thaigoji
08-01-2006, 07:39 AM
Pathum Wan is best known for its shopping centers. Siam Center is the oldest one in the area. Opened in 1973, it is now flanked by Siam Discovery Center and Siam Paragon (opened December 2005).
One of the most crowded and popular to both local people and tourists is MBK Center (also known as Mah Boon Krong). It is packed with shops offering fashion items, mobile phones and souvenirs. A covered, air-conditioned pedestrian bridge over Phaya Thai Road connects to a congested sister shopping center, the Bonanza Mall, which mostly sells inexpensive clothing and fashion accessories.
Siam Square, unlike others, is a shopping area consists of a block of buildings and lots of small roads full of shops, attracting mostly teenagers. There are three cinemas in Siam Square, built in the 1970s and run by the Apex chain: the Scala and Siam theaters offer a single, big screen; the Lido is a small multi-plex with three screens. Besides shops, many exam preparation schools are found in Siam Square. So the area is full of students during evening and weekends.
Suan Lum Night Bazaar, at the intersection of Wireless and Rama IV roads, is located in a large plot of land that used to be a military school. It is an outdoor shopping area open nightly focusing on clothes and souvenirs. Some pet shops can be found there. There are a few restaurants, a food center, and an outdoor beer garden with retractable roof with live music performances. A unique traditional Thai puppet theatre named Joe Louis Theatre is also inside the bazaar providing nighty shows.
Other notable shopping centers in Pathum Wan include Central World Plaza (formerly known as World Trade Center), Big C Ratchadamri, Narayana Phan, Sogo Department Store, Gaysorn Plaza, and Central Chit Lom.
One of the most crowded and popular to both local people and tourists is MBK Center (also known as Mah Boon Krong). It is packed with shops offering fashion items, mobile phones and souvenirs. A covered, air-conditioned pedestrian bridge over Phaya Thai Road connects to a congested sister shopping center, the Bonanza Mall, which mostly sells inexpensive clothing and fashion accessories.
Siam Square, unlike others, is a shopping area consists of a block of buildings and lots of small roads full of shops, attracting mostly teenagers. There are three cinemas in Siam Square, built in the 1970s and run by the Apex chain: the Scala and Siam theaters offer a single, big screen; the Lido is a small multi-plex with three screens. Besides shops, many exam preparation schools are found in Siam Square. So the area is full of students during evening and weekends.
Suan Lum Night Bazaar, at the intersection of Wireless and Rama IV roads, is located in a large plot of land that used to be a military school. It is an outdoor shopping area open nightly focusing on clothes and souvenirs. Some pet shops can be found there. There are a few restaurants, a food center, and an outdoor beer garden with retractable roof with live music performances. A unique traditional Thai puppet theatre named Joe Louis Theatre is also inside the bazaar providing nighty shows.
Other notable shopping centers in Pathum Wan include Central World Plaza (formerly known as World Trade Center), Big C Ratchadamri, Narayana Phan, Sogo Department Store, Gaysorn Plaza, and Central Chit Lom.