"Thailand's Ultimate Outdoor Shopping Experience The mother of unique Bangkok retail experiences is undoubtedly Chatuchak Weekend Market, Thailand ’s largest outdoor bazaar. Known as Jatujak or simply JJ, it has15,000 stalls spread over 35 acres andsells almost everything under the sun. This is the place to buy a Beatles cushion or shopfor a new pet cobra or a hand-carved Buddha icon. With 200,000 people descending on the market every weekend, it's best to come early, and perseverance can uncover a veritable treasure trove of collectibles ranging from beautiful ceramics and handicrafts to exquisite jewelry."

"Literary Love Affair There’s no better place in Bangkok to browse for books than Dasa Book Café. While Kinokinuya (deservedly) holds sway in the malls, this cute seller is the pick among the city’s independent book retailers. The shop itself boasts around 17,000 titles over three floors and the regularly updated ‘Dasabase’ list of stock makes it easy to find what you are looking for."

"Vintage Nirvana All kinds of antique, art and retro items can be found in Bangkok’s huge array of vintage stores where shoppers can pick up anything from old-fashioned cameras to lovingly reproduced Thai movie posters from the 1950s and 1960s. Prime browsing locations include Papaya Vintage, a treasure trove of vintage items that has become a favoured shooting location for professional photographers."

"Musical Manna for Vinyl Junkies Owned by Nat Siangsukon, who is better known by his DJ name Maft Sai, ZudRangMa Records is a spiritual home for Bangkok’s truly vinyl-obsessed. The store’s specialty is retro sounds from some of the world’s lesser-hyped musical hotspots with the Middle East, Africa and Asia all well represented. In fact, Siangsukon has done much to revitalise old-school Thai music through his Paradise Bangkok club nights and his band the Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band. If you are browsing in the evening, take the opportunity to nip further up the street to Studio Lam, ZudRangMa’s house bar where the shop’s eclectic ethos can be enjoyed with a drink"

"One of Thailand's Most Prestigious Boutique Brands The family-run Lotus Arts de Vivre specialises in bespoke items and one-of-a-kind objets d’art. Lotus famously sold a one-off scarab-beetle-winged parrot clutch to Michael Jackson, who gifted it to his friend Elizabeth Taylor. Their esoteric design style is perfect for those with an eye for conversation pieces, as well as handmade jewellery. The brand has several retail ventures around Bangkok on the premises of luxury hotels including the Mandarin Oriental and Anantara Bangkok Resort."

"Treasure Trove For Fashionistas Hugely popular with in-the-know Thais is Siam Square, something of an open-air shopping street that radiates a feeling of creativity. Here, in hole-in-the-wall boutiques and stalls by upcoming designers are tucked away down narrow lanes. Buyers can find everything from bright and bold slogan T-shirts to one-of-a-kind creations. Popular with university students, media types, “bright young things” and committed fashionistas this is where trends both emerge and are created."

"Heavenly Scents A purveyor of luxurious aromatherapy spa products and natural skincare, Thann is recognised as a global leader in its field. Set up in 2002, it is the most famous of the Thai spa brands; their sleek-looking candles, diffusion oils and naturally perfumed skin care products gracing spas around the world. With collections that are usually inspired by Asia, the brand is known for its seductively scented showrooms, dotted around Bangkok . For a special shopping experience combine some retail therapy with a spa treatment at the brand's Thann Sanctuary spa at CentralWorld."

"Thai Fashion Figurehead Taking inspiration from a long stint in London , Disaya Sorakraikitikul burst on to the city’s fashion scene in 2004 with her lingerie line Boudoir by Disaya. Her main collection – simply known as Disaya – has expanded to include ready-to-wear and costume jewellery. The designer’s collections are known for their couture artistry, delicate embroidery and careful craftsmanship and can be found at upscale malls around Bangkok ."

"A Superstitious Business Thais are a very superstitious bunch. This colourful market near the Chao Phraya River is where collectors, monks, taxi drivers and other people in dangerous lines of work go to pick out lucky amulets that will protect them from harm or bring them good fortune. Photo by Gerry Popplestone/Flickr ."

"Browse from a Boat at one of Bangkok’s Floating Markets In the days when Bangkok was known as the Venice of the East many people got around by boat and plentiful trade was done on the water. Though many of the canals have been filled in to make way for roads, the age-old process of buying and selling wares directly from a vessel is alive and well at Bangkok’s selection of floating markets. Tourists are likely to end up at Damnoen Saduak, which is the most visited floating market in Thailand and is flooded with hordes of foreigners on organized tours at weekends. More authentic are Amphawa and Khlong Lat Mayom. The former is hugely popular with Thais and is known for its fabulous food while the latter is surrounded by huge green trees and is a very relaxed affair By Maeve Nolan"

"Find Left-Field Inspiration down Bangkok’s Alleyways Bangkok, of course, is very much its own city. But New York districts, specifically Brooklyn, are exerting a strong influence in certain quarters. These Williamsburg stylings are, for the most part, mercifully unaffected with little of the self-consciousness often associated with hipster culture. One such vibrant enclave is located on Sukhumvit Soi 51 near the Thong Lor skytrain where ZudRangMa Records and WTF sit cheek by jowl up a small side alley. ZudRangMa specializes in retro Thai sounds and releases excellent compilations on its own imprint. Next door, WTF Gallery and Café has a winning combination of potent cocktails, eclectic sounds and occasional art happenings and events. By Maeve Nolan"

"All Aboard at Bangkok's Hippest Market Although no longer located in its original spot next to an old train line, Talad Rot Fai (aka "train market") retains every bit of its hipster appeal. Open at the weekends, the market sells everything from retro clothing to vintage motorcycle parts. There's also a good range of bars from where to watch the cool kids do their thing."

"Mingle with Thai High Society at Thong Lor's Mini Malls Bangkok's epicenter of style, Thong Lor features everything from swanky Italian furniture stores to designer boutiques. A characteristic feature of the thoroughfare are its glitzy mini malls. Opened in 2004, H1 started the mini mall craze. Other high society favorites include J Avenue, Penny's Balcony and Eight Thonglor. The malls all adhere to a similar ethos with a mix of high end designer shops, wine bars and upscale restaurants."

"Retail by the River An extensive retail selection can be found at Asiatique The Riverside. There are over 1500 boutiques housed in this huge replica warehouse complex selling souvenirs, handicrafts, jewellery and clothing, mainly from local Thai designers. With around 40 food and beverage outlets as well as Thai puppets by Joe Louis Theatre and Calypso Cabaret, one of Bangkok’s celebrated ladyboy shows, it's a fantastic place to spend an evening."

"Classic Venue With Exquisite Wares Among the most loved and respected purveyors of fine antiques and Thai art is OP Place. Built in 1908, OP Place features a plethora of art galleries and shops offering a spectrum of wares ranging from Asian handicrafts to jewellery, fabrics, antiques, artworks, Thai silk and carpets. Even if you’re not in the market for antiques, the building itself deserves a visit. Neoclassic architecture and a manually operated lift add to the sense of grandeur."

"Top of the Shops Considered by many as Bangkok’s de facto city centre due to its location by the teeming Siam skytrain station, Siam Paragon has established itself as one of the most popular of the city’s temples of consumerism. With its easily navigable layout and tremendous range of shops, its elevated status comes as no surprise. Premium brands to be found here include Jimmy Choo, Versace, Hermes and Rolex while high street fashion is represented by the likes of Uniqlo, Gap and Zara."

"Awesome Antiques An easily recognisable landmark on the riverbank, River City has been around since 1984. Although the four-storey complex houses a good range of fashion and jewellery shops as well as riverside eateries with outdoor dining terraces, it is most renowned for its antiques and collectibles, with monthly on-site and online auctions. The antiques don’t come cheap, often selling for eye-watering prices. However, owners of the outlets here are well versed in their trade and can offer expert advice on whether an item is a genuine antique or a modern reproduction."