Siam Square is not a mall but a grid of low-rise retail blocks south of Siam BTS station — Bangkok's most concentrated area of youth-oriented independent fashion. The lanes are lined with small boutiques selling locally-designed clothing, streetwear, Japanese-influenced fashion, and accessories at prices far below department store equivalents.
The area is also the centre of Bangkok's indie cafe culture, with dozens of themed and concept cafes compressed into a few blocks. The atmosphere is more Harajuku than Southeast Asian, and entirely driven by Thai youth culture rather than tourism. The square gets increasingly busy from mid-afternoon through the evening; early morning visits allow you to look at the shops without the weekend crowds.