ICONSIAM: Bangkok's Riverside Mall, and the Free Boat To It

A Mall Worth Visiting

Most shopping malls do not belong on a travel itinerary. ICONSIAM is the exception in Bangkok, for three reasons that have little to do with shopping.

It sits directly on the Chao Phraya with a public riverfront terrace. It contains a full indoor recreation of a Thai floating market. And getting there involves a free boat ride across the river, which is a better arrival than any escalator.

Open daily 10:00 to 22:00.

SookSiam

The ground floor holds SookSiam, and it is the reason to come.

It is an indoor market built to look like a canal-side Thai village, with wooden boats, tiled roofs and vendors from all 77 provinces selling regional food and crafts. Northern sausage, southern curries, Isaan grilled meats, sweets you will not find in a Bangkok food court.

It is a constructed experience and makes no pretence otherwise. What it does well is put regional Thai food from across the country in one air-conditioned place, which is genuinely useful if you are only visiting Bangkok. Prices sit above street level and below mall restaurant level.

Eat here rather than in the upstairs food halls.

The River Terrace

Outside on the riverfront there is a long public terrace facing the Old Town bank, and it is free.

The view takes in the river traffic, the skyline and the bridges, and at dusk it is among the better free vantage points in the city. There are fountain shows in the evening.

This is also where the dinner cruises board, so the terrace has a steady flow of boats coming and going. Our riverside guide covers the other spots along this stretch, and the sunset guide has the alternatives.

Getting There

Take the free shuttle boat. It runs from Sathorn pier, beside BTS Saphan Taksin, and crosses in a few minutes. No ticket, no queue worth mentioning, and it approaches the mall from the water.

The BTS Gold Line also serves Charoen Nakhon station, connected directly, and there is a shuttle from BTS Krung Thon Buri.

Going by road is the mistake. Charoen Nakhon traffic in the evening is slow and the boat is faster, cheaper and more pleasant. Our getting around Bangkok guide explains the river network.

The Shopping, Briefly

If you do want to shop, the range runs from international luxury on the upper floors to Thai designers and local brands lower down. There is a large Siam Takashimaya department store inside.

Prices are mall prices. Nobody comes to ICONSIAM for a bargain, and if that is what you want, Chatuchak or Pratunam are the places to go. Our Bangkok shopping guide sets out the difference.

ICONSIAM or Asiatique?

Both are riverside, both have a free shuttle boat from Sathorn, and people often pick one.

ICONSIAM is indoor, air-conditioned, open from 10:00, and better for food and for a rainy afternoon.

Asiatique is open-air, evening only from around 17:00, and better for a warm night out with a market feel and attractions attached.

Doing both on the same day works if you take ICONSIAM in the afternoon and cross to Asiatique after dark.

Who It Suits

Families, travelers with an afternoon of bad weather, anyone wanting regional Thai food without leaving Bangkok, and anyone who wants a river view without paying for a rooftop bar.

It suits people looking for the raw, chaotic version of Bangkok less well. This is the polished, engineered end of the city, and it is good at being that.

Practical Notes

It is large. Pick SookSiam and the terrace, and treat the rest as optional.

Go late afternoon and stay for dusk. The terrace is the payoff and it needs the light to go.

Weekends and Thai public holidays are busy throughout. Weekday afternoons are calm.