The Best Community Malls in Bangkok

The Best Community Malls in Bangkok

Bangkok is well-known for its vast and ever expanding array of impressive shopping malls and complexes. The sheer size and diversity of many of the buildings puts similar retail outlets in other cities across the world to shame.

Yet not content to rest on their laurels and sit back and enjoy the show, the designers and enterprising organisations behind Bangkok’s retail scene constantly push towards being ever more innovative and awe-inspiring.

When it comes to shopping malls, the Thai capital really has things down to a fine art. So it is no surprise that the last decade or so has seen the emergence of yet another angle on the Bangkok retail and leisure experience — community malls.  

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These somewhat more low-key shopping centres are often open-air, or at least partly open to the elements, and get their name from the fact that they are apparently intended to serve as a ‘coming-together’ area for the neighbourhoods in which they are established.

This is reflected in the design and outlay which often includes some kind of cute or quirky feature that makes the place more personable and approachable than some of the vast and somewhat faceless malls. With their ever-changing hordes of people who generally don’t know each other, Bangkok’s mega-malls are easy to get lost in.

The community mall concept, however, aims at a more ‘local’ feel, with many of them also being more child-friendly. (If you have ever spent the day in one of Bangkok’s huge, central retail complexes, it may not have completely escaped your attention that they aren’t always ideal places for anyone with small children.)

Locals have mixed views on whether the community mall experience is actually that ‘local’ or not, or is indeed just another way of capitalising on the Bangkokian love of shopping and eating. Yet some of these places do have a distinctly refreshing vibe about them that is a nice alternative to the bustling, ‘get-out-of-my-way’ large shopping mall culture.

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The Bangkok community malls often feature boutiques and other shops a little more unique than some of those in the major retail centres. They’ll also have a few cosy and inviting cafés, as well as a whole host of great eateries.

The smaller, more intimate, yet ‘open’ and relaxed atmosphere of these places makes them great for coffee-shop people watching or afternoon strolling. Some of them even come with a kind of outdoor market attached.

In the best of the Bangkok community malls you’ll find a touch of greenery and cobble-style courtyards as the designers do their best to work around Bangkok’s oppressive climate and vibe, trying to create the effect of having some ‘breathing space’ amidst the chaos and concrete of the city.

The first community malls started to appear around various sectors and districts of the Sukhumvit Road, namely the upscale Thonglor and Phrom Pong areas popular with aspiring hi-so locals, and Japanese and other foreign expats and visitors.

You’ll see from this post that there are a fair few in those areas, although it’s common these days to find community malls pretty much anywhere in the city where there is any kind of local population, resident or otherwise.

So let’s have a closer look, in no particular order, at some of the best and most-established community malls in Bangkok.

1. W District

W District is a Bangkok community mall that does a fine job of bringing together shopping, dining, and entertainment. It has a kind of relaxed, beer garden atmosphere, as well as a courtyard comprising various food and snack stalls.

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Here the lively markets and shops are set off by an urban, modern art twist. This is apparent from the backdrop with its elements of stylish graffiti and various sculptures, so there’s always something interesting to look at in and around the several sections of the place.

The W Market dining section is hugely popular, and there are various boutique shops next to it selling mostly fashion items and various accessories. This community mall serves as a kind of central hub of activity in the Phrakanong area.

W District is easy to access as it is situated right next to Phrakanong BTS Skytrain Station in the lower reaches of central Sukhumvit.

Location:1599 Sukhumvit Road, Phrakhanong, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open: Daily from 11am to midnight (restaurants open daily from 4pm to midnight)

Phone: +66 (0)2 381 2277

2. The Commons

In the trendy Thonglor district of Bangkok, The Commons is definitely one of Bangkok’s most impressive community malls. This 4-storey affair’s aim is to be the ‘backyard’ of the local neighbourhood, with each of the 4 sections having something different.

There is a strong emphasis on food and drink, and you’ll find everything on offer here from Mexican to Japanese, pizza, and craft beer. There are trendy, communal dining areas and for more of that community vibe there are also hair salons, florists, and even a family-friendly green play area.

As with some of the other community malls in the city, this one has various activities such as playgroups for kids and Pilates for mum, as well as various regular workshops, live music sets, and other community-type gatherings.

Location: Thonglor 17, Sukhumvit 55 (BTS Thonglor)

Open: Daily from 8 am to midnight (restaurants open daily from 4pm to midnight)

Phone: +66 (0)2 712 5400

Contact: www.thecommonsbkk.com

3. K Village

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K Village is another one of the trendy and popular Sukhumvit community malls. It is a modern-looking, diverse area with 5 zones comprising around 100 stores in total, contained within two open-style buildings, both of which have 2 levels.  

All the usual stuff is here, from fashion and accessories to health, beauty, lifestyle, technology, pet supplies, and kids’ products alongside cafés, restaurants, and a Gourmet Market.

The dining is the main feature as you might expect, and places like Water Cress, which specialises in healthy organic fare, alongside Chinese, Vietnamese, and all other manner of restaurants are usually packed.

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In keeping with the community vibe there is also a small outdoor playground, and the mall features various free arts and craft activities for kids at weekends. There is an activities area which doubles as a beer garden in cooler months, as do the ones in many of the other Bangkok community malls.

Location: 95 Sukhumvit 26 Alley, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0)2 258 9919

3. Rain Hill Plaza

The eco-friendly Rain Hill is spread out over 5 floors, and is resplendent with nicely-manicured trees, which provides a nice stop-off point in another one of the dense, city centre regions of the Sukhumvit Road area.

As with the majority of the community malls, the main attraction is the specialist restaurants which are largely independent affairs, but you’ll also find a few boutique fashion stores. 

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Rain Hill features lots of Japanese dining options, as this area of Bangkok’s Sukhumvit is popular with both expat and visiting Japanese. There’s also a Wine Connection,  a few cafés, and a small Villa supermarket.

Located on Sukhumvit 49, Rain Hill is halfway between Thong Lor and Phrom Phong BTS stations, and is around a 10-minute walk either way.

Location: 777 Sukhumvit Soi 47, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0)2 260 7447

4. Eight Thonglor

Eight Thonglor is yet another lifestyle mall in the trendy Thonglor region of the Sukhumvit Road. The focus is again mainly on cuisine and you’ll find a plethora of restaurants and cafes of various descriptions on the ground floor, along with a 24-hour Foodland supermarket.

There’s also the usual feature of unique boutique stores at Eight Thonglor, including items like children’s clothing, collectable vinyl records, and designer second-hand vintage clothing and handbags.

The Eight Thonglor community mall is around a 15-minute walk from the Thonglor BTS station.  

Location: 88/36 Thong Lor Road, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0)2 714 9515

5. J Avenue

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J Avenue is a stylish, outdoor lifestyle mall that was one of the first to open in and around the Thonglor district and the venue played its fair part in inspiring the developing trend.

It is home to a diverse mix of cafés and food outlets, along with a few IT stores, and the usual selection of banking, beauty, and fitness options, not forgetting the obligatory international-style supermarket.

Located at the front of Thonglor soi 15, this Bangkok community mall is another great option for a nice lunch or dinner venue, and the sidewalk cafés like Au Bon Pain and Greyhound Café are hugely popular with lunchtime and early evening crowds. You’ll find a decent range of Japanese restaurants on the second floor, which is another commonly-recurring theme of many of the capital’s outdoor-style lifestyle malls.

Location: 323/1-3 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0)2 660 9000

6. The Avenue Ratchayothin 

This well-established Bangkok community mall is also known as Major Avenue as it is located behind the Major cinema complex on the main road in Ratchayothin.

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It has undergone a few modifications over the last decade or so like many of the other established community malls in Bangkok that are still going strong. Needless to say it is packed with a range of restaurants, coffee shops, beauty salons and various other stores, as well as a decent Villa supermarket, and a couple of good wine stores.

Location: 1839 Phaholyothin Road (behind Major Cinema), Kwaeng lat Yao, Chatuchak, 10900, Bangkok

Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0)2 515 5300

7. Nihonmachi

Nihonmachi means “Japanese Town”, which gives you the idea about this particular Bangkok community mall. There is actually a reasonable expat Japanese community around the region of Sukhumvit Road close to this mall on Soi 28, which stretches up into the Thonglor district.

Nihonmachi comprises over a dozen restaurants mostly in the Japanese izakaya style on the second floor, which involves dining from the floor around small tables. You’ll see the usual traditional flags with Kanji characters, and red paper lanterns in and around the various eateries.

So this mall is largely about Japanese cuisine apart from a few kids’ activities, and you’ll see from the fact that the staff in the restaurantssport the traditional yukata, and offer the traditional welcome of ‘irashaimase’, who most of the clientele are likely to be.

Plenty of Japanese food options to choose from here, and if that’s your thing then it is worth heading to this place at least once if you are in Bangkok. Nihonmachi is a 15-minute walk from the Phrom Phong BTS Station.

Location: 10 Soi Sukhumvit 28, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open: Daily from 10.30am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0) 2 258 4959

8. Ari Garden

In the somewhat suburban-like setting of Ari on Soi Ari Samphan 11, you can find this chic little community mall which has a distinctly chilled-out vibe to it.

It’s not a massive place but the appeal lies in the fact that the various restaurants, cafés and shops are set amidst a rather lovely garden-type setting, including a lawn and a carp pond.

It’s a popular place for locals and local workers to grab lunch or just spend a little time. There are occasional outdoor markets featuring handmade items, second-hand accessories, and various other items.

Location:  62 Rama VI Soi 30, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400

Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0) 02 278 3258

8. The Circle 

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The Circle was one of the first community malls to appear outside of the central areas, in fact being across the river on Ratchaphreuk Road in Thonburi.

This place actually looks like a little village, with quaint little streets restaurants and cafes, and brightly coloured stores. There are actually 200 small shops at The Circle selling the kind of items that might be attractive to community mall-goers, including kids’ clothing and boutique accessory stores.

There are a few elements of this place aside from clothes shops that are of further interest to parents and their kids such as the Juno Park Ville learning centre, a music school, and ballet school.

Location: 39 Ratchaphreuk Road, Bang Ramat, Taling Chan, Bangkok

Open: Daily from 10am to 10pm

Phone: +66 (0) 2 865 6850