Top Ten Shopping Malls in Bangkok

Top Ten Best Shopping Malls in Bangkok

To the majority of urbanised Thai people and those who are frequent visitors to the country, the words ‘shopping’ and ‘Bangkok’ are synonymous. Shopping, at least for locals anyway, is considered one of the main hobbies in the SE Asian capital city.

Indeed it would be fair to say that many of the legions of visitors to the city, and especially those arriving for the first time, are often amazed at the multitude of shopping complexes throughout the region, and even more so by the design and sheer modernity of them.

This is especially true for the phenomenon of the last two decades or so, the luxury or ‘hi-so’ mall, the like of which has rapidly been on the increase in the last decade, even throughout supposed times of recession.

The advent of the shopping centre in Thailand (mostly referred to by the Americanisation ‘mall’) occurred over 50 years ago with the opening of the ‘Nightingale-Olympic’ (which is actually still operating today). However, some of the retail venues that are open now, and which are continuously being planned for the near future, are a far cry from some of the originals.

The current trend undoubtedly leans more toward the luxury mall with all manner of imported brand name goods alongside boutique designer local brands, along with a plethora of exotic eateries catering to both local and international tastes. That said, the ‘tried-and-tested’, long-standing shopping venues are still hugely popular, and there are a handful of places that are slightly quirky for one reason or another and still bring in the punters.

The task of completing a definitive guide to all of the shopping plazas, complexes and malls in Bangkok is indeed a hefty one, so it is the purpose of this guide to incorporate a steady combination of the different types of shopping centre on offer in Bangkok, as well as taking a look at some of the impressive, more recent additions to the list.

1. Central Ladprao

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CentralPlaza Ladprao is something of a Bangkok institution in terms of shopping complexes. The store is owned by retail giant Central Pattana and has been established for the best part of 40 years, being the first one opened by the group.

Recently having undergone a major refurbishment, the store contains four floors of shops, restaurants, and coffee bars, with a cineplex situated on the fifth floor. It is on Phahon Yothin Road at the end of Lat Phrao Road in Chatuchak District, a stone’s throw from the BTS and MRT hub stations at Chatuchak (although it does now have a recently constructed stop directly outside which forms part of the new BTS extension line), and the three huge parks of the area (Chatuchak, Train, and Sirikit) are just behind the store within walking distance.

WHERE:1693 Phahonyothin Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
WHEN: 10AM-10PM
HOW: BTS Ha Yaek Ladprao

2. Platinum

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The Platinum Fashion Mall (pronounced ‘Patinam’ by locals) is a 20-year-old shopping complex in the Pratunam district of Bangkok, which contains mainly clothes and accessories. Although this is a retail mall, it is also a specialist in wholesale, which is one of the main reasons why tourists and locals alike can be found flocking there in their droves on a daily basis.

Platinum is a six-storey complex in the heart of the city, and it is especially popular with females who might also like to check out the wholesale ‘Pratunam Market’ which is very near and easily within walking distance.

One of the things to note about shopping in Malls like this is that in typically Thai style, the prices are negotiable, whereas in the established ‘department store’- type complexes this is definitely not the case.

WHRE: 222 Phetchaburi Rd, Ratchathewi, Pratunam, Bangkok 10400
WHEN: 10AM-8PM
HOW: BTS SIAM

3. Emporium

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Emporium is a 25-year-old shopping mall in Bangkok owned by another Thai retail giant The Mall Group (who also own two of the other complexes in this article—Emquartier and Paragon).

It was the first of the ‘high-end’ variety of retail malls now so popular and be-loved with Bangkokians, catering to those with expensive tastes and incorporating all the top, imported designer brands such as Gucci etc., and houses a food court which is some-what more ‘hi-so’ than most of the ‘standard’ malls’.

Emporium is a six-floor shopping centre that has undergone major refurbishment and modernization in recent years, and also comes with a deluxe SFX cinema on the top floor. The shopping centre is situated right next to a city-centre park, and can be accessed directly from the BTS station right outside of it.

WHERE: 622 Sukhumvit 24 Alley, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
WHEN: 10AM-10PM
HOW: BTS: Prom Phong

4. Emquartier

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The EmQuartier is a large, almost breathtakingly ‘hi-so’ shopping centre with three separate buildings (The Helix, Glass, and Waterfall Quartiers) and is somewhat more of a recent addition to the line of luxury shopping malls in Bangkok, being opened in May 2015. It is one of three malls planned for the “EM District”, along with the existing Emporium, and the planned ‘EmSphere’.

Featuring a gamut of trendy, designer stores and brands (both international and local), the store is also something of a ‘food haven’ and even incorporates a huge Gourmet Market and Food Hall, as well as a garden with some amazing views of what a modern, almost futuristic shopping experience should encompass.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

WHERE: 693 695 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
WHEN: 10AM-10PM
HOW: BTS Prom Phong (Exit opposite side of the road to Emporium)

5. IconSiam

IconSiam is, at the time of writing, the most recent addition to the growing array of luxurious, high-end shopping centres in Bangkok that are seemingly out to go one better than the existing, established brands. It is situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok and comprises two buildings that also incorporate a hotel and residences.

The luxury them of this mall is evident upon arrival from the huge outside space with it ‘gold’ decoration, complete with a water fountain that looks even more stunning as dusk draws in.

All the name brands are housed within this complex, alongside restaurants offering stunning riverside views, some housed on outside balconies and verandas. All types of local and international brands and cuisine can be found inside this fantastic new addition to Bangkok’s inherent ‘shopping culture’, and IconSiam is another welcome addition for those who consider shopping (even the window variety) as an integral part of life in Thailand’s capital city.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

WHERE: 299 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600
WHEN: 10AM-10PM
HOW: BTS SAPHAN TAKSIN (Then walk one minute to a pier and hop on the free, 5-minute ferry boat!)

6. Centralworld

CentralWorld is another of Bangkok’s massive shopping plazas owned by Central Pat-tana which also houses a hotel and an office tower. This complex is right in the heart of the city and is apparently one of the largest in Asia.

With over 500 stores located within the plaza, the brands to be found here are both international and local, and include the usual array of fashion, beauty, sports and electronic equipment, as well as the obligatory dining experiences which encompass food from the world over, cafes, juice bars—and a cooking school! All this alongside a supermarket, a cinema, and even an ice-skating rink.

Hugely popular with locals, this shopping venue is also set amidst the bustling main streets of central Bangkok lined with market stalls, food festivals, and all manner of other enticing factors and CentralWorld is also one of the main areas for locals to head for the countdown at the new year.

WHERE: 999/9 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
WHEN: 10AM-10PM
HOW: BTS Siam

7. Siam Paragon

Siam Paragon is something of an institution in terms of shopping malls in Bangkok. It is one of the largest malls in Thailand, along with IconSiam, CentralWorld, and is the ‘go-to’ mall for local most Bangkokians. It is a hangout particularly for those of younger generations, seemingly due to its central location, and also the fact that there are high schools and universities, including the capital’s top-rated one, in the immediate vicinity.

All the top brands and more are to be found in this huge complex, which again specializes in all manner of eateries. It is also linked to ‘sub-malls’ like Siam Discovery and there is even a huge, stunning aquarium (Oceanworld) that is popular with tourists although it can be a little on the pricey side.

WHERE: 991 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
WHEN: 10AM-10PM
HOW: BTS Siam

8. Union Mall

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Union Mall is a shopping mall in the north of Bangkok, at the Lat Phrao junction, just across from the Central Mall. This quirky (bright yellow) shopping venue opened almost 15 years ago and is still changing and expanding in terms of layout. It has eight floors, and rather than being a department store in the style of the other malls like Central, it contains more than 1000 ‘booths’, not dissimilar to Platinum Mall, making it somewhat closer in feel to an indoor market.

Union Mall is definitely a popular hangout for younger generations of locals, mainly due to the range and price of much of the fashion and accessories on offer, and again there is a cinema on the top floor and a very reasonably-priced food court in the basement floor.

WHERE: 1 Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
WHEN: 10AM-10PM
HOW: BTS Ha Yaek LadPrao, MRT Phahonyothin

9. Terminal 21

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Terminal 21 is slightly quirky, nine-floor complex with a theme. Each level is related by décor and theme to a well-known street from a different country. Local brand shopping booths, designer brand and boutique shops can all be found along with a massive top-floor food court and a gourmet supermarket and another food court in the basement area. Directly accessible from the BTS to the 3rd floor or by ground level from the subway station, Terminal 21 is just under 10 years old and has proved to be hugely popular with tourists who marvel at the red phone booths, security guards in Beef Eater uniforms, and the array of coffee shops and hand-crafted local offerings that are sold alongside all the name sports, clothing and accessory brands.

WHERE: 88 Soi Sukhumvit 19, Khlong Toei Nuea, Bangkok 10110
WHEN: 10am-10pm
HOW: BTS Sukhumvit, MRT Asoke

10. Future Park Rangsit

Future Park Rangsit is another one of Asia’s largest malls, located on Phahonyothin Road in Pathum Thani. The area is somewhat further from the central area of Bangkok than many of the other malls, on the way out of the city for those heading north and northeast.

The complex only has five floors but covers a whopping 280,000 square metres, with around 1000 stores, almost 100 restaurants, post offices, banks and phone service providers. It also has entertainment areas encompassing multiplex cinemas and private theatres, along with a gym (Fitness First), an ice-skating rink, a bowling alley, and Thailand’s first indoor ski centre.

There is a Homepro and an Index Living Mall, and the complex is home to two big-name department stores, Central and Robinsons, two supermarkets in the form of Big C and Tops, and well-known electronics, books, and sports retailers. At the time of writing the new extension to the Skytrain BTS line is drawing ever nearer to the Rangsit area where the future park is located but is not yet all the way there. The nearest completed station runs to a university campus called Kasetsart University, which is relatively near, and the remainder of the journey will need to be undertaken by taxi or bus.

WHERE: 94 Phahonyothin Rd, Tambon Prachathipat, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani 12130
WHEN: 10AM-9PM
HOW: BTS Kasetsart (then taxi)