Shopping in Lamai is diverse and abundant. You can find endless fashion boutiques, sleek shopping centres, vibrant local bazaars and bright street stalls dotted across the area. The shopping scene in Koh Samui’s Lamai only slightly inferior to frantic Chaweng in terms of variety and volume. Here are our picks for the absolute best shopping in Lamai!
1. Lamai Night Plaza
Lamai Night Plaza is the sort of a night market you’ll find in all the resort hubs dotting the island. At a first glance, it may seem like the plaza if crammed full of knick-knacks and cheap trinkets, but if you take a closer look, you can hunt down something truly authentic and unique. Some of our favourite find at Lamai Night Plaza include hand-carved wooden statues (mainly, in the form of an elephant), colourful sarongs, attractive bags and purses, lamps, Buddha images and electronics. All of these can be purchased at a bargain price – if you are good at haggling, that is.
2. Lamai Walking Street
Unlike the normal local bazars which stay open throughout the wee, Lamai Walking Street is a weekly event. Taking place every Sunday on Lamai Beach Road, which is closed off to traffic during the market, Lamai Walking Street is a great place to buy souvenirs and gifts at a superb value. You can also savour a fantastic range of genuine Thai snacks and ready-made food while browsing the bazar.
3. Samui Hot Club
Samui Hot Club is a long established local brand with two outlets located on the island. The Lamai outlet is conveniently located in the centre of the resort town and offers a wide selection of bargain-priced swimwear, sarongs, accessories and T-shirts displayed in the tiny air-conditioned boutique. Though inexpensive, the quality is rather good.
4. Hin Ta and Hin Yai Stalls
An endless row of street stalls stretching along the beach next to the famous Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandpa and Grandma) rocks serves a wide selection of handmade items: traditional coconut wood carvings, colourful ornaments and bracelets, beach wear and T-shirts. A great place to pick up a Samui memento.
5. Buddy Oriental Plaza
Buddy Oriental Plaza is a remarkable Colonial building and a nice addition to Lamai’s shopping scene. Featuring a handful of stylish boutiques, the Plaza offers a good selection of kids clothing, a tailor shop, a couple of fashion boutiques for women as well as an accessory shop. Providing an amazing and relaxed atmosphere, Buddy Oriental Plaza is a place to shop in style.
6. 69 Slam
A famous beachwear brand born in Bali, 69 Slam has recently reached Samui. Selling quality bikinis, board shorts, footwear and an ample selection of accessories, 69 Slam is a hip, provocative brand, so if you want to catch everyone’s eye on the beach, add this shops to your must-visit list.
7. Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher is a superb jewellery shop, owned and run by a local jeweller, Mr Pin. Offering a wide selection of gorgeous jewellery items, designed and handcrafted by Mr Pin, you can also order custom-made pieces from the shop. The shop sells silver jewellery with semi-precious stones and local shells, offering unique designs that are distinctively Samui.
8. BanSoi Gemstones
BanSoi Gemstones, or Mr Samui’s as it’s sometimes referred to, is a real treasur trove with hundreds of articles displayed in the shop. Bracelets, earrings, anklets, necklaces and rings are only a few of the jewellery items available at the shop. Made of various gems, semi precious stones, gold and silver, there is an endless selection of items to suit all tastes.
9. Exotica Boutique
For something more exotic and unique, head to Exotica Boutique located up the road from the Hin Ta and Hin Yai attraction. Selling beautiful handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets as well as a limited edition of hand-tinted photos from the renowned Italian photographer Claudio Cerquetti, look no further than Exotica Boutique for picking up that unique Samui souvenir.
10. Island Books
Island Books boasts an incredible selection of second-hand books in English, French, German and other languages, all in perfect condition, as the owner Paul personally expects and selects each book. The shelves are well-organised, so navigating through the rows of fiction and non-fiction is a breeze. Books are available for rent as well as for purchase.
