One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and we scoured the city in hopes of finding the most unique of items and goods with a little wear and tear in them. Here are the top ten second-hand stores in Bangkok.
The goods and fashion finds at (un) FASHION Vintage are just as unique as its name. This four-part shop is located just off the BTS Skytrain Station Ekkamai, and it is surely one store that coffee lovers and shopaholics alike must visit before departing the City of Angels. (un) FASHION Vintage is a quartet of sorts, made up of two quaint coffee shops, a store dedicated to women’s shoes and bags, and another store geared towards men. The interiors of both shops are equipped with shelves crowded with a wide array of stylish shoes. Leather bags double as décor, with ceilings chock full of fashionable and unique finds. From Italy to the United States, the vintage items found at this shop have traveled far and wide to get there. Overwhelmed with choices, visitors may find themselves in the tiny shops much longer than anticipated.
Located just a short walk from the BTS Skytrain Station Thonglor is the adorable and quaint Thonglor Art Village. The first thing that greets shoppers is a rack sitting just outside its entrance, with ฿100 deals worth browsing. The Thonglor Art Village will not fall short of shoppers expectations, as it is equipped with multiple rooms dedicated to an assortment of different second-hand items. Behind the first door on the left is a wide array of unique jewelry, with bulky and delicate pieces intermingling in its display. Wander further into the village and find used clothing, purses, home décor, and more.
From horror to comedy to drama, bookworms in Bangkok will be delighted to hear that Dasa Book Café has all the genres they need to satisfy their reading needs. Equipped with some 18,000 titles, visitors will simply get lost in the stacks upon stacks of lightly used books crammed into the shop. In addition to books, Dasa Book Café also sells a wide variety of second-hand CDs.
Located in Baan Ekkamai is Cocue Basics. The vintage shop used to be located in Siam Paragon, the kingdom of all things shopping. It relocated, however, and found that it thrives among the other cool shopping finds in this particular neighborhood. It certainly has one of the largest collections of vintage finds, with everything from fashionable denim to retro accessories in stock.
The markets in Bangkok, in terms of second-hand shopping, simply cannot be beaten. Many are equipped with thousands of stalls with items that are both cheap and only gently used. Sorting through rows upon rows of goods and clothing can be an exhausting but rewarding endeavor, and the best market to take on in hopes of finding the best second-hand clothing is Talad Rod Fai, otherwise known as Bangkok’s first train market. The market itself is actually nowhere near a train, as it was moved to a new location a few years ago, but it remains the home to some of the best second-hand items in town.
Do not let the name fool you: this restaurant is made up of everything but brass musical instruments. Located off the BTS Skytrain Station Ekkamai is TUBA Design Furniture & Restaurant. This restaurant and second-hand store duo is a great place to congregate with friends and enjoy all that this unique venue has to offer. Mix-and-match retro furniture is found throughout, fostering a cool vibe and making it a great hangout spot. In addition to its atmosphere, the menu is delicious and extensive, serving up both Thai and western cuisine. Do not forget to check out TUBA Design Furniture & Restaurant’s happy hour deals, happening every day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Shades of Retro combines three of people’s favorite things: shopping, delicious food, and booze. That’s right, this restaurant, bar, and vintage store trio is giving people one too many reasons to visit Shades of Retro, located in Thonglor. Have a cocktail while browsing its wide selection of everything second-hand and incredibly cool, from vinyl to furniture and more. Its interior is an interesting hodgepodge of some unique furniture finds, almost all of which are actually for sale. From colored lamps to leather seating, Shades of Retro has it all. Browse the goods or have a drink at this noteworthy venue.
Shoppers do not need to travel back in time to find the best and coolest of clothing that are seemingly no longer available in today’s shopping arenas. Founded in August 2011, Lost & Found Store in Thonglor is selling clothing from the 20th century and beyond. From denim vests to Harley Davidson t-shirts, this store is certainly worth meandering through in hopes of finding the most unique of ensembles. The store is actually located on the second floor of another great vintage find: Zudrangma Records. Vinyl-lovers and fashionistas alike can come together for an afternoon of cool finds.
Off the BTS Skytrain Station Ekamai is Was Were Will. This neighborhood is seemingly chock full of lightly used, fashionable finds, and Was Were Will is no exception. With a number of Zakka and Japanese-inspired products, shoppers will certainly find something amongst the clothing, shoes, bags, and more that this vintage shop has in stock. Those hoping for something a little less aged will be happy to know that the store has a combination of new items amongst the vintage ones.
Thonglor is becoming all the rage, so it is no wonder that this is where Again & Again would set up shop. As the name suggests, the clothing and accessories here have been around the block a few times, but in a good way. The shop itself looks like a gazebo of sorts, with a stark white exterior sporting its eye-catching logo. Stylish purses, racks upon racks of fashionable, lightly used clothing, and a plethora of hats are just a few things visitors can expect to find upon visiting this awesome fashion find. All of the incredible goods are geared towards women: fashion-forward women, that is.
