Coconuts recently ran a reader’s survey to get an idea of your faves and raves, from parks and malls to nightclubs and restaurants. Your response was overwhelming.
Since then our massive research department got to work referencing norms, squaring Ts and seeking bribes to skew the results. So we fired them at great expense and just counted the votes by hand.
Today we will begin to share the results with…The Best Malls of Bangkok 2014!
Shopping Malls – as much as we hate to admit – are the common interest of Bangkokians. From the hi-so department stores in the heart of the city to the air-conditioned market places downtown, the places are always packed with locals strolling around on the weekend, chilling out with their dates or shopping for new shiny items of their obsessions.
According to our reader survey conducted last month, Bangkok locals voted these malls as the best places in town to kill time.
1. CentralWorld
Whether sipping cocktails on the rooftop or biting into a street vendor’s chicken in front, CentralWorld mixes the mall cliche and exotic, making it one of the best spots to observe typical urban folk as they shuffle through narrow footpaths and worship the elephant shrine with a Zara bag in their hand.
With its variety and large selections of affordable retail stores, CentralWorld is often the first spot locals think of, whether to meet up with each other or stroll around alone.
Photo: BCOW
2. Siam Paragon
How many malls come equipped with an aquarium and Madame Tussauds wax museum? Still the biggest mall in Thailand after seven years, Siam Paragon has nearly everything. From H&M to Hermès, the mall provides a wide selection of shops that it is unlikely for one to go home empty-handed. And just when you’re tired of shopping, the first class Paragon Cineplex is a perfect spot to chill out and rest your legs while watching a movie in 3D. People don’t just go there to shop, they go to be seen.
Photo: Cristeen Quezon
3. Terminal 21
The thrill of searching for vintage jewelry in Istanbul, taking a selfie with the Golden Gate Bridge and visiting a toilet in the London Underground has driven Terminal 21, a travel-themed shopping mall near Asoke, to quickly become one of the best shopping malls in Bangkok.
Besides its “streets of the world” concept, the 2-year-old mall is a great market to shop for unique fashion at affordable prices. With over 600 local boutiques, Terminal 21 is the center to grab local designer items, imported one-of-a-kind pieces and interestingly shaped shoes.
Photo: Phuong Kim
Tomorrow, we’ll be back with Best of Bangkok 2014: Nightlife! Given the capital’s rich party ecosystem, from divey haunts to upmarket glimmer, this was a close call.
Related:
Best of Bangkok 2014: Nightlife!
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