Every guy in Bangkok needs to know these shoeshine specialists
For guys who wear real leather, there are still a few spots around town where you can get a good shoeshine.
7 years ago
Vulture Shoeshine
The man behind Vulture Shoeshine is both a collector and a hobbyist who took his love for leather shoes and turned it into a business. Since March 2015, Vulture Shoeshine has been trading shoeshines online, offering to come to customers' homes to shine their shoes or take them away for more major cosmetic surgery. Services include general cleaning (B200), water repellant application (B150), heel and sole dressing (B150) and high shines (B200 above regular cleaning).
64/27 Ekkamai Soi 10, 086-302-7201. BTS Ekkamai. Open Thu-Sun 6pm-midnight. www.fb.com/vultureshoeshine
Oliver and Co
Our favourite gentleman’s store in All Seasons Place is another low-key shoeshine specialist with prices starting at B350. Aside from shines, the two-year-old shop also deals in all kinds of shoe repair, promising to restore your shoes to 95-percent new condition.
1st Flr All Seasons Place, 080-287-1199. Open Mon-Fri 11am-6:30pm; Sat 11am-5pm; Sun 12:30pm-5pm. BTS Phloen Chit. www.fb.com/olverandcobkk
Truefitt & Hill
England’s oldest barbershop is one of few barbers around town offering more than just traditional cuts and fades. Here you can choose from a 15-minute basic shine (B350) or a 60 minute premium shine (B550), both of which use imported products like French brand Saphir Paris and Japanese brand Boot Black. To pass the time customers can enjoy some of the spa services like manicures (B550/30mins) and pedicures (B1,100/60mins) or grab a royal hair cut (B1,100).
1/F, Emporium, 622 Sukhumvit Rd., 061-1624-663. BTS Phrom Phong. Open daily 10am-10pm
4/F, Central Embassy, 1031 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-160-5755. BTS Phloen Chit. Open daily 10am-10pm
Mango Mojito
Founded in 2009, this Thai brand came about as way of picking up the slack in Thai menswear and has become much of an icon ever since. Besides a large range of classic gentleman-style shoes, they offer 15-minute quick shines (B200) and 45-60 minute premium shines (B400) which incorporate French brand Saphir cleaning products use alongside horsehair brushes. Services are available at J Avenue (Thonglor) and Siam Square branches only.
J Avenue, Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-5529. Open daily 12pm-9pm. BTS Thonglor
Siam Square Soi 2, 02-252-5945. Open daily 12pm-9pm. BTS Siam
Don's Footwear
After running a made-to-order shoes business online for six years, engineer-turned-shoemaker Allan Donnelly decided on a more permanent location at the bottom of Mahanakhon Cube. Besides a large range of made-to-order hand-welted shoes Don’s also features an entire menu dedicated to shoe servicing. The menu includes 10 minute express shines (B180), mirror shines (B500), Patina vintage look (B1,000), heel changes (B500), sole and heel replacement (B1,500) and repairs which range from B500-B1,750. Customers who purchase Don's shoes also receive free repairs and touch ups.
B1/F, Mahanakhon Cube Building, 96 Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Rd., 080-071-7176. Open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. BTS Chong Nonsi
Smile Club Thailand
Cuts, perms and hair colouring aren't the only things on offer at the well-hidden Smile Club barber. Here, there’s a choice of express, express premium or premium shines for your sneakers (from B250), loafers (from B350) and wingtips (from B450). Boots sit at B850 and are only applicable for the premium shine, which uses high-quality Saphir polish.
3/F, Siam Square One (inside Plearnwan Panich), Rama 1 Rd., 085-999-6615. Open daily 11:30am-7pm. BTS Siam
Selektiv
Selektiv offers a 1-2 day drop-off and pick-up shoe service at both of their branches. On the menu are oil tan, calfskin/water buffalo and chromexcel and horsehide shines, all of which are available in the standard service at B350 or premium service at B550. The more high-end cordovan shine costs B650, while shell cordovan premium, exotic and textured leather (skin) and suede/nubuck premium services are all B850.
Siam Square Soi 2, 02-251-0239. Open daily 11am-9pm. BTS Siam
1/Fl Gateway Ekkamai, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-108-2789. Open daily 11am-9pm. BTS Ekkamai
Heavy Selection
Heavy Selection runs a little shoe shine service between Pur.Suit and Barberford in what seems to be a bit of a gentleman's corner in the newly re-opened Siam Discovery. Here three are three services on offer ranging from B350-B850 each encompassing the ever-popular French Saphir.
M/F, Siam Discovery, Rama 1 Rd., 086-393-4308. Open by appointment only. BTS National Stadium
Also see: Everything you need to know to polish your own shoes in Bangkok
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