The Mall Bangkapi
A huge shopping mall that looks like it has just been pumped out of the ground even while it already dates from 1994!. It looks brand new, shiny white and boasts four floors with all the chain stores you could possibly imagine. Thais absolutely love it, and flock to it in large numbers, but for travellers it is "been there done that". All the usual stores are in place, but at least it is a lively area with many commuters. Another plus is the Aeon Bank, which is the only bank that doesn't charge the 150 baht added commission for using foreign cards.
Central Power Center Huamark
Another ordinary shopping mall, which is quite lively but not as crowded as in downtown. It looks a bit old, but is still a nice browse as prices are noticeably cheaper than in The Mall. As usual, most of the products cater to local 20-somethings, including clothes, accessories, bags, beauty products and mobile phones. There is also an ATM at Aeon Bank, which does not charge the 150 baht commission on using foreign cards.
The Mall Ramkhamhaeng 2
This complex actually consists of two separate shopping malls, The Mall 3 at the northern side of Ramkhamhaeng Road and The Mall 2 at the southern side. Both are directly connected with each other and the road by an overhead pedestrian bridge. It is a good place to get something to eat, for example at Home Fresh Mart. There are plenty of chain restaurants too, including McDonald's at the side of the road.
Fashion Island
Fashion Island is a large shopping mall that, as the name indicates, mostly focuses on fashion stores. But it's not just clothes, shoes and design, as there are plenty of books, gems, jewellery and furniture on sale. The usual chain restaurants, cafes and cinemas are also present, as is Robinson Department Store. There's even an amusement park with a monorail running around the mall.
The Mall Ramkhamhaeng 3
The Mall 3 is rather generic and uninspiring, and anything on sale here can be found elsewhere in Bangkok probably for less too. As it opened in 1986, it is obvious that it is older and more cramped than The Mall Bangkapi, but prices are somewhat cheaper. There are only a few escalators, so expect to walk the stairs to get to the upper levels. There are a lot of clothing stores, and clothes always seem to be on sale in the common space on the ground floor. Of course there are also the usual DVD and book stores, and a plethora of chain restaurants, such as KFC.
There are plenty of shopping malls in the area, and these are your best bet for getting daily necessities. If you want to buy cheap, there is an interesting street market running kilometers north along Ramkhamhaeng Road from The Mall Ramkhamhaeng 3. Many of the stalls only set up around 18:00, so the area is at its liveliest around 19:00. Expect endless stalls of clothes and accessories, mostly visited by local female commuters.