Bangkok, Thailand is a shopper’s paradise. Shops open early and close late. There are markets everywhere, stalls on every street, and some of the world’s best shopping malls. Most of the best malls in Bangkok are close to the sky train, one or two are far away from the town centre. But they all have one thing in common – thousands and thousands of shops and shoppers.
I’ve lived in Thailand for more than 4 years and, I admit, I am a shopaholic. If I don’t have anything to buy, some days I don’t know what to do with myself. Often I go to the malls simply because they’re interesting to wander around, or it’s fascinating to get a latte in a coffee shop and just people watch. During the time I’ve lived here, I think I’ve become quite an expert on Bangkok’s shopping malls, especially those that are attractive to Western tourists. Here are my picks for the Top 5 Malls in Bangkok. Visit them, then tell me if you agree.
1. MBK (Mah boon krong). This is my pick for #1 Mall because of size and price. It’s situated right next to the National Stadium sky train stop so is easy to get to. There are more than 3,000 shops on 8 floors. They sell Thai crafts, silks, make-up, clothes, copied DVDs and CDs, computer games, food, toys, electronics, computers, cameras, vitamins, medication, perfumes, gold, jewelry, purses, leather goods, and furniture. It’s also the place in Bangkok to buy cell phones, with more than 300 shops selling both used and new phones. A large movie theatre is on the top floor with tickets around $2.50 to see a new movie. Prices at MBK are amazing and, at the stalls on the higher floors, you can barter.
It’s also packed full of restaurants and cafes, so it’s easy to stop for a rest and a snack or a full lunch or dinner if you’re tired. On the fifth floor, there is a very large International Food court called Fifth Food Avenue that serves excellent Indian, Thai, Chinese, Greek, and Vietnamese food among other cuisines, at inexpensive prices. If you want to eat here, I’d recommend either Fifth Food Avenue, Chester’s (Thai fast food) or one of the Thai noodle places that are on every floor.
Beware though, it is probably the most popular mall in Bangkok and will be crowded most of the time. After 3pm on weekdays is when the school kids hit the mall and the crush is quite bad. I recommend shopping there before this time if you want to be able to see everything.
2. CentralWorld Plaza (formerly known as World Trade Center). This mall has been renovated twice in the last five years, the most recent renovation happening this year. It’s a very large upscale mall on Rajadamri Road about a 5 minute walk from Chidlom sky train station. They have however recently opened a sky bridge that makes it easy to get right to the mall’s door without braving Bangkok traffic on the street.
The mall has hundreds of stores including many of the upscale Western designer brands. It has an excellent food court and a lot of new Asian and Western restaurants from cheap chains to more upmarket eateries. It also has the largest supermarket I’ve seen in Thailand, which sells many of the Western foods you couldn’t get here before. Prices aren’t cheap, but it’s worth going if you’re really craving that British or American nosh. It also has an ice-skating rink and a cinema.
I’ve primarily chosen this as number 2 because it’s beautifully designed, has great stores and is one of the quietest malls in Bangkok. None of the crowds of MBK, so it’s a much more pleasant shopping experience.
From late November to the end of January, in the cool season, this is the best place in Bangkok to experience one of the Thai beer gardens. They are set up outside the mall, are all sponsored by international or national beer companies, and serve great beer at a cheap price. You can also experience live Thai music throughout the evening on one of several stages. Fun entertainment for a cheap price!
3. SiamParagon. Siam Paragon is the newest mega mall in Bangkok. Slap bang next to the main sky train station, Siam, it is the most upscale mall in Bangkok. It’s on 21 acres of land, has many floors and includes a large food court downstairs, many upmarket restaurants throughout the building, a huge Thai craft centre, cinemas, a large supermarket, the biggest English bookstore in Thailand and southeast Asia’s largest indoor aquarium. There’s also a fabulous True Internet cafe that serves perfect lattes and where you can get high-speed internet access on a huge flat screen computer for only 50 baht per hour (currently around $1.30).
I’ve put this at number 3, because it’s a very pricey mall and is quite sterile feeling. It’s like any wealthy mall in any Western country full of all the American and European high-class designers, but the Thais do love it and it will be mobbed at any time of the day or night.
Restaurant-wise, there are many, but having eaten at quite a few of them I’d have to say the food is average but way above average for price. Well worth looking around as it is gorgeous, but I’d recommend eating somewhere else.
4. The Emporium. Located at Phrom Phong sky train station, it is the former number # 1 shopping mall in Bangkok. Next to Siam Paragon and Central World Plaza it now looks quite small, but it still has a nice appeal.
It has many Western designer brands, a large department store, nice movie theatre, one of the best food courts in Thailand, and lots of other restaurants. I also enjoy the two English book stores, the design exhibit on the 6th floor, and the Starbucks and Au Bon Pain cafes on the first floor. Both cafes have a beautiful view of the park next door and are relaxing to spend a couple of hours in reading the newspaper and people watching.
It also has a good supermarket, and a very nice movie theatre. I recommend it as a more laidback place than MBK and as not so expensive as Siam Paragon.
5. Seacon Square. This older mall is more of a traditional Thai mall. It’s quite a way out of the city, relatively near the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and is absolutely enormous.
I chose this as number 5 because it is so Thai. It doesn’t have the glitzy designer stores most of the other malls have. Instead it’s comprised of mostly Thai companies and stores. There are a few Western restaurants, but many more Thai ones. It also has a big Office Center, Yoyoland – a children’s amusement centre that has a roller coaster and log flume and a Robinson’s Department Store. There is a big Thai Food Market, and lots of little stalls selling inexpensive Thai products.
I love going here as it is full of normal Thais, rather than the hi-so (high-society) Thais you encounter at many of the other malls. The atmosphere is pleasant and people are friendly and helpful. A nice experience if you want to see where the ‘real Thais’ shop.
Bangkok really is the best city in the world to shop in and you can’t go wrong with any of the malls here. I would recommend starting out at Siam Square as there are 4 malls within a few thousand yards of each other. From there, branch out and visit a different mall every day. They are all air-conditioned, sell almost everything, and they all offer good food and drinks at a reasonable price. Perfect for a Western traveler who wants a break from the brutal Thai heat.
