Shopping Ratchada

Shopping on Ratchadapisek Road, Bangkok

With the coming of the subway (MRT), Ratchada is now easily visited, and new shopping malls are springing up, making this, previously out of the way place, well worth a visit.

JUMP to Ratchada Shopping Map at the bottom of the page.

Ratchadapisek Road was a fairly desolate place when I first took a look in 1989, mostly second hand car dealers lined both sides of the road, there were very few shops apart from a newly opened Robinson department store, and branches of Japanese department stores Yaohan and Tokyu, both of which have long since closed down.
Jusco is still there, little changed over the years, still a very "Thai Style" shopping experience.

Due to the one-way system, it was a difficult place to get to, and even worse getting back from in rush hour, so not many except locals ventured there.
The Subway has changed all that, making it just minutes away. It is being upgraded at a fast rate, but is still a place where tourists are rare, but with interesting shopping, plenty of food, as well as night time entertainment.
If you haven't been, take a look, it makes a pleasant change.

2 stations serve the main retail area Phra Ram 9 & Thailand Cultural Centre, the area around these station seem to be where the main retail activity is.

Fortune Town Phra Ram 9 Station

This is a fairly large building that houses a The Grand Mercure Fortune Hotel, a Tesco/Lotus supermarket, an IT Mall, and a varied selection of other down market shops of all descriptions.
Mostly food in the basement, various odd things that can't be categorised on the ground floor, mobile phones predominate the first and second floors. The IT Mall is at the Tesco/Lotus end of the building on both the 3rd and 4th floors.
The 4th floor also has an electronics repair centre and a large store of replacement components for household electrical goods, the prices are remarkably cheap.

The main reason to go to Fortune Town is for the IT Mall, it is clean and modern, relatively uncluttered and a much better experience than Pantip Plaza. There is no hard sell here, and the prices are identical.
The copy software is more prominently displayed here, and DVD's seem to be of a much higher quality than Pantip, with vendors waiting for a 100% digital copy before trying to sell new feature films, I assume this is because their customer base is predominantly local rather than tourists.

Tesco Lotus is a branch of the megalomaniac UK Tesco supermarket chain, pile it high sell it cheap. Nothing of real quality, but loads of cheap and cheerful, functional goods that the locals seem to need in vast quantities. Nothing like a UK Tesco whatsoever.

Esplanade Thailand Cultural Centre Station

Built on the site of the former Brew Pavilion (a great loss in my opinion), The Esplanade opened in late 2006, and got into full swing in early 2007.
The basement level is all food, many restaurants and coffee shops as well as a very good Tops supermarket selling a wide variety of imported goods.
Inventive design makes for a bright modern looking building that is attracting quality retailers.
Stylish cinema, Ice skating, and Bowling, an excellent bookshop.
Overall, this is a very well designed shopping mall with a pleasant relaxing atmosphere. Sit and have a coffee and a snack by one of the artificial indoor ponds with fast running water.

Jusco Thailand Cultural Centre Station

This is one of the original places that existed in Ratchada when I first went there in 1989, it stood almost alone amongst the second hand car dealers that lined both sides of the road.
This is a Thai style supermarket and food court on the ground floor.
On the first floor there are cafes and fast food restaurants as well as some arcade games and dodgy furniture, on the third floor there is a computer shop and a home entertainment dealer selling flat screen TVs etc.

Nothing exciting really, but I usually have a wander round as you never know what is on offer here!

Carrefour Thailand Cultural Centre Station

This is a recent addition, mid 1990's, downstairs there are some fast food outlets, as well as a branch of the excellent Black Canyon Coffee House.
When you walk in you are confronted by a massive food court and lots of individual vendors lining the walkway to the travelators that take you up to both Carrefour & Home Pro.
The food court is bright and clean, buy a book of tickets for 200 Baht, try some real Thai food, and take a look at the massive choice of Thai deserts on offer. Any surplus tickets are refunded in cash.

Carrefour is a massive warehouse style marketing organisation originating in France, it would be easier to list what they don't sell!

Home Pro Thailand Cultural Centre Station

A branch of the DIY chain selling everything from tiles to tools, a bit like the UK's B&Q or Sears in the USA.
A large store which sells basically everything you need for your house.
Design Square also sells some quite modern designer furniture, it's hard to tell if this is the same shop or a separate business.

Robinson Thailand Cultural Centre Station

Robinson is the second largest of the Thai department store chains. This branch has been refurbished and re-skinned to look better than the original bland concrete box that makes up the main building.
The usual assortment of international brands, with a selection always on sale.
Several cafes and fast food restaurants in the basement and outside. Fairly large supermarket.

On Saturdays, expect to find a selection of private traders setting up on the pavement, selling all sorts of unusual things:-