Chaweng is the place that has the best shopping options in the whole of Samui Island. Of course, other popular Samui resort towns – such as Bophut and Lamai – also have engaging stores but Chaweng is the only place that hosts large shopping malls and supermarkets in addition to a bustling weekly Walking Street (street market) plus a large number of small stand-alone boutiques at which visitors can find a wide range of clothing, cosmetics and souvenirs.
Our Top 10 Shopping in Chaweng features the most renowned boutiques and shops, selected for the quality of the items they sell or for their size and prominence. From budget shopping at the Chaweng Walking Street to high-end spending in exclusive brand-name boutiques, there’s something for everyone on our list.
A brand-new Central Festival Samui has opened in March 2014 in the centre of Chaweng, making it the latest shopping haven in the ever-popular resort town. Here, visitors can find a plethora of brand-named boutiques - Camel, Adidas, AIIZ, Esprit, Jim Thompson to name just a few - as well as chain restaurants and bars such as Auntie Anne’s, Black Canyon Coffee, Haagen-Dazs and much more.
Supersports (sport equipment and clothing), Central Department Store (clothing and accessories), Power Buy (electronic sound and image equipment) and Tops Market (convenience store) are also in this huge shopping plaza which brings to Samui this famous Thai national flagship outlet. Read More...
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:30
- Location: the main entrance is on Chaweng Beach Road
- Tel: 077- 962777
It’s hard to imagine shoppers in the West sipping on cocktails while out shopping but at Chaweng Walking Street Market you can do just that, and for very little money, too. Chaweng Walking Street is a riot of colours, sounds and scents. This is where you can haggle for items such as T-shirts, sunglasses, knockoff watches, beach dresses, lamps, sexy cutoff jeans; copied Ralph Laurent polo shirts, flip-flops, bags of all shapes and sizes, carved wooden souvenirs, kids’ clothing and cosmetics.
It’s also a riot of tastes, with countless food stands selling grilled chicken, squid, delicious sweet boiled chicken, sticky rice, and smoothies. Everyone seems to be in good humour here and the intense touting of Chaweng’s main shopping street may as well be on another planet. Read More...
- Opening Hours: 16:00 -24:00 Closed on Fridays and Sundays
- Location: South Chaweng just off the main street
Amazonas
Amazonas are two boutiques located on Chaweng Beach Road selling beachwear, sportswear, lingerie and cool fashion accessories. The larger of the two boutiques is an impressive two-storey building located diagonally opposite Red Snapper Restaurant; it is named Amazonas 1974 and is designed in a well thought-out style blending retro and modern influences: A fashionable venue that offers a great choice of very original clothing (some would say extravagant) for both men and women.
The smaller Amazonas boutique is opposite Paris Follies Cabaret and is a tiny outlet (2x4m) that sells house-brand Sakura and Envy beachwear, bikinis and swimsuits created by local designers and produced in Thailand. Both stores’ products are quality items.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
- Location: Chaweng Beach Road
Iyara Shopping Plaza
The chic and stylish shopping arcade Iyara Shopping Plaza is part of Iyara Beach Hotel in the north of Chaweng and offers a good selection of women’s and men’s wear as well as kids’ clothes. Among their leading products are Nautica, Lacoste, Adidas, Nike, Geox, Elle, Pierre Cardin, Warner Bros, Puma, Ashworth, Nike Kids and Looney Tunes. If you are after antiques, Thai crafts and striking jewelry, look no further than Iyara Shopping Plaza.
A classy bakery and coffee-shop – La Croissanterie – is also in Iyara Shopping Plaza. It allows tired shoppers to take a break in a modern air-conditioned venue which serves a great choice of delicious pastries and cakes, fruit juices and shakes, as well as coffee and tea.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 12:00 22:00
- Location: Iyara Beach Hotel
Jim Thompson
Named after the man who single handedly revolutionalised Thailand's silk industry, Jim Thompson sells all things silk: shirts, skirts, jackets, ties and even cuddly toys, all come in slinky silk and are expertly cut.
Jim Thompson now has two retail shops in Chaweng: the original one is part of Centara Grand Beach Resort, located at the front of the resort it is a rather small boutique; the other is located on the first floor of the brand-new Central Festival Samui. If you're after quality souvenirs from Thailand, look no further.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
- Location: Centara Grand Beach Resort and Central Festival Samui
- Tel: 077-230521 (at Centara Grand Beach Resort)
Classic Gems
Classic Gems is a long-established (since 1998) jewellery outlet located along the Beach Road in the heart of Chaweng. Renowned for the exceptional standards and high quality of its products, it is a member of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association; at Classic Gems, each diamond has to be 20 carats and each of them must also be certified by the International Gemological Institute that grades each stone on colour, quality and clarity..
Classic Gems is a reliable jewellery specialist with certified gemstones supplied and cut at the shop's own private onsite factory. Here you can order bespoke jewellery or choose from a wide range of original rings, necklaces, bracelets and broaches on display at the store.
- Opening Hours: 13:00 – 21:00
- Location: Opposite Centara Grand Beach Resort, south Chaweng
- Tel: 077-230479
Life's a Beach
Life's a Beach is a famous Australian beachwear brand that has outlets in the main touristic Thai destinations. Chaweng’s branch is located in the central part of the main Beach Road right in front of Centara Grand Beach Resort. The boutique is pretty small yet features a good choice of top-quality bikinis, swimsuits and light dresses.
The items sold here are slightly more expensive than normal but better quality than many of its neighbours, Life's a Beach will have you looking classy and sassy on the sand.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
- Location: right in front of Centara Grand Beach Resort on Chaweng Beach Road
- Tel: 077-422630
Tattoo Studios in Chaweng
The Chaweng skin-art scene comprises about 20 studios offering a great choice of neat and clean places to get tattooed in style. It is interesting to note that local tattoo studios and nightlife entertainment venues are often associated; for instance you’ll find three tattoo parlours in Soi Green Mango. One long-established tattoo studio is Starcat Tattoo (open since 1996) located right next to Best Beach Bungalows on Chaweng Beach Road.
Other tattoo parlours such as Ayodhaya Tattoo, Predator Tattoo, Primitive Body Art, Art of Needle and Extreme Tattoo (to name just a few) are mostly located on or off the Beach Road. Bamboo sticks and electric machines are used according to customers’ wishes and style in most Chaweng studios.
- Opening Hours: usually from 13:00 – 23:00
- Location: Chaweng beach road
Udom Agg Findig
Udom Agg Findig is the place to go if you're looking for decent quality leather products from footwear to handbags to belts to wallets; the store also sells textiles, souvenirs of varying quality, as well as charming wooden figurines and toys. This weirdly-named company is in fact the association of two Thai businesses: Udom Agg that takes care of the marketing from Bangkok, and Findig which designs and produces the leather items in Samuth Phrakan.
With the coolest air conditioning system in Chaweng, this contemporary style store – which is also present in all major Thai touristic destinations – is definitely a comfortable place to shop at.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
- Location: Central Chaweng Beach Road (Two outlets)
- Tel: 077-413307
Chandra
Chandra is an exotic boutique retailing unique clothing and shoes, as well as handbags and fashion accessories. It is certainly a class above the naughty T-shirt and fake sunglasses brigade that surrounds it. The boutique features funky, exotic fashion sourced from around Asia, and exclusive designs from Bali.
Barak and Dana, the owners and main designers of the items for sale at Chandra are free-thinkers, rejecting conformity. Their creations represent this frame of mind, with a focus on elegance and stylishness. They mostly use natural textiles such as cotton, linen and silk because of their suitability in the tropics. All sizes are available at Chandra from petit Asian fits to tall westerner capaciousness.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
- Location: Two branches – on the Beach Road near McDonald's and a second branch opposite Via Vai Italian Restaurant
- Tel: 077-422311 or 077-960788
