Bangkok Shopping – Shopping Malls
Bangkok shopping malls are big enough and plentiful enough to compare with any self-respecting American or European city, and you’ll be able to find a wide selection of luxury goods, brand names and international restaurants.
Following is a list of some of the most famous shopping malls in Bangkok, where they are and the best buys at each location.
Siam Paragon
Prepare for the ultimate in high class shopping at the glamorous, luxury Siam Paragon shopping mall, the number one spot for Bangkok’s rich elite. Beware though, for it comes with big prices to match its status!
Packed full of designer label boutiques, including the likes of Versace, Gucci and Chanel, with gourmet food restaurants and dozens of cinema screens, bowling alleys and more, Siam Paragon really does have it all, but only if you can afford it!
Where: Rama I Road, Pathumwan
Best Buys: Gold, jewelry, designer label clothes
Platinum Mall
For clothes shopping there’s no better place than the Platinum Mall in the Pratunam district. Featuring six sprawling floors of small boutiques and privately owned stores, this new shopping complex is great for bargains on all kinds of clothing, including jeans, t-shirts, shorts, hats, shoes, bags, jewelry, swimwear and accessories of every kind!
Where: Phetchaburi Road, Ratchathewi
Best Buys: Clothing, hats, shoes, bags, fashion accessories
MBK
The favorite downtown Bangkok shopping destination for multitudes of bargain-hunting tourists and Thais alike, MBK can almost be considered an air conditioned Bangkok market! Shiny and spotless like its Siam Paragon neighbor across the street, that’s where the similarities end for you won’t see a single designer label anywhere here.
MBK is home to literally hundreds of small boutiques, emporiums and stalls, with the widest range of goods you’ll find anywhere in town. As well as the seemingly limitless amounts of clothes, jewelry and souvenirs on offer, MBK is perhaps most well known for its electrical goods, with one whole floor dedicated to the sale of laptops, mobile phones, CD’s, MP3’s and a whole lot more.
Where: Rama I Road, Pathumwan
Best Buys: Computer accessories, mobile phones, tailor made clothes
Pantip Plaza
Counterfeit heaven. This indoor IT shopping mall houses hundreds of small shops selling, repairing and buying all kinds of electronic goods. Though it is most famous for selling pirated copies of all kinds, good deals can be made there on computers, parts and repair.
Where: New Phetchaburi Road, Ratchathewi
Best Buys: Computer parts and accessories, second hand goods of all sorts, pirated copies (although this is illegal and the police have occasional crack downs)
There are also numerous other famous shopping malls like The Emporium, Naraipan, Gaysorn Plaza, Central Plaza to name a few. We’ll get into those in later posts.
You can hire a car and driver in Bangkok and go where ever you like in the kingdom of Thailand for the ultimate in flexibility and comfort.
Happy shopping!
I agree with you.I believe the 20th century was an American Century.I believe that the 21st century will belong to Asia.I am glad to see that Thailand is moving in the 21st century.She was came along way from the days of the 1960’s.
Thailand has come a long way just since the 90s when I first arrived there. And yes the 21st century will be Asia’s century. Thanks for the comment Michael.