#SiamBTS
Siam Square (Thai: สยามสแควร์)
Siam Square is the area where big numbers of Bangkok residents meet up outside of work and school hours. The area is filled to the brim with shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, and hair-dressers. Siam Square has small fashion design boutiques and vintage shops, while thee big malls lie on the opposite side of the street. The shopping malls in the area are Siam Discovery, Siam Center, Siam Paragon, MBK, and Central World.
The area is surprisingly quiet after the big shopping malls close, so head elsewhere if you are going out at night. Luckily, Siam is centrally located and with good public transport connections.
Credit: Globe-trotter, based work from OpenStreetMap.org contributors
Beachmeter.com’s Top Picks Around Siam Square
Siam Square is not only the place to make all shoppers drop. It is also strategically located wherever you want to go in Bangkok. If we were to select a city centre in Bangkok, this would be it.
Siam’s Top Hotels
The area around Siam has seen a blossoming of impressive hotels the last 5-10 years. Most of them are in the 4 and 5 star category. This is definitely not an area with many options for budget travelers.
Just A Bed
Wendy House
Wendy House is one of the few budget options within 5 min. walking distance from Siam Square. The hostel offers good value, excellent location, and simple rooms. All rooms have aircondition, water boilers, and private bathrooms. The hotel does not have a dorm.
Why Wendy House?
- Located in a quiet soi (side street) yet in walking distance from Bangkok’s shopping mecca
- Welcoming atmosphere and friendly service
- Free WiFi and a descent breakfast included in all room rates
- Price $$$
Rough Diamond
LiT Bangkok
LiT Bangkok has everything a luxury hotel needs. However, it’s tranquil location and relatively small size makes staying here a more personal experience. The swimming pool is moderate in size and does not have sun all day – that’s the only little “but” we could find. That said, LiT is our favourite in this area.
Why LiT Bangkok?
- Great architecture and stylish interior design
- Excellent rejuvenating spa
- The romantic Extra Radiance rooms have tubs right by the bed
- Price $$$
Feeling Special
Siam Kempinski Hotel
Be prepared to be stunned. Siam Kempinski is like a luxury beach resort in the middle of busy Bangkok. Lobby, pool, spa, service, top notch restaurants, and everything else make you feel like you are in a palace. You almost feel guilty leaving the hotel during your stay – it’s that good.
Why Siam Kempinski?
- Very large rooms (43m2 and up)
- Landscaped gardens with several pools incl. kids pool
- Bangkok’s perhaps best restaurant, Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin
- Free mini-bar in your room refilled daily
- Price $$$
Activities Around Siam Square
Shopping around Siam Square
Bangkok’s primary shopping area has a handful of large shopping malls sprinkled with extra services and options to fulfil the shopping experience. Apart from shopping, there are countless food courts and restaurant options both inside and outside the malls. There are hairdressers, massage clinics, dentists, hipster “mac-book” cafes, bookshops, and cinemas on every top floor of the malls. Here is a list of the biggest shopping malls you will find at Siam Square:
- Siam Paragon: International fashion brands and arguably the most popular mall in Bangkok
- Central World: Bangkok’s biggest shopping mall covering a large spectrum of products
- MBK: Popular among tourists and locals alike with cheap(ish) prices, souvenirs, electronics, fashion, and more
- Siam Center: Focuses on emerging and established Thai fashion design brands
- Siam Discovery: Each floor has its own focus: Fashion, beauty, sports and lifestyle, home decor, and speciality stores
- Siam Square One: Siam’s newest shopping experience offers local clothing and international fashion plus a lot of dining options
On the way to and at Chidlom BTS sky train station, you will find more malls such as Central Chidlom, Gaysorn, Amarin Plaza, and Erawan Bangkok. You can walk on the sky bridge from Siam BTS station.
Activities and Attractions around Siam Square
This may not be the area you go for sightseeing first, but there are a few interesting spots worth a visit:
- The Jim Thompson House: Museum set in the former house of Jim Thompson, an entrepreneurial businessman and architect who most famously founded a luxury Thai silk company.
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum: Get “close” to international and Asian celebreties from Einstein to Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre: Contemporary art centre hosting events and exhibitions.
Siam Square by Night
Red Sky Rooftop @ Centara Grand CentralWorld
As mentioned, the Siam Square area is not the most happening place in Bangkok after dark, although it is becoming more active. It is not uncommon to go to cinema post-shopping, as basically all shopping malls have cinemas and game centres on their top floors.
Centara Grand Hotel’s Red Sky Rooftop is a good pick if you want awesome views and a metropolitan vibe. For going out, there are primarily relatively pricy options, attracting both expats, travelers, and high society Thais. Hard Rock Cafe (Siam Square Soi 11) is always an international hit. If you go to the Chitlom station area you will find Mixx Discotheque at InterContinental Hotel attracting wealthy Thais, expats, and fashion models who get free entrance and drink coupons. If you are out for live music, try the high quality and not so cheap Spasso at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.
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