Top 10 Shopping Malls and Markets in Bangkok

Travel experience as well as local lifestyle in Bangkok is incomplete without soaking in the ambiance of the vibrant shopping malls.  Social media culture reveals shoppers' preferences of malls in the form of reviews, check-ins, hashtags and 'likes' on websites or apps such as TripAdvisor, Foursquare, Instagram, Facebook, etc.

Aggregated from information available on these sites is the following list of the most popular shopping malls in Bangkok as at the end of 2018:

1. Siam Paragon
2. Central World (including ZEN and Isetan)
3. Terminal 21
4. EmQuartier & Emporium
5. ICONSIAM
6. MBK
7. Central Chidlom
8. Platinum Fashion Mall
9. Siam Center
10. Siam Discovery

The top 5 shopping markets in Bangkok, in order of popularity in 2018, are:

1. Chatuchak Weekend Market
2. Train Night Market Ratchada (Talad Rot Fai Ratchada)
3. Asiatique The Riverfront
4. Train Night Market Srinakarin (Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin)
5. Pratunam Market

What do you think of these lists? Do you agree? Are any of your favorite malls or markets missing?

Vote for your favourite Bangkok shopping market and shopping mall here:  Survey

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Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin

Talad Rot Fai (='Train Market') is a popular night market on Srinakarin Road behind Seacon Square. The market opens at 5 pm and goes on till after midnight. It is an open-air bazaar featuring rows upon rows of hundreds of tent shops selling all kinds of wares such as clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, knickknacks, souvenirs, antiques and also food.

The bazaar is located in the south-east of the city center, as highlighted red in the map of Bangkok below.

Contrary to the name, there is no train passing by the market, neither is it connected to the city's mass transit lines (BTS/MRT) yet. So it is best to get there by taxi. The market is right behind Seacon Square - one of the largest shopping centers in Bangkok. Seacon Square and the night market would together make up an ideal day trip for your shopping goals.

Note that there is another train market also called Talad Rot Fai (Ratchada) located on Ratchadapisek Road, nearer the city center and accessible by MRT train.  To avoid confusion, when getting to these markets by taxi, make sure to tell the driver the road name as well - "Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin" or "Talad Rot Fai Ratchada".

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Talad Nad Street Markets in Bangkok

While most tourists are well-acquainted with the popular Chatuchak, Pratunam and Siam markets, these aren't the go-to places for local shoppers. In most commercial areas in and around central Bangkok, there are weekday street markets that sell all kinds of wares from clothes, shoes and bags to household goods, toiletries, to fresh vegetables and all kinds of knick-knacks and daily necessities, all at bargain prices.

These 'talad nad' (pronounced 'talaat-nut') are the Thai equivalent of flea markets, and are often set up in large tents, from around 10 am to 2 pm, with a variety of stalls that change every day of the week. The markets peak in their bustle during noon, when office-goers are out and about on their lunch hour breaks, and usually close down by late afternoons.  Many busy working moms do their entire shopping at these markets. For clothing, though prices may be a little higher than those at the markets in Pratunam, the better shopping experience and lesser stress makes the difference worth it.  There are many such markets around the city, but here are a selection of some established ones in the heart of downtown:

• Lalai Sap Market on Silom Road Soi 5 (near BTS Sala Daeng and Chongnonsi stations).
• Saladaeng Market on Saladaeng Road (at BTS Sala Daeng), about half-way inside the street, at the corner of the Yommarat Alley.
• Tonson Market on Phloenchit Road, next to Tonson Tower.

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