Frehill Tavern

Frehill Tavern

pub
live-music
outdoor-seating
good-for-groups
sports-watching
LocalsTourists
4.3Google (227 reviews)

Crumlin's no-nonsense neighborhood pub where genuine Dublin spirit thrives - unpretentious local hangout serving perfect pints and authentic community vibes without trying too hard.

Price range:

About

Just what Dublin needs - another pub claiming to be the genuine article. The Frehill Tavern sits there in Crumlin, wearing its working-class credentials like a badge of honor, as if serving a decent pint of Guinness is somehow revolutionary in a city drowning in black stuff. And yet...

I hate to admit this, but there's something undeniably charming about the place. While every tourist-trap pub in Temple Bar tries desperately to manufacture "authenticity," Frehill Tavern in Dublin has the audacity to simply exist, doing what Dublin pubs have done for generations - serving as the neighborhood's living room, minus the Instagram filters and overpriced whiskey flights.

The first thing that caught my attention (after I finished rolling my eyes at yet another Dublin pub review assignment) was the complete absence of pretense. No artisanal gin menu. No craft beer manifesto. No bartender with a waxed mustache lecturing you about the correct pronunciation of "uisce beatha." Just proper pints, pulled with the kind of expertise that comes from decades of practice rather than a weekend certification course.

The Guinness here - and I realize this is becoming a tired metric for Dublin pubs - is actually exceptional. The perfect temperature, the right settling time, the proper head. It's almost annoying how good it is, especially when you consider they're not even trying to make it their calling card. They just do it right because that's what you're supposed to do.

Live music shows up regularly, though mercifully without the usual tourist-focused "Danny Boy" marathon you'll endure elsewhere in Dublin. Instead, you'll find actual local musicians playing to actual local people, creating the kind of atmosphere that marketing agencies spend millions trying to replicate in more "sophisticated" establishments.

The outdoor seating area isn't going to win any design awards, but it serves its purpose admirably during those three days of annual Dublin sunshine. More importantly, it's become a genuine community hub where neighbors actually talk to each other - a concept so retro it's practically revolutionary.

They've managed to drag themselves into the 21st century with card payments and NFC options, though I suspect this concession to modernity was made under protest. The prices won't make your eyes water, which in today's Dublin is practically an act of civil disobedience. It's refreshingly middle-of-the-road - not so cheap you question the legality of their operation, but not so expensive you need to remortgage your house for a round.

Sports fans will find themselves well-served here, with multiple screens showing whatever match matters most to the regulars. Unlike some places that treat sports screening as a personality trait, Frehill Tavern maintains enough quiet corners for those who'd rather have a conversation without shouting over match commentary.

The crowd is refreshingly diverse in age, if not in background - this is still very much a neighborhood pub, and better for it. You'll find twenty-somethings sitting comfortably next to regulars who've been warming the same bar stool since before Ireland joined the EU. The banter flows as freely as the beer, and somehow, everyone seems to get along.

Look, I wanted to dismiss Frehill Tavern as just another Dublin pub trading on tired traditions. I really did. But there's an authenticity here that can't be manufactured - believe me, I've seen plenty try. It's the kind of place that makes you understand why Dublin pubs became famous in the first place, before the concept was commodified and exported worldwide.

If you're in Crumlin and looking for a proper Dublin pub experience (and I can't believe I'm actually writing this), you could do far worse than Frehill Tavern. Just don't go telling everyone about it. The last thing Dublin needs is another hidden gem becoming a tourist attraction. Though something tells me this place would somehow manage to stay exactly what it is, regardless of who walks through the door.

Contact Information

Address

62 St Agnes Park, Kimmage, Dublin, D12 FX30, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

Opening Hours

Sunday: 12:30 PM - 12 AM
Monday: 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Tuesday: 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Thursday: 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Friday: 10:30 AM - 12:30 AM
Saturday: 10:30 AM - 12:30 AM

Amenities

Restroom
Live music
Serves beer
Serves wine
Good for groups
Outdoor seating
Serves cocktails
Good for watching sports

Photos (10)

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