In Bangkok, you’re never short on shopping options. The city is packed with vibrant malls of all styles, all waiting to be explored. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler who returns every year, shopping in a Bangkok mall is almost an unmissable ritual.
So today, I followed the classic tourist route and headed straight to one of the most popular shopping destinations in Bangkok: the Platinum Fashion Mall at Pratunam Market.
Platinum Fashion Mall (Pratunam Market)
Hours: 09:00 AM – 8:00 PM
+66 2 121 8000
How to Get There: Take the BTS to Chit Lom Station, then walk through the skywalk past Central World. You can also take a canal boat and get off at the Pratunam Pier.
222 Phetchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Thanon Phetchaburi, Khet Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Thai Address:
222 ถนน เพชรบุรี แขวง ถนนเพชรบุรี เขต ราชเทวี กรุงเทพมหานคร 10400 ประเทศไทย
Getting to Pratunam Market and Nearby Highlights
Pratunam Market sits right in the heart of Bangkok’s bustling city center. There are two main ways to get there: either via the BTS Skytrain or by canal boat (often called long-tail boats).
If you’re taking the Skytrain, get off at BTS Chit Lom Station and walk along the skywalk connected to Central World. Keep going until you cross a canal—that’s how you’ll know you’re almost there. Once you pass over the canal, you’ll spot The Platinum Fashion Mall on the other side.
The entire route is mostly shaded, making it a surprisingly pleasant walk—even on a hot Bangkok day. Sure, the city runs warm, but the stroll itself is easy and manageable.
If you’re staying somewhere without convenient Skytrain access but near a canal pier, taking a long-tail boat to Pratunam Pier is another enjoyable option. Although I haven’t tried the boat myself yet, I did capture some scenes of these canal rides in my video. Bangkok’s waterways can be just as crowded as its streets—canal traffic congestion is surprisingly common.
For visitors who prefer a more straightforward, door-to-door option, Grab is another convenient way to get here. Widely used across Southeast Asia, Grab works much like Uber and lets you see the fare upfront—no haggling required. For many Western travelers, this added predictability makes getting around Bangkok far less stressful.
The Platinum Fashion Mall is also close to several must-visit spots. If you’re heading toward Central World, check out our full guide to the area here: Central World Transportation and Nearby Attractions.
If you’re sticking around the Platinum Fashion Mall area, here are a few more highlights you can easily add to your itinerary:
- Old Pratunam Market: Located just across the street from The Platinum Fashion Mall, the original Pratunam Market feels more like a traditional wet market. Think fresh produce, everyday grocery shopping, and rows of ready-made clothing. It used to be the area’s go-to wholesale clothing hub until the modern mall opened and many vendors relocated across the street. These days, it’s something of a hidden gem, often overlooked by younger shoppers and tourists.
- Hainanese Chicken Rice at Pratunam: One of the first things that comes to mind when people mention Pratunam is the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice. There are two rival stalls located side by side—one known as the “Red Shirt” stall (staff wear red uniforms), and the other as the “Green Shirt” stall. You’ll find them right across from the mall.
- Neon Night Market: The Neon Night Market is one of Bangkok’s newer tourist night markets, located right next to The Platinum Fashion Mall. If your visit to Pratunam Market stretches into the evening, you’re in luck—shop the mall, grab some Hainanese Chicken Rice, and wind down with street snacks under neon lights. It’s an easy way to wrap up a full day in Bangkok.
- SuperRich Currency Exchange (ซุปเปอร์ริช):
While it’s neither a tourist attraction nor a restaurant, SuperRich is widely regarded as the best place in Bangkok for currency exchange. Around Pratunam Market, there are two SuperRich branches—one green and one orange—both official head offices known for offering some of the best exchange rates in the city. If you’re planning to exchange money, skip the malls and head here instead for a much better deal.
You can also check out our complete guide to SuperRich locations and hours: How to exchange money in Bangkok? SuperRich branches and hours.
Pratunam Market vs. The Platinum Mall: Old vs. New, Left vs. Right
To be honest, when I first heard the name “Pratunam Market,” I imagined something like a vintage open-air bazaar—perhaps similar to Portobello Road Market in London or Santee Alley in Los Angeles—filled with local vendors, textiles, and old-school street shopping charm. But when I arrived, I quickly realized that the place most people refer to as Pratunam Market today is actually a large air-conditioned shopping mall.
After chatting with a local friend, I learned that the original Pratunam Market is located across the street. With the opening of the newer and more modern Platinum Fashion Mall—complete with air conditioning and a far more spacious layout—it naturally became the preferred destination for younger locals and tourists. Over time, people simply started referring to the mall itself as “Pratunam Market.”
Strictly speaking, Pratunam Market refers to the traditional street market, pronounced “Pa-Tu-Nam” in Thai (ตลาดประตูน้ำ). The newer complex is properly known as The Platinum Fashion Mall.
The Platinum Fashion Mall: Bangkok’s Largest Clothing Wholesale Hub
The Platinum Fashion Mall spans two buildings—Zone A and Zone B—and is densely packed with merchandise. It reportedly houses close to 2,800 stalls, selling everything from homewares and fashion to shoes, handbags, and playful accessories. For anyone who enjoys shopping, it’s an easy place to lose track of time.
The selection is vast, and prices are impressively affordable. Many locals shop here specifically for wholesale clothing and then resell the items elsewhere. While tourists usually can’t access full wholesale pricing due to smaller purchase quantities, the deals are still very budget-friendly.
Quick sizing tip for Western shoppers:
Most clothing at The Platinum Fashion Mall follows Asian sizing, which typically runs smaller than US or European standards. As a rough guide, a Thai “L” often fits more like a US “S” or even “XS.” Trying items on is highly recommended, and shoppers looking for a more relaxed fit may have better luck with oversized styles, outerwear, or unisex designs.
Because of its scale and pricing, Pratunam Market is often compared to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market (JJ Market). Both offer huge selections at attractive prices, but the shopping experience itself is quite different.
Rather than choosing a clear winner, it really comes down to preference. One is an open-air maze filled with surprises, while the other is a polished, air-conditioned fashion complex. If time allows, visiting both offers a fuller picture of Bangkok’s shopping scene.
More on JJ Market: Check out our previous guide and video coverage: Chatuchak Weekend Market – Eat and Shop All Day, Must-try coconut ice cream at JJ Market (Video)
Back inside The Platinum Fashion Mall, you’ll also find a food court offering good value and plenty of options. It’s an easy place to take a break, grab a drink or a quick bite, and recharge before diving back into shopping.
Street Food Trucks Near the Platinum Fashion Mall: Must-Try Snacks in Bangkok
Speaking of food—my favorite topic—don’t assume all the action is inside the mall. The area outside The Platinum Fashion Mall is just as lively.
An open space nearby is filled with themed street food trucks, offering everything from grilled meats and snacks to ice cream and mobile cocktail bars. The variety is impressive, and many of the trucks are designed to be visually striking. Wandering through this area can be just as enjoyable as shopping inside the mall.
Among the many vendors, we stumbled upon a father-and-son kebab stall. The smell of the rotating meat was impossible to resist, so we ordered a chicken kebab—and instantly understood the hype. The pita was soft and chewy, the filling juicy and full of flavor. We liked it so much that we went back for a second round, this time with beef. (And yes, we’d already eaten lunch.) If you spot this stall outside The Platinum Fashion Mall, it’s well worth a stop.
PS: You can find good kebabs in several parts of Bangkok. We also enjoyed one tucked away in a small alley near BTS Nana Station, though unfortunately it wasn’t open either time we passed by on this trip.
To wrap things up, here’s our video covering The Platinum Fashion Mall and what makes it such a popular shopping stop in Bangkok: