Bangkok
Occupying the first four floors of the Mahanakhon skyscraper, this vast duty-free outlet is run by King Power, a Thai duty-free company that also owns…
Must-see shopping in Southeast Asia
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Spruce up your coffee table at this temple to design books and magazines. Located inside Bras Basah Complex (locally dubbed 'Book City'), it has…
Labuan Bajo
At Labuan Bajo's best fashion store, all pieces are locally made, with some also designed in Flores. There's plenty for the ladies, from linen clothing to…
Bandar Seri Begawan
BSB's prime shopping location offers four floors of Asian and global brands, plus a striking ceiling mural of a Royal Brunei Airlines plane careering…
Timor-Leste
This excellent initiative by Barry's Place in Beloi involves a team of locals who comb the beach for plastic, sort it here and process it through various…
Seminyak
Rice fields just a few years ago, this air-con mall deserves a compliment for being discreetly placed back from the street. The selection of shops is…
Jenggala Keramik Bali Ceramics
Bukit Peninsula
This modern warehouse showcases beautiful ceramic homewares that are a popular Balinese purchase. There’s a viewing area where you can watch production,…
Padang
Translating as ‘big market’, Pasar Raya lives up to its name: this massive, sprawling site is the centre of Padang’s shopping universe. Here you'll be…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
It might sound like a tourist trap, but the Raffles Hotel gift shop is a good spot for quality souvenirs, whatever your budget. Remaining open while the…
Battambang
Joseba Etxebarria travelled 37,000km through 29 countries on a bicycle, and took some pictures of people while he was at it. The results are stunningly…
Yangon
Meaning 'to hug' in Japanese (the business was started by a Japanese woman), Dacco offers a lovely selection of Myanmar crafts and souvenirs sourced from…
Dili
This small outlet sells well-designed, modern, handmade laptop bags, Christmas tree decorations, tea towels and soft toys. The work is done by formerly…
Jakarta
This high-end mall is centrally located and offers a wide selection of stores, including leading Indonesian boutiques and the likes of Cartier and Louis…
Yangon
Run by experienced curator and art researcher Nathalie Johnson, this gallery showcases works by top contemporary local creatives across a range of media…
Bukit Peninsula
Right at the turn to Bingin, this outlet of the awesome Seminyak surf shop is also a small cafe (mains from 55,000Rp) and gallery. All the Drifter surf…
Singapore
Snugly set in a mall filled with Asian arts and crafts shops, Antiques of the Orient is a veritable treasure chest of original and reproduction vintage…
Seminyak
The Middle East meets Asia at this glossy high-concept store with Bali-designed housewares and clothing. It has a small cafe with healthy breakfast and…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
Reminiscent of Imelda Marcos at her most flamboyantly glamorous, the frocks created by award-winning Malaysian designer Khoon Hooi are notable for their…
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Hachi cafe and secondhand shop is a treasure trove of Hawaiian shirts, vinyl and other quirky items that could make cool souvenirs. Grab a coffee and sit…
Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi
Managed by one of Asia's best-known bookstore chains, this is Thailand's largest English-language bookshop. There's a vast catalogue of bestsellers,…
Yangon
In an elegant house, this is Yangon's best-stocked bookshop, spread over two storeys with a fantastic collection of titles on local topics. The in-house M…
Vientiane
Lao Textiles sells high-end contemporary, original-design fabrics inspired by generations-old Lao weaving patterns, motifs and techniques. The American…
Little India & Kampong Glam
Tucked around the corner from Arab St, this gallery-esque store is a treasure trove of contemporary giftware. Circle the huge central bench while you pore…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
Tucked away at the top of the Gardens Mall, the Studio is a treasure trove of contemporary Malaysian fashion and beauty loveliness that's worth searching…
Banglamphu
Handicrafts with a conscience: this boutique is an atmospheric showcase for quality domestic wares, some of which are produced via fair-trade practices…
Jakarta
This luxury mall contains a plethora of upscale fashion outlets, plus high-street favourites like Uniqlo and Zara. There are also a number of good local…
Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf
Every Saturday evening, this walking street near Pranburi's train station opens for a relaxing local market with a retro vibe. Old wooden shophouses sell…
George Town
In addition to more than 300 shops, including the department store Parkson, Penang’s most glamorous mall serves up a whole floor of food and beverage…
Cebu City
The mother of all malls and the biggest in the Visayas, featuring brands including Levi's and Face Shop, lots of tech shops and also department stores…
Ubud
Locally made cushions, bed and home linens, kimonos and kids clothing are sold at this stylish boutique, all made with fabrics featuring designs drawn…
Yangon
One of the first galleries in Yangon to showcase contemporary art, Lokanat has been on the 1st floor of the historic Sofaer's Building since 1971. The…
Siem Reap
Soieries du Mekong is the Siem Reap gallery for a leading handwoven silk project based in remote Banteay Chhmar, which seeks to stem the tide of rural…
Yangon
There's a wonderful array of hill-tribe textiles at this long-running stall on the market's upper level. In addition to weavings produced by the Karen and…
Ubud
Indonesia's artisanal chocolate maker has a small but elaborate shop that features tastings of its flavoured and single-source bars. There is also a…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Part of the hotel complex, Raffles Hotel Arcade has been home to some of the world's most notable retailers. Set to reopen in mid-2019, as part of the…
Yangon
One of Yangon’s most captivating shopping destinations is split between the tall, narrow white house and the store room opposite. A virtual museum of…
Kota Kinabalu
Across from the Sabah Museum, this place sells books on all things Borneo – from field guides to birds, fish and mammals to WWII history, indigenous…
South Jakarta
Retro wear in all its glorious forms, from pre-owned Dr Martens and trainers to patterned shirts, caps, sew-on badges and jackets. Items are displayed on…
Temples of Angkor
Look out for Prolung Khmer on the road between Preah Ko and Bakong. It’s a pottery and weaving centre producing stylish cotton krama (checked scarves) and…
Vientiane
Stocks silk clothes and weavings from Xieng Khuang Province, plus some bed and cushion covers in striking Hmong-inspired designs. All of the shop's…
