©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 99 Shopping District: Siam Square, Pratunam, Ploenchit & Ratchathewi Neighbourhood Top Five 1 Visiting Jim Thomp- 2 Shopping at the malls, 4 Making a wish at the son’s house (p101) – the department stores and crossroads of commerce teak mansion that put Thai shops that surround Siam and faith that is the e rawan style on the map…before its Square, such as Mk b shrine (p103). ex-spy owner disappeared center (p109). 5 Enjoying the luxury of off that map. 3 Exploring b aan krua what must be one of the (p102), the canal-side world’s best-value cinemas, Muslim village where Jim p aragon cineplex (p108). Thompson first encountered Thai silk. 0000 0000 0000Th Th 0000Ra Yo tcha 0 500 m th w A e# 0 0.25 miles 66 i 6it 66so 6 h k i e - R a ok RATCHATHEWI p t l Th c Th Sri Ayuthaya R o h ang r a a d nka Na r a a m p p w a is h e k Sa c t E h h a x T p i R w a y 66 6h 666 h Phayathai – Bangkhlo Expwy t a T y a h P h h T Th Phetchaburi 31 PRATUNAM i ur I b 6V 66 a BAAN h m m g a n tc KRUA e R o h ra ra T 3# Ph h Phetchaburi h t i T a Khlong Saen S a eb o P h S h h T 1# Sra T n n Pathum Chalerm Mahanakhon Expwy a B Palace m h h o 5# l t T 66666 i T h h Phra Ram I C 2# h t T SIAM SQUARE n a ri T n h Ploe Th u nch Chul m4# it alo i D n a gk n o i rn a d r a h a n u t Th Witthayu (Wireless Rd) h e a S c y H t g a a Chulalongkorn n h h 66666h 66Royal 666 R a T P PLOENCHIT University L Bangkok h i i h h T o T Sports Club S 666666666f or more detail of this6 area, see map p260 & p263 A 100 Lonely Planet’s Top Tip Explore: Siam Square, Pratunam, Admittedly, they tend to Ploenchit & Ratchathewi have all the ambience of a Siam Square, Pratunam and Ploenchit combine to form hospital cafeteria, but the the de facto geographical and commercial centre of mall-based food courts modern Bangkok. Huge air-conditioned malls, towering that abound in this part of hotels, fast-food chains and open-air shopping centres town are among the most dominate, and if you’re serious about shopping, set aside user-friendly introductions the better part of a day to burn your baht here. Try to to Thai food in Bangkok. arrive around 11am, when the crowds are minimal, and They’re generally clean avoid Sundays when much of Bangkok seems to flock to and convenient, and also the air-con malls. Siam Square is most easily accessed have the benefit of having via the BTS (Skytrain); National Stadium is a good start. English-language menus, so Ratchathewi has a lot less to offer – unless of course ordering is a snap. you have a specific sight in mind or want to check out a more workaday side of Bangkok. The attractions in this area can be covered in a few hours, and most are within 5 Best Places walking distance of the BTS stop at Victory Monument. to Eat ¨ MBK food Court (p105) ¨ Crystal Jade La Mian Local Life Xiao Long Bao (p104) ¨ Mall-hopping Although there often appears to be ¨ Mallika Restaurant more snacking than shopping, on Sundays a significant (p106) part of Bangkok’s population is drawn to this area’s ¨ Sra Bua (p104) malls to socialise in air-conditioned style and comfort. s for reviews, see p104 A ¨ air-conditioned dining A mall-based food court iam may not seem like the most authentic place to eat pàt tai (fried noodles), but several of Bangkok’s most s quare, Pra 6 Best Places famous restaurants and stalls maintain branches at the to Drink various Siam Square area malls. ¨ Co-Co Walk (p106) ¨ Wholesale retail For penny-pinchers and visiting wholesalers the ultimate destination is Pratunam ¨ Hyde & Seek (p107) district, where a seemingly never-ending clothing ¨ Wine Pub (p108) T bazaar stocks locally made and cheap import togs. unam, Ploenchi for reviews, see p106 A ¨ keeping it real For a view of Bangkok without the malls, bakeries, fashionistas and tourists, take the BTS north to the Victory Monument in Ratchathewi district, 7 Best Places where ordinary Thais are doing ordinary Thai things. to Shop ¨ MBK Center (p109) ¨ Gaysorn Plaza (p109) Getting There & Away T & ¨ Siam Square (p109) ¨ bTs To Siam Square, Pratunam and Ploenchit: r ¨ Siam Paragon (p109) a Siam, National Stadium, Chit Lom, Phloen Chit and T ¨ Pratunam Market (p111) cha Ratchadamri. To Ratchathewi: Ratchathewi, Phaya for reviews, see p109 A Thai and Victory Monument. T ¨ klorng boat To Siam Square, Pratunam and hewi Ploenchit: Tha Hua Chang, Tha Pratunam and Tha Withayu. To Ratchathewi: Tha Pratunam. ¨ bus To Siam Square, Pratunam and Ploenchit: air- con 141, 183, 204, 501, 508 and 547; ordinary 15, 16, 25, 47 and 73. To Ratchathewi: air-con 503, 513 and 536; ordinary 29, 36, 54, 59 and 112.