Siam Square

Siam Square is the place to shop in Bangkok, especially if you're looking for luxury shopping malls and top department stores. The obvious point of entry is Siam station, surrounded by to Siam Center, Siam Discovery Center and Siam Paragon. Technically not a part of the Siam area, but at walking distance, is the MBK Center (MahBoonKrong). With the exception of Siam Paragon, these malls are somewhat dated, but among the most popular as they are the most affordable. At least make a head for MBK, to see where the local youth does their shopping.

• Bonanza Mall, Phaya Thai Rd (BTS National Stadium). 10AM-10PM daily. Across the street from MBK Center and connected by walkway on the second floor is the perennially crowded Bonanza Mall. Its warren of stalls offers more of the same as MBK, thus it is popular among students and teenagers looking for hip clothes, accessories and cosmetics.

• MBK Center (MahBoonKrong), 444 Phaya Thai Rd (BTS National Stadium), ☎ +66-2-620-9000. 10AM-10PM daily. MBK is a vast and always packed mall full of tiny stalls (2500 of them, to be exact) selling, well, everything. There's a heavy emphasis on clothing, especially the cheap and trendy teen type, but the fourth floor devoted to electronics is Bangkok's best place to buy a mobile phone, MP3 player, digital camera and much much more. Other stuffs on sale are gold, furniture, food, and a part of the 6th floor has been dedicated to handicrafts and souvenirs. Don't miss the dried fruits and Chinese-style snacks (like pork floss) at Champ on the 4th floor, near the central escalator. The top floor has movie theatres and restaurants, and there's a large Tokyu department store bolted on the north side. It is possible to bargain for cheaper prices on some items at some independent shop stalls, especially if you are with a Thai friend or family member.

• Siam Center, Siam Tower, Rama I Rd (BTS Siam), ☎ +66-2-687-5000. 9AM-9PM daily. Constructed in 1976, this four-story mall is the first of the Siam area. It might feel a little dated compared to Siam Paragon, but it must be said that an extensive renovation in 1995 made the mall feel colorful, hip and modern. Most of the stores focus on fashion, shoes and handbags for trendy teenagers and students. There's also a good range of eating options, including a food court at the fourth floor. A bridge at the fourth floor connects the shopping complex with the Siam Discovery Mall.

• Siam Discovery Center, Rama I Rd (BTS Siam), ☎ +66-2-345-2345(-9). 10AM-9PM daily. Siam Discovery Center is a newer, more upmarket addition to Siam Center, catering to a slightly more mature audience. Just like its twin mall, most stores are for the fashion savvy, but prices are somewhat higher. This is the only mall in Thailand that offers the official Diesel designer store at the ground floor. Worth a browse is Loft on the third floor, a large and quirky Japanese home decoration store. They have, among many other things, an array of bizarre plush toys on offer. The sixth floor has an EGV Grand Cinema.

• Siam Paragon, 991 Rama I Rd (BTS Siam), ☎ +66-2-610-8000. 10AM-10PM daily. This is an incredibly massive shopping mall with no less than 10 floors. You can almost spend a full day here, as it is not just a shopping complex, but also includes Siam Ocean World, Paragon Cineplex and plenty of dining facilities. Paragon is one of the most upmarket malls in Asia, so expect the usual designer brands (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc), but also BMW and Porsche showing off their newest models. The fourth floor has a very good (if pricey) selection of modern Thai arts and crafts, as well as the large Kinokuniya bookstore. Great eating options in the basement, including a gourmet supermarket, two food courts and a canal-lined strip of fancy restaurants.

• Tokyu Department Store, MBK Center, 444 Phaya Thai Rd (BTS National Stadium), ☎ +66-2-620-1000. 10AM-9PM daily. Not a mall, but a massive department store that occupies four floors! Every thing you'd expect in a department store is available, including clothes, luggage, shoes, cosmetics, stationery, household appliances and even a supermarket. There's also a great selection of utensils for cooking Thai, Japanese, and Western food.

Ratchaprasong

Heading east is Ratchaprasong, an intersection filled with very luxury upmarket malls. CentralWorld Plaza, while built in 2002, was expanded in 2006 topping its nearby rival Siam Paragon as the largest shopping complex in Thailand (and the third largest in the world). Surrounding CentralWorld are the Gaysorn Plaza, Isetan, Narai Phand, Peninsula Plaza, Zen, among others, all of which together make the largest shopping promenade in Bangkok. Bring a well-filled wallet though.

• All Seasons Place (All Seasons Retail Center), 87 Witthayu Rd (Wireless Rd) (BTS Ploen Chit, quite far off from Ratchaprasong into Witthayu Rd), ☎ +66-2-654-3888. 9AM-6PM daily. Another elegant and massive shopping center that boasts four floors of the usual clothing boutiques, department stores, jewelries and antique shops. While expensive, it is slightly off the map, thus at the end of the season prices tend to drop more than at the other shopping malls. Another cheap bet is the food court at the second floor.

• Amarin Plaza, 496-502 Ploenchit Rd (BTS Chit Lom), ☎ +66-2-256-9111. 9AM-9PM daily. This impressive colonial-style mall has five floors of high-end stores, selling fashion, furniture, jewelry, electronics, books and handicrafts. The fourth floor has a good food court, and even a spa, health center and yoga studio.

• Central Chidlom, 1027 Ploenchit Rd (BTS Chit Lom), ☎ +66-2-793-7777. 10AM-10PM daily. This is the flagship store of the Central chain of department stores, and thus it is much more luxury and prices are higher. Catering to affluent Thais and Western expats, it has good selections of pricey watches, cosmetics and clothes. There are also numerous eating options.

• CentralWorld Plaza (formerly the World Trade Center), 999/9 Rama I Rd (BTS Chit Lom, at corner of Rama I Rd and Ratchadamri Rd), ☎ +66-2-635-1111. 10AM-10PM daily. Formerly the World Trade Center, this enormous complex reopened in 2006 after a massive expansion and renovation, and is now the only mall in Bangkok that can give the Paragon a run for the money in both swank and size. It is the third largest mall in the world by leasable floor space, and the second largest building in the world if you include the skyscraper on top of it. It's marketed as a middle-class shopping mall with prices cheaper than Siam Paragon. Most Thais still can't afford it though, so you'll only see the occasional tourist wandering around. Lots of restaurants make this a good destination for lunch or dinner. The top floor has a supermarket and a multiplex. The large Isetan and Zen department stores are also included in the complex, as well as two book stores and plenty of photo and electronic stores. Note: CentralWorld is closed for the time being due to heavy protest fires in May 2010, but will be reopened at September 28, 2010.

• Erawan Bangkok, 494 Ploenchit Rd (BTS Chit Lom, between the Erawan Shrine and the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel), ☎ +66-2-250-7777. 10AM-10PM daily. Linked by skybridges with the Amarin Plaza and Gaysorn Plaza, this is another luxury boutique mall. Chic clothes stores are distributed at all four levels. The second level has an excellent tea room. Go to the lower lobby if you're hungry, or to the fourth floor for wellness and pampering.

• Gaysorn Plaza, 999 Ploenchit Rd (BTS Chit Lom, at the corner of Phloenchit Rd and Ratchadamri Rd), ☎ +66-2-656-1149. 10AM-8PM daily. Gaysorn Plaza positions itself as Bangkok's premier luxury shopping mall: this is where you can get your fill of Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany. The top floors have a good selection of antiques and Thai handicrafts of high quality, but at fairly high prices too. Most Thais cannot afford these prices, so the visitors mostly consist of Japanese and Arab business men.

• Isetan, CentralWorld Plaza, 4/1- 4/2 Ratchadamri Rd (BTS Chit Lom), ☎ +66-2-255-9898. 10AM-9PM daily. An institution in Japan, Isetan's Bangkok branch is just as upper class as those found in the motherland. While obviously catering to Japanese visitors, there is also a wide availability of international brands, such as Louis Vuitton. Kinokuniya is one of the better book stores, and don't forget to buy a bottle of sake down the supermarket. There's also a Lego section for kids.

• Narai Phand (นารายณ์ภัณฑ์, also known as Narayana Phand), President Tower Arcade, 973 Ploenchit Rd (BTS Chit Lom, next to Intercontinental Hotel), ☎ +66-2-656-0398(-9). 10AM-9PM daily. A Thai handicraft center partly run by the government offering a wide array of traditional crafts, such as bronze objects, ceramics, lacquerware, silk and woodcarvings. Prices are fairly high and not negotiable, but clearly marked, so this is a good place to see what's on offer and find out baseline prices before hitting the markets. Narai Phand used to be on Ratchadamri Road, but this flagship store was unceremoniously demolished in 2008. Now it has relocated to a smaller location next to the Intercontinental Hotel.

• Peninsula Plaza, 153 Ratchadamri Rd (BTS Ratchadamri, between Grand Hyatt Erawan and The Regent), ☎ +66-2-539-6723. 10AM-9PM daily. Yep, another exclusive shopping center that caters for moneyed Thais, rich expats and business travelers. The whole exterior has a kind of European old-world feeling. On sale are gems, diamonds, silverware, fabrics, antiques and art. The fourth floor is home to the International Dance Academy.

• ZEN Department Store, CentralWorld Plaza, 4 Ratchadamri Rd (BTS Chit Lom), ☎ +66-2-100-9999. 10AM-10PM daily. ZEN is the coolest, funkiest and hippest lifestyle department store of Bangkok. It is catering to affluent customers who care about design and don't mind to pay extra for it. The shop looks catchy, colorful and well-designed. Each of its six levels evolved around a different theme and product category, such as cosmetics, fashion and sports wear.