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a short walk from Siam Square, this area, heavy on glitzy malls,
is another haven for high-end consumers.
The newly refurbished Central World Plaza is smack dab in
the middle of Ratchaprasong. Book-ended by two large department
stores, Zen and the Isetan, which specializes in Japanese goods,
the white futuristic-looking centre houses a number of international
fashion brands, furniture and Thai
arts and crafts.
Ladies and men’s fashions are primarily found on the ground
floor, along with a Jim Thompson outlet, a Naraya silk products
shop, a Timberland outdoor garb and equipment shop,
and plenty of places to buy shoes, luggage, leather goods and CDs
and DVDs. The 2nd and 3rd floors feature more ladies and men’s
fashions, shoes, fabric shops and some restaurants
and cafes. Don’t miss the fabulously stocked multi-level B2S
stationers.
 Computers
and electronics are found on the 4th floor; furniture and home décor
on the 5th and kid’s fashions, toys, games, Thai textiles,
wooden art, jewellery, traditional
clothing and pashima scarves are further up on the 6th floor. The
6th floor is also home to TK Park, Thailand’s
first interactive learning center that’s home to a virtual
reality room and a 3D game centre.
Central World Plaza also houses a cinema and numerous restaurants
on the 7th top floor for a bite before or after the show.
Shopping hours: 10am to 10pm
daily.
Across the road and sporting a lavish façade of white marble
and gleaming chrome is Gaysorn Plaza, (www.gaysornbkk.com),
laden with luxury goods and designer labels. The exclusivity of
its wares means there is lots of space to roam and few shoppers,
which makes for a truly tranquil Shopping
experience away from the area’s hustle and bustle.
 Besides
well-known international labels Prada, Gucci, Christian Dior, Fendi,
Burberry, Emporio Armani, and Burberry (just to name a few), Gaysorn
is also home to Thai fashion houses Fly Now, Senada Theory and Kloset
Red Carpet.
The mall is also connected to the Chidlom Skytrain
station.
Shopping hours: 10am to 8pm daily.
restaurants stay open until 9pm
each night
Just down the street is the three-storey Narai Phand, which
is the country’s largest handicraft center. Established in
1937 by the Ministry of Industry as a central distributor of distinctly
and exquisitely Thai goods, it’s a splendid place to immerse
yourself in the historical legacy of local arts,
crafts and clothes.
Many of these items are also on sale at both the Chatuchak
Market and Suan
Lum Night Bazaar, but the main difference is that all the prices
are fixed at Narai Phand - and it’s airconditioned!
 The
first floor is well stocked with mementoes of your visit like richly
coloured tapestries, shirts and handbags of 100 percent Thai silk,
pillow covers, pewter goblets and hill-tribe handicrafts that cast
a spell on shoppers.
On the second floor, you’ll find plenty of ways to make your
living room or office look a good deal more exotic. Rattan furniture,
wooden elephant carvings, bronze and brass figurines of figures
from Thai folklore, porcelain tea sets and hand-painted glass are
all on sale.
 The
shop stands by their products
as authentic. A large sign posted by the escalator warns customers
that the shops located in front selling bronze and wooden carvings
are in no way connected to the government-sponsored Narai Phand.
The shop is open from 10am to 8pm. You can also order products
from their web site at www.naraiphand.com/.
Just down the street from here by the hotel of the same name, the
Erawan Bangkok offers four floors of fine dining, featuring 14 different
kinds of international cuisines, an array of chic boutiques, as
well as spas and wellness centres. It can easily be accessed by
a walkway connected to the Chidlom Skytrain
station.
Shopping hours: 10am to 9pm.
Restaurant hours 8am to midnight.
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