There's a place in the heart of Bangkok that every woman should know about. Heck - every man should know about it, too!
It's called MBK, and it is the easiest and most exciting place to buy bags of cheap clothes in Thailand, and doing so on a long layover is even better!
I got word of MBK from Adventurous Kate. On my last trip to study Russian in Kyrgyzstan in November 2011, I had a day to get to know Bangkok on the way home.
Definitely not a lot of time to get acquainted with the huge, bustling city, I asked for recommendations from other travelers on Facebook to which Kate suggested I do some shopping at MBK.
After getting settled at my hostel, I hopped a ride to MBK and immediately discovered what the fuss was all about!
MBK was so much fun, I took my boyfriend there on our overnight layover in Bangkok just a couple of weeks ago.
MBK
MBK, or Mah Boon Krong in long Thai form, presents itself as the shopping mall of shopping malls.
That's 8 floors of bags, clothes, shoes, electronics, and food - over 2000 stalls all in one place and ready for the eager eyes of foreigners with money to spend.
No, it's not designer quality merchandise, but with so much to offer, it serves its purpose well.
MBK opened in 1986 and covers over 89,000 square meters of shopping goodness.
It consists of:
- Clothes and handbags predominantly on the bottom levels
- Electronics and mobile phones on the 4th floor
- Fifth Food Avenue and international food court on the 5th floor
- Tokyu Department Store which covers 4 floors
It seemed that many of the shops go off a sticker price, but bargaining is still fair game at MBK.
Perks of shopping at MBK:
- Air conditioned facilities. The extremely humid climate of Thailand can be overwhelming, so the fact there is a giant, free air conditioned building to hang out in all day is a big plus.
- Everything is in one building. Want shoes, shirts, make-up, bags, food, electronics and furniture? It's all right there in MBK!
- Discounts and bargains. Not only are the prices right at MBK, but bargaining can get you even better deals!
Attacking MBK
Time disappears in MBK. One minute you'll be lost trying on shoes and the next minute, you'll look at your watch and see that an hour has passed and you've only just moved to the next stall filled with leather handbags.
If you're on a long layover in Bangkok, and therefore have limited shopping time, be prepared:
Have an idea of what you want to buy in advance.
Need a new handbag? Make that the priority.
Shopping for souvenirs? Make a list and stick to it.
I mean it when I say that time disappears in that mall!
Don't spend too much time considering a single purchase.
If you're not sure if the item is right for you, just take note (a quick iPhone photo of the shop/product will do) and move on to the next.
There are dozens of every kind of shop in MBK; you'll find something else!
Bring some water.
You don't want to get dehydrated shopping (yes, I'm serious) and not be able to focus on the task at hand.
Even if you don't bring one, there are several fast food restaurants and shops that will sell beverages.
Enjoy a Meal at MBK
As mentioned above, the 5th floor of MBK holds a food court, and regardless of it being a food court in a shopping mall, you can get some pretty decent international and local food there.
My boyfriend and I had but an evening to enjoy Bangkok and fill our bags with as many pieces of bargain clothing as possible, so we dined at MBK, too.
Greek, Mexican, Chinese, and vegetarian were all at our fingertips, but we decided to go with Indonesian and Thai - about enough for 5 people in fact - and were not disappointed in the least.
Even better was the fact that we got to enjoy our fresh cooked food to live music from a Thai band, singing mostly in English.
One the main shopping levels of MBK, one can find Auntie Anne's pretzels, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, McDonald's, and much more.
Final Tip
If you only have a layover to enjoy the shopping bliss of MBK, I suggest doing your best to leave that for your trip home.
We loved being able to shop without having to worry about carrying the goods around with us from country to country.
