One of Dublin’s most historic hotels, the Gresham first opened in 1817, though it was almost destroyed during the Easter Rising of 1916. Most of the current building dates from the 1920s. The public areas retain a glamorous Art Deco feel, preserved during a big modernization of the hotel in the mid-aughts. Although the suites and deluxe rooms are opulent, the cheaper guest rooms are quite basic—but they’re comfortable, quiet, and, most important, surprisingly affordable for a hotel with this kind of pedigree. The Writer’s Lounge, a beautiful remnant of its Jazz Age heyday, is a popular spot for afternoon tea. Overlooking both the hotel lobby and busy O’Connell Street, it’s a good perch for people-watching. The main O’Connell Street taxi rank is directly outside, and it’s about a 15-minute walk to Temple Bar.