After a fabulous €30m refurbishment, the extended Frascati Centre (it has doubled in size!) in Blackrock in South Dublin is now a super-smart destination for the discerning shopper, with ample, convenient parking (three hours for €2 and zero hassle!) and lots of gorgeous places to have coffee and lunch, or catch up with a friend enjoying stunning views over Dublin Bay. And as Valentine’s Day approaches, you’ll find at Frascati all the ideas and inspiration you need for a very special Friday night, in (romantic and fun) or out (fun and fun) on February 14. From food to fashion to gifts, not to mention a mani, pedi or blowdry, to get you in the mood. 

Pick up flowers, food and fizz at Marks & Spencer: think chilled glass of bubbles before a delicious supper, pretty flowers on the table. At Aldi, you might plump for a bottle of award-winning champagne and delicious cheese and charcuterie. Easy. Set the scene with gorgeous tableware and glassware at Debenhams (of course they have great fashion, make-up and skincare, if you are thinking about gifts, or dropping a pearl of wisdom – aka a gentle hint – into someone else’s ear). 

As well as great fashion brands and accessories at Debenhams, Frascati has Serena Boutique, Pamela Scott, Vienna Shoes, Carl Scarpa and Bannon Jewellers to provide lots of choice for presents. Something sparkly in a velvet box might do the trick, or a cool sweater, or pair of trainers. Want to make your present look perfect? You’ll find romantic cards and wrapping at Bookstation (as well as a terrific selection of books, of course). 

Frascati’s Beauty Zone includes a flagship Peter Mark salon, Sugar Daddy for the well-groomed men (if he wasn’t to begin with, he will be after his Hot Towel Shave and haircut) Sugar Coated Nail Salon and Beauty Bar (includes brows, lashes and tanning) SISU Aesthetics Clinic beauty (there’s an offer on teeth-whitening right now) and Boots and the Health Store for every lotion and potion, every supplement and vitamin. Why not give a gift card for any of these? Your valentine will thank you for encouraging them to keep up their healthy new start to the year. 

It’s easy to find Mr Right (or Mr Maybe) tech and electronic gifts at Murray Mobile and Vodafone. Or you could give a gift card, so he can finally buy whatever he’s been obsessively googling for weeks …

For the last-minute shopper, with not a minute to spare (that’s us, every time!) Frascati is open late Thursday and Friday, with free parking after 7pm. www.frascaticentre.ie