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[go to separate pages for more extensive reviews of Siam Paragon , Emporium, Shopping around Siam Square ]
Shopping Guide : Department Stores | Computers | Hardware, Do it Yourself, Furniture | Mobile Phones (limited information)| Sportswear | Fast food, bread (?), sandwiches, coffee shops | Smoking and Drinking in Bangkok | Supermarkets review : Tops, Foodland, Gourmet Market (at Emporium and Siam Paragon) | Books and Bookstores : Asia Books, Kinokuniya, Bookazine
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Emporium (at Phrompong Skytrain Station) is an upperscale shopping center with many fashion and designer brands. It also houses a department store, supermarket and movie theatres. |
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Department Stores
[Siam Paragon and Emporium are more extensively covered on separate pages, see menu at top or below this article]
Central Chitlom is easily reached (connected with the skytrain station at Chitlom) and offers a lot of fashionable clothes and toiletries. As most other department stores, there seem to be continuous promotions and discounts (instead of lowering the prices the whole year, as would be more appropriate). It has also a Tops supermarket connected to it on the first floor, and as most Centrals it also includes Super Buy (electronic goods), and a large collection of sporting goods.
Emporium (located at skytrain station) is even more upmarket if possible, and offers a lot of shops besides its department store. The place is large, but has the advantage of having a lot of space to walk and hang around, which is what a lot of people actually do.
Siam Square offers more like a large collection of smaller shops (a lot of clothes outlets), besides a lot of fast food restaurants. It is the place to go if you want to see 'cute' Thai girls (and metrosexual boys), who dress up just within acceptable levels. This is where you will find the largest collection of girls who are hanging around, displaying invariably parts of their buttocks (low cut trousers), when making the slightest movement. Please do not make the assumption that this has actually anything to do with 'availability', it is just being cool and showing off.
At Central Department Stores, Emporium and Siam Paragon, you will find ample supply of consumer hardware (white goods such as refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers etc.) However you need to be aware of the fact that not always the necessary accessories are available. For example, we checked to buy a dishwasher at Emporium the other day, only to find that no dishwasher detergent can be found in the local Gourmet market. The same problem occurred when trying to locate useful filters for our vacuum cleaner. You are directed to the supplier, which is not always centrally located or easily accessible. Better check out these things before buying your (expensive) hardware.
Add-on : Going to Chatuchak weekend market
Both the skytrain and the subway can bring you all the way to Chatuchak nowadays, and going there is certainly a must if you are interested in Thai artefacts. You will find lots of cute things there to decorate your house at modest prices, besides cheap clothing. The place is also (in)famous for its trade in pets and animals with all that is connected to it, like pet food and accessories. But take your bottles of water with you, it can be really hot out there, and there are masses of people around. It is open during weekend days only.
Some basic shopping advice
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