If you love a market atmosphere but enjoy the comfort of air conditioning, MBK Shopping Center should be one of your top Bangkok destinations. Mah Boon Krong, “MBK,” features eight floors of bargainers’ paradise, plus all the amenities of a modern shopping mall. You will find more than 2,000 booths, worldwide fast food chains and a state-of-the-art cinema.
 

Bargaining

Bargaining with MBK vendors is not only welcomed, it is expected. There are no hard-and-fast rules to bargaining, but you are more likely to get a better deal by being fair.
 
Ask for a price first and then offer a bit less, but don’t make a drastically-discounted offer! If a shop owner quotes you 150 baht, offer her 125 baht. On higher-priced items, you can ask for bigger discounts. For instance, if you are buying something that is priced 3,500 baht, offer your sales clerk 3,000 baht. Being respectful and reasonable with Thai merchants can earn you lots of great savings at MBK!
 

Merchandise

MBK is one of the best places to find discounted name brands, software, computers, tablets, smart phones and all the latest technological gadgets.
 
CELL PHONE REPAIR: If you’ve managed to crack your smartphone screen or the home button on your iPhone quits during your travels, the Fourth Floor of MBK should be your first stop. Replacing a smartphone screen will cost around $40 (1,400 baht) and usually takes about an hour.
 
UNLOCKING SMARTPHONES: If you come from a country that holds your cell phone coverage under lock and key, MBK probably has a fix. Besides selling every brand of smartphones and tablets known to man, shops and stalls on the Fourth Floor also offer services to unlock smartphones. While you’re there, someone from the shop can set you up with a new SIM card and Thai phone number. You’ll be an expert traveler in no time! Prices to unlock smartphones vary, depending on the phone model, but usually start at around $45 (1,500 baht). SIM cards and an initial top-up will cost about $5 (150 baht) minimum.

Floors

FLOORS 1-3: Clothing and shoes, cosmetics, jewelry, toys and gadgets
FLOOR 4: Electronics, mobile phones
FLOOR 5: International Food Hall, furniture, photography, computers
FLOOR 6: Food Court,souvenir shops
FLOOR 7: Bowling, karaoke, cinema
FLOOR 8: Cinema

 

Tokyu Department Store Paradise Park

Tokyu is the featured department store attached to MBK. Tokyu contains a wealth of goods within 13,000 square meters of two floors.
 
FLOOR 1: Cosmetics, baby clothes, appliances, household items, shoes, swimwear
FLOOR 2: Home decor, sportswear, stationery, men’s and women’s apparel
 

How to Get There

The easiest way to get to MBK and Tokyu Department Store is to take the BTS Skytrain. The shopping center is located on the last stop of the Silom Line at National Stadium BTS Station, or it is just a 5-minute walk from Siam Paragon.
 

Hours

MBK: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Sunday
TOKYU: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Sunday