A fantastic place to find anything from souvenirs and scented soaps to traditional Thai furniture, the OTOP (One Tambon, One Product) shop on Pattaya North Road is a warehouse-sized building of wonder. Part of a government programme to help local craftspeople make a living from their wares, visitors can be assured that everything in the 1,500sqm edifice was lovingly handmade in the area. Not only is buying your souvenirs here good for community, but the wares are of an impressive quality and the prices are generally very fair.

• Opening Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
• Location: 98/68-69 Pattaya North Road, Naklua
• Tel: +66 (0)3 848 9115

Toscano has taken their lead from the flamboyant nature of the cabaret shows which make Pattaya so famous. The 2,400sqm of shop floor are housed in a glistening white building which is almost temple-like, with its Grecian columns and extravagant, statue-strewn entrance hall. The wares on sale include very high-quality furs and leatherwear, with a large range of jackets as well as bags, shoes, belts, ties and accessories, some of which are uniquely made on the premises. Other animal skins used include crocodile, stingray and snake.

• Opening Hours: 08:45 – 20:00
• Location: 171/4 Pattaya North Road, Naklua
• Tel: +66 (0)3 842 3317

 This distinctively-shaped building on North Pattaya Road houses Asia’s biggest museum of gems and stones, with demonstrations of how to cut and lay fine jewels in the collection’s on-site factory. It also has a large collection of rings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets and earrings for sale, each with high-quality stones of varying size. The World Gems Collection makes a point of boasting their international recognition for ethical business practises, ensuring that what you are buying is exactly what you think you are buying.

• Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00
• Tel: +66 (0)3 841 2333

A recent addition to a Thailand-wide brand, the 15,200sqm site proudly states its perfectly believable credentials as the “World’s Biggest Jewellery Store”, it being significantly larger than any of its three sister stores. This amazingly large space incorporates a theme park ride, giving a colourful presentation of the glittering world of gems. As the tagline says, though, Gems Gallery Pattaya is primarily a store, with a remarkable collection of rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces, bangles, bracelets, brooches and more available. With international business certification, the gems on sale are certainly genuine and can be trusted.

• Opening Hours: 08:30 – 18:00
• Location: 555 North Pattaya Road, Naklua
• Tel: +66 (0)3 837 1222

Variously known as the ‘North Pattaya Market’ or ‘Naklua Market’, this is the only one of the local markets to be located by the side of Sukhumvit Road, making it very easy to spot. Positioned right next to the entrance for Mini Siam and Pattaya Boxing World, it is home to roughly 600 stalls on a nightly basis, about 100 of which sell mostly local food and drink and about 300 of them selling clothing. Other wares on offer include DIY supplies, automotive parts, beauty treatments, plants, pets, religious artefacts and a baffling array of second-hand goods. Being further away from the centre of town makes this market more popular with locals than tourists which makes the wares both cheaper and less tourist-oriented. It is a remarkable, novel experience and a great place to find discount brand-name jeans and t-shirts.

  Read More...

• Opening Hours: Approx 17:00 – late
• Location: Next to Mini Siam, Sukhumvit Road, Naklua