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Shopping malls as with much of the other infrastructure in Bangkok constantly change. As a result we revisit some of the shopping areas listed below and provide updates to this section as necessary. Also visit our Jewelry Shopping section here Note that Bangkok's major shopping district is located in the Ratchaprason District located along parts of Sukhumvit Road. An elevated Skytrain walkway services a number of these malls. We highlight a number of these malls below. Visit:www.ratchaprasong.org for more information. Note that the major malls listed below all have their own security and metal detectors that you walk through. If you have large bags you may be required to open them to show the security guard. Also note that most of the malls listed below have their own "food courts".
Neat decorations grace the inside of the tall main section during specific holidays. In other words, it is a great place for crowds! On the whole, Central World Plaza has a reputation for being a little more fancy than MBK but l. As a result, the prices here are generally higher than you will find at nearby MBK, but the quality of the items are typically higher. Looking for a higher end alternative to the tourist, souvenir filled Paco MBK? Asian Senses located on the 6th floor of Central World is a refreshing alternative to the nearby MBK souvenir shopping experience. This floor of Central World opened in early 2007 and features many higher end Thai shops. The focus here is on quality not quantity. Typical customers so far are families and older clientele compared to the souvenir section at MBK where you can find most anyone! Central World also features many smallish boutique shops.
For more information about Central World Plaza visit: www.centralworld.co.th and view photos below:
Gaysorn Shopping area is best accessed from the Siam or Chitlom stops on the Skytrain. An elevated Skytrain walk connects you to this and several of the other malls. Gaysorn is a luxury mall located across from the huge Central World Shopping area. This is the heart of shopping in Bangkok and is one of only a number of large malls in the area. Name brands such as Gucci, Armani, Porsche Design and much more. We have been known to frequent several of the high end sunglass shops here! For more information visit: www.gaysorn.com Mahboonkrong Center (MBK) is a very large modern shopping center in the heart of Bangkok. It is centrally located next to Siam Square and the National Stadium. There are many modern stores and restaurants located inside this covered
A more recently installed international cuisine section of MBK is located on the 5th floor. This is typically not nearly as crowded as the Thai food court but offers additional selection including western, Italian and Japanese food. The prices are much higher than the Thai food court. We've eaten here also several times and the food is excellent, even the Greek Restaurant! Unlike the coupons you buy at the Thai food court, you enter this food court and are given a plastic card. when you make a purchase the vendor scans the amount owed to this card and you present the card at checkout for payment. Live music sometimes plays here. Note there is "kids zone" and a pool table in the back of this food section. There is one section of MBK - mostly on the 4th floor where there are what seems like hundreds of small cell phone vendors. Its always interesting to walk through here, especially if you are in the market for a cell phone. Scattered about are supposedly "illegal" DVD vendors. Lately they will only display empty cases of DVD movies - and if you buy one, they will tell you to come back in 20 or 30 minutes while they burn it for you. I'm not sure how this really evades the authorities who sometimes frequent MBK. Some of the cheapest prices for good quality Thai crafts and handi-works in Bangkok are available on the 6th floor of MBK at Paco MBK. Paco MBK was recently expanded and now the number and variety of stores has greatly increased. It is ok to bargain here at some of the stores - the prices are not set in stone and you will be surprised how much lower you can purchase an item from its original list price. If you have the time and are interested in certain items, shop around to find out what the lowest price the vendors will give you. A large movie theatre is located on the top floor. Usually only major American movies are played here (movies that are already at least 2-3 months old in the USA). A salute to the King is played after about 30 minutes of commercials before the movie. At this point it is appropriate to stand. Good high speed Internet access is also available on this floor - on the opposite side of the floor - across the "central open space" that extends up through all the levels in this big mall. One experience I had in MBK that you should be aware of in case it happens to you anywhere is the following: I was approached by what appeared to be a mother and her child. She spoke passable English and started telling me a story, all the while speaking quite rapidly. Without mentioning all the details of her story, she told me she was robbed of all her money, her passport, credit cards and all of her other important documents. She was unable to contact her embassy to get a new passport and she needed money for a plane trip back home. After listening for 10 minutes she finally pleaded with me to give her money so that she could buy a plane ticket back home. Something about the way she and her daughter acted and looked tipped me off that this might have been a falsified story and that this was a situation of "fabricated begging". I'm not saying that this couldn't have been a real story, but I've heard about people doing this to tourists just to try and get money. A good central meeting place at MBK is on the silver metal colored bridge connecting the Tokyu Department store and the National Stadium Skytrain stop. This is the "god" of all urban meeting places in BKK and its where Dave and friends usually gather before traveling somewhere else or diving into the bowels of MBK. Be sure to meet near the Tokyu entrance so that you gain full advantage of their great air conditioning spilling out of the open doors. Also pick up the MBK magazine usually available near this entrance - coupons, info and other discounts to MBK stores. Note: Bathrooms at MBK cost 1baht regardless of sex, however the department store Tokyu has their own free bathroom (much nicer than then ones in MBK). A good phrase to learn right off the bat for Thai travel is "hong nam yoo tee nai" which means, Where is the bathroom? Usually pointing will suffice for getting you moving in the right direction and then you can repeat the phrase again if you do not find the bathroom right away. Unlike other Thai phrases which are dependent on the tone of voice you use, in the author's experience this phrase is readily understood by most Thai people. For more information about MBK visit their informative website: www.mbk-center.com/en
Pantip Plaza is usually extremely crowded and is located on Petchburi Road just down the street from the Embassy of Indonesia and the First House (not to be confused with The First House Hotel). If you are taking the Sky Train get off at the Ratchathewi Station on the Sukhumvit Line. This center is 5 stories full of computer vendors selling everything from computers, computer components, DVD's, VCD's and other computer hardware. A word of caution: Be sure you know what you are really purchasing before you actually purchase it here. For example some DVD's will not work on in certain computers. In the past, Thai Prime Ministers have cracked down on vendors selling illegal copies of movies, and software - so you may not find these sold here anymore. However when there is such a demand for such items its hard to squelch the flow. You can find many of these illegal items still for sale in the Pat Pong area near all of the strip clubs. I'm sure these items are also for sale in many other areas of Bangkok. Pantip Plaza just happened to be the most well known area for these items. Also you may run into individuals offering drugs to the "farang" (Thai word for foreigners) in the back of the center on several of the upper floors. They were harmless - all you had to do was so "no" or in Thai, "mai ow." At last check there was only one Internet Cafe in this center - located on the second floor. Internet access was about 30 baht per 1/2 hour. The Computer Center is also located just down the street from Pantip Plaza and also sells computers and computer accessories.
Siam Paragon - is a major shopping center focusing on current fashions and latest name brands - it is a sophisticated shopping center which opened in late 2005. They bill themselves as Thailand's only "Mega Shopping Complex" and when you visit this huge massive mall you will quickly see why. International well-known shops, dining areas, Theatres, a gourmet market, Royal Paragon Hall, and Siam Ocean world are contained under one roof. Siam Ocean world is the largest aquarium in the Southern Hemisphere. For more information on this amazing attraction in its own right visit: www.siamparagon.co.th Royal Paragon Hall is a gigantic exhibition and convention center - www.royalparagonhall.com Often well-known chefs will be at Siam Paragon on the weekends offering classes and cooking tips. Siam Paragon is right next to the huge Siam Discovery Center. ( www.siampiwat.com ) You can walk from MBK (as mentioned above) - takes about 10 minutes - part of the walk is on the raised BTS Skytrain walkway. If you take the Skytrain to get here, get off at the busy Siam stop. For more information visit www.siamparagon.co.th Siam Paragon Photos
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