Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

The food court on the ground floor is the real reason to visit, not the shops. Central Ladprao opened in 1982 as Bangkok's first Central Plaza, the original Central Pattana shopping mall, and still feels like a neighborhood shopping center at the Lat Phrao intersection, where locals eat and do their weekly shopping, rather than a showcase for tourists.

The layout is self-explanatory once you understand it. The ground floor houses the food court, various restaurants, and a supermarket. Fashion and accessories fill the middle floors, with restaurants located above them, and the SFX cinema on the sixth floor. The Central department store is attached to the Phahon Yothin side, and the Centara Grand Hotel tower overlooks the complex.

It's located north of Chatuchak's city center, which is an advantage as there are fewer tourists and people can simply enjoy their weekend. It's easily combined with a morning at the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is about 2 km south and accessible by BTS or MRT station. It's quieter on weekday mornings and busier on weekends.