Silver/flatware/antiques
Enterprises
Start at the top of Soi Oriental (Charoen Krung Soi 40) and walk down towards Mandarin Oriental (see Accom.), detouring into the little soi on your right to find #9 Lin Jewelers / 02 234 2819 / linjewelers.com / for great picture frames, cufflinks and earrings, they can even engrave same day. Now totter down the soi and on your right you’ll see shabby old teak joint Thai Home Industries / #35 / 02 234 1736 / where time has stood still and so have the shop assistants, but at least they’ve finally whipped round with a duster. It’s an eclectic repository of bronze, pearl and nickel trenchers, cottons and flat tableware. If it’s not in stock you can order. Behind this store on Soi 38 is O.P. Place / 02 266 0186 / home to objets d’art at Objects / 2/F / 2266 0186 / and the divine antiques specialist Ashwood Gallery / 2/F / 02 266 0187 / the last word on Asian art. Swoon at how so many exquisite items came to be in one room; marvel at how you can’t afford any of them. Cry. Leave. Come out of O.P. Place, back onto Soi 38 and walk towards the main road Charoen Krung. Turn left to find O.P.’S courtyard sib O.P. Garden on Soi 36, where ATTA / Unit 1109-1110 / 02 234 6422 / attagallery.com / is the go-to for edgy, lim-ed jewellery. Opposite is fine art and photography space Serindia Gallery / Unit 3101-3201 / 02 238 6410 / serindiagallery.com / while out front lurks lush hair and skin boosting Siam Botanicals / 02 126 6617 / siambotanicals.com. Thirsty? Perch at leafy Mango Tree / 02 238 6400 / for a manao soda, but don’t linger. Skip back up to Charoen Krung Rd, head left, hail a cab and alight at the corner of Soi 30 also known as Captain Bush Lane. Nip down the soi and a couple of stores to the right at #1277 is Lek Gallery / 02 639 5870 / good for Thai and Burmese antiques. Exit, turn right and take the first left into a culde-sac housing dazzling idiosyncratic bronze and brass tables at P. Tendercool (see Adv. Shopping). Walk back onto Soi 30, turn left and at the corner you’ll find Asian / 59-65 Captain Bush Ln / 02 267 8063 / for all your bric-a-brac needs. Trot to the end of the soi and bear right past the back of the Sheraton to find the huge, four-storey cache of antique (and fauxtique) treasures at River City / Yotha Rd / off Charoen Krung Rd / 02 237 0077 / rivercity.co.th. Brave the dreary environs, go full caveat emptor and don’t forget to haggle. There are masks and lacquerware galore at #322 The Verandah and Beyond – ask to poke around their larger pieces upstairs; snap up mod art and antiques at #345 Pagoda (see Antiques). Nostalgic S.K. Graphic Arts / 08 1805 6034 / at #432 sells vintage maps, Indochine posters and prints. Dry as an old stick? Run the escalator to the G/F and nurse a cocktail at Viva Aviv The River / 02 639 6305. Still wanting more? Stagger to the jetty in front and hop on a ferry to Khlong San Pier for funky-chic warehouse The Jam Factory (see Activities) compound of bookstore, gallery, gorge interiors at Anyroom / 02 861 0955 / and hi-so comfort bites at / 02 861 0953 . Rather!