OFF TO THE MALL
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Bangkok has lots of new shopping centres of all designs and in all sizes. Here's a run down of the newest
With so many places to shop in Bangkok, probably the most powerful magnet for drawing customers to a mall is its interior design.
Four decades ago, the owners of Thai Daimaru created a big buzz by introducing Bangkokians to the delights of the escalator while Robinson’s scored a first with its towering glass lifts a couple of decades later.
Now Terminal 21 is the place to go for anyone who wants to try the smart Japanese-style toilets complete with heated seats and sprays.
Located at Asoke intersection and connecting with both BTS and MRT stations, it opened two months ago and is operated by Land & House.
It cost Bt6 billion to build and also features service apartments and a department store as well as 600 shops belonging to both the top international brands and local designers plus a movie theatre and restaurants.
Each floor is decided to one of the world’s best-loved shopping cities, so customers can spend time in Istanbul, Tokyo, London, Paris, Rome, San Francisco and Hollywood. Even the restrooms and yes, they all have those Japanese-style flush toilets, are decorated in different themes.
You’ll find a subway station on the London floor and creative bamboo fences on the Tokyo floor. You might need to wrestle your way through the camera-toting teens though.
After several months of renovations that cost a cool Bt900 million, the revamped Central Lat Phrao is another popular spot with shoppers.
The five-storey shopping mall looks more modern and offers customers plenty of new restaurants and cafes, a facial service and movie theatre.
Fashionistas will find their favourite brands both in the main store and in the mall’s boutiques.
The mall is also home to the flagship stores of Muji, Uniqlo and Zara.
A short drive takes you to the brand new Central Plaza Grand Rama IX. Opened earlier this month on a 105-rai plot, the Bt4.9 billion, eight-storey mall is home to 300 international and local brands, 80 restaurants, a fitness centre, an Olympic-size ice skating rink and Food Republic, a 600-seat dining atrium from Singapore.
Also on Rama IX Road is The Nine, a trendy community mall that’s been open about a year.
Costing about Bt1.2 billion, it’s designed in a tropical village style and offers boutiques for men and women, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, flower shops, beauty centres and spa. There’s also a 24-hour Seri super market and a food court inspired by a traditional Thai market.
In the Western ’burbs, community mall The Circle Ratchapruk features more than 200 beautifully furnished retail shops, cafes, restaurants, spas and children’s learning centres.
And back in town, the five-floor community mall Parklane is a newcomer to Soi Ekamai.
Very popular with local residents, it has restaurants, cafes, bakeries, boutiques, jewellery stores, bike shops, pet shops, a beauty clinic, spas, bookstores, an education zone and a fun park.
