There are many places to go shopping in Bangkok, and markets
and large shopping malls are spread out all over the city - you're never far
from one wherever you are. Anywhere where there is a large hotel will likely
have good shopping facilities that cater to foreigners very nearby, though
these can be overpriced.
Outdoor markets are almost always the cheapest places to shop (if you bargain),
but the quality of goods sold is not always up to the standard of the deparment
stores. Nevertheless, many are worth a visit for the experience even if you
don't plan to buy anything. Information on Bangkok markets is in a seperate
section here.
Supermarkets are reasonably priced, numerous, and the place to go to for
things like diary products and imported goods which aren't available at outdoor
markets. Hygiene and cleanliness are also of a much higher standard at the
supermarkets than the outdoor markets, and they are quicker and more convenient
if you have a lot of different items to buy.
The numerous large air-conditioned shopping malls and department stores are
popular places to shop, and they are the best places to find high quality
merchandise along with shops found in high-end hotels shopping arcades. Prices
in shopping centers are generally higher than in markets, sometimes by a little
and sometimes considerably. The various main areas for shopping centers are
described in detail below:
Rama I road, Ploenchit road, Ratchadamri road, Siam Square area
This
area, east from the top of Sukhumvit road, is a modern and fashionable shopping
district with several large shopping centers. This includes the 8 storey World
Trade Center, which houses the Zen and Isetan department stores, Central Chidlom
department store, a branch of Bangkok largest chain of department stores,
Tokyu department store, Sogo, Narayana Phand store for Thai handicrafts, and
the expensive and very upmarket Gaysorn Plaza, Peninsula Plaza, Promenda Decor
and Amarin Plaza.
Siam Square is a large modern shopping area, consisting of interlocked sois,
and is not really a square at all. It has a collection of cheap to mid-price
fashionable clothes shops, a lot of which cater to teenagers. Also around
here are book shops, internet cafes, fast food restaurants etc...Not far from
here - next to the Tokyu department store - is the massive and very popular
MBK (standing for mah boon krong) shopping center. This has a huge
range of goods and many varied, inexpensive shops and facilities (including
restaurants, cinemas, games arcade and a bowling alley). Nearby shopping centers
include Siam Center, also with fairly inexpensive clothes shops, and Siam
Discovery, which has more upmarket clothes shops, restaurants and various
other shops, including a branch of Asia Books.
Silom road, Surawong road, Rama IV road
This is Bangkok's main business and commercial district, but it's really
only an average shopping area. Patpong night market is popular with tourists
but is crowded and overpriced - you have to bargain very hard here to
get a good deal. The larger hotels, such as the Dusit Thani, Narai and
the Montien, have shopping arcades, but these are expensive for what they
offer. Also in this area there is the Silom Complex department store,
a branch of Central next door to it, another branch of Central not far
away, Robinson’s Department Store, the Charn Issara tower, the upscale
Thaniya Plaza shopping center and many very good silk, antique, and clothes
shops.
Silom Village, near soi 24, is a complex of small shops selling antiques
and traditional handicrafts. Prices aren't as expensive as in River City
(see below) but are still expensive when compared to, say, Chatuchak market.
Charoen Krung road (New Road), Si Phraya road, Mahesak road, western
end of Silom road
On
Si Phraya road, near the Royal Orchid Sheraton hotel, is the 4 storey River
City Shopping complex. This is home to a large number of prestigious art and
antiques shops and prices are, not surprisingly, very high. It has several
good restaurants which are reasonably priced though, and give impressive views
over the Chao Phraya river. Oriental Plaza, part of thee Oriental Hotel, is
another very upmarket shopping arcade and the shops here mostly sell art,
antiques, handicrafts and clothes. Also around here is a street market, selling
fake and cheap clothes, cheap handicrafts etc...It's pretty similar to the
stalls on Sukhumvit road.
There are many bronzeware shops along Charoen Krung road (New Road) and the
western end of Silom road. Quality is generally high, as are the prices -
many shops here also have stalls at Chatuchak
weekend market, and it is much cheaper to buy there.
This
area, east from the top of Sukhumvit road, is a modern and fashionable shopping
district with several large shopping centers. This includes the 8 storey World
Trade Center, which houses the Zen and Isetan department stores, Central Chidlom
department store, a branch of Bangkok largest chain of department stores,
Tokyu department store, Sogo, Narayana Phand store for Thai handicrafts, and
the expensive and very upmarket Gaysorn Plaza, Peninsula Plaza, Promenda Decor
and Amarin Plaza.
On
Si Phraya road, near the Royal Orchid Sheraton hotel, is the 4 storey River
City Shopping complex. This is home to a large number of prestigious art and
antiques shops and prices are, not surprisingly, very high. It has several
good restaurants which are reasonably priced though, and give impressive views
over the Chao Phraya river. Oriental Plaza, part of thee Oriental Hotel, is
another very upmarket shopping arcade and the shops here mostly sell art,
antiques, handicrafts and clothes. Also around here is a street market, selling
fake and cheap clothes, cheap handicrafts etc...It's pretty similar to the
stalls on Sukhumvit road.
