Joanna James
Bangkok and the city’s association with shopping is one that needs no introduction. Those craving a shopping experience that unleashes the shopaholic in themselves, Sukhumvit Road will not leave you disappointed. It's where the bustling street awaits you, lined with scores of lively marketplaces.
The curvilinear glass and steel facade of Terminal 21 has almost everyone meandering the vibrant Sukhumvit Road walking into the gigantic shopping mall. A whopping 600 stores spanning 9 floors - you can bet the inside is as exciting as the extravagant facade. Shopping at Terminal 21 means you are treated to a virtual international shopping experience as the mall has a unique theme going, where shoppers are welcomed to a meticulously themed shopping scene based on international classics, or rather, specialties. Splurge on world-renowned fashion labels Paris, London, and Tokyo have to offer you, browse through the eclectic boutiques of the Middle East, let your taste buds savor some of the finest Caribbean delicacies, and up on the 6th floor, the 8-screen cineplex affords the ultimate Hollywood experience.
Those who have splurging written high on your Bangkok holiday programme can head to swanky K village, where opulence and extravagance have been written all over the place. The ultra-modern open air mall features over 100 shopping and entertainment options, spread across 5 zones — Fashion & Accessories, Café & Restaurants, Health & Beauty, Lifestyle & Technology and Gourmet Market — out of which, dining is the highlight of the mall, which is quite obvious on any fine Saturday afternoon.
Ditch the ritzy shopping malls that awake the well-heeled in you and head to the atmospheric Sukhumvit Street Market for a more authentic and definitely more economical experience. Thronged by clamouring vendors, Sukhumvit Street Market is where small scale Arab businesses, mostly with the likes of stalls and low-key outlets, go to set up shop, which has also earned the marketplace the monikers, “Little Arabia” and “The Middle Eastern Quarter”.
If high-end international or Thai designer brands and labels are what’s on your mind, Emporium is sure to leave you spoilt for choice. Standing tall beside Benchasiri Park on Sukhumvit Road, Emporium is yet another swanky mall lining the lively shopping street, but with a reputation none other shopping mall can hold a candle to when it comes to luxurious boutiques and premium designer brands.
Shopping in Bangkok doesn’t always have to be about fashion. Visit this hip secondhand book store on Sukhumvit Road and curl up with a good book while treating yourself to a steaming hot mocha and mouth-watering delicacy at the bookstore’s very own cafe. After browsing through the 3 storeys of many different books, retreat to a fine hotel in Bangkok city center the likes of Jono Bangkok Asok.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
