MBK (Ma Boon Khrong) Center: Exploring One of Bangkok’s Legendary Malls

With its myriad of attractions, Thailand intrigues every traveler to spend a fantastic holiday. With its magnificent beaches and rich heritage, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) has always been a hub for vacationers from every corner. As holidays, fun, and shopping go hand in hand, you will find some of the best and most extravagant malls in Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) that offer you a one-stop destination to shop for the best.

MBK Center is one of Bangkok’s most legendary shopping malls, popular with tourists and locals and busy with shoppers daily. There are 8 floors packed with 2,000 shops that sell everything. From clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, leather products, and luggage to furniture, mobile phones, electrical appliances, cameras, stationery, and DVDs, there’s nothing you can’t find here.

Are you excited to know more? Read on and discover one of the best malls in Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), where you can plan a day to pamper yourself.

Fun Fact!

Inside this shopping center, there are famous restaurants like ‘Hong Min’ and ‘Mont Nom Sod.’ In addition, a food court named ‘The Fifth’ offers cheap eats, making it a perfect place for budget travelers.

Exploring MBK Shopping Center

On the ground floor of MBK, you’ll find lines of stalls selling fashion, shoes, handbags, and fast food outlets. A Tops Supermarket, with an open space dedicated to sales, offers discounted prices of 30% to 50%. As you move up the levels, you’ll find enclaves of products almost randomly placed. Part of the fun of MBK is exploring the long, straight paths looking out for things that take your fancy. As a rough guide, fashion accessories are on the lower floors, electronics are found on the 3rd, and 4th floors, with home furnishings and souvenirs, are on the 5th and 6th.

Like every shopping complex in Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), there are plenty of options for getting hungry. There are 2 food courts — a local one on the 6th floor and an international one on the 5th — with plenty of choices. The top floor comprises an entertainment complex boasting a multi-screen cinema, karaoke, a computer games arcade, and many other restaurants. MBK also has a 3D Trick Art Museum, a fun family activity perfect for a rainy day.

MBK Center is relatively easy to reach thanks to a direct walkway linking to National Stadium BTS Skytrain Station. Every taxi driver knows MBK as it’s among the most famous shopping malls in Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). So, you can hail a cab from anywhere, but keep in mind that traffic can be heavy around the mall.

An Unlimited Shopping Experience

To start with, fashion outlets cover everything from jeans, outsized clothing (for the ‘larger’ western frame), shoes, handbags, accessories, jewelry, trendy apparel, and famous-name brands. Unfortunately, the bargain prices of many of these items mean that merchandise is often copied products or of questionable origin. Therefore, it’s essential to look closely at the quality and craftsmanship.

But if your idea of a shopping bargain is to pay a few dollars for an Adidas T-shirt or a Gucci belt — and authenticity is not an issue — head straight to MBK. Many of the products found here are similar to those at markets. Still, the convenience of shopping in an air-conditioned environment beats hot and sticky markets, especially in the hot season!

And, just like the markets, all prices are negotiable; MBK is the only mall in Bangkok where you can put your bargaining skills to the test. You’ll be surprised how much a big smile can knock off the original asking price. But prices tend to get even more competitive if you’re shopping wholesale.

MBK Mall is a haven for electronics and mobile phones. The 4th floor is dedicated to mobile phones, DVDs, and all kinds of related gadgets and paraphernalia in a market-type environment, with stalls crammed into every available space. New phones, second-hand phones, starter packs, the latest (copy) movies, PC games, game consoles, MP3 players, and whatever you can imagine.

A flagship tenant is the 4-story Tokyu Department Store. The only one in Bangkok and a leading department store in Japan that offers a wide range of quality merchandise like clothing, apparel, cosmetics, and household goods at reasonable prices. On the 4th level, you’ll find a supermarket.

There’s also a Tops Supermarket at MBK (on the ground level) and a mini indoor craft market on the 6th floor offering a range of arts and crafts from all over Thailand. However, many of them are typical souvenir-type items targeted at tourists.

Trivia

Once you are done shopping, you can always head up to the top floor, where you will find an entertainment complex with its own multi-screen cinema.

MBK Center Shopping Tips

Avoid the Crowds

If you are serious about a shopping mission in MBK, it is best to go early and avoid crowds. 10 am — 12 pm is an excellent time to shop; weekdays also tend to hot up around 6 pm as people flood in after work. Weekends are naturally pretty busy, particularly in the afternoons.

Drop Off Your Luggage

If visiting MBK after checking out of your hotel, you can take your luggage with you and drop it off at the service center on the 6th floor. It is in Zone B, adjacent to the Food Island court.

The service counter is open daily during mall hours, and the first four hours are free of charge. After that, you will need to pay 100 Baht per bag.

Bargain / Haggle Prices

Although MBK is a mall, haggling is most definitely practiced. You only get something if you ask. Don’t be afraid to walk away if you can’t get the price you want, but be reasonable.

Spotting A Fake Item

Well, it isn’t always easy, but look for flaws — in brand spelling, font, stitches, etc. To be sure you are buying genuine products, buy brands from official shops or outlets. Also, don’t be afraid to ask: Is this real?

Entertain the Kids

If the kids get bored of shopping, take them to the upper floors for bowling and games at the arcade; you can even try singing at the karaoke complex or go to the cinema. Try to b e patient and not buy the first product you see, especially if the item is sold in multiple shops. Consider that shops and stalls on the lower floors pay more for rent and are likely to have higher prices. So shop around first.

Why Visit MBK Shopping Center in Bangkok?

MBK is a huge shopping mall with 8 floors and more than 2000 stores, selling women’s, men’s, and children’s fashion items. From jewelry, souvenirs, gifts, fabrics, bags, and electronics to furniture, Phone, Cameras, Muay Thai Clothes, and much more. MBK Bangkok is a paradise for consumers, shopaholics, Window Shopping, Electronics enthusiasts, and entertainment.

There are local and international food complexes on the 5th and 6th floors, and on the seventh floor, a huge cinema, bowling, video games, and various other restaurants, including KFC, Vietnam Restaurant, Pizza, Japanese, Dessert, and more, including a 3D Museum complex. MBK shopping mall is located at the center of Bangkok (access routes later), Pathum Wan district, and just next to Siam. During the daytime and the afternoon, it’s busy around MBK Bangkok but, at night, a little less.

You can reach MBK by foot through the beautifully designed Siam Discovery Shopping Mall and the impressive Siam Center Mall. In addition, MBK is connected to the BTS National Stadium station Sky-train, which belongs to BTS Silom Line and is within walking distance from BTS Siam station. The mall is less prestigious than the other malls. Because here at MBK, you can practice the art of bargaining, but keep in mind that the starting point of the products is relatively cheap.

Pay attention to another thing: the clothes sizes can be small, even if it is noted, for example, ‘XL’ check whether the product is Extra Large. You will also find a variety of fashion shops and fashion stalls for small and unique designers. And o ne of the best features of MBK is that its parts are built like a market-style shape with many alleys.

How to Visit MBK Shopping Center in Bangkok?

• You can take a train from BTS Skytrain station to National Stadium. From there, you can take a walking distance and follow the signs that will lead you to MBK Centre.
• The distance between Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and MBK Center is 25 km. The journey takes 26 minutes.
• You can take a cab from Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) station to MBK Center, which costs around 100–150 Thai Baht and takes 2 minutes to drop you at the destination.

Did you know?

The upper floors are an excellent place to try your bargaining skills. You will often get a discount if you buy several items.

More Information

MBK Shopping Center is equally popular with both tourists and locals. It occupies seven floors packed with over 2,000 shops that sell everything from clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, leather products, and luggage to furniture, mobile phones, electric appliances, and cameras. With street market prices in air-conditioned surroundings, MBK offers bargains galore and is a beehive of activity, always busy, especially at weekends.

Originally published at https://thebear.travel.