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Antique Shopping in Bangkok

Thailand’s unique history and culture make Bangkok a great place to shop for high quality art and antiques. Dedicated antique stores and monthly auctions offer a large selection of items from throughout Southeast Asia for all budgets. Both original pieces and high quality replicas are available in Bangkok, with prices for original items relatively more affordable in Thailand than in many other countries.

  • Note that you’ll need a certificate from the Ministry of Culture to transport any Buddhist statues out of Thailand. The majority of reputable antique dealers in Bangkok will be able to apply for a certificate of approval on your behalf.
  • Planning to shop for antiques while you’re in Bangkok? Below, we’ve listed three of Bangkok’s best antique shopping malls to help you find high quality, authentic items during your visit.

River City

Bangkok In Transit - Tuk Tuk, Boat, Train, Foot, Car
Bangkok In Transit – Tuk Tuk, Boat, Train, Foot, Car © coolinsights

  • River City is a large shopping mall located beside the Chao Phraya River in Bang Rak. The mall is easy to access from BTS Saphan Taksin — just walk from the station to Sathorn Pier and take the free shuttle boat, which runs every 20 minutes, to River City.
  • There are numerous shops inside River City that specialise in Thai antiques, both original items and high quality replicas. Replica items are almost always clearly marked and aren’t marketed as authentic, original pieces.
  • Some of the antiques you can find inside River City include Buddhist statues and paintings, Thai porcelain items, precious metal pieces, antique paintings and maps, furniture and more. Most of the dealers in River City are antique experts and can provide detailed information on the pieces they have for sale.
  • River City’s large selection of antique shops make it a great place to start shopping. Prices for most items are negotiable. The shops in River City are also well established and can help you gain approval to export Buddhist items to your home country.

Riverside Auction House

  • River City hosts monthly antique auctions that offer a great opportunity to purchase high quality antiques at reasonable prices. Auctions take place in the Riverside Auction House, which is on the fourth floor of the shopping mall, on the first Saturday of every month.
  • All of the pieces up for auction are independently appraised and verified as authentic by experts from the Association for the Propagation and Promotion of Objets d’Art. The Riverside Auction House also has infrequent online auctions for various pieces through its website.

OP Place

  • Oriental Plaza, better known as OP Place, is a historical building dating back to 1908 located a short distance from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Inside, a large variety of shops sell everything from high-end jewellery and precious stones to antiques from Thailand and abroad.
  • All of the antiques available inside OP Place are certified as authentic by Thailand’s Ministry of Culture. The Ashwood Gallery, located on the third floor of the building, is a popular place to shop for high quality antiques from Thailand and Myanmar.
  • OP Place is easy to reach from the BTS Skytrain station at Saphan Taksin. Exit the station and walk to Charoen Krung Road, then take a taxi to OP Place. Alternatively, you can take the free shuttle to the Mandarin Oriental and exit the hotel, then cross Charoen Krung 36 Alley to OP Place.

The Silom Galleria

  • The Silom Galleria is an upmarket shopping mall located inside the plaza of the Jewelry Trade Centre on Silom Road. The shopping centre stocks a variety of Thai and Chinese antiques and artworks, as well as hosting art exhibitions for artists from throughout Asia.
  • Most of the gem, jewellery and antique dealers are located in the basement of the building, with a selection of galleries on the third and fourth floors. In addition to the dealers, the galleries are worth a visit, as a large number of the pieces on display are available for sale.
  • Getting to The Silom Galleria is simple. Take the BTS Skytrain to Surasak Station, then walk up Soi Surasak to Silom Road. The shopping centre is located inside the Jewelry Trade Centre — a large office skyscraper that’s easy to see from Silom Road.



Boutique Hotels in Bangkok

Our pick of boutique hotels in Bangkok are:
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