Old Siam Plaza, Bangkok

The largest collection of silk shops with the best prices can be found in this shopping arcade at the edge of Chinatown. All the varieties are on offer – plain, striped, printed, raw, ikat – and you can be sure they are real silk. There are plenty of small shops selling Thai-made women's clothing, comfortable tunics and festive dresses – some with very reasonable prices – but also many options for gold jewelry, lace and fabric, electronics, and even guns as you go further up the floors.

Serving a good range of inexpensive Thai and Chinese dishes, the top-floor food court is in line with the nicer ones in Bangkok, but of special interest here is the traditional-themed food festival that permanently dominates the ground floor. Stalls with delicious ready-to-eat glazed fruits and sweets are worth sampling at least once – most made right before your eyes, others beautifully packaged. There's also a Dairy Queen inside, so if scorched a bit in the Thai heat, stop by for an Arctic Rush float, since that usually works wonders.

Overall, there is nothing slick or technical about this mall, but rather a fascinating slice of Thai life!