From the outside Oh La La could be mistaken for yet another snobby ladies' fashion store in…read moreMalahide, however this one is a store with a difference. Oh La La offers a range of boutique resortwear items, specialising mostly in beachwear and kaftans, and it manages to achieve a certain air of sophistication without the haughty sales assistants and hefty pricetags of other such stores in the vicinity. To demonstrate: you can pick up a lovely little beach dress from around 30 euro at Oh La La's current sale. And these outfits are very nice too, they're not your usual grossly out-of-fashion pieces that rich women sometimes mistake for chic simply because they find them in a boutique store. I was particularly impressed with the Parisian brand Deca, and found several of their pieces that could just find their way into my suitcase for my next beach holiday. Deca's fabrics were amazing... don't take my word for it, go in and see for yourself. The ladies who work in this store are lovely and friendly and not pretentious in the least.

Yet another upmarket ladies' clothing store in Malahide (the place is teeming with them!)…read more I know I'm not middle-aged, and I don't have the diamond-encrusted look about me, but when I enter a store I expect the sales assistants to greet me just like they would any other customer, or at least to acknowledge my presence. Neither of these things happened, and it wasn't as if I was on a flying visit. There happened to be an amazingly good sale on, so I was having quite the rummage. I was disappointed to find my existence not affirmed in the slightest after say 15 minutes in the store. What, am I invisible?? There were two sales assistants on duty at the time, and the shop is not the biggest one I've ever seen, so there really is no excuse. Or maybe the excuse was the woman in the change rooms at the time? They were extremely attentive towards her, and spent enormous amounts of time and energy fishing around the store for outfits to complement her body shape and the items she'd already selected. I guess she was a regular, or at the very least had the 'ready money' look about her. Maybe next time I'll flash my credit card as I walk in the store. If there is a next time, that is. I very much doubt it.

Are you 30 or 40-something, fairly wealthy, and into quality, resort-style clothing? Then Stepz is…read morefor you. This store isn't really to my tastes, but I don't fit into any of the above categories, so I guess it's not surprising. However, even though I wouldn't shop here I can appreciate that Stepz stocks a fairly decent range of clothing in quality brands and fabrics. The styles sometimes leave a little to be desired, but that's probably more a matter of personal taste than anything else. I did happen to find one very gorgeous camel coloured, very tightly fitted business skirt which, if not for the phenomenal price tag, would have complemented my wardrobe rather nicely. Stepz also stocks a range of jewellery and shoes, but I wasn't overly impressed with their offerings. Again, their range would probably appeal more to its target audience. Yet another boutique for the ladies-who-lunch of Malahide.

A lot of the fashion stores in Malahide are having incredible sales at the moment, and O'Couture is…read moreno exception. At the entrance there is a large sale rack, and in the middle of the store you'll find some great pieces for 30 euro. So about the clothes... an interesting range here, I found a black dress entirely made of leather for 350 euro. I know what you're thinking - tacky, right? - it was ACTUALLY really groovy! The two brands that impressed me here were Dept and Snob - I'd never heard of either but there have some really nice tops and vests, some of which are really intricately detailed. The shop assistant was nice enough but not overly friendly. This would be a good place for anyone from young women up to about the 50-something mark.

Paolo Rossi Shoes and Accessories is a quality shoe and clothing boutique in Malahide…read more Shoes are its specialty, and there are countless pairs ranging in price from about 70 - 100 euro (on average), although they had some shoes on sale for around 50 euro. The clothes in this store would suit smart-looking 30-60 year olds, although there are some pieces that would also appeal to a younger demographic. I fell in love with a coral 3/4 length jacket in the display. Wasn't so in love with the price though... The shop tends to attract a lot of mums with prams, so be ready to dodge small children while browsing. Paolo Rossi has a really classy interior too, with some great wallpaper and lovely heavy changeroom curtains.

I happened upon this boutique during our trip to Ireland for our son's wedding. I wanted a…read morefascinator and Susan had the perfect one for me! The amazing thing is that the store was closed but I knocked since she was working on the window display. She let me in and was most helpful. Didn't even mention she was closed until we were leaving! I hope to come see you again someday!

Rarely do I see a cafe inside a museum that impresses me, but Avoca Store did just that! It's far…read moremore than your traditional cafe-it has delicacy grocery items, baked goods and delicious food. I can see myself coming here just to peruse the aisles and find little edible treasures.

Found another Avoca and this time it's at the Malahide Castle foodhall and cafe. Yes, I purchased…read moremore fudge and will be stocked until I'm able to come back and restock my inventory. Had some tea and a slice of carrot cake while my BFF had a cup of tea and the Portuguese tart. Everything was great. I'm thrilled that I found another location and will be back to visit again next time.

Cute fashion store with a really great vibe. The girls who work here are young, friendly and…read moreapproachable and while I was there they were playing the coolest ever version of Estelle's 'American Boy'. Neola targets the teenage - early 30s age bracket (approximately) and there are some great pieces here by Miss Sixty, Diesel, French Connection and such. They have a large range of Guess hangbags which are very gaudy looking but are apparently popular at the moment. They also stock the infamous UGG boots (the authentic Australian variety). I'm not sure how exactly UGG boots came to be popular or even cool, but that will forever remain a fashion mystery along with the pink velour tracksuit, I imagine. Neola also has a great range of cute belts for 20 euro, and the entire store is definitely worth a look.

Beautiful boutique on Main Street in Malahide - a few steps past the Dart Station. They have…read moreeverything from dresses to casual to smart wear. What I love (and I'm sure most people would agree) about boutiques is the uniqueness of the fashion, and neola... is a prime example of this. Their couture is special and chic. If you're looking for something different to suit you it's definitely worth the browse; you may find just what you're looking for.