ICONSIAM

ICONSIAM opened in 2018 on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River and quickly became one of Bangkok’s landmark destinations. The building itself is architecturally striking — a glass facade that catches the light off the river — and inside it houses everything from Apple and Louis Vuitton to a full-floor indoor market called SookSiam that recreates a Thai floating market with regional food vendors from across the country. SookSiam on the ground floor is the highlight for most visitors, with dishes priced at local market rates rather than mall prices.

Getting there is part of the experience. Free shuttle boats run from Saphan Taksin BTS pier every 10–15 minutes, or you can take the Gold Line monorail from BTS Krung Thonburi. The riverside terrace on the upper floors offers excellent views of the Chao Phraya, especially at sunset from the restaurant level. There is also a rooftop bar area with panoramic city views if you are willing to spend on drinks.

If you are coming specifically for the SookSiam market, go hungry — there are dozens of regional specialities you will not find easily elsewhere in Bangkok, including dishes from Isan, the deep south, and northern Thailand. The rest of the mall is high-end and priced accordingly. The air conditioning alone makes ICONSIAM a reasonable refuge on a brutally hot afternoon, and the riverside setting gives it more character than a typical Bangkok mega-mall.