Emporium Shopping Complex, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok
Emporium is an upmarket Shopping Complex close to soi 24 on Sukhumvit Road. It consists of the Emporium Department Store and various retail outlets of famous brands. Emporium Shopping Complex started operating in 1997 but received a major overhaul in 2014-2015. The mall has also a brand new expansion on the other side of Sukhumvit road, called EmQuartier, which opened in April 2015. The EmQuartier is actually larger than Emporium, and consists of many buildings connected with walkways and elevators. Lots of large shops there, and ample possibility of getting disoriented by the large scale of things.
Emporium itself is a bit more concise, and offers many luxury goods, besides a variety of standard products, and even an upmarket grocery store, called Gourmet Market.
Emporium Shopping Complex is located close to soi 24, Sukhumvit Road, and is easily reached by the BTS skytrain (Phrompong station)
When entering, the retail stores are surrounding an atrium, 5 floors high. A corridor connects on the right hand connects to another area of retail shops. The Emporium Department Store itself is located behind the retail stores.
A weak point is that there is apparently no reception desk at the entrance. Neither are there any small maps available that may guide you through the rather big shopping center.
Besides the multiple fashion outlets (and a lot of people visiting Emporium seem to actually be wearing the stuff), there are other interesting shops.
The Kinokuniya bookstore has moved from Emporium to related EM Quartier across Sukhumvit Road (on the third floor). Asia Books is still located at Emporium, on the third floor.
The Ground Floor and Mezzanine Floor offer a wide choice of international fashion brands, and luxury watches. Among others you may find here : Dior Homme, Gucci, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Dior, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Roger Vivier. Watchmakers and Jewelry Stores include : Montblanc, Omega, Rolex, Bulgari, Cartier, etc.
The first floor offers ample space for various Thai fashion designer outlets.
A Sports Mall is located on the 2nd floor, with a variety of sporting goods, sneakers, sportswear etc.
A big section of the 3th floor is taken by Power Mall. Here you will find all kinds of televisions with plasma or LCD screens, besides other home appliances. On the same floor there is also a large luxury outlet of famed Jim Thompson silk products.
Towards the back of the 4th floor (above Emporium Department Store) there is a supermarket and a food court. The Gourmet Market is somewhat unluckily located on a top floor, but offers a wide selection of groceries at upmarket prices. Closeby you can also buy a variety of freshly made Thai desserts. Gourmet Market offers also bakery products throughout the store.
Emporium Wine Cellar is to be found adjacent to the supermarket. It is also a place where you can find pipe tobacco and cigars (though they can not be displayed anymore in Thailand). A food court called Park Foodhall offers better (and pricier) than average fast food. Starbucks is also located on the 4th floor.
Let's not forget the Emporium Department Store itself, offering even more brand names. The store itself is well laid out, with ample walking space.
Inside Emporium Shopping Complex
The 5th floor of the Emporium Shopping Complex houses the EMPrive Cineclub with different movie theatres, offering recently released Hollywood films.
The movie theatres are very comfortable. One should know that it is really rather cheap to watch movies in Bangkok. Seating may be a lot more luxurious than average here, and prices will be upmarket.
Emporium used to stand on its own. Not anymore with the 'extension' a few years ago of EMQuartier on the opposite side of Sukhumvit Road. The malls are connected with expansive walkways, reached from the Mezzanine (M) floor at Emporium.\ (and connecting with the Skytrain Phromphong station). When looking for famous fashion brands and luxury watches or jewelry, you will find it here. While not located between Siam Square and Central Chitlom, where most of the other fancy shopping complexes are located, it can easily be reached from there by the BTS skytrain. The skytrain station is directly connected to Emporium. Clearly the Emporium Shopping Complex, after almost two decades, is still one of the most upmarket shopping complexes in Bangkok and Thailand. The even bigger Siam Paragon complex (same management) attracts maybe more visitors nowadays, but Emporium is still attracting the fashion-conscious crowd.