arzulga's Blog

Bangkok is a shopper’s paradise where you can find just about everything from expensive brand name goods to cheap knockoffs all within easy walking distance.  Daytime shopping can be hot and sweaty if you do it outdoors and can leave you absolutely exhausted afterwards.  What better way to increase your stamina by exploring the various air conditioned malls hunting for bargain in style and comfort.  

A series of excellent shopping malls are located between BTS ( elevated train ) stations Chit Lom and Siam, where you can find just about anything under the sun.  After sunset, check out the outdoor shopping arcades of Suan Lum Night Bazaar and Patpong Night Market for some serious bargains and unique products.  For the brave hearts, check out Chatuchak Weekend Market, a bustling weekend bazaar unlike any place on earth.  It is hot, humid, but loads of fun.  Be prepared to literally rub shoulders with the locals.

CentralWorld Shopping Complex - 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, with an unrivalled mix of products and services at prices that put the fun back into shopping for Thai consumers and tourists. www.centralworld.co.th

Siam Paragon - 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.  There is also Underwater World on the Basement floor, another popular tourist attraction.  www.siamparagon.co.th

MBK Shopping Centre - The multi-storey MBK, or Mah Boon Krong, is very popular with both tourists and locals. Its 2,000 shops sell everything from food, clothing, accessories, handbags, leather products and luggage to furniture and various electrical gadgets. MBK is especially crowded weekends, when holiday shoppers combined with holiday makers converge on MBK for some serious bargain hunting.  www.mbk-center.com

The Emporium - 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. www.emporiumthailand.com
 
Siam Center - Siam Center is one of the oldest malls in Thailand, 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. Having gone through a few revamping exercises, this mall targets adolescents, and has a loyal and fashionable following.  Siam Centre contains about 300 shops, 20 restaurants and a cheerful and spacious food court. www.siamcenter.co.th

Amarin Plaza - 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. www.amarinplaza.com

Gaysorn Plaza - 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. www.gaysorn.com

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 décor 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. www.siamcenter.co.th

Suan Lum Night Bazaar - A mixture of poshly dressed, fresh-from-the-office Thai’s and expats along with fisherman pant-clad tourists, Suan Lum could best be described as the VIP outdoor market of Bangkok (where you’re always welcome, of course). Covered walkways with centrally-located snack bars provide perhaps the most luxurious (outdoor) market shopping experience in the city. Several bars along with Thai, Italian, German, and even Mexican restaurants are conveniently within the market area, close enough to analyze the crowd while enjoying a drink, yet away from the market’s hustle-and-bustle. In the same area, dinner shows featuring classical Thai puppetry can be enjoyed at the famous Joe Louis Puppet Theatre. www.suanlum-nightbazaar.com

Patpong Night Market - After recently cleaning up its act, Patpong’s become one of the ’must’ night shopping destinations for avid shoppers. Found in the built-up area known as Silom, the place is always busy and chaotic with all the commotion from the GO-GO bars nearby and lots of foreign tourists. This market in Bangkok’s notorious nightlife district is often the first and easiest stop for many tourists just arriving to Bangkok, whilst lodging at one of several mid-to-upper-end hotels in Silom.

Chatuchak Weekend Market - Covering 70 rai (35 acres) of land with over 15,000 stalls and more than 200,000 visitors every Saturday and Sunday, Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok is the mother of all markets - and possibly one of the biggest and most famous markets in the world. If bargain-hunting gives you an adrenalin rush, get ready for a head-spinning, earth-moving experience. Conquering this massive market is no easy feat though. The reward for taking a lot of patience along - together with a bottle of water - is that you can find pretty much anything here. www.jjmarketplace.com