TL;DR Version: Central Rama 9 offers a practical, well-rounded shopping and entertainment experience with plenty of dining options, groceries, and even a movie theater. While it’s refreshing to avoid the luxury-focused atmosphere of other malls, inconsistent design choices, like mismatched holiday decorations, detract from its overall appeal. A good spot for casual visits, but not without its flaws.
Full Version: Central Rama 9 markets itself as a "One Stop Lifestyle Entertainment Shopping Complex," and for the most part, it lives up to this tagline. With its combination of restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and a movie theater, it’s a practical, multi-purpose destination that offers something for everyone. Unlike some high-end malls in Bangkok, which cater to luxury shoppers and social climbers, Central Rama 9 feels refreshingly grounded—a place for everyday people to dine, shop, and unwind.
The variety of dining options is particularly commendable, with choices ranging from casual snacks to full meals. Whether you’re craving Thai cuisine or an international dish, the food scene here won’t disappoint. The inclusion of a grocery store also adds to the mall’s utility, making it a convenient stop for errands and entertainment in one trip. The movie theater is a welcome bonus, offering an easy way to wind down after a meal or shopping spree.
However, Central Rama 9 isn’t without its shortcomings. The overall design and decor feel a bit inconsistent, which can make the mall seem less polished compared to other shopping complexes in the city. During my visit, I noticed both Halloween and Christmas decorations displayed simultaneously—a confusing and somewhat jarring choice that speaks to the lack of coherence in presentation. While these quirks don’t ruin the experience, they do detract from the mall’s potential to feel more polished and thoughtfully curated.
Despite these flaws, Central Rama 9 has its strengths. The wealth of options and the more relaxed atmosphere make it a decent alternative to the upscale malls that dominate Bangkok. It’s the kind of place you visit for practicality rather than spectacle—a good spot for a casual meal, a grocery run, or a movie night, but not somewhere you’d go out of your way to explore.
It’s a functional and approachable mall that delivers on convenience, but inconsistent design and decor choices hold it back from being a standout destination. It’s worth a visit if you’re nearby or looking for a more laid-back shopping and dining...
Read moreCentral Rama 9 (i.e., CentralPlaza Grand Rama IX) is amongst the other renowned shopping malls in bangkok i frequently visited for shopping, restaurants, and movies and other entertainment.
You maybe interested to know that the mall is owned and managed by Central Pattana, a public listed company, which also owns CentralWorld in its portfolio of 41 premium shopping malls, all with the word Central in their names, eg Central Chiangmai, Central Phuket, Central Pattaya, Central Samui. Central Chonburi, Central Udon, & Central Rama 2, Central Rama 3! All with very grand and unique exterior and interior architectural design, good for taking pictures and putting up on social media, especially the night view.
It has a total of 12th floors (1-12), and ground level floor and a basement floor which connects to the MRT phra ram 9 station. Each floor caters for different categories of business, eg banking, skin and health care, fashion and sports wear, restaurants and cafe/dessert shops (include a food court). (see picture) The basement has many small food stalls including A supermarket Tops and also chain restaurants in this floor and higher floors with price range and food varieties catering to different categories of customers.
My observation is that this mall is more frequently visited by local residents and Asian/Chinese tourists, whereas other premium shopping malls such as Siam Paragon, Central World, Terminal 21, the visitor composition is more diverse with tourists from all around the world eg indian, middle east and the West and Asia, China.
I often go to Robinson department store, Tops daily supermarket, and Food Republic (a food court) for my shopping, food and grocery needs and quick meals in the mall. Sometimes i spend more on fine dining in other restaurants. There is an SFX cinema with 11 screens on the 7th floor, which i like very much, as the seats are comfortable and sound system is very good and the staff are super friendly and helpful although we had only brief encounter.
The Jodds Night Market is in walking distance from here, it is said that a very attractive and pretty girl working in A fruit drink store there, do you know 水果西施!?
please give me a 'like' if you find my...
Read moreLike every branches of department stores under Central group, various goods are available. Clothing, shoes , shirt, t-shirt, pants, short plants, shoes etc. and all kinds of goods that people need or want in daily life. For sure luxurious goods and brand named are available too, visitors should bare in mind that goods in department stores must more expensive than that in roadside.One main dish on roadside may be 40-50 THB it will be 100-120 THB in department stores.A cup of ice tea in university food center cost 35 THB in department stores is around 120 THB. It is understandable that there are more luxuries in development stores make you feel better, elevator, air conditioning, service and so ON ………………….. An excellent shopping mall which has a wide variety of shops offering genuine well known branded products. There are local brands as well as international brands. From electronics to clothes. It's a mall offering genuine well known branded good, so the prices may be not cheap. Easiest and cheapest way to get to this mall is to take the MRT ( underground train). The MRT stop to this mall connects directly to the basement level of the mall. The road is congested with heavy traffic almost all the time throughout the day, so it's going to be both time consuming and costly to take a taxi. Lot of options to eat, in the top floor and also at the basement level. There is also a supermarket at the basement level. There is a gaming area, as well as a cinema with multiple theatres showing the latest movies. Toilets are free, well maintained and clean and has free toilet paper. There is also a dedicated Muslim prayer room (separate male and female) with facility for ablution. Right across the street of this mall is the "Fortune City" mall , the largest mall dedicated only to...
Read more