8 Best Places to Shop in Pathumwan, Bangkok

The flagship location of Thailand's largest department store chain has a quality selection of clothing, jewelry, sporting goods, housewares, and fabrics, including a Jim Thompson silk shop. An elevated walkway connects Central Chidlom with the even more upscale Central Embassy mall next door.

Fashionistas will find much to explore at one of Bangkok's newer shopping malls; from high-end international brands to Thai designers like Boyy and Disaya. The Eathai section has street-food nibbles and cookware displays. On Level 6 is Embassy Diplomat Screens, a state-of-the-art cinema where staff bring snacks and beverages to your seat.

At more than 1 million square meters (nearly 11 million square feet), this megacenter claims to be Southeast Asia's biggest mall. It's packed with local and international retailers, as well as a multiplex cinema, a hotel, and many dining options. Alongside the main building is the largest outdoor activity square in downtown Bangkok, covering an area of 8 square kilometers and used for cool-season beer gardens, concerts, and a New Year's Eve countdown party.

Gaysorn Village is the collective name for Gaysorn Centre, on the north side of Ploenchit Rd. at Ratchaprarop Rd., and Gaysorn Amarin on the south side of Ploenchit Rd. These two upscale shopping centers outshine many of the others, with their Greco-Roman columns and white marble-and-chrome fixtures. You'll find luxury European and local labels and lauded restaurants such as Paste Bangkok (Gaysorn Centre) and Gaggan at Louis Vuitton (Gaysorn Amarin).

At an impressive seven stories high, this is one of the busiest malls in the city. It's well-worn and not nearly as stylish as nearby Siam Center or any of the other fancy malls in the neighborhood—the main attractions are stores selling cheap clothes, camera, cellphones, and electronics—but there are many shops, as well as a movie theater and two food courts.

Siam Center has been the epicenter of Thai fashion since it opened in 1976, and it has reinvented itself several times over since then. Bangkokians come here to check out the latest Thai labels, along with one-of-a-kind pieces of handmade clothing, shoes, and accessories. The shops ooze style, but be forewarned that the clothes tend to be made to Thai proportions, so they often run small compared to Western sizing.

This seven-story mall is filled with shops selling funky international brands, with a heavy focus on fashion like Siam Center next door, but also housewares and hobby items.

This giant mall has 250 stores, including all the big international brands from Porsche to Chanel, plus a multiplex cinema and tons of restaurants. In the basement, there's SEALIFE Bangkok Ocean World, an underwater marine park where you can dive with sharks.