This is a cool spot for any map enthusiasts, geography geeks and beer lovers. Their entire decor is full of maps, flags and random geography related books on shelves and tables alike. Beer was great, just like any other pub and nothing unusual. But the vibe was pretty cool. Definitely would like to go and check it out again! read more

See all

A classic spot for a great time! Awesome beer list and love that they have dollop coffee in the morning. Definitely dive bar charm without being a dive bar imo(??) and a great vibe overall. Service is always friendly and quick! If you havent been go on a nice sunny day and you wont want to leave. read more

Map Room has it all. From coffee to tea to a nice beer on draft, this is the place to be. The bartenders were super nice, and their beer list is top notch. They always have great imported beers on draft, and if you can't find something on draft, there's a comprehensive can and bottle list to turn to. We stopped in to watch the Bears game, and it was a lot of fun. A great balance between a homey coffee shop and your neighborhood bar. read more

Came in for coffee- Got it. Had an itch for tea- Got It. Wanted to finish with a beer-GOT IT! This place has it all...and open on Mondays at that. Great neighbor vibes, big open windows with cool views and plenty of space to hunker down and work if that's your thing. Can't beat it... read more

The bartenders provided great service. They were welcoming and friendly. They also gave me this great Vikings hat. read more

The Map Room - Good vibes here! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rolled up to The Map Room in Bucktown and snagged a bagel breakfast sandwich from New York Bagel & Bialy plus a drip coffee. The spot's vibe--maps on the wall, travel books to flip through, and chill early‑morning regulars--makes it feel like a low-key neighborhood find. The breakfast sammie was bomb--chewy bagel, melted egg and cheese working just right, no soggy mess--and the coffee was smooth, not over-roasty. Staff had that laid‑back Bucktown energy; quick, friendly, zero pretension even as the crowd trickled in . If they tossed on a schmear or a better pastry option, I'd bump it to five stars, but for a morning pick-me-up this hits solidly. read more

The Map Room - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Solid service and a good selection of beers. The ambiance was pretty chill and it was nice to have the open window area to hang out in. Pretty chill bar overall. read more

The Map Room - Allegash White - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great vibes, great service and a great big beer selection. It's a coffee shop and a neighborhood bar all together. Wonderful place to grab a drink and catch up with friends read more

The Map Room - Beer - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Outstanding selection of draft and bottles and cans with bartenders to match. Literally top 3 beer bar of Chicago. This place is an experience every drinker of fine beers as well as liquor would adore. This place is what we call a "neighborhood gem." read more

The thing I love about the map room is that it's always just the map room. The staff has an alternative and open minded vibe, they're super welcoming, and very knowledgeable about their taps. If you can get a coveted window spot to enjoy your brews and work, you'll probably want to rot all day. read more

Fun place to get lots of beers in Bucktown. It can get pretty crowded in here with all the hipster locals. The Map Room has sort of a travel theme. A bit of it goes into the beer list as there's lots of local ones as well as some from far away. Pretty good prices. A lot of beers to choose from. It has a lot on tap as well as many more in bottles and cans of familiar and more exotic stuff. There's lots of local ones as well as from over the world. It's about $7 for a craft. Last time here one I got was the 18th Street The Shield, a classic American porter. Chocolate malts and a bright spicy finish. There's also world famous ones like Weihenstafaner and other classic old time beers that are harder to get any more. Good variety of beers. It has local and foreign to choose from. There's not much to eat besides chips but you can bring in stuff. read more

The Map Room - The 18th Street The Shield And Chips - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The glassware is absolute perfection. The vibes are perfect. Love the beer selection, love the bar read more

The Map Room - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The staff was super rude to the only people of color to the establishment. They kicked us out.

Love the vibe, it's the closest thing to a Belgian pub/bar I've seen in Chicago. Pretty chill and the beer menu is amazing. They always have at least half a dozen high quality Belgian beers on tap and they have generally speaking a few trappist beers, certainly have them in bottles and often have them on tap. Everything properly served in the appropriate glassware too. read more

The Map's my go-to Monday night tavern. Its offerings of draft beers are extensive and can be a bit daunting. Monday bartenders extraordinaire Chris and Drew are great with recommendations and quick to offer a sample if that's what seals the deal. In the mood for a cocktail--no problem. Heck, even the coffee is terrific! Owners Mark and Laura are wonderful people and committed to their patrons and to the neighborhood. The Map Room's a friendly place, conducive to conversation and not dominated by televisions. A special nod to the staff for being Covid-compliant--it ain't easy. Come on in and make a new friend! read more

The Map Room - Bartender Chris with a Monday regular - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Old school Chicago for craft beer and chill hangs--dates back to before white hipsters thought Logan Square was It. To be fair, Map Room is definitely in Bucktown, but I'm in a sassy gentrification mood so I'm reaching for whatever I got nearby. Belgian-beer on tap list isn't as extensive as the beer-destination Hopleaf bar in Andersonville, but you'll still usually have a few on tap here that are gorgeous selections that are rare to find in the city. Full list is a best-of tour of rotating local and national craft across all styles. No food here, but you're encouraged to order in, and there's always the free pretzel sticks.... which actually they didn't serve last time I was in so I'm hoping this was a supply-chain issue and not a terrible decision to deprive us of salt. Map Room serves Metropolis coffee In the mornings, and can be a chill place to grab your laptop and get stuff done. The back outdoor patio is fenced and enough off the street that you get less noise. Bathrooms are a little tight and relatively grimy but you're here for the beer, board games and banter. Stop checking your phone while you pee and get back out there. read more

The Map Room - Inside - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A great old bar with a fantastic, rotating beer list. Good, knowledgeable bartenders, we watched them thoughtfully recommend beers to other customers. They also have coffee and pastry options available. Glad to see The Map Room is still going strong after all these years. read more

Honestly one of my new favorite bars in Chicago. Always such nice staff that are helpful and attentive. Great environment to hang out in with always plenty of comfy seating. Wonderful in good weather as they open large windows and can always catch a nice sunset! Great variety of delicious beers on draft and any drink you could dream of. Will be a regular! Highly recommend! read more

The Map Room - Cool vibe! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

There was a time when the Map Room was one of the best beer bars in Chicago. That time is no more. Not even close. But it's still a cool spot to hang out. Definitely not worth going out of your way for but you can do a lot worse. read more

Now this is the type of place that I absolutely love. I came in here while I was waiting for a tune-up at the nearby car garage. They're a "bar" but also kind of a "cafe" that offers a variety of drinks and depending on what's available, pastries or sandwiches. My latte was very good and the guy that made it (and brought me a box of fresh pastries to choose from table-side like a fancy pants) was really nice, and the prices are good! I witnessed lots of regulars coming in that seemed to know staff/customer on first name basis. They do have TV's but they weren't at a loud volume. I can't speak for how things are in the evening, but for the afternoon this place is the tops. There's plenty of places to sit and read or write. The tables are strategically placed by windows, allowing adequate light during light hours, with shelves of Nat Geo and other travel-themed volumes for you to peruse if you so choose. I read a couple articles on Siberia. Guess I can't complain about Chicago winters anymore. read more

See all

I went last Friday for a friend's birthday, we had a great time, but the service was awful, I understand we were a big group, but we technically had to beeeeg to order drinks. I left after waiting 20 minutes at the bar without being served, only one bartender on Friday? seriously? she saw me and passed me by, at least 5 times. Nop, thanks. read more

The Map Room - a beer and a cell phone on the bar - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the academic/world traveler vibe of this bar. It's an easy walk and I had an awesome drink. The bartender was so friendly as well, which makes me want to go back next weekend! read more

The Map Room - Amaretto sour and a crown and ginger ale - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing I love it here I would be buried here if I could - the selection is amazing better than any other place in the world read more

The Map Room - Beer - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stumbled on this place just driving by. Great atmosphere, menu and specials, and playlist. Everyone was friendly and definitely feels like a neighborhood bar. read more

The Map Room - a glass of beer on a table - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I asked if they had Michelob Ultra. They didn't, but instead of suggesting a beer that is similar, the bartender laid out four pages of beers that they carry. When asked about a pilsner instead, she just pointed at the sheets. I skipped that part of the order. Then I ordered a very specific Schneider beer. She said they had three varieties. I repeated the specific one, as written on the menu, and she said once again they have three varieties. I repeated it once again, found it on the menu, and pointed at the exact same beer that I asked for. She huffed, turned away, and got the beer. Not my favorite bar experience. read more

A beer drinker's paradise, and a local neighborhood pub in good ole Bucktown. The Map Room has been around forever. They are a fixture along Armitage Ave. Their beer selection changes, but the variety never goes away. Additionally, they serve coffee here, so it's an all day affair @ this spot. If you're hungry, fill up on pretzels, or wait for the Tamale guy. They don't serve food. read more

Fun vibe. The maps are quite cool. Really interesting combo vibe of bar due to the alcohol and lighting but people working on laptops like a coffee shop. 2 beers for $7 each gets pricey with all the Chicago taxes. read more

Great place, open early the beer selection is ample and great location, I would say this place is a classic, worth the visit

The Map Room has been on my hit list for quite some time. I'm a beer chick and I've long heard Map Room is one of the best beer bars around town. When a guy wanted to go here for our first date, I was totally game! The way to Sarah's heart is good beer and good food, that's fo' sho. Pro-Tip: They used to be ca$h only but I saw this past weekend saying they now take credit cards. Their beer selection is stellar and prices aren't bad. I was able to try a bunch of new-to-me beers including one nitro which was fabulous for me because though I love beer, I could do without all the carbonation. I had Firestone's Nitro DBA, Hopewell's Old Duck Barleywine (which I had tried to get at the brewery earlier that week but they ran out so that was great) and...Jamo shots. I'm too old for that! Anyways, great on draft beer list...but even better bottled list! Impressive. At one point, I ordered a couple of beers and they tapped out of one I ordered. The bartender ended up giving me the last half glass on the house which was pretty cool of him. Along the wall, they have tons of National Geographics. I felt like I was in my Grandma's house with all the magazines and random stuff around the bar. We actually opened one up and started Oooo-ing and Aaaah-ing at the photos. Made for some random fun! Pro-Tip Numero Dos: BYOF! Bring Your Own Food. It wasn't overly crowded on a Saturday night but every table and barstool definitely got full. I liked the chill atmosphere, great beer selection and friendly bartenders so could see myself coming back here many times over. read more

Great crowd and vibe. Awesome beer selection and bar windows open during good weather. Neighborhood gem.

Facts: I don't write reviews. I have been going to the Map Room for 25 years. This "incident" should not be ignored. My friend and I are still mind-blown by the hostile, angry, racist, discriminatory service we received from the bartender(s) this past Saturday night. The details are too many to write. The owners should address this behavior immediately. read more

We made a quick stop in this place for coffee in the morning. The server didn't check with us what size we want for the coffee, and he gave us the latte in the regular size cup but only 3/4 filled. We were also charged with the 16oz even though we only got 12oz. What a bad experience for the start of a day read more

Friendly neighborhood bar with extensive (200+) list of beers and a full bar. Quiet and intimate, dark and woody.

This Bucktown bar has hands down the best beer selection in the area if not the City itself. Decorated much like a bar you'd find staying at a European Hostel (maps, books on wall, computer with free Internet) this bar has tons of beer on tap. Go to their website to see a current tap listing, as this can help you choose from the vast array. Although the bar tenders are very happy to describe the beers or recommend a beer based on your preferences. I can't wait for Chicago to go no-smoking, if only for the Map Room to become somewhat tolerable smoke-wise. read more

One of our very favorite bars and morning coffee spots in logan square! Definitely a hidden gem. We've been remote workers since long before covid, and the wifi, staff, beverages (lots of NonAlcoholic/NA options), coffee, and atmosphere are always exactly what you want. The beer garden is awesome too! We had frequented this place a lot before ever going out on the patio, and boy was that a mistake! Highly recommend for tap beer lovers, coffee lovers, book lovers, and travelers alike. read more

The employees here are way too cool to care about public reviews but for what it's worth, don't bother coming here with a group ready to have fun and unwind after a hectic day. My first and last visit to this place is where I learned this is a no fun zone. Don't take too long to order either because the bartenders are really, really busy tending to the other 6 people spread out at the bar nursing their beers and they are easily annoyed when expected to help out some new, and in our case, first time customers. Oh and don't even think about ordering a coffee of ANY kind at night. It will just get slammed down in front of you accompanied by a sarcastic complaint from the bartender all because you ordered off of a sign behind the bar that says "coffee all day." The absolute audacity! All in all, this place seems to have a great beer selection but the workers (that we had the displeasure of encountering) and the clientele aren't worth the trip and I can now think of at least 10 people who won't be coming back to the map room. Oh and to the girl sitting at the bar in the dark, reading a book, on a Saturday night around midnight and got annoyed when I was talking about the beer choices behind her- get a grip and leave the book at home. This isn't your personal library- it's a bar for gods sakes. read more

Pretty cool vibes. It was my first time in the area and someone suggested going to this bar. They have a great tap selection which I'm always a huge fan of. The ambience was also really cool and obviously by the name you can assume that there's tons of map books that create a cool theme for the bar read more

Unfortunately had a similar experience as many of the lowest ratings here...the bartender was so incredibly rude for no reason at all to our group. Never coming back again. Sad thing is that I've had okay service here in the past a few times, but paying to get overpriced drink from a condescending bartender who clearly has personal issues.... Not to mention that he'd probably never speak to us in the same manner if we were men...No thanks, there are plenty of better places in Chicago. read more

This is the kind of place where I want to sit on a snowy day--that kind of lake effect snowy day that makes you feel like you are sitting in a snow globe with flakes falling around you in beautiful, slow motion--drinking tea or a glass of wine or a beer depending on how I feel, and read or putter at some work on my laptop. I'd probably wear my favorite cashmere sweater or a cozy, chambray shirt--both would feel right. Maybe I would keep my scarf wrapped around my neck. Yes, the five stars are mostly for the ambiance here which I adore. I like that you can have a glass of wine or a beer (and there are many a beer from which to choose), but you can also have a cup of tea or a latte. Another nice thing is that we were here on a Monday afternoon and they rolled out a complimentary meat and cheese spread in the back. It was a delightful touch. * Great place to come solo or with friends * Lots of interesting beers * Cozy, classic-- but interesting-- bar ambiance read more

The Map Room - Ceiling shot - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

True neighborhood bar . During the day it reminds me a library (people reading and writing at their tables, bookshelves and maps on the walls) where you can order delicious draft beer or a coffee to go. I imagine the atmosphere is different in the evening, but I'd love to stop by and check it out. read more

The Map Room - On Tour Loose with the truth - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all