Malls in Thailand take on a whole new meaning compared to malls in the west. Icy cold and air conditioned, locals flock here just to get out of the heat. One of Bangkok’s glitziest and most visited shopping malls, Paragon has large food courts, dozens of restaurants, a multi-cineplex movie theater, a gourmet market, and much more, making it easy to...

Just down the block from here is the gargantuan Central World Plaza. So what’s this Central? A department store, but it also has a huge food court, a grocery store, and other opportunities to eat. In the basement is Central Food Hall, a grocery store that foreigners and expats like. It has a big produce section, a bakery with western and...

This luxury mall across from Central Chitlom has a unique exterior that is easier to see from the elevated walkway. It’s four stories, and attached to the mall is an exclusive hotel.  The mall has many international high-end marks such as Gucci and Hermès. It also has some unique shops such as HARDCOVER: The Art Book Shop, which specializes in Asian...

With over 500 stores, 100 restaurants, 15 cinemas, plate glass everywhere and escalators snaking their way up and down to reach balconies of vertiginous heights, this self-described “lifestyle shopping destination” has so much it’s might be hard to find what you’re looking for. Still, shops like Karmakamet make this place worth it. So does Japanese department store Isetan, with a Kinokuniya branch...

This shopping district features the original Emporium mall and its newer cousin across the street, EmQuartier. Both malls carry up-market brands that you’ll find in most major cities, but since Japanese expats like to shop in this area, it’s also home to several good Japanese restaurants and book shops such as Kinokuniya, which carries English-language books and magazines, and Tokyodo...

The Bangkok branch of this Japanese department store has a mix of Japanese, Thai, European, and American brands. On the ground floor, cosmetics brands include Panpuri, Kanebo, and RMK as well as worldwide ubiquities like Chanel. The next three levels have clothes, accessories, Thai handicrafts, and stationery, which is always a fun section to shop in Asia. The 5th floor...

MBK’s claim to “The Most Visited Mall in Bangkok” could be shortened to “The Most Bangkok” with its seven floors of market-style mayhem. The 4th floor has mobile phones and glitzy accoutrements for them: birthday-cake low-relief iPhone cases studded with cheap rhinestones as irresistible as they are not pragmatic. Just around the corner, Thai traditional snacks and bags of crispy...

Siam Paragon and Central World are good places to catch a movie and dig into some dim sum at Crystal Jade or sushi at the Isetan deli, but some of the clothes can be expensive. If you’re not earning a six-figure salary or married to a sultan, your shopping sprees in these malls will come to an end sooner or later....

Located next to Siam Paragon, Siam Center is a mall where young and old alike may feel old. If you are interested in new Thai fashion, however, this is a good place to visit. Recent graduates of art schools and up-and-coming designers open shops here. There are also some international brands like Bao Bao by Issey Miyake. Upstairs is Foodrepublic...

Luxury international brands run rampant on the glossy cream tiles of the ground floor, with Hermès, Prada, Dior, and others. There’s also a big Jim Thompson store on this level. On the floors above, you’ll find everything from a two-story H&M to car showrooms. There’s a huge Kinokuniya bookstore branch which can suck up any book lover’s afternoon. Exotique Thai...

Forget shopping at the airport and come to this mall instead, which is designed to look like an airport. It’s a strange theme, but it does set it apart from all the other shopping centers. After passing through security – is it airport security, or mall security like you see everywhere in BKK? – visitors can head up an escalator...

This mega-lifestyle department store has a good athletic shoe department on the 5th floor, including Thai brand Sanuk, which may be the most comfortable shoe ever, and cute styles from Norwegian Skono. This level is also home to the Muji flagship shop. The Thai Designer’s Gallery features fashion by locals. On the ground floor in addition to the usual makeup section are international...