Terminal 21

Do you love shopping? Are you in the shopping capital of South East Asia?  Then you must be in Bangkok and keen to shop. Finding a place to shop in the Thai capital is easy, but finding the place that won’t blow your wallet out of the waters is not so easy, especially if you want to stay indoor. I have just the place for you in the Sukhumvit area, atTerminal 21. If you happen to be staying a hotel closely, lucky you, but for those further out, you could easily access this mall via the BTS (sky train) by getting off at Asoke station. 

They have everything there, so it’s hard for me to start. Terminal 21 can be divided into three sections: fashion, food and cinema. In my opinion it’s a modern combination of Central World and MBK in one place. There are international fashion brands here, like your standard Nike, Adidas, H&M, Levi’s, Puma, Roxy, Quicksilver, etc. However, the factor that would bring me here is actually the individual stores here. While there are many big brands here, the majority of the shops are in fact local stores, opened by local entrepreneurs. You will be able to find both men and ladies fashion gears and accessories here with minimum effort. The prices are also quite good here, and in most shops, vendors should be happy to bargain with you.

Although the shops really bring me back here time after time, the one and only element that sets this mall apart from its competitors is its concept. The mall can be seen as a mini voyage like an airport. Level M of the mall takes you to France where you get to walk on their version of the Champs Élysées. The escalators is your ticket to the next destination. Level 1 is home to Japan’s capital Tokyo, where the decors and signs are a reflection of the land of the rising sun. One floor up via the escalator, you’ll arrive in another continent, the home of Fish & Chips, The Big Ben and Premier League football, London. One more floor up is the crossroad between Europe and Asia, East and West, and the one and only Istanbul. Don’t worry, there won’t be any Liam Neeson or James Bond chasing the bad guys in this Istanbul. The decors here are quite cool as well, displaying some neat paintings and lightings seen in countries in that region. 

While the first three levels are dedicated to men and women fashion, it’s about time to start talking about food. It’s time to get serious and talk about what I do best, eat. The 4th and 5th floors are dedicated to San Francisco, and you’ll be able to see the miniature of the Golden Gate Bridge here! There are way too many options to eat here, with something to suit every craving. You’ve got Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Seafood, Grills, Hot Pots, Sukiyaki, Ice Cream, Cafes, etc. You could have your lunches and dinners here for a week without stepping into the same restaurant twice, or having the same cuisine again. There are restaurants, and there’s also a food court, something that malls in Thailand cannot live without. Words on the streets have it that this is one the best food courts in the city in light of value and cleanliness. I’ve had a few meals and snacks here and I would probably say the same. 

Let’s go higher, because there’s more! As I mentioned earlier, the last stage of the mall is the cinema complex. SF Cinema City takes over level 6 of Terminal 21, running 8 movie theatres. Are you into the 3D movie experience? This is the place for you, with two screens dedicated to just 3D movies. Oh, and one thing that makes movie-watching experience in Bangkok a step above the countries I’ve been in is the snacks. I’ve never come across a cinema that serves strawberry-flavored popcorns. It’s hard enough finding caramel flavoured popcorns, but the last time I was at this cinema, they had cheesed and bbq flavroed popcorn; this place is truly a game-changer. 

You really cannot going wrong by stopping over (like a plane trip) at Terminal 21. The different terminals offered here will surely make your shopping and dining experience one to remember. It is easy to access and there are tons of things to do, plenty of movies to see, and way too many things to eat and drink. If you’re still feeling adventurous, there’s another mall, less luxury and less fun than Terminal 21, called Robinson just a few minutes walk from here. In saying this, they do have a McDonald’s here, which is never really a bad idea. 

Terminal 21 - http://www.terminal21.co.th/main

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