Central World Shopping Mall Bangkok

Posted on October 2, 2013 by koomatzu

Bangkok shopping budget: $$$$

Average clothes prices: 250 baht +

In my opinion, Central World is one of the better gigantuan malls of Bangkok. Central World really is absolutely huge; on the upper floors it has it’s own red carpeted cinema, a luxury hotel, various rooftop bars and a plethora of restaurants – in fact a whole floor dedicated to all-you-can eat buffet restaurants. Suffice to say, it’s very easy to get lost within Central World’s many floors and sections.

Personally, what I like most about Central World, is that it doesn’t have a snobby aura about it like the other big Bangkok malls (*cough Paragon*); there’s a nice, balanced selection of designer shops and budget, big brand outlets. For those with a bit of extra cash, there are some cool brands such as DeFry01, Fox and SuperDry, as well as department stores with mini outlets selling Roxy and Billabong clothing.

However, those on a budget can enjoy shopping at Central World too. The H&M and XXI Forever stores at Central World Bangkok are particularly big and spacious with a great selection of clothes without being too crammed. H&M and XXI Forever often have sales on with cute clothing from around 200 baht.

Zen at Central World

The large section of Central World called Zen is great for some quick designer shopping in Bangkok. The Zen department store consists of different floors containing different designer sections – usually with decent sales on. If you’re lucky enough to catch one of the bigger sales, you might be able to pick up big brand clothing or designer shoes from 500 baht a piece.

If you’re on holiday in Bangkok though, you’re probably better off waiting until you get back home to buy these brands, as they are not any cheaper than in the west as many people believe. If anything, designer brands cost more in Bangkok. But for expats in Bangkok who are in need of clothes that are not just Thai style, it has a nice selection of international brands.

The cinema at Central World is perhaps one of the better ones in Bangkok. Kitted out with red carpets and luxury furnishings, it’s worth a visit on the top floor if you need a break from shopping. The nearby food court offers some pretty good food with great views out of the huge windows as well. Even if you’re not into shopping so much, Central World has loads of buffet and a la carte restaurants to choose from such as Yayoi, Fuji, Mos Burger and Bistro 7.

How to get to Central World Bangkok

You can take the BTS to either Siam or Chitlom depending on which direction you are travelling from in Bangkok. It’s very easy to follow signs to Central World from within the BTS station. The mall is just a 5 or 10 minute walk along the skywalk from either station.

Other places worth visiting near Central World in Bangkok are the Erawan Shrine, the Phallic Shrine, Amarin Plaza, Platinum Mall and Baiyoke Tower.

Siam Square Bangkok

Posted on September 30, 2013 by koomatzu

Bangkok shopping budget: $$$

Average clothes prices: 250 baht – 2500 baht

Siam Square is perhaps the coolest place to shop in Bangkok. Popular with young, funky looking Thais, the shops at Siam Square offer a real nice range of indie boutique shops and alternative brands for both men and women. The square consists of a number of small, indoor shopping centres and markets, separated by high streets and little boutique shops outdoors.

Siam Square definitely makes a pleasant change to shopping in one of the Bangkok malls – you can admire the cool graffiti dotted around the walls outside, take some time out in the peaceful park nearby, or chill out in one of the cute cafes such as the outdoor Travel Library Cafe. Siam Square allows you to shop both outdoors and indoors without feeling too claustrophobic like it tends to get when shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market or the MBK.

Shops in Siam range from cheaper Thai fashion dresses and tops costing from 250 baht, to individually made, unique clothing at around the 2500 baht mark. The shops outside on the high street tend to be the more expensive ones, but they do stock more interesting and unique fashions.

In the indoor shopping centres, for example underneath the Lido Theatre on Soi 2, you will find cheaper high heel shoes, second hand sneakers, second hand vintage dresses, cool T-shirts and pretty maxi dresses – all very reasonably priced and a little more different to the standard clothes you’ll find in the more touristy markets of Bangkok.

There are a whole choice of styles in clothing, accessories and jewellery in the maze of indoor boutiques: from hand made bling or elegant and simple jewellery, to leather bohemian necklaces or studded alternative accessories.

If you love sneakers and street fashion, you will love Siam Square. If you check out Soi 1 and Soi 2 in particular, you will find numerous shops that sell a huge choice of really cool looking sneakers costing from 2000 baht and upwards. You can find Vans, Converse, Nike, Adidas and a whole lot of other brands in loads of different designs.

If you head through the True shopping centre from the BTS to get to Siam Square, you’ll also find an official Converse store at the back entrance. Many of these shops on soi 1 and soi 2 sell some really cool caps and accessories too – check my section on sneakers in my Bangkok shoe shopping blog to find out more details on specific street fashion shops.

Siam Square Night Market Bangkok

If you head along to Siam Square in the evening, all the hight street shops will be closed and the Siam Night Market will be open instead. The Siam Square Night Market is located right on the main Sukhumvit Road at the foot of Siam BTS – you can’t miss it. The market gets really busy during the night after the locals have finished work, but it sells some really cheap clothing and shoes.

Clothes for sale at the Siam Square Night Market are pretty much your typical, cheap Bangkok street market type; nothing particularly special – the t-shirts, tops and dresses for sale there tend to be the bulk-made fashions you see all over Bangkok. The night market is great for some carefree bargain hunting in Bangkok though. You can buy clothes from just 50 baht for a top there.

How to get to Siam Square Bangkok

Take the BTS to Siam and exit the station on the opposite side to Siam Paragon and Siam Center. If you walk along to the right of the BTS and past the building works, you’ll come across various maze-like walkways and roads which all lead into the square – Just don’t go to Siam Square too early – shops don’t tend to open until late morning or early afternoon.

Other popular areas nearby Siam Square in Bangkok include the MBK shopping Mall, Siam Center and Siam Paragon.

Bangkok Shoe Shopping Guide

Posted on September 27, 2013 by koomatzu

If you want to buy some specific kind of shoes in Bangkok – cheap shoes, sexy shoes, designer shoes or sports sneakers – look no further than my Bangkok shoe shopping guide.

I also have guides for clothes shopping, souvenir & gadget shopping, and a general guide on the malls and markets of Bangkok.

Where to buy cheap shoes in Bangkok

If you’re looking to buy dirt cheap shoes in Bangkok, then look no further than the stalls on the Bangkok streets. The street walks and markets in most of the busier areas of Bangkok will sell some really cheap shoes, flip flops starting at around 30 baht a pair and office shoes, ballet pumps or high heel shoes costing from 199 baht.

The busy streets of Bangkok areas such as Silom, Saphan Taksin, Victory Monument, Siam and Pratunam will have some of the best selections. Many of these super cheap shoes on the Bangkok streets aren’t particularly stylish or cool though, and comfort may be a problem as well – particularly if you have wider feet. If you just need a quick, cheap pair of shoes for a costume or interview though, these places definitely serve this purpose.

In Silom, search along the main streetwalks around Sala Deng BTS on an evening. At Saphan Taksin, check out Charoen Krung Road around the BTS and central pier area – there is a small, particularly good shop for cheap flip flops right next to the BTS station, just across the road from the songtaews. Head to Siam after around 7pm and you’ll find street stalls opposite Siam Paragon and many more up Ratchadamri Road next to Central World.

For some better quality, good value shoes in Bangkok, I highly recommend the shops Footin and Bata. You can find these shops in many of the more local Bangkok shopping complexes as well as The Mall Thapra in Talat Phlu, and the MBK at National Stadium. Bata in particular sells some comfortable, decent sports trainers for between 500 and 1000 baht while Footin sells a great range of cute, sturdy and comfortable sandals and flip flops from 199 baht per pair.

Another cheap place to try for better quality shoes in Bangkok is Siam Square. Siam Square have a variety of shoe shops selling high heels, pretty sandals and cool sneakers. You can buy colourful, handmade leather heels for 750 baht, fashionable Thai ladies shoes from 250 baht, and second hand, big brand shoes for around 200 baht a pair.

Where to buy cool high heel shoes in Bangkok

As above, for some cheaper high heel shoes in Bangkok, head yourself down to MBK or The Mall Thapra where you can buy some decent heels from Footin and Bata. For those looking for something a little more expensive, fashionable and with more of a WOW factor, the designer shops at Siam Center stock some really awesome designs.

You’ll find the bold designs of Villain SF on the first floor, Havaianas, Steve Madden and the slightly more affordable VNC on the second floor. In my opinion, Siam Center is by far the coolest place to shop in Bangkok for ladies shoes. Shoe prices vary from around 1000 baht to 20000 baht per pair, maybe less if you’re lucky enough to catch a good sale.

Where to buy cool trainers/ sneakers in Bangkok

Siam Square in central Bangkok is home to many indie boutiques and Thai fashion shops. You can find some cool, alternative sneaker/ trainers from both international and Thai brands costing anything up to 10000 baht per pair. Check out Sneaka Villa in Soi 2 Trendy Zone – you can find the stairs inside a small shop called London Brown, Sneaka Villa is just on the 2nd floor.

Also nearby Sneaka Villa is Humankind Factor on the second floor of the Lido Theatre near Soi 2, and INFRD (also on Soi 2). On the next main road, Soi 1, you can find the Outcast Store, and the king of all sneaker shops, Vii Athletic Club. As well as some really unique and awesome Thai brand sneakers, you’ll find a good range of Vans, Adidas, Nike, Converse and Reebok in most of these shops.

In particular, Bangkok’s Vii Athletic Club has a huge choice of cool, pimpin’ design sneakers for both men and women, plus a few t-shirts, hats and accessories. It sells New Balance, Supra, Vans, Converse, Adidas, Nike, Nike 6.0, Mad Foot, Victim of Vanity plus a whole second floor dedicated purely to sports shoes. This is my favourite sneaker shop in Bangkok – hands down. Sneaker prices range from 2000 baht up to nearly 10000 baht.

I’ve not visited myself, but Superrzaaap!! just on Soi 9 apparently has a decent stock of sneakers in Bangkok as well.

Humankind Factor

MBK shopping mall is another useful place to shop in Bangkok for big brand trainer and sneaker shops, with various sneaker shops scattered throughout. Keep your eyes peeled for Genesis which sells some awesome designs. For sports shoes on a budget at the MBK, Bata sells decent, basic sports trainers for less than 1000 baht.

For those who don’t mind the concept of second hand shoes, there are few markets with large sections dedicated to used trainers such as Converse, Vans and Nike. Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok has a particularly huge section selling second hand sneakers, or you might like to try the Train Market and street stalls of Siam (try around the Pratunam area where the river meets the Ratchadamri Road – Petchaburi road intersection). Again, Siam Square has a few small shops scattered around that sell small selections of cool, second hand sneakers.

Terminal 21 Shopping Mall Bangkok

Posted on September 24, 2013 by koomatzu

Bangkok shopping budget: $$$

Average prices: 250 baht – 3000 baht

Terminal 21 shopping mall is one of the quirkier and more light hearted malls of Bangkok. Popular as a chilled out hangout and as a meet up point for casual food in Bangkok, Terminal 21 flaunts an interestingly decorated interior that, alone, is worthy of visiting without the doing any shopping at all.

With an ongoing airport theme running throughout, Terminal 21 has some cute airport style signposts on each floor marking the various departure and arrival escalators.

There are a total of 9 floors altogether including a London floor, decked out with double decker buses and red phone boxes; a Japanese floor, complete with oriental lanterns and giant hello kitties; an Istanbul floor, which boasts exotic lighting and colourful decor; and San Francisco floor with replica Golden Gate Bridge. Just don’t forget to check out the toilets on at least one of the floors -these intricate and marvellous themes don’t stop in the shops!

Terminal 21 has plenty of cafes, coffee shops, ice cream parlours, patisseries and restaurants to dine in for a simple hangout in Bangkok. With international style restaurants from all over the world, the choice is huge. If you head all the way to the top floor, you’ll find the mall canteen with Thai meals costing from just 3o baht a dish – it’s probably one of the best mall canteens in Bangkok.

Finally onto the shopping at Terminal 21… Floors are conveniently organised and shops grouped together into types of shopping – for example on the first floor you’ll find all the big brand designer shops (such as Quicksilver and SuperDry), on the second floor you’ll find men’s clothing, and on the floor above you’ll find accessories and jewellery. Most of the floors of Terminal 21 consist of cute, indie Thai boutique shops selling a whole range of different styles and clothing tastes.

The boutiques at Terminal 21 are especially useful for pretty dresses, evening dresses and unique Thai fashions in Bangkok. You’ll find each individual shop differing in price range; one shop selling t-shirts and skirts from 250 baht a piece to another shop selling intricately designed dresses for 3000 baht. Many of the fashions are of a unique design and great for buying gifts for female friends back home. There are a couple of souvenir shops selling anime and other cute Thai merchandise which are ideal for gift buying in Bangkok too.

Despite it’s loveable interior furnishings, great quality shopping and fantastic choice of restaurants, Terminal 21 is very quiet and lacking in customers most days. This is great if you prefer a stress-free shopping experience – many of the Bangkok malls and markets such as Chatuchak and MBK can get pretty hectic and unpleasant to shop around… I just hope Terminal 21 will be able to stay open in the future – it’s probably one of my favourite places to shop in Bangkok.

How to get to Terminal 21 Shopping Mall

Terminal 21 is super easy to find in Bangkok. Just take the BTS sky train to Asoke station on the Sukhumvit line. Once you reach Asoke station, you’ll find signs that point to Terminal 21. Terminal 21 actually has a 2nd floor walkway leading straight inside directly from the station.

Other useful areas nearby Terminal 21 worth checking out are the tranquil Benjakiti Park and the bars and restaurants of Nana Soi 11.

MBK Center Bangkok

Posted on September 22, 2013 by koomatzu

Shopping Budget: $

Average Clothing Prices: 250 baht

The MBK Center in Bangkok is an extremely popular mall notorious among expats and holiday makers for it’s cheap prices and knockoff brands. Both loved and loathed by expats in the Bangkok community, MBK has a rather hectic atmosphere due to it’s attractive bargains.

The interior of the MBK in Bangkok is pretty much to be expected of a typical cheap shopping centre; dull and boring to look at! Maybe I’ve been spoilt by the glitzy malls of Thailand’s capital city, but MBK just doesn’t float my boat personally. Not only does MBK Center have ugly, harsh florescent lighting and a rather soulless interior, but it seems to be constantly busy and full of shoppers searching for the cheapest bargain. MBK is not exactly one of the most stress-free malls to shop in Bangkok…

However, MBK seems to be one of the more popular malls for the men in Bangkok, perhaps because of it’s wide range of t-shirts and polo shirts, and it’s large section dedicated to the latest technologies and gadgets. You can buy up a simple t-shirt at the MBK from around 150 baht.

One of the best shops in MBK for both men and women’s clothes shopping is Warehouse Export (there are actually a couple of them in the MBK), which sells factory rejects of some fashionable brands such as H&M and Tommy Hilfiger. Other than this, MBK is a little lacking in cool and fashionable clothing shops – it is, however, ideal for tourists shopping for pretty Thai holiday dresses and popular Chang beer or Red Bull vests.

You can buy some cheap shoes from the MBK from as little as 199 baht a pair, but then you do get what you pay for. Bata and Footin, which are located on the second floor, are some very good Bangkok shoe shops which sell good quality shoes from just 199 baht for simple, comfortable sandals. For sneakers shopping, a particularly useful trainer shop at MBK is Genesis, which sells some cool Vans, Nike and Adidas sneakers.

MBK is pretty much the best place to head in Bangkok for knockoff brand shopping though. You’ll find absolutely loads of knockoff brands – many of them pretty close replicas – including Billabong, Lacoste and Diesel. If you head all the way to the top floor, you’ll find a large section of the MBK dedicated to Thai trinkets, lighting and souvenirs perfect as holiday gifts and crafts.

How to get to MBK

You can take the BTS sky train to National Stadium on the Silom Line. This is easy to navigate on the BTS as the National Stadium is actually the terminal station on all the station signs. Once you arrive at the National Stadium, follow signs to the MBK Center. There is actually a second floor walkway which leads directly inside the mall.

Thai Boxing at the MBK

Every Wednesday evening, the MBK Center actually holds Thai Fight Night Boxing matches… for free! Compared to the high amount charged to foreigners by the Lumpini Thai Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, this is a great opportunity for anybody with an interest in Thai Boxing.

Head on over to the MBK Center from 6pm and you’ll find a small ring just outside of the main doors. Matches start every Wednesday from 6pm.

Pun Pun Bike Share Bangkok

Posted on September 20, 2013 by koomatzu

The recently introduced Pun Pun bikes have sprung up pretty quickly around various parts of Bangkok city. After the huge success of the bike hire programmes in the west such as the Barclay Bikes (aka Boris Bikes) in England and B-Cycle bike sharing in America, Thailand has now officially caught on to this eco-friendly and useful transport scheme.

With the crazy Bangkok traffic jams, squeezed buses, rammed subway systems and slightly scary motorcycle taxi drivers, the Pun Pun bikes make a welcome addition to Bangkok’s rather congested public transport system.

Pun Pun Bike Information

How To Register

To be able to use the Pun Pun bikes in Bangkok, you will need to first find a manned Pun Pun bike station and register. You will need to bring you passport with you to sign up, they will then take your photo, give you a card, pin number, and show you how to release and lock the Pun Pun Bikes.

Due to lack of people using the bikes so far, the signup fee has recently been reduced to a total of 120 baht – that includes 100 baht’s worth of credit. And that’s it! Cheap eh?

Pun Pun Bike Prices

Again, due to Pun Pun unpopularity so far, hire prices have been generously reduced. For the first hour of use, bikes are FREE to use! After this, it costs just 20 baht for up to 3 hours use and, for 8 hours or more, 100 baht.

I can imagine many people will only be cycling short distances less than an hour away on Pun Pun Bikes anyway, so this is great value.

Pun Pun Bike Regulations

Pun Pun bike share stations are open for use between 7am and 8pm. All bikes have GPS and users will be fined 500 baht if they are not returned by 8pm.

Trying out the Pun Pun Bike Share programme

So, the city of Bangkok has put quite a bit of effort into the new Pun Pun Bike Share transport programme to encourage locals to try them out… But are they really a success yet? Recently armed with my very own Pun Pun membership, I’ve taken on the crazy traffic of Bangkok on my Pun Pun Bike…

After signing up at the manned kiosk and releasing my Pun Pun bike, I set off down the cycle lane of the busy main Sathorn road. There seem to be clusters of stations in certain areas of Bangkok while other districts appear to be somewhat neglected by the Pun Pun bikes – Sathorn is one of the few areas of Bangkok blessed with an abundance of Pun Pun stations.

However, after a 10 minute, sweaty bike ride to Lumpini, I arrived at the supposed Pun Pun station shown on the map and… it’s not finished being built yet. I checked the map for the next nearest station, Sala Daeng, and headed over there. It was about 6.40pm by this time – plenty of time before closing at 8pm right? Well, the manned station had closed early for the night so I had to search for yet another station. Needless to say, I was pretty sweaty and late by the time I’d arrived to meet my friends…

Problems with the Pun Pun Bike Share in Bangkok

It seems that the Pun Pun Bike Share programme in Bangkok is currently suffering a state of limbo, where they are still in the process of building stations and, to be honest, probably should not have opened it’s doors to customers just yet. Instead of updating maps and information accordingly to show users which stations aren’t open yet, the map is deceiving and allows you to think that they are ALL open.

Not only are the maps wrong, but workers at the manned Pun Pun stations sometimes decide to randomly close up early. You cannot return your Pun Pun bike to a manned station unless somebody is there, so this is seriously irritating.

I have also noticed that workers have a tendency to ‘top up’ stations on the evenings ready for the morning. They make their rounds on a truck, and completely fill up the stations with Pun Pun bikes up to an hour before closing… Doesn’t seem particularly sensible to me, so I’m thinking this could cause problems for some people returning the Pun Pun Bikes later in the evenings as there will be no spare spaces.

I really do hope the Pun Pun Bikes will be successful in Bangkok because the idea behind them has such great potential. It may just be worth being aware of some of these early teething problems while they are still in the process of developing the system though.

Bangkok Clothes Shopping Guide

Posted on September 18, 2013 by koomatzu

Looking for cheap clothes, bargain designer brands, knock offs like Armani and Hollister fashions, or plus size clothing in Bangkok? For specific shopping needs in Bangkok, check out my shopping guide below.

Alternatively, click here for a guide on typical Thailand shopping prices or learn more about particular areas mentioned below in Bangkok Markets or Bangkok shopping malls.

Clothes Shopping In Bangkok

Where to buy cheap, affordable clothing in Bangkok…

For shopping on a budget in Bangkok, one of the cheapest markets to go clothes shopping is Pratunam, a wholesale clothes market. Most of the sellers in Bangkok buy their stock from Pratunam market so you can at least be sure that you’re getting a bargain, although it is much cheaper to buy in bulk at Pratunam market.

You can find Pratunam market near Baiyoke tower on Petchaburi Road, prices typically range from 100 – 250 baht for clothing such as cardigans, leggings, printed t-shirts, colourful dresses, harem trousers, vest tops and shirts. It’s mainly better for women, there aren’t so many men’s clothes around Pratunam.

Pratunam Market

Another very popular market for cheap clothes shopping in Bangkok is Chatuchak, just off of Mo Chit BTS station. Chatuchak has pretty much everything including Bohemian, indie and Thai fashion styles of clothing, accessories and shoes; prices range from just 150 baht to 250 baht per item of clothing.

You know it’s a cheap place to shop in Bangkok when all the locals shop there. To shop where all the young Thai locals shop (sorry chaps, mainly just ladies clothes), be sure to check out the street markets of Siam and On nut. These are both night markets so the best time to visit is sometime after 6pm in the evening. They have everything from hair accessories, shoes for 200 baht, cute Thai fasions, handbags and a few knockoff brands such as Superdry and Hollister.

You can find these cheap bangkok shopping markets at Siam opposite Siam paragon just off Siam BTS and along Petchaburi Road just off Chit Lom BTS. On nut is also easy to find just off of BTS On Nut opposite Tesco Lotus. Prices start from just 30 baht for a muscle vest to 150 baht for a cute, Thai vintage dress.

Thailand is pretty notorious for it’s knockoff clothes, bags, sunglasses, watches and… well, knockoff everything really. Perhaps the best place to go for knockoff brands in Bangkok is the MBK centre. MBK has absolutely loads of knockoff clothing such as Superdry, Billabong, Diesel and Lacoste.

Patpong night market also sells a particularly large selection of knockoffs, however this market can be a little overpriced and a ripoff. You’ll find knock off Raydan and Oakley sunglasses in pretty much all the markets such as Chatuchak and Patpong.

Where to buy mid range clothing in Bangkok…

For some slightly better quality clothes shopping in Bangkok but not too expensive, try out the shopping mall Terminal 21. Ignoring the designer shops on the bottom floor, the upper floors tend to all be small, boutique, indie designer shops and a good majority of them are decent quality, unique and reasonably priced. Terminal 21 is located right at BTS Asoke station complete with signposts to guide you.

Prices range from 250 baht for an individually designed, printed t-shirt to 3000 baht for evening dresses. Terminal 21 is ideal for lovely cocktail dresses, casual indie clothing, cool shoes and accessories. It even has a whole floor for men’s clothing and is laid out with a different country theme on each floor.

Siam Square, directly opposite Siam Paragon at Siam BTS, is a market complex with shops both indoors and outdoors. There are some pretty dress shops, cool sneakers shops, a wealth of shoe shops and some cute indie boutique shops. Prices range from 200 baht to 1000 baht for dresses and other items of clothing. The fancier shoe shops and skater style sneaker shops move up to about 2500 baht but offer some unique and funky buys.

Plenty loads of individual boutique shops to be found in Siam Square

You may also like to check out my post on the shop Warehouse Export, which sells bargain import brands and good quality clothing for between 150 and 450 baht per piece.

Where to buy designer brands in Bangkok…

The most prominent malls for designer brand shopping in Bangkok are Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Central World. Emporium shopping mall at Prom Phong BTS is another popular designer mall, though it is very expensive. Siam Center is a probably the coolest mall in Bangkok; more interesting than the others with distinctive shops, cool high heel shoes, unique sunglasses and a less mall-like atmosphere.

Designer clothes actually tend to be more expensive in Bangkok than in the west, so it’s best not to be under the illusion of finding bargains while on holiday in Bangkok. However Zen, a department at Central World, tends to have sales on frequently making the brands there a little more affordable. If you’re looking for some massive designer brand sale bargains, Amarin Plaza at BTS Chit Lom almost constantly has some sort of event on it’s ground floor from Billabong to Nike to Karen Miller, and many other brand sales of up to 90% discounts.

Where to buy plus size clothes in Bangkok…

For larger, plus size clothes shopping in Bangkok, Patpong Night Market may be a good option to try. Mainly for men, in particular they offer shorts with a larger waste size for westerners. Alternatively, there is a very specific chain of shops in Bangkok called Warehouse Bilberry which sells clothing up to plus size XXL for both men and women. Prices are very reasonable and good quality as well, starting at around 220 baht for a dress or shirt.

Where to buy men’s clothing in Bangkok…

I feel for men in Bangkok… shops, markets and malls are very much geared towards the female shopper in Bangkok. However, there are some very cool shorts and t-shirts for sale at Chatuchak market and Baiyoke Tower. If you head to the fourth floor of Baiyoke tower, there are some really cool T-shirt designs with parody Star Wars prints and many other designs from around 200 baht.

Shopping at Baiyoke Tower in Bangkok is even better if you are planning on buying a few things as they have some good wholesale deals. They also have some cool shorts with interesting and colourful designs. Similarly, Chatuchak market also has a good range of T-shirts, trainers (sneakers whatever) and shorts with a great choice of both indie, bohemian and Thai style designs.

Because of Chatuchak market’s sheer size compared to Baiyoke Tower, there is much more choice and prices start from around 150 baht for a T-shirt (Although every man I have met in Bangkok absolutely loathes shopping at the jam-packed and maze-like Chatuchak market!).

Check out my shopping blog post on where to buy sneakers in Bangkok for some more really cool men’s clothing, caps and other gear.

Above Eleven Rooftop Bar Bangkok

Posted on September 15, 2013 by koomatzu

Nana Soi 11 is home to many of the more affordable rooftop bars of Bangkok, Above Eleven being among one of the best in this area. Above Eleven Rooftop Bar is located at the top of the luxurious Fraser Suites Hotel and boasts amazing cityscape views over Bangkok.

The bar provides an ambient, chilled out atmosphere with warm lighting and laid back classic pop and rock tunes. The background music isn’t too loud and intrusive so the bar is ideal for chatting and chilling without interruption. The first floor of the rooftop bar comprises of an enclosed bar top surrounded by tables lining the edges, with views overlooking Bangkok.

The whole floor is sleekly designed with patches of grass as the flooring and a hedge maze guarding the über chic toilets. Continue up the attic-style stair case and you’ll find industrial brick walls with cosy uplighting and spot lights brightening the rooftop bar. There are plenty of sophisticated and unique added touches such as tree structured pillars supporting the glass roof that part covers the bar. The upstairs offers inviting and cosy surroundings of comfortable leather sofas and tables.

The sleek and chilled out vibe of Above Eleven Rooftop Bar is a little similar to the neighbouring Nest rooftop bar, only a little more suited for relaxed chatting with friends as the music is quieter and lighting much better – It’s so dark at Nest that the waiters provide you with a torch to read the menu.

Above Eleven Menu

As for the menu at Above Eleven Rooftop Bar, many of the dishes have taken on an elegant Japanese twist. There are an extensive range of sushi dishes starting from 300 baht up to 550 baht per serving, plus an interesting menu of Peruvian Japanese fusion Tapas dishes ranging from 110 baht to 470 baht per dish. The menu mainly comprises of seafood dishes, however there are plenty of chicken, duck and vegetarian options as well.

Continuing the Peruvian/ Japanese theme, there are some very interesting and adventurous fusion cocktails but, at 350 baht per glass, they do not come cheaply. Soft drinks are priced at 90 baht a bottle while beers start at 170 baht per bottle and spirits at 180 per shot. Drinks aren’t that reasonably priced but are cheap compared to other Bangkok rooftop bars such as Banyan Tree and Sky Bar.

How to get to Above Eleven Bangkok

Take the BTS to Nana station and head to Sukhumvit Soi 11 just a couple of metres away from the steps of the station. Make your way down the road until you reach a T-junction, turn left and follow the road round as it bends to the right past the Q Bar. On the right hand side of the road you will find the Fraser Suites Hotel – follow the driveway to the back of the hotel and take the lift to the 32nd floor.

The Best Place To Stay In Bangkok

Posted on September 13, 2013 by koomatzu

On Holiday In Bangkok

The best place to stay in Bangkok is really dependent on each individual; whether you want to go sightseeing in the Thai temples, hang out in the trendy malls, shop in the local markets, wine and dine, or party hard with the backpackers… Typically for tourists visiting on holiday, the best place to stay in Bangkok is the Old City of Bangkok. Silom, Sukhumvit or around the Victory Monument area are also popular areas to stay in Bangkok.

Some travellers tend to catch taxis everywhere while on holiday in Bangkok; this is fine, taxis are super cheap and easy to catch around the city after all. However, if you’re on a budget, you may prefer to stay on holiday in an area of Bangkok located along the BTS, MRT and airport link routes (the green, blue and red lines shown on the map below). The BTS skytrain is particularly impressive and worth a ride at least once anyway.

It can be difficult trying to find where to stay in Bangkok without knowing exactly where the districts, attractions or main areas of Bangkok are.

Best place to stay in Bangkok

Siam (Pathum Wan district)

Siam is the trendy city centre of Bangkok and also perhaps the most expensive area to stay in Bangkok. With dozens of gigantic shopping malls full of world famous restaurants and fast food chains, it’s a shopper’s paradise. Shopping in Siam is actually more expensive than shopping in the West and it seems to be an area of Bangkok for people who like to flash their cash for the sake of it.

If you love a fashionable, cosmopolitan city scene with plenty of designer shopping and fine dining though, then Siam is for you. Siam is quite a spectacular sight – some of the streets and malls have some awesome decorations and you’ll find the ‘hi-so’ Bangkokians hanging around, very glamourously dressed, bumping into each other like moles while taking selfies on their iPhones. It’s a definite contrast to the rest of Bangkok and you won’t find the standard tourist stereotype in their Chang beer vests around Siam.

Ploenchit, Chitlom and the National Stadium area can all be included as a part of Siam, Pathum Wan. A convenient skywalk runs through part of Siam, connecting Chitlom BTS station and the Bangkok shopping malls together so you don’t even need to stray too far from the luxury of air conditioned, cooling goodness.

Christmas lights at Amarin Plaza in Siam

Holiday budget in Siam: $$$$$

SIghtseeing in Siam: Siam Centre, Central World, Siam Square, Phallic Shrine, Erawan Shrine

Where to stay in Siam: Budget – Lub d, Mid range – Siam @ Siam Design Hotel & Spa, Five star – Hansar, Centara Grand

Old City (Rattanakosin):

The Old City is pretty much the polar opposite of Siam – it is extremely touristy and predominantly bohemian. Rattanakosin is the main tourist hub of the city and is the best place to stay in Bangkok for a holiday if you have any interest in history and sightseeing around the beautiful grand temples of Thailand.

There are many cheap backpacker hostels or luxurious hotels to choose from. Entertainment-wise, there is the famous market hangout, Khaosan Road, which has many crazy backpacker bars… perhaps making it the best place to stay in Bangkok to have fun mingling with other like-minded travellers.

best place to stay on holiday in bangkok

Grand Palace in the Old City

However, for people with an interest in more modern city life, fashion and the Bangkok nightlife; it can be a distance away from the main centre of activity and apart from buses and ferries, Rattanakosin is not a part of the sky train and subway system. Although taxis should not cost much more than 100 baht (£2 or $3) to travel to the other main areas of Bangkok, this can leave you a little stranded in rush hour times, for example between 3pm and 7pm, when many taxi drivers will likely refuse your fare to avoid getting stuck in the crazy Bangkok traffic.

Holiday budget in the Old City: $

Attractions in the Old City: Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Khaosan Road

Where to stay in the Old City: On a budget – NapPark Hostel , Mid range – Lamphu Treehouse, Luxury – Baan Noppawong

Victory Monument (Phayathai):

Centrally located in Bangkok only stops away from Siam, MBK, Silom and Chatuchak weekend market on the BTS, Victory monument is one of the most ideally located areas of Bangkok for both travellers and expats. Not only is there the Suvarnabhumi airport link at Phayathai, but it is also one of the main transport hubs for the buses and minibuses for any day trips around or out of Bangkok.

In the evenings, the streets come alive with Thai street stalls squeezed on the sidewalks selling food and clothing. There is wee bit of nightlife around, particularly along Rang nam Road but it is mainly aimed at Thai clientele. Phayathai is a great change from the perhaps overly touristy Old City, yet still lively and interesting enough to stay in Bangkok for a holiday.

Holiday budget at the Victory Monument: $$$

Nightlife at the Victory Monument: Saxophone Pub, Raintree Pub, Rock Pub

Where to stay at the Victory Monument: Asia Hotel Bangkok

Silom (Bang Rak):

Silom could arguably be one of best places to stay in Bangkok. Attracting quite a few tourists and expats alike, it is particularly busy and lively with plenty going on 24 hours a day; everything you need is right at your doorstep. Abundant in bars and cafes, shopping boutiques, luxury apartments and palm tree lined roads, it is maybe one of the most attractive areas of Bangkok.

If visiting Thailand on holiday, the Silom area can provide an ideal place to stay in Bangkok to explore the city, for both the popular tourist attractions of the old city by taxi or ferry, as well as the more sophisticated, modern city life. Located in close proximity to the Bangkok city centre and along the main BTS sky train route, Silom is definitely a place of convenience, but there are two very different sides to Silom that some may want to be aware of.

The western side of Silom, towards the river, is relatively quiet and subdued whereas the eastern end near Sala deng BTS station (AKA Patpong) can be looked upon as a slightly seedy tourist trap if you’re not prepared for it. The Patpong area is a particularly popular area of Bangkok for the girls and the gogo bars.

Thaniya Road, AKA ‘Japan Street’

Don’t let this put you off staying in the Eastern area of Silom though; the bustling streetwalks full of fairy-lit night stalls, cute cafes, sophisticated restaurants, modern shopping complexes and vibrant local backstreets still make it an appealing and charming area of Bangkok… So despite it’s impressively copious amount of massage parlours and brothels that come alive at night, both gay and straight, it’s still an interesting area to stay in Bangkok for other non-sex tourists!

Patpong’s ‘Japanese Street’, kind of like Bangkok’s ‘Little Japan’ filled with Tokyo style Neon signs and Japanese restaurants, is worth a visit. During the night, you will be hounded by Madams and Tuk Tuk drivers but it is still worth a look at least – It can be surprisingly entertaining to sit and eat some local Thai noodles from a street stall while watching the people go by.

Holiday budget in Silom: $$$

Where to go in Silom: Roadhouse, Sky Bar, Japan Street, Patpong Night Market, Maggie Chu’s, Hindu Temple

Where to stay in Silom: Budget – Lub d, Luxury – Hangover 2 Hotel!

Sathorn (Bang Rak)

Sathorn is slightly more quiet than some of the other touristy areas of Bangkok, the business district of Bangkok if you will. It is chilled out yet busy enough to be a happy medium between the bustling centre and unexciting Bangkok outskirts. For travellers who want the best of both worlds – to be in convenient, easy reach to all the points of interest but also have a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the tourist traps of Bangkok – Sathorn has it all; local life in the everyday backstreet, smokey sois as well as modern cafes, students and office workers going about business on the main street.

Towards the eastern Lumpini end of Sathorn, you can find the fancier restaurants and hotels to stay in Bangkok. The western side of Sathorn road has plenty of cheap, local places to eat and can be the best place to stay in Bangkok for people on a budget, in search of a little more peace. The western end of Sathorn is within easy walking distance to Surasak BTS to keep you connected to any other upcoming area of Bangkok. The central ferry pier is close by for access to the Old City and lively Silom is only a 10 minute walk away.

Holiday budget in Sathorn: $$ – $$$

What to do in Sathorn: Follow Me Bicycle Tours, Chinese Cemetery, Secret Garden, Lebua at State Tower

Where to stay in Sathorn: Budget – Saphaipae, Average – Heritage Hotel, luxury – Eastin Grand

Nana and Asoke (Sukhumvit)

The main road between Nana and Asoke is largely multicultural. It’s an odd mixture of both expats and holidaymakers; The sidewalks are teaming with street vendors selling dresses, DVDs, bags and sex toys, while the side street’s prostitutes cater to some of the sex tourists. On the other hand, you’ll find some more elegant rooftop bars, restaurants and shopping centres to keep other tastes entertained.

Some parts of the area, particularly the renowned Soi 11, are somewhat a bit of a tourist trap. Tuk tuk drivers will follow you around as if you’re a walking dollar sign and taxis will try to extort whoever they can. Although Nana and Asoke attract a mixture of types, the area is mainly appealing and more suited to the male tourists and expats. In particular, for the go go bars in Bangkok, ‘Soi Cowboy’ is one of the most famous red light district areas in Thailand for it’s choice and sheer volume of go go bars.

Soi Cowboy

Soi Cowboy can be a pretty grisly affair for many mind! Go go bars aside, some travellers may still appreciate the huge volume of souvenir selling street vendors and suit tailors lining the hectic streets of Nana. However, if you find this sort of thing just plain irritating, then maybe this is not the area of Bangkok for you. I would not really recommend Nana as a place to stay in Bangkok for younger couples, and especially not for family holidays.

As for the location, Nana and Asoke are conveniently close to the centre of Bangkok activity and within easy reach of the main BTS route. Holiday makers can enjoy shopping at Terminal 21 and party at the huge choice of modern nightclubs, rooftop bars (read more about Soi 11 nightlife here), pubs and restaurants (including the huge American style diner, ‘Angel Diner’). Soi 11 in particular is absolutely crammed full of choice in nightlife for the average person.

Holiday budget in Nana: $$$$

Where to go in Nana: Terminal 21, Benjakiti park, Cheap Charlies, The Nest, Angel Diner

Where to stay in Nana: Budget – Asoke Montri Hostel, Mid/high – Park Plaza Bangkok, Five star – Ariyasomvilla Hotel

Thonglor and Ekkamai (Sukhumvit)

Thonglor, Phrom Phong and Ekkamai are the reputed ‘hi-so’ areas of Bangkok located a couple of stops past Nana and Asoke from central Siam on the BTS. This area of Bangkok is far from touristy and is home mainly to professional expats and wealthy Thais. It may be a suitable place to stay in Bangkok for business travellers more than holiday makers.

There are not many attractions for tourists and travellers per se, but Thonglor, Ekkamai and Phrom Phong may prove appealing as a good place to stay in Bangkok for food connoisseurs, people who like to wine and dine, or those who like to search out cool, laid back trendy places off the beaten track. Again, this is the complete opposite to the bohemian back packer areas of Bangkok and much more suited to travellers looking for a little more sophistication and normality.

This area of Bangkok, is Thailand’s capital city at it’s finest and most modern. There are plenty of expensive, international restaurants and pubs to more quirky, cool Thai hangouts and bars. You definitely won’t be short on places to eat, however bars and restaurants are rather spread around the area so it’s best to know your way around.

Holiday budget in Thonglor: $$$$$

Where to go in Thonglor: Tuba Bar, Banrie Coffee, Witches Tavern, Iron Fairies

Where to stay in Thonglor: Low – DS67 Suites Hotel, medium/ high – Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor, luxury – Bangkok Marriott Hotel

On Nut

On Nut is located another few stops further past Ekkamai from central Bangkok. Although it is a little further out of the centre, travellers can still easy catch the BTS to get around the city.

Many people who have a connecting flight in Bangkok and need somewhere to stay for the night decide to stay in On Nut – it’s convenient as it’s closer to the outskirts in the direction of Suvarnabhumi yet still well connected with the rest of the city to make the most of a short stay there.

On Nut Night Market & Beer Garden

Accommodation comes pretty cheaply due to On Nut’s slightly out of the way location and it manages to escape the tourist trap feel that other areas of Bangkok sometimes suffer. The atmosphere in On Nut is quite laid back and mainly home to western expats and locals.

Holiday budget in On Nut: $$

Where to go in On Nut: On Nut Night Market, Erawan Shrine (via BTS or taxi)

Where to stay in On Nut: Low – Imm Fusion Hotel

Wongwian Yai to Talat Phlu (Thonburi)

Thonburi is located a distance away from the centre of Bangkok, across the river that cuts through the city. However it is still in easy reach of the main sights of Bangkok if you stay in Wongwian Yai or Talat Phlu, near the BTS. Saphan Taksin main pier is only a couple of stops away on the BTS. These areas have only recently been integrated into the BTS system, so are relatively untouched by tourism compared to the rest of Bangkok.

There aren’t many foreigners around Thonburi at all. In fact, as a foreigner, you may get a few more stares and giggles from the locals around these areas. English isn’t as commonly spoken and the landscape is less built up and much more subdued, especially so at the further out Talat Plu at least.

If you want more a more authentic holiday in Thailand and less of the tourist trap games, Thonburi is where to stay in Bangkok. Accommodation, shopping and food costs are cheaper here, however atmosphere and entertainment is still a little lacking. In my opinion, Thonburi misses out on the vibrant energy and craziness (good crazy, mind) of central Bangkok.

Holiday budget in Thonburi: $

Where to go in Thonburi: Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, The Beach bar, The Mall Thapra, King Taksin Monument

Where to stay in Thonburi: Mid – Bangkok Loft Inn

Cafe Tartine, Phloen Chit Bangkok

Posted on September 4, 2013 by koomatzu

Cafe Tartine is a bright and airy French cafe & patisserie serving a wide range of delicious salads, sandwiches, quiches and French desserts. The interior of Cafe Tartine is small and cosy yet spacious and light, furnished with birch wood tables and specialist wine bottles lining the walls. Customers have the option to sit either inside, or on the peaceful and comfortable terrace which has fans and cushioned seating. The road outside the cafe is rather quiet so it makes for a tranquil Al Fresco lunch.

Cafe Tartine is perfect for a healthy treat or a relaxed, casual afternoon lunch or brunch with friends in Bangkok. The menu prices range from around 140 to 250 baht per meal and the food served there is very good quality. The most unique thing about Cafe Tartine though, is it’s Create Your Own Salad & Sandwich menu.

With a huge choice of dressings, fillings and salad ingredients, you can have your perfect lunch for an average of just 200 baht. Although, the standard dishes on the main menu are good enough without needing to personalise them. Cafe Tartine’s Cobb Salad for example, comes jam-packed full of bacon, egg, pepper, blue cheese, roast chicken and avocado with a side of freshly baked bread.

Sandwiches come with a side of salad and cover everything from chicken, olive and goats cheese, to prosciutto ham and melted cheese. If you’re feeling particularly hungry, you can opt for the pork chop with french fries and roasted vegetables for just 230 baht. As for drinks, home made iced tea at Cafe Tartine costs just 50 baht for unlimited refills and comes with an optional jug of syrup if you don’t like it too sweet.

However, with a divine range of flans, chocolate pies and beautiful French cakes, desserts at Cafe Tartine are definitely not to be forgotten… The chocolate & pumpkin pie and the apple tart are particularly good; desserts are not too sweet and are noticeably made with high quality ingredients.

How to get to Cafe Tartine

Take the BTS to Phloen Chit station and follow the exit to the Novotel Hotel. Cafe Tartine is only a minute’s walk from the station, just take the turning into Ruamrudee road on the corner of Novotel Hotel, and Cafe Tartine is a few hundred metres on the right hand side.