Bangkok's Best Retro & Vintage Shops – Experience Another Side to Bangkok's Shopping

Adorned with a mosaic of alluring artwork and an array of interesting knickknacks, the Papaya is one place that is exciting to discover and worth whatever difficulty you may undergo in getting here. A chance to revisit memory lane, Papaya's collection of Spiderman, Batman and the Green Lantern is definitely something that would amuse the old and the young alike. The only downside of your visit to Papaya is that not everything is on sale here; so much so that at times it feels more like a museum than a store. However, for those coming equipped with sufficient time do not hesitate to sift through the myriad of goods piled here; you are bound to come across some real vintage gems in the process.

Unlike your conventional market in Bangkok, Rod Fai has everything unusual in store. It's a quirky little place this market and many have referred to it as the vintage haven of Bangkok. From antiques to second-hand shoes, the Rod Fai Market promises to take you on an exciting journey back time where you can literally touch the past with your very own fingers. Made of three separate sections – shops, stalls and a warehouse, the market offers plenty of goodies to check out. In the process of exploring this place, you are bound to fall in love with something or the other. For those of you heading back on a plane keep in mind that not everything is convenient in terms of transportation.

There is a pleasant vintage appeal to good quality leather and at Fashion Vintage, you get just that. This is one place that showcases an array of high-quality leather products which you could probably smell from a mile away. The name does not quite represent what you find in store for there is hardly anything 'fashionable' per se. But the shoes and the bags are quality products and have a priceless appeal to it which would definitely work as something to own. If you are lucky, once in a while you may even stumble upon a couple of designer pieces at this store. The jackpot, however, is the imported items from Japan and Europe that takes you all the way to the respective places it came from.

If you consider buying food a form of shopping this is definitely worth being on the list for here too visitors get an authentic vintage feel. For those of you staying in a hotel in Bangkok city such as the Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18 for instance, it is worth trying out one of the many Thai restaurants during meal times. If you want an added vintage feel to the experience, the Tuba Restaurant is the perfect pick for one can find a myriad of local and Western dishes and the cocktails here are almost served in goldfish bowl sizes! The best part is right next door is the Tuba 2 which is actually a warehouse where you can find a range of different décor items that can be purchased.