We all love to moan about the packed trains, pushy aunties and rubbish ads, but can you really imagine life without the BTS? It’s not only the fastest and easiest way to get around town but did you know it’s also a great place to go shopping? So why battle the weather and the traffic? Skip the crowded malls and markets in favor of these commuter-friendly retail opportunities.
Fast track Fashion
From secondhand handbags to cute cocktail dresses
Hi…Bye
• 086-106-0773. Open daily 11am-10pm. BTS National Stadium
The vibe: If all the shops around Siam Square and in MBK aren’t enough for you, then here’s another clothing store to stop by for some rush hour shopping. The three-unit-long shop caters to the fashion needs of both sexes but the division is made clear by the giant Boy/Girl signs on the two tinted windows. Inside it’s a case of cluttered chic with racks of shoes, piles of hats and rails stuffed with shirts and dresses almost concealing the dark wood back wall.
The goods: A full range covering everything from casual wear to formal outfits for both men and women. The shop offers a mix of local fashion styles, and some imports from Japan. For ladies, you can expect to pick up a cute maxi dress starting at around B500 or some nice pumps at B400. There are also plenty of other accessories like panama hats and necklaces. For men, Hi…bye has their own line of shoes in modern designs and all made out of genuine leather. Prices start at B1,000. Slightly offbeat shirts, shorts and pants also available. B300-400 for shirts.
Pursezila
• 02-632-6855, 086-329-9314. www.bagetc.com
Open daily 10am-8pm. BTS Sala Daeng
The vibe: Always dreamed of owning a Balenciaga shoulder bag or lusted after an LV clutch but just can’t afford the crazy brand name prices? Then Pursezilla might be for you. Taking the concept from Hong Kong and Japan, this little store sells secondhand authentic brand bags at cheaper prices. At the front of this tiny one-unit store, a tall white shelf, backed by a bright orange-tone bamboo blind, displays the high end handbags wrapped in clean plastic covers.
The goods: Authentic brand name handbags from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Balenciaga, and many more. The bags sold here are either brand new or secondhand but still in very good condition. A Lady Dior Grand will costs you B40,000. Pursezila also accepts special pre-orders for particular bags and you can also trade in your brand name bag for a newer model.
24 minute
• 085-678-9915. Open daily 10am-9pm. BTS Mo Chit
The vibe: This three-unit shop is a great alternative if you want to avoid hours of sweaty searching in JJ market. Featuring both male and female fashion items, the focus is definitely more on the ladies with a range of products sporting a modern, urban style.
The goods: Men and women’s wear at the kind of prices you normally only find in the markets. For B390, you can pick up a smart men’s shirt, or a cute cocktail dress. There are also a range of flats and heels, sold for B280-B490, depending on the designs.
Kiss Me Doll
• 086-168-1508. Open daily 9am-9pm. BTS Siam
The vibe: From the minute we spotted this new scarves stall on Siam, we fell in love with it. One simple rail is packed with an array of different colored and patterned scarves while little cubby holes hold further bundles of colored cloth.
The goods: Patterned scarves made from cotton, chiffon, or silk, ranging in price from around B195-B380. There are several sizes to choose, from a tiny little scarf, to the luxurious mama style at B880.
Ing-Kie Style
• Open daily 10am-8pm. BTS Chit Lom
The vibe: If you’re one of those who always seems to come out of the Chit Lom malls empty handed, then why not give Ing-Kie a chance. Located on the walkway toward Central Chitlom, this simple narrow stall has a big range of hats, bags and dresses for women.
The goods: Browsing their extensive hat selection you can find an interesting range from beach to panama to bowler with prices starting at B490. But it’s not just hats: you can bag yourself a cool jeans vest at B490 or a PVC leather bag for B1,290. They’ve even managed to squeeze a fitting room in there so you can at least give things a try.
Rainbow Shop
• Open daily. BTS Victory Monument
The vibe: From the outside, the Rainbow Shop looks part English garden, thanks to the faux lawn walls, and part Aladdin’s cave, thanks to its packed shelves of cutesy looking items. These items cover everything from makeup to dresses and hats to earrings.
The goods: Although the goods sold here are not as chic as those at the high-end shops in Siam, there’s always a chance that you can find something stylish for less if you look hard enough. On our last visit we discovered this cute princess style dress for only B159, and an adorable yellow fishing hat for B259. If you’re into that, a collection of Hello Kitty cosmetics are available with a lip gloss costing you around B259. Dig deep enough and you can also find other small accessories like headbands, hair clips, plastic flower earrings, colorful bead necklaces, and some frankly weird items like tiny dolls and pink snow domes.
J-biss
• 081-844-4971. Open daily 3.30pm-9pm. BTS Phrom Phong
The vibe: A mix of vintage brands along with more generic designs are packed into this tiny little alcove. The highlight has to be the two glass cabinets, stocked with branded used handbags. The old leather smell is intense enough to make your heart beat with excitement for the vintage gems you might uncover.
The goods: Their brand name secondhand bags start from as little as B3,000 and while the stock rotates regularly, that includes the likes of Chanel and Louis Vuitton. If you don’t like the idea of buying something used, they do also offer more generic bags and a range of shoes, priced around B350-B1,000.
COCO
• 080-244-7272. Open daily 10am-8pm. BTS Phrom Phong
The vibe: Just outside shopping mecca Emporium, we discovered this little fashion corner. The small but smartly designed store makes an attractive alternative to what’s in the malls, thanks to a wide choice of chic pieces from party dresses to canvas bags.
The goods: As well as some very hip local brands, you can also discover some intriguing imports, including cute dresses from H&M with prices ranging from B390-B3,000. With bags, makeup, shoes and even jewellery available you can really step out of here with a totally new look.
Amethyst
• 081-818-7776. Open daily 9am-9pm. BTS Phrom Phong
The vibe: If you’re running late for a party and it seems impossible to get a proper dress up at home, get off at Phrom Phong to glam yourself up at this fashion stop. The place has a well-touched décor with three white shelves, filled with women’s partywear, categorized in color tones. A tall glass-boxed shelf showing collections of jewelry stands in the middle, and on the other wall, a shelf dedicated to colorful men’s designs.
The goods: Their dresses are almost casual but with more emphasis on party outfits that can be worn day or night, with prices ranging from B380-1,200. Men’s shirts and shorts are in playful designs, and a shirt will cost you around B490. There’s a chance that shopping here will make you want to throw away your old cranky hand bag, and prop yourself up with one of their gorgeous clutches (B1,580).
Health & Beauty
Let’s Relax OxyStation
• 02-658-1765. Open daily 10am-9pm. BTS Siam
The vibe: Being in Thailand makes it super easy to grab a massage session anywhere and now you can get one on your way to work at Siam station. The OxyStation, owned by Let’s Relax, is a multi-branch business, but this one is a mini version of a spa, offering a chance to step out of the rat race if only for a few short minutes.
The goods: There are three massage options to choose from: the Foot Reflexology program (B350 for 45 min), the Hand Reflexology program (B150/15 min) and the back & shoulder massage (B250/30 minutes). Can’t decide which to go for? Their Dream Package offers all three in a 90-min session that costs B600.
Nature Republic
• 02-742-7270. Open daily 10am-10pm. BTS On-nut
The vibe: Nature Republic is a Korean cosmetic brand with three shops around Bangkok. Although this space is not so big, the shop has an inviting ambience and a very pleasant aroma courtesy of the products lined up beautifully on the wooden shelves. The brand is already very popular throughout Japan and South Korea, and is now in its second year in Thailand.
The goods: Skin care products with an emphasis of the power of nature, all packaged in lovely containers. Browsing through the shelves, the sales assistants are happy to help you select the right product for your skin type or problem. Nature Republic also offer lines of cosmetic products beginning from the French Lime Pore Base (B550) to Big Crayon Lip Rouge (B350). The product prices are reasonable enough; you can get a complete face set under B2,000. The B350 Fresh Green Tea Leaf Cream looks interesting, or try the BLOSSOM Shine Blossom Blush for under B390.
@cheese
• 02-658-4654. Open daily 11am-9pm. BTS Siam
The vibe: This space was recently transformed from a second hand brand name bag store to an all pink and flashy Korean cosmetic shop. The pink-wallpapered houses shelves filled with boxes and tubes of beauty products, and almost like Etude house, this place sends out a very feminine vibe.
The goods: Skincare products and cosmetics imported from Korea, with prices starting from B200. Still you can also find some of the remaining secondhand bags, including brands like Dior and Gucci, for sale on the front shelf. Ask at the store for prices as they vary depending on the bag.
Food And Drink
mr bun
• Open daily 8am-8pm. BTS Sala Daeng (Exit 3-4)
The vibe: OK, so we’re in a Krispy Kreme craze at the moment but remember when we were all going gaga for the butter buns from Roti Boy? Well these days Mr. Bun is about the only one to have survived the fad’s downturn. What makes it so irresistible is the tempting buttery smell, which we have to battle past every day on the way to work.
The goods: Mr. Bun doesn’t just do buns anymore. They also have croissants, donuts, and sticks. For B10, you can have the original Mexican vanilla bun or the chocolate bun. Bored of buns? try the almond sticks or the corn cheese sticks, also for B10.
D cup Café
• 086-975-5606. Open daily 6am-3pm. BTS Ploenchit
The vibe: BTS Ploenchit is a bit deserted if you compare it to other, more civilized stations. Thankfully, there’s this cute little coffee shop (hidden on one side of the exits), offering a nice English-garden style setting for a visitors to sit and sip a coffee and enjoy some cake.
The goods: B30 for a hot espresso or B40 for the white choc latte. There are also some nice desserts like the blueberry pie, or the chocolate cake at B30 per slice.
Veget-Table
• 089-492-8159. Open daily 6am-8pm. BTS Ari
The vibe: Out of all the countless coffee and sandwich stands at every other station, Veget-Table at least offers a healthier choice for Bangkokians’ diet. If you happen to pass by this station, this place can help you get your five servings a day.
The goods: Fresh fruit salad, or mixed salad for B35 or B55 depending on size. Their mixed salad comes with a choice of Japanese soy sauce with sesame, Caesar, Thousand Island, or plain cream dressings. But if you crave something sweet, there are also low-fat desserts like Yoghurt Fruit-ding, panna cotta, and the blueberry cracker at B20 each. For vegetarians, the shop has a list of tempting soy milk drinks like the red bean soy milk, or the dragon fruit soy milk (B12).
Cupcakes Inc.
• Open daily 8am-8pm. BTS Siam
The vibe: Some say ‘cupcakes are a girl’s best friends,’ but we say cupcakes are everybody’s best friends. The great thing about these little creations is that there is no occasion needed. It can be a birthday gift, an anniversary, or just an ordinary day treat. Cupcakes Inc. makes it easy: just pick one from their shelf, and take it on the train home with you.
The goods: You can get the tempting strawberry, tiramisu, mint choc chips, and caramel cupcakes for B45 each, or go extra rich with the dark chocolate ganache (B50). They also supply adorable carry-boxes to make sure it gets home safely.
Kanomchompu
• 087-917-1399. Open daily 6am-8pm. BTS Sala Daeng (Exit 1) & BTS Chit Lom
The vibe: Kanomchompu is a small, shiny coffee bar, with pictures of their recommended menus out front. A few seats are available in the shop for customers to sit and wait for their favorite brew. What’s really cool and different about this place, though, is that they don’t just brew the beans fresh. They also offer caffeine lovers the essential coffee making utensils from grinders and roasters to the flavored syrups so they can make their own cup of joe.
The goods: Freshly brewed hot coffee starts at B30 and B35 for iced. The owner recommends the cocoa banana frappe, Monkey Choc (B55). Or pick up one of their antique style coffee pots to brew your own at home, prices start at B450 depending on size.
Stuff
From tutus to popcorn makers, some of the odder shops on the BTS.
O-BO
• 085-156-1532. Open daily 10.30am-8.30pm. BTS Chitlom
The vibe: There can’t be many shops that make you want to sign up for ballet classes but that’s what might happen if you prance into O-BO, as this shop is dedicated to dance accessories. From full outfits to tutus and ballet shoes this is a one-stop shop for dancing gear.
The goods: They really do have everything from ballet shoes (from B800 to B1,900, depending on size) to really cute stretchy lycra outfits for B1,200.
HOLGA
• 087-985-4208. Open daily 10am-7.30pm. BTS National Stadium
The vibe: There’s no mistaking what this place is about. This basic glass box is packed with nothing but the brightly colored Holga cameras and pretty much every accessory you can think of. The cameras have been growing in popularity for the past years in Thailand due to their fun functionality and the funky pictures they produce
The goods: From the basic models to more limited edition cameras, prices start from B300 but can rise to around B3,300. You can also pick up accessories like fisheye lenses, color filters, and flashes to add further quirky effects to your snaps.
www.gift-bkk.com
• 089-505-5546. Open daily 11am-10pm. BTS National Stadium
The vibe: Tall white shelves filled with toys and gadgets like digital alarm clocks and popcorn makers. Peek inside, and the colorful displays and quirky items will remind you of a mini version of the Japanese megastore, Loft. If you’re looking for a quick gift on your way home, then this is where to get it on the go.
The goods: Hundreds of cool gifts and gadgets sold at both retail and wholesale prices. Our pick is the cool popcorn maker for B3,200 and a soda dispenser for B8,500.
BTS by the Numbers
BTS Brands
BK Asks: What shop or facility would you most like at the BTS station?
