EmQuartier, explained
Three connected buildings, a spiral of restaurants, a rooftop garden, and the food hall the whole neighborhood eats lunch in. Here's how to actually use it.
EmQuartier is the fashion-and-dining flagship of the EM District, connected directly to BTS Phrom Phong (E5) by the Exit 1 skybridge. Eat cheap and well at the Quartier Food Hall, browse the Helix dining spiral for dinner, and finish at the rooftop Water Garden. Its luxury sibling Emporium is directly across Sukhumvit Road.
What EmQuartier is known for
Quartier Food Hall
The lower-level food hall is the neighborhood's default lunch: dozens of counters, fair prices, and quality that embarrasses most food courts. Go slightly before noon to beat the office crowd.
The Helix dining spiral
Dozens of restaurants along a spiral ramp — Thai, Japanese, Korean, Western — busiest at dinner. If you can't decide where to eat in Phrom Phong, you walk the Helix until something wins.
The Water Garden
A landscaped rooftop garden with greenery, walkways and skyline views — free to visit and one of the calmest spots in the EM District. The mall's signature hanging gardens are visible from Sukhumvit Road below.
The shops people search for
The tenant mix runs from international flagships (Uniqlo among the most-searched) to the Kinokuniya bookshop — one of Bangkok's best — plus beauty, sports, and a full floor of kids' brands. Fitness fans will find a large Virgin Active club.
Finding your way: the three Quartiers
EmQuartier is three interconnected buildings, and knowing which one you're in saves a lot of wandering.
The Helix Quartier
The dining spiral — restaurants winding up a ramp over several floors, plus the rooftop Water Garden.
The Glass Quartier
Fashion and lifestyle floors, the cinema, and fitness on the upper levels.
The Waterfall Quartier
Anchors the Sukhumvit corner — flagship stores, beauty, and the food hall below.
Rule of thumb: hungry → Helix or the food hall; shopping → Glass and Waterfall; need calm → the Water Garden on the roof.
Getting there & the rest of the EM District
Take the BTS Sukhumvit Line to Phrom Phong (E5) and use the Exit 1 skybridge — it delivers you straight into the mall. Coming by car, the entrance is off Sukhumvit Road between Soi 35 and Soi 37, with parking in the building.
EmQuartier is one of three sibling malls: Emporium (the luxury original, directly across the road) and EmSphere (the newest, open late, beside Benjasiri Park). All three are within a few hundred metres of the station, and together they are the reason “going to Phrom Phong” means “going shopping” to most of Bangkok.
VAT refunds for tourists
EmQuartier's fashion floors — from international flagships to Kinokuniya — make it a prime spot for tourist VAT refunds on clothing, accessories, and books. Thailand charges 7% VAT; participating retailers display the “VAT Refund for Tourists” sign. Purchases from across all EM District stores count toward the ฿5,000 trip minimum, so a morning at EmQuartier and an afternoon at Emporium add up together.
- 1At the store: spend at least ฿2,000 (VAT inclusive) at a single participating retailer on a single day. Show your passport and ask for the P.P.10 form — goods must stay unpacked.
- 2Trip total: your qualifying purchases across the trip must reach at least ฿5,000 to claim a refund.
- 3At the airport: before you check in, find the Customs desk in the international departure hall. Present your goods, receipts, and P.P.10 form for a stamp.
- 4Collect your refund at the VAT Refund for Tourists counter after the Customs stamp. Goods must leave Thailand within 60 days of purchase.
Rules checked July 2026 · Source: tisland.travel
EmQuartier FAQ
How do I get to EmQuartier by BTS?
Take the BTS Sukhumvit Line to Phrom Phong (E5) and use the Exit 1 skybridge on the north side — it leads directly into the mall without touching street level. From Siam it is five stops, roughly ten minutes.
What is the Quartier Food Hall?
A large, well-regarded food hall on the lower level of EmQuartier, with counters covering Thai classics and international options at prices well below the upper-floor restaurants. It is the practical answer to lunch in the EM District.
What is the Helix at EmQuartier?
A spiral of restaurants winding up several floors of the Glass Quartier building — you walk a gently sloping ramp past dozens of dining options. It is the densest concentration of sit-down restaurants in the neighborhood and busiest at dinner.
Is there a cinema at EmQuartier?
Yes — a multi-screen cinema on the upper floors. Between it, the food hall, and the shops, EmQuartier is the standard rainy-day plan in Phrom Phong.
EmQuartier or Emporium — which should I visit?
They face each other across Sukhumvit Road, so most visitors do both. Broadly: EmQuartier is newer, bigger on fashion and dining, and busier; Emporium is more established and luxury-focused with the excellent Gourmet Market supermarket. EmSphere, the third sibling, skews young with late-night food and events.
Can tourists get a VAT refund on EmQuartier purchases?
Yes — Thailand's scheme covers eligible purchases from participating retailers. Spend at least ฿2,000 (VAT inclusive) at a single store on a single day (฿5,000 total across your trip), show your passport, and ask for the P.P.10 form at the time of purchase. Customs stamps the form before you check in at the airport; the refund counter is just beyond. Full details are in the VAT refunds section on this page.