Located across from the Silom City hotel, in the heart of the city's business district, the Café De Famille is a locally-owned cafe. The cafe specializes in serving up delicious pastry creations with an Asian twist. Favorites include pandan cake, delicious layers of vanilla sponge sandwiched with an aromatic pandan cream; fancy royal cake in multi-colored tiers; strawberry crepe cake; and a rich coconut cake with fluffy frosting. The seating is limited; if you're lucky enough to get a table you can settle in with a tall glass of chilled Thai coffee, and try one of their delicious pastries.
Head to Kai Boutique only if you are planning to be the center of attention at a party or wedding. For once you don a Kai designer piece, it is hard to appear inconspicuous: the dresses are simply showstopping. Western grace meets Eastern royal styles in its evening wear and wedding dresses, woven from diaphanous fabrics in light golden, copper brown, puce and creamy white colors. The traditionally-styled gowns look fit for a Disney princess from a fairy tale, while its ultra-contemporary creations also manage to turn heads, especially during fashion shows. Bangkok's top supermodels, actresses and socialites often wear a Kai evening gown at parties, and no fashion week is complete without displaying a few pieces crafted by their head designer. It is also the showroom of choice for bridal couture, especially those seeking to break away from traditional wedding gown designs, yet appearing like royalty.
For classic leather shoes crafted with contemporary flair, London Brown is your go-to store in Bangkok. This flagship boutique has made a name for itself for its handcrafted and made-to-order shoes. Express your individuality with a pair that's made to exactly your specifications - nothing could be more comfortable. What's even better is that the store is Thai owned and all their shoes are made in Thailand itself. The variety of styles, materials, and customization make this a must visit for the shoe fanatic. From sued ankle boots to leather loafers, the attention to detail and exceptional quality set these apart from your mass-market shoe labels.
Chulalongkorn University's own bookshop line, Chulalongkorn University Book Center is a popular stop for students. One of seven shops spread out across campus, this location is close to Siam Square and open through the week as well as on weekends. Besides the obvious educational books and materials, the store is also a great choice for the leisure reader with a vast collection across genres and languages. Art, literature, science, children's fiction, business, etc are all available here. Whether you're searching for something particular or just browsing, the store has enough to satiate your literary requirements.
The Commons is chirpy cluster of shops. Essentially known for its food stores like Lobster Lab and Holy Moly, its dessert shops, and play areas like Little Pea and Absolute You, this place is a total package of entertainment. The place offers ground for fun interactions and get togethers, coupled with shops to visit and things to do. If you want to spend a day doing your favorite thing, visit The Commons, you wont regret it.
Initially known as the World Trade Center, CentralWorld is one of Bangkok's largest downtown malls, containing a massive variety of trendy shops. The flagship department stores of Zen and Isetan can be found here, but the core is a labyrinth of shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities, including cinemas and an ice-skating rink. Located on the seventh floor is the Thailand Duty Free Shop, which is the one of the only government-operated, downtown duty-free shop in the country. Much more than just your average shopping mall, CentralWorld also has an entire luxury hotel and a fully-equipped convention center within its premises.