Huge shopping centre with a loyal local following

Word to the wise: It can be crowded and occasionally stuffy, but the vast selection and the quality of dishes on offer in the food court are sensational.

MBK, or Mahboonkrong as the locals call it, is a seven-floor swarm of stores, market stands, cafeterias, ice cream shops, cafes, bowling lanes, and even a cinema. Locals come in droves at the weekends, keen to land themselves bargain-basement cameras, bags, games, shoes, and iPods. There's also an astounding amount of knock-off items for sale, covering everything from DVDs and music to jeans and purses.

Be prepared to bargain and bargain hard—MBK's stall holders have been known to increase their prices substantially when a foreigner comes along.