Shopping
ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM is a vast luxury mall on the Thonburi riverbank. Skip the designer floors unless you're shopping; come for the regional Thai food hall and the view back across the river.
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ICONSIAM opened in 2018 on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya, opposite the old riverside hotels. It's one of the largest malls in Asia: designer brands, department stores, cinemas and restaurants over many floors. For most visitors, two things justify the trip: the indoor food market on the ground floor, and the riverside terrace.
SookSiam: the reason to come
SookSiam, on the ground floor, is styled as a series of market streets representing Thailand's regions, with stalls selling regional dishes, snacks, desserts and crafts. It's a convenient way to try food from the north, northeast and south of Thailand in one place, in air-conditioning.
- Go hungry and share small plates.
- Look for regional dishes you won't find on every Bangkok street — northern curries, southern spicy dishes, Isaan grilled meats.
- It's busy at weekends and mealtimes.
The riverside terrace
The terrace in front of the mall faces the river and the Bangkok skyline on the opposite bank. It's at its best at sunset and after dark, when the river traffic and the hotels across the water are lit up.
Shopping
Luxury and international brands fill much of the building. Unless you're shopping for those, the Siam malls and Chatuchak are more interesting for most visitors. See shopping in Bangkok.
Eating beyond SookSiam
The upper floors have sit-down restaurants, many with river views, and international chains. For a special meal, the riverside hotels across the water are a short boat ride away.
Getting there
- Free shuttle boat from Sathorn pier, next to BTS Saphan Taksin. The crossing takes a few minutes. Check the shuttle schedule at the pier.
- BTS Gold Line to Charoen Nakhon station, which connects to the mall. The Gold Line links to the BTS Silom Line at Krung Thon Buri.
- Taxi or Grab: fine outside rush hour; the bridges get congested.
ICONSIAM or the Siam malls?
| If you want… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Regional Thai food in one place | ICONSIAM (SookSiam) |
| River views with your meal | ICONSIAM |
| Thai designers and concept stores | Siam Center and Siam Discovery |
| Electronics and bargains | MBK |
| Easy BTS access from most hotels | Siam |
Tips
- Eat first, shop later — SookSiam is busiest at lunch and from early evening.
- Carry cash for some smaller food stalls, though most of the mall takes cards.
- Come by boat at least one way. The short crossing from Sathorn pier gives you a view of the riverside hotels and the skyline that you don't get from the BTS.
- Combine it with the river: take the express boat upstream to the Old Town afterwards, or stay for sunset and a riverside dinner.
When to go
Late afternoon: lunch or an early dinner at SookSiam, then the terrace at sunset.
ICONSIAM pairs well with an afternoon in the Riverside area or a ride on the Chao Phraya.
where to next?
- Bangkok RiversideThe riverside is Bangkok at its most romantic and, thanks to the boats, better connected to the Old Town than anywhere on the BTS.
- Best Shopping in BangkokBangkok has more retail than you could visit in a month. Start from what you want to buy, then pick the place.
- The Chao Phraya RiverThe river is the fastest way between the Old Town, Chinatown and the riverside hotels, and the most pleasant one. Once you understand the boats, it changes how you plan the city.