Chaing Mai’s range of shopping malls may not be on par with the plethora of megamalls in Bangkok, but the commercial retail scene in the northern capital certainly is on the rise, with several big openings popping up over the last few years.

The prominent Central Group first arrived near the airport a long while ago and have since added another massive mall to their ever-growing portfolio on the highway near Big C (Central Festival). The modern Maya Mall makes our list too, located in the trendy Niman area, and we’ve also a couple of golden oldies still worth checking out for their bargains and sense of nostalgia. Find our top five shopping malls in Chiang Mai below.

This first Central Mall to be built in Chiang Mai still remains the most popular thanks to its easy to reach location near the airport, and just a short 5-10-minute tuk-tuk ride from the Old City. Inside you’ll find an air-conditioned haven of shops, from designer brands (not that many) to common high street names. There’s also a decent food court downstairs, cute ‘Lanna’ style markets selling handicrafts and local produce and a large entertainment complex at the top complete with cinema and games arcade. For those staying near the Amora Thapae, Imperial Mae Ping, Centara Duangtawan, D2, Suriwong Hotel, Royal Princess, Empress and Holiday Inn hotels there is a free shuttle service to the mall. If you’re staying elsewhere, you might want to look at a map and see if the newer ‘Central Festival’ is closer.

One of the latest malls to hit Chiang Mai is the impressive Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre, located on the trendy Niman Road (thus proving very popular with local yuppies and university students). The ‘lifestyle’ title is quite appropriate for this mall; as well as ample fashion stores, you’ll find a range of restaurants, cafes, an entertainment complex with a cinema, and an awesome rooftop which boasts plenty of bars with city views (our recommendation is ‘Myst’). On the shopping front, big names to look out for at this rather futuristic-looking mall include Jaspal, CC-00, Adidas and Oakley – although if it’s purely fashion you’re after then Central’s two malls do provide more options.

The second of Central Group’s malls arrived in Chiang Mai in 2014 and offers a whopping 250,000 sqm of floor space over 70 acres – making this the city’s biggest mall. Sometimes just know as ‘Central Fest’, the mall is located right on the superhighway that goes around the city; great for those with cars, not do great for tourists staying in the Old City about 15-20 minutes away (you’ll need a taxi or tuk-tuk). In terms of fashion, Central Festival is also unrivalled, with international brands such as Topshop/Topman, Marks & Spencer, H&M and plenty of international and local designer names taking up space in the department store spread over six floors. Of course, no Central mall is complete without a cinema and dozens of restaurants, meaning you could spend a whole day here if that your thing (or if it’s raining outside).

The first ever mall to be built in Chiang Mai, the long-standing Kad Suan Kaew is a shopping institution in the city, even though it doesn’t draw the same crowds as it used to. The inside is showing its age a bit, but the good thing about this mall is that its located equidistance from both Niman Road and the north-western edge of the Old City – so walking distance if you are staying around here. International fashion stores are a bit limited, but the food court never disappoints and there is also some bowling and beers available on the top floor, good for rainy days or an afternoon out of the heat.

Never heard of a ‘resort mall’ before? Let us explain the concept. The idea behind Promenada was to create a shopping space that felt as though you were on vacation, or walking through a park with plenty of greenery, trees and ponds to help the mall blend into the natural landscape. While we’re not sure about how ‘natural’ this mall really is, there is plenty of good stores and restaurants to look out for, as well as a large cinema, bowling lanes and ice skating rink. Find Promenada Resort mall on Chiang Mai-Sankampaeng Road, just off the Super Highway.

Source:Qiang Mai