It is not an exaggeration to say that shopping malls are central to life in Bangkok. With the scorching heat all year and the all-too-frequent PM2.5, there aren’t many options but to stay inside.
As a result, Bangkok’s shopping malls are frequently a one-stop shop for a variety of activities ranging from shopping to dining to even exercising. A select few also provide a luxury experience that is unlike many others around the world. The following are the top three luxury shopping malls in Bangkok.
Siam Paragon and Siam Center
Siam Paragon, one of Thailand’s largest malls, offers a variety of specialty and luxury stores such as Cartier, Patek Philippe, and Chanel. This mall also has a large food court and is only a few steps away from the BTS Siam station.
If you get tired of shopping, stop by the art gallery and concert hall located within the mall. It is home to a variety of high-end fashion brands from around the world. One of the largest luxury shopping malls in Southeast Asia, it features world-class restaurants, retail shopping boutiques, and a 16-screen Cineplex.
You can easily cross from Siam Paragon to Siam Center and Siam Square One. This is directly across from the Siam BTS Skytrain Station.
Central World
The CentralWorld Plaza, formerly known as the World Trade Center, is Asia’s third-largest shopping complex and, despite the opening of nearby Siam Paragon, remains one of Thailand’s top shopping draws.
Visitors flock to the mall’s exterior to pray at the local female fertility shrine and to enjoy the daily changing exhibits and festivals that take place in the large open space in front of the complex. Inside, eight floors house nearly every Thai fashion label, bookstores, musical instrument stores, and much more.
The 7th floor is home to a variety of excellent restaurants serving various cuisines, as well as a gourmet supermarket stocked with goodies, and the 8th floor is home to the 15-screen SF Cinema City movie complex. During the cool season winter months, they have an excellent selection of Christmas lights, live bands, and even outdoor beer gardens.
Icon Siam
Icon Siam is a massive shopping destination that aims to be the most iconic, picturesque venue along the Chao Phraya River, highlighting the importance of this majestic river to tourists and residents alike. The easily accessible shopping mall integrates three modes of transportation – land, rail, and water.
Icon Siam is a global destination for luxury product shopping, international and local events, fine-cuisine dining (including Blue by Alain Ducasse), and even water sightseeing. Locals refer to this as “the mother of all malls” because it houses over 500 shops and 100 restaurants from over 30 different countries.
Icon Siam was created by the same people who created EmQuarter and Siam Paragon. High-end brands are available here, and a section of the mall houses the Siam Takashimaya, a branch of the 180-year-old Japanese mall Takashimaya Group. The free shuttle boat from Saphan Taksin BTS Station to Icon Siam provides a pleasant ride along the Chao Phrayah river.