Asiatique The Riverfront is the newest Bangkok Night Market, opened in May 2012. Ever since the closure of the Lumphini night market there have been different places that tried to “fill the gap” – and this finally is it.
Actually it’s more than a typical night market – it could also be called a shopping and lifestyle complex. But the main place is a shopping area located in the old warehouses of the East Asiatic Company.
And that’s the really nice thing about it: The Riverfront is an homage to Bangkok’s past as a riverside trading post during the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Originally this was the pier where a lot of the teak wood trade took place, managed by Mr. Hans Nille Andersen.
Located on the grounds which formerly belonged to a Danish trading company, many of the original buildings have been retained (although they did get a “facelift”).
It’s popular not just with tourists, but also with Thais, but it definitely is the most upscale night market in Bangkok. One of the first things you’ll see when you walk from the river to the market is a huge iStore.
The Asiatique Riverfront is separated in four districts:
1.The Factory District is where the shopping goes on, and where most of the 1500 small shop are located in old warehouses. You find lots of fashion, some souvenirs, design items, handicrafts, furniture, home furnishings and other things, and the selection resembles the kind of merchandise you find at Terminal 21 – at least when it comes to fashion. You get good value for the money you pay, but it’s not the cheap bargain hunting you find at many other night markets.
2.The Waterfront District is what you see when you first arrive by boat. You find fancy restaurants and event venues lined up along a 300m boardwalk. Concerts, festivals and the New Year’s countdown celebrations take place here.
3.The Down Square District is a mixture of Thai & Western influences – a large sports bar, international food, and a small events area.
4.The Chareonkrung District is where you find more than 1,000 retail shops selling handicrafts, home decor, souvenirs, but also the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre and the Calypso Show
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