Antiques
Silom Galleria
This mall has more than one hundred art, antique and gem stores, but it all feels a bit deserted and empty. There are plenty of art exhibitions held, Thavibu and Tang are the most interesting ones on contemporary Asian art.
Don't forget the licence
Antique shopping is fun, and statues, fabrics, woodcarvings and furnitures are some of the products that might interest you. Be careful that some cultural objects need an export licence if you want to take them out of the country. This is especially the case for Buddha images, Bodhisattva images or parts of ancient monuments and prehistoric objects. Any reputable dealer should be able to give advice and get the paperwork in order. You can also contact the Office of Archaeology and National Museums 81/1 Si Ayutthaya Rd, Dusit, â +66 2 628-5032 for more information.
House of Chao
This mall is filled with dusty antique shops. Many of the items on sale are pure junk, but maybe you'll find that one interesting teak treasure you've been waiting for.
Silom Village Trade Center
Supposedly the last traditional Thai village on Silom Road, Silom Village is comprised of 15 teak houses as well as three buildings that were constructed in 1908. The compound has been converted into Thai handicraft shops, a restaurant and a hotel. It is a touristy theme market, but still a good place to look for souvenirs, handbags, handicrafts and furniture. Be aware that many items are fakes though. If you want to sleep at the hotel, these are 1,100-3,500 baht per night. Expect simple rooms for visitors on a budget. There is no breakfast or Wi-Fi included and the smell can be bad in some rooms.
Malls and department stores
Central
Robinson
Chamchuri Square
Silom's newest shopping mall still feels quite empty and spacious. It is clean and modern, though, and all the big chain stores have moved in. It caters towards the needs of the many nearby Chulalongkorn University students, so there are many book shops, ice cream parlours and other eateries.
Silom Complex
Silom's largest mall is a bit quiet, but the restaurants and TOPS Supermarket in the basement aren't bad. Central is at the rear of the complex and is accessible at every level of the complex. The top floor of Silom Complex has a large electrical goods retailer and a well-stocked office supplies retailer.
Thaniya Plaza
Two connected malls which run along Soi Thaniya, a street which is populated predominantly by Japanese restaurants and hostess bars. The Thaniya Plaza consists almost exclusively of golf equipment shops except for a few Japanese restaurants.
Markets
Patpong Night Market
Between the strip clubs and bars along Soi Patpong is the Patpong Night Market, arguably the mostly touristy market in all of Bangkok. It was designed in the 1980s as a modest flea market, nowadays it is probably the most visited and least interesting market of Bangkok. It is home to a variety of counterfeit merchandise including watches, clothing, bags, and cosmetics as well as Thai tourist products such as model tuk-tuks and kick-boxing shorts. The prices at this market are exorbitant and anyone brave enough to buy anything here should bargain extensively. Most items available at the Patpong Night Market are available for less than half the price at other locations in Bangkok.
Bang Rak Market
A beacon of cheapness among the luxurious hotels in Bang Rak, this is essentially a flower market. There are flowers on sale for all occasions and for every budget, including wholesale prices. There's especially a large supply of orchids and cut flowers. If you're hungry, though, there's also ample supply of meat, seafood and fruit. And there are also the usual clothing stalls available.
Tailor-made clothes
Excelsior
One of the better shops around Silom for hand-tailored clothing. It's been in business since the 1920s. Here you can get a US$5,000 Armani knockoff for around US$300, all in good quality. You can even call them and ask for a free pick-up. Definitely one of the better places to get suits done in Bangkok.
Savile Row Company
Another hand-tailored clothing store for men and women that has been in the business for 40 years. The staff are very professional and the quality of clothing is very good. Expect to pay around 9,000-13,000 baht for a suit.