Shiny palaces and majestic Wats are far from the only Big Mango oldies you should budget time for. A bonafide shopper’s paradise, Bangkok is chokka with one-off curios, retro chattel and old-timey duds that will deplete your baggage allowance — provided you know where to look. For a completely curated list of the city’s top retail hits, nab a copy of the LUXE Bangkok guide. Here we round up five of the best vintage shops.
Labellist Vintage Vibes
Fancy yourself as bit of a label Mabel? This dinky doll in swanky Gaysorn Village is teeming with covetable Chanel and heavenly Hermès, repping eras from the swinging Sixties to the mid-noughties. Apart from divine couture swag, high-end baubles also make a tempting appearance on the shelves. Be still, heart and wallet!
2/F, Gaysorn Shopping Centre, 999 Phloenchit Rd, +66 2 656 1040, @LabellistVintageVibes
Classic Movie Poster
Come for the retro movie posters, stay for owner Mr. Santi’s friendly smile and encyclopaedic knowledge of classic cinema. This tiny shop in Siam Square boasts the city’s best curation of cine stealers, dating back to the 1950s. You’ll find photo-montage and painted numbers sourced from old theatres, including local films and Thai takes on international hits.
Lido Siam Square Soi 2, +66 2 255 3677, @classic-movie-poster
Wooden Submarine
This rustic trove may sell vintage treasures hailing from both sides of the Atlantic, but the look is pure old-school Americana. Rummage through a panoply of pre-loved menswear, which runs the gamut from perfectly-aged Levi’s to testosterone-boosting army jackets. Finish the look with the store’s edit of rugged boots and tell me about it, stud.
121/118 Phayathai Rd, +66 81 255 2866, @Woodensubmarine
Read More: Shop These Thai Brands on Your Next Trip to Bangkok
Nightingale-Olympic
Time hop back to the mid-century with a trip to the fantastically odd Nightingale-Olympic, a Brutalist-fronted department that’s frozen in time. Novelty tchotchkes await inside, from board games to an overstock of old-school exercise equipment. Those in the mood for random fashion and beauty finds will be chuffed by the Puma tennis shorts and Merle Norman beauty parlour on offer. Game on!
70 Tri Phet Rd, +66 2 221 9773
Papaya
Multi-level Papaya is a fruity concoction of vintage treasures, spanning from Vespa scooters to Ultraman and Batman figurines. This suburban warehouse is a huge labyrinth, replete with lighting, clocks, TVs and tableware. Happy hunting!
Soi Lat Pharo 55/2, +66 2 539 8220
But wait, there’s more! Bangkokians don’t half love vintage, and shops are sprouting up quicker than Donatella changes her knix. Serious label hunters should zip over to Thong Lor’s The Vintage Store, Tokyo Joe on Sukhumvit soi 39, and girly mecca Again & Again on Rama IV. For more of a root and a rummage through retro clothing, decor and eclecetera, hit The Camp Vintage Flea Market (opp Chatuchak Market) held Tue-Sun from 3pm.
Updated November 2018.
Hero Image: Labelist Vintage Vibes (Photo: Courtesy of Labelist Vintage Vibes)
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