Bangkok shopping is increasingly mall driven with vast ones on the periphery and classier ones along the Rama I-Ploenchit-Sukhumvit axis, led by Emporium (622 Sukhumvit Soi 24, +6626648000) and the premier department store Central Chidlom (Thanon Ploenchit, +6626557777). Contemporary Thai product design is so good it’s being copied abroad; Cocoon (+6626561006/7) reigns among the snazzy interior stores of Gaysorn while quirkily inventive Propaganda (+6626580430) typifies those in the Siam Discovery Centre (Thanon Rama I).

The essential shopping stop is gargantuan Chatuchak Weekend Market (Thanon Phahon Yothin, +6622724635-6) and in the last two years it has become a beehive for design, especially in Sections 2-8, and a social centre with artist bars, coffeehouses and sliver-sized Esarn eateries clustering along the inner lanes. Antiques fill River City (Thanon Yotha, +6622370077/8) with Oriental Place (Charoen Krung Soi 38) housing exquisite objets d’art including Fabergé-level creations by Lotus Arts de Vivre (+6622351875). Forego gem scams for the world renowned Gem Superstore (314/314-1-3 Thanon Silom, +6622363840). Thai crafts are a perennial buy, particularly Benjarong and Celadon ceramics from Chiiori (87 Thanon Sukhumvit, +6622544976), basketry and carvings from Tamnan Mingmuang (3rd floor, Thaniya Plaza, Thanon Silom, +6622312120) and Thai silk from Jim Thompson (9 Thanon Surawong +6626328100/4).

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