Ratchaprarop 1 Alley and Indra Square Shopping Mall in 2011, Rachathewi District, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ratchathewi for me is a full day shopping venture. Along the Phetchaburi road ( sometimes you will see it spelt Phet Buri road or New Phet Buri road ) you will find some of the best shopping malls in Bangkok. I have listed some of them in this article. However the many tourists along with locals make this a very busy part of town. Trying to navigate along the pavement is a chore. Very similar to Sampeng market in China town. There are several pedestrian bridges to help you get across this very busy road ( Phetchaburi road ) the part near to the Palladium shopping mall at the traffic lights is especially busy.
Ratchathewi District is sub divided into four sub districts Thung Phaya Thai , Thanon Phaya Thai, Thanon Phetchaburi and Makkasan. I have been many times to Pratunam it is a busy and bustling shopping area that can easily be reached on foot from Ratchaprasong ~ I know I have done it many times. Most of the products available are for sale wholesale, so this is the place to go for some cheap bargains. Haggling is more important here than in other shopping areas, and things get cheaper if you buy in bulk, which seems to be the norm anywhere in Thailand.
City Complex Phetchaburi rd. walking along Phetchaburi Road, you definitely cannot miss this enormous 6 storey City Complex. It is one of the most popular malls in Pratunam that is specifically marketed towards teenage girls and ladies. Most of the shops are selling fashionable clothing, shoes and accessories, but there are also a few of them dedicated to cosmetics, jewellery and crafts. There is on the fifth floor a food court offering all the usual items of food.
Grand Diamond Plaza, Phetchaburi road, is a unique shopping mall because it is also a suite hotel with four incredible penthouse suites along with 172 luxuriously appointed suites. They have a Morning market : 04:00 am – 09:00 am and a Night market : 06:00 pm – 09:00 pm. The basement holds a 24 hour Super Market. There is also an international food court on the top floor and a outdoor swimming pool for both adults and children is on the 8th floor.
Indra Square Ratchaprarop rd. is an indoor shopping mall with more than 300 retail and wholesale outlets. The first floor is mostly for fashion, silk and accessories, and has some fast food outlets. The clothes here are remarkably good value, and unlike City Complex, there is a decent supply for men and children as well. The second floor has a more larger selection of items for sale, including arts, crafts, toys and mobile / cell phones. If you're getting hungry, there's a food centre on the second floor. There are some clothing shops at the ground level of the nearby Baiyoke Tower II also.
Metro Fashion Mall Phetchaburi rd. This brand new wholesale shopping mall opened in 2009. Its seven floors accommodate 370 wholesale vendors selling fashion apparel, bags, footwear, cosmetics and accessories. There is a food centre on the third floor and a branch of McDonald's on the ground floor outside.
Pantip Plaza Phetchaburi rd. This shopping mall is great for kids and men that are still kids! You enter the doors and bang it hits you, The I want syndrome. A six floor shopping mall devoted to computer gear, famous for its pirated media. The pirated trade is much more low key than it used to be, but software and DVDs are still widely available, It is also a good place for digital cameras, gadgets, printers, I-pod players, etc. Test out whatever you are buying as there are many suspect goods on sale here. If you want to be safe, buy at the official brand stores, although prices are similar to Western countries prices. You will find IT City here, also a large retailer of computers and cameras along with software.
Platinum Fashion Mall Phetchaburi rd. Its very imposing from outside but the shops are really packed in inside, some of them being no more than the size of a kiosk. A great place for fashion shopping, especially as it is air conditioned. Many of the 1,300 shops here are also at the Chatuchak Market at weekends. It is particularly interesting for women as the shops mostly sell clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, gifts and make-up. A lot of shops ( but not all of them ) are geared towards export and wholesale. There's a huge and very good food court at the sixth floor of the mall. It can get very busy, especially around noon and evening time.
Palladium Square ~ It was formerly known as Pratunam Centre and is located on the corner of Phetchaburi Road and Ratchaprarop and the very busy cross roads with Ratchadamri road. This area is already known for wholesale shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall, electronics Mecca Pantip Plaza and the busy, all day and all night world of Pratunam Market found just across the road. This five storey building is home to bargains galore with most shops and stalls selling many items of clothing for 100 Baht or less.
Pratunam Market Phetchaburi road and surrounding Soi’s ~ Pratunam Market is an immense open-air garment market, and although it is geared towards exporters, anyone can shop here. Most of the items for sale are T-shirts, dresses, shorts, jeans, shoes and accessories. You could easily spend a day here if you wish, as the area has a stunning amount of more than 4,000 shops. While the market is officially open till 18:00, many shops already close around 16:00. The market spreads out on the streets around Baiyoke Tower I, and the ground floor of that tower also has a few clothing shops. In the early evening, a night market is set up in the streets along Baiyoke Tower I that stay open until after 02:00 am. This market whilst great for looking around is not as good as Khlong Thom Market in China Town. I would suggest taking a tape measure with you, as many of the products are not true to size.
Ratchaprarop 1 Alley and Indra Square Shopping Mall in 2011, Rachathewi District, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ratchathewi for me is a full day shopping venture. Along the Phetchaburi road ( sometimes you will see it spelt Phet Buri road or New Phet Buri road ) you will find some of the best shopping malls in Bangkok. I have listed some of them in this article. However the many tourists along with locals make this a very busy part of town. Trying to navigate along the pavement is a chore. Very similar to Sampeng market in China town. There are several pedestrian bridges to help you get across this very busy road ( Phetchaburi road ) the part near to the Palladium shopping mall at the traffic lights is especially busy.
Ratchathewi District is sub divided into four sub districts Thung Phaya Thai , Thanon Phaya Thai, Thanon Phetchaburi and Makkasan. I have been many times to Pratunam it is a busy and bustling shopping area that can easily be reached on foot from Ratchaprasong ~ I know I have done it many times. Most of the products available are for sale wholesale, so this is the place to go for some cheap bargains. Haggling is more important here than in other shopping areas, and things get cheaper if you buy in bulk, which seems to be the norm anywhere in Thailand.
City Complex Phetchaburi rd. walking along Phetchaburi Road, you definitely cannot miss this enormous 6 storey City Complex. It is one of the most popular malls in Pratunam that is specifically marketed towards teenage girls and ladies. Most of the shops are selling fashionable clothing, shoes and accessories, but there are also a few of them dedicated to cosmetics, jewellery and crafts. There is on the fifth floor a food court offering all the usual items of food.
Grand Diamond Plaza, Phetchaburi road, is a unique shopping mall because it is also a suite hotel with four incredible penthouse suites along with 172 luxuriously appointed suites. They have a Morning market : 04:00 am – 09:00 am and a Night market : 06:00 pm – 09:00 pm. The basement holds a 24 hour Super Market. There is also an international food court on the top floor and a outdoor swimming pool for both adults and children is on the 8th floor.
Indra Square Ratchaprarop rd. is an indoor shopping mall with more than 300 retail and wholesale outlets. The first floor is mostly for fashion, silk and accessories, and has some fast food outlets. The clothes here are remarkably good value, and unlike City Complex, there is a decent supply for men and children as well. The second floor has a more larger selection of items for sale, including arts, crafts, toys and mobile / cell phones. If you're getting hungry, there's a food centre on the second floor. There are some clothing shops at the ground level of the nearby Baiyoke Tower II also.
Metro Fashion Mall Phetchaburi rd. This brand new wholesale shopping mall opened in 2009. Its seven floors accommodate 370 wholesale vendors selling fashion apparel, bags, footwear, cosmetics and accessories. There is a food centre on the third floor and a branch of McDonald's on the ground floor outside.
Pantip Plaza Phetchaburi rd. This shopping mall is great for kids and men that are still kids! You enter the doors and bang it hits you, The I want syndrome. A six floor shopping mall devoted to computer gear, famous for its pirated media. The pirated trade is much more low key than it used to be, but software and DVDs are still widely available, It is also a good place for digital cameras, gadgets, printers, I-pod players, etc. Test out whatever you are buying as there are many suspect goods on sale here. If you want to be safe, buy at the official brand stores, although prices are similar to Western countries prices. You will find IT City here, also a large retailer of computers and cameras along with software.
Platinum Fashion Mall Phetchaburi rd. Its very imposing from outside but the shops are really packed in inside, some of them being no more than the size of a kiosk. A great place for fashion shopping, especially as it is air conditioned. Many of the 1,300 shops here are also at the Chatuchak Market at weekends. It is particularly interesting for women as the shops mostly sell clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, gifts and make-up. A lot of shops ( but not all of them ) are geared towards export and wholesale. There's a huge and very good food court at the sixth floor of the mall. It can get very busy, especially around noon and evening time.
Palladium Square ~ It was formerly known as Pratunam Centre and is located on the corner of Phetchaburi Road and Ratchaprarop and the very busy cross roads with Ratchadamri road. This area is already known for wholesale shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall, electronics Mecca Pantip Plaza and the busy, all day and all night world of Pratunam Market found just across the road. This five storey building is home to bargains galore with most shops and stalls selling many items of clothing for 100 Baht or less.
Pratunam Market Phetchaburi road and surrounding Soi’s ~ Pratunam Market is an immense open-air garment market, and although it is geared towards exporters, anyone can shop here. Most of the items for sale are T-shirts, dresses, shorts, jeans, shoes and accessories. You could easily spend a day here if you wish, as the area has a stunning amount of more than 4,000 shops. While the market is officially open till 18:00, many shops already close around 16:00. The market spreads out on the streets around Baiyoke Tower I, and the ground floor of that tower also has a few clothing shops. In the early evening, a night market is set up in the streets along Baiyoke Tower I that stay open until after 02:00 am. This market whilst great for looking around is not as good as Khlong Thom Market in China Town. I would suggest taking a tape measure with you, as many of the products are not true to size.