I’m Chinatown is a shopping mall in the Yaowarat area where you can sip a cup of coffee and cool yourself here. Now you may think “I don’t think a shopping mall is what I need to see here. I want some real Chinatown experience.” Well, you might think again if you are the kind of person who is concerned about the “standard of living”, especially when you travel to the “old town” where some parts of the area might be a bit unpleasant.
Like many shopping malls in Bangkok, I’m Chinatown is filled with shops which offer everything you need to survive in a decent quality as well. Cold air to cool down from hot weather outside. Nice food from both global and local restaurant chains. Clean and safe restrooms, yes this is the most important part! From here you can also walk to every place you want to visit in Yaowarat area, which is why I recommend this place as a starting point or at least a resting spot after a long day.
Here are the other things inside this shopping mall you should know.
Branded food stall and restaurants
I know it may sound contradictory since you want to experience the local. Think about it this way. If you are not so sure you can take the local food for every meal or concerned about the quality of local services in the area, at least having a trusted choice is better.
Starbucks, Boosts juice, KFC as well as local branded restaurants such as Yayoi japanese restaurant, Dok Tor dim sum and MK hotpot can be found in this shopping mall.
Massage and personal care
There is an upscale massage place called “Let’s Relax” on the 3rd floor, offering a calm and relaxed environment at the heart of a crowded area with skilled therapists at a reasonable price. At this place, there is no prostitution and no additional tips requested.
You can also find Watsons, a pharmacy where you can buy medicine and some personal supplies such as wet wipes, band-aids, sanitary pads, lip balm, hand or foot cream, etc. The shop always has pharmacists on duty where you can also consult for small accidents such as blisters, allergy, etc. It is very important to know because in Yaowarat, it can be difficult to find a pharmacy in the area.
Stay at ASAI hotel
If you think Yaowarat has more to experience and you do not want to risk staying in the local hotel you do not know. I would recommend staying at the ASAI hotel which is right above this shopping mall. ASAI hotel is a 3.5-star minimalist boutique hotel under the chain of Dusit Thani, Thailand’s most renowned 6 stars hotel chain. For sure you will receive the best quality of service here.
The hotel also has a special room type with a bunk bed in combination with either twin, queen or king size bed which can accommodate up to 4 persons to stay in the same room. If you are traveling together and prefer to share the room to save cost, this is the perfect option for you. Claim your best deals from the hotel here. (contains affiliate link)
Opening hours
I’m Chinatown opens everyday from 10:00 until 21:00
Entrance fee
Free for everyone
How to get there?
There are many interesting places nearby within walking distance. You can find more information about the transportation in this area from this link.
- By MRT
Get off the train at MRT Wat Mangkorn Station and use exit 3. Walk along the Charoenkrung towards the southeast and cross Phlap Phla Chai road. Continue to walk for another 100 meters, the entrance to the shopping mall is on the left. - By Car
I’m Chinatown offers a 24 hour car park. However, there is a parking fee of 40 Baht per hour for the first 2 hours. 50 Baht per hour after the 3rd hour. You can park here and walk to another place as well. - By TukTuk/Taxi
The driver may offer or charge you an overpriced rate but you can always negotiate for a lower price. It is better to negotiate first before entering the vehicle.
