stuff, plus food hall attached offering everything
from Thai to European food, fast food, bakeries and coffee shops.
A number of good restaurants are located within the complex too.
Great place to browse and see where the truly wealthy population
of Bangkok hang out on their weekends. There's also a cinema complex
on the top floor. Located Sukhumvit Soi 24 a handy Skytrain link
lets you off right at the 3rd floor of the shopping complex. (Skytrain
- get off at Phrom Pong)
Alternatives
If you prefer to browse along the street, there are lots of bargains
waiting. At night stalls set up with CD's, "designer"
watches, T shirts and and the usual cheap clothing around Soi
Nana (11)
During the day, stretching along the entire length of Sukhumvit
for miles are literally hundreds of shops selling homeware, arts
and crafts, beautiful upmarket clothing, lighting and rattan furniture.
Around the back sois (streets) off Sukhumvit there's even more!
You can spend days wandering!!
Other complexes along Sukhumvit include Times Square opposite
Robinson's Department Store, and the Ploenchit Centre,
next to the Marriott Hotel on Soi 2. They contain a few shops
- mostly fashion stores, beauty salons, gift shops and small restaurants.
Pratunam/Petchaburi Road Area
This area is best known for cheap clothes, sold partly in a
street market, where determined bargaining is required for best
prices. It can get very hot, especially in the centre of the market.
From World Trade Centre walk over the bridge into the Pratunam
area and you will be in the thick of it - streets lined with clothing,
food and accessories. Mainly a daytime market, there are still
lots of stalls selling into the night similar to Patpong in Silom.
Round the corner in Petchaburi Road is Pantip Plaza - the place
to go for cheap electronic and computer goods, software and accessories.
Banglamphu
Close to the river, Banglamphu is the main backpackers area
of Bangkok with lots of budget accommodation. The area offers
inexpensive items, especially ready-made clothing, leather foods,
footwear, cosmetics and curios. Bargain of course.
Other Shopping "Musts"
Chatuchak Weekend Market
One of Asia's largest outdoor markets with around 15,000 stalls
along Phahonyothin Road. It's hot, sticky and crowded but worth
it for the incredible range of goods. Not just clothing (lots
of denim and teenage gear) but also plants, household products,
handicrafts, ceramics, pets and leather goods. Great for browsing
and bargain hunting but you need stamina! Easily accessible via
Skytrain (get off at Mochit - the end of the line) Only open Saturdays
and Sundays from around 9.00 until late in the afternoon. Usual
precautions about being careful with your bag. Nancy Chandler's
Map of Bangkok has a good breakdown of where to find products
at Chatuchak (Available at Asia Books Store)
Lang Krasuang Market
Facing Khlong Lot, on Atsadang Road, between the Royal Hotel
and Ministry of Interior, a row of shop houses sell moderately
priced second-hand goods, including antique cameras and typewriters,
musical instruments, radios and all manner of electrical goods.
Bargaining essential.
Woeng Nakhon Kasem
Better known as Thieves Market, located between Yaowarat Road
and New Road, near Phahurat, this area sells antiques, including
Thai and Chinese objects d'art, porcelain, brassware, copperware
and furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Determined bargaining
essential.
Chinatown
The best place to buy fabrics (imported fabrics including
cottons, synthetics and linen) sewing accessories, household items,
hair accessories, gold, herbal medicines, imported fruits and
Asian snack food. Chinatown is an absolute delight. Covering a
large area around Yaowarat Road and Charoen Krung Road, the small
streets and alleys surrounding the main roads are where all the
action and interesting places are. Not for the faint hearted however
- the streets are narrow and crowded and you must watch your bag
carefully. If you're looking for material and clothes, start at
Sampeng Lane (parallel to Yaowarat Road), and walk down to Pahurat
Cloth Market You'll see a mixture of Thai, Indian, Chinese and
Malaysian influences along the way. Gold shops are mainly situated
along Yaowarat Road.
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