Great beer list, comfortable seating, and a really friendly and unpretentious staff. The tap selection is great and methinks the prices are fair enough. They have a large list of rotating beer selection that sways with the seasons, which is great. If you like pale ales or Belgian beers, this is your joint! They have plenty of those hanging around on draft. The ambiance is kinda funny is a weird, tacky, high school bedroom kind of way- the shelves are stacked with a National Geographic collection that reminds me of an episode of Hoarders, the flags hanging from the ceiling are oh-so college dorm room, and the painted globe-esque walls a sort of sloppy attempt at a mural, but all of this adds to the charm of this lovely little bar. I'll be back, many many times. read more

Serious beer drinker's bar with a mellow coffee shop vibe during the day. Cost to worth it rating: 3 (more expensive side for beer, but quality unique finds) Return worthiness: yes for a beer lover Highlights: - Atmosphere: maps lined the walls as well as atlases on the side and a bookshelf full of National Geographics. Super mellow local feel to it: people chatting at the bar or working on laptops at tables. - Beer list: rare offerings and huge 8.5x11 3 column normal font size page full of ones by the bottle, some on draft, and some highlighted on chalkboards - Free snack buffet: cold cuts and bread Lowlights: - I'm not a beer girl but was accompanying my hub. Was disappointed on the lack of cider options--only one. I do like the one they had, however: Strongbow. Not my cup of tea but is a cool beering spot. read more

Except for the ATM (cash only) and hipsters, walking into the Map Room is like walking into my dad's basement . Maps, massive amounts of National Geographic magazines, and British beers. As one who travels to many beer bars, the beer selection at The Map Room was good, not great. It was also challenging to get a beer with no server and trying to catch a bartenders attention. I was expecting something more from a top ranked beer bar. read more

I love Map Room! Map Room, oh Map Room. Little did I know of the gem I stumbled into three years ago. My apartment had no heat, you were only 4 doors down. Always there with warm welcoming arms. If ever a Monday came and there was no food in my cupboards, you offered me a wide array of meats, pasta salads, and more exotic mustards on one table than one can ever fathom. You'd even knock $1 off any Belgian beer, for no other reason than it being a Monday. I walked in, naive, ordered a Miller Lite for $5. Such a shame. But you showed me the way of a fine import or american craft for the same price...or less! Your monthly beer schools taught me the difference between an ale and a lager. I walked out a homebrewer in the making. Thank you, Map Room, for being the best bar for beer that I've ever met. You'll always have a special place in my heart and on my map. read more

cozy, and i like the layout of the bar theres a lot of books and drinks on the wall that make u feel at home read more

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

What could be better than free meats and cheeses with your interesting brew? I visited the Map Room after quite a long hiatus and it was just as I remembered it. I enjoy the large beer list (and the fact that there are other options besides beer...), but was a bit disappointed when my original choice was not available. The bartender offered me what he said was a good alternate - not noting that the alternate beer is one served warm(er) and without much carbonation. I initially went back to return it due to these concerns as I thought the beer may have seen better days. I was told that this was just the type of beer and that the temperature and lack of bubbles were normal. I would have been completely fine with this - had the bartender told me this when it was recommended! My second beer was delicious, however, so I have forgiven the Map Room for the less-than-stellar reco. The atmosphere is a bit divey with seemingly all regulars at the bar. However, it's comfortable and fun and a great spot to hang out for a bit. Pricing is reasonable and the appetizers are a nice touch! Don't forget - CASH ONLY! read more

I LOVE this great old place in my new hood!!! The bartender knows his beers and picked out the perfect one for me. Pirat!! Loved it....great place for an afternoon buzz....haven't been at night when supposedly all the hipsters invade, but sure do love it!!! I think it's hysterical to read reviews where people want a big TV and Miller Beer??!?! Seriously...you are in the wrong spot. Thank God!! read more

The beer revolution is officially dead. A 13 year update here, to one of the previously top three best beer bars here in Chicago, confirms it. It was killed by America, squeezing out all the foreign beers until keeping stock of all of them became impossible. Gone is the bible-like multi-page tome of days passed, replaced by a greek-style menu with a few handpicked versions. As to the physical environment, they sure keep the lights brighter in here than they used to. Security by the door now also lol. Its really become nothing special now, many bars have competitive offerings with such a slimmed-down selection. Women sure like it here though. read more

Interesting neighborhood joint powered by over 200 beers in-house. I seemed to have been the only one of my group who has never been here. Well then again I live in the western suburbs. The fact that there is no waitstaff only bartenders and doormen was odd at first. However this bar gets so busy it only makes sense to get your own drinks. Since the bottled beer is high in alcohol content paying as you go was the wiser choice. We had a group of 6 and were lucky enough to squat a table and rotated turns buying beers. It was a great system that worked out for us. If you are drinking a Miller Lite in this bar, you might as well get thrown out, their are so many unique brands to choose from. Parking can get tricky and Armitage is always packed, so come early to find a table. read more

See all

Straight off the plane a few weeks ago, came here for a friend's "change of job" party. Cool place with a lot of beers, friendly/local crowd. Did I mention lots of beers? Not much else to add here. The service was cool and we had a good time for an hour at 3pm on this particular Friday. read more

I haven't been here in a while. I think that's because when I came here last a few months ago, I almost died. Ok, not that severe, but I had a pretty bad allergic reaction to some sour beer. That'll learn me for trying a beer described as sour - I probably pissed off the beer gods with that choice. Other than that, though, Map Room is beer heaven. I brought my cousins and sister here last week, and they were surprised that 1) they couldn't use cash and 2) they didn't have my one cousin's favorite beer, Corona. This was obviously a good time for some education. I introduced my family to the magic that is Framboise, while I encouraged my Corona-loving cuz to try something European. Our night was capped off by a visit by The Tamale Guy, which is how every night should end. Because I survived this visit to Map Room without so much as a sniffle, I'm happy to say that this place is definitely worth several visits. read more

What a fun little spot!great service, cute bartenders and great Collection of books and art. I had great drinks And tea. Haven't tried the food but will do next time, cause I'll definitely be back! :) read more

The Map Room - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool little cafe/bar in Bucktown (why can't all places sell both lol) we went at 10am so sadly couldn't order beer, but I got grapefruit juice, which was pretty standard, I just had had coffee, so didn't wanna die by ordering it again here, but it's inteligentsia so I know it's good, solid beer list, would be down to chill and rink coffee or beer/liquor here. An overall cool vibe in a quiet area right on Armitage. Hope to return at some point read more

We were actually going to Cafe Laguardia but the place was packed, including the waiting area and the bar, and therefore we landed up here about half a block east. The place is clean, spacious and has an absolutely wonderful beer selection! It was a very busy night even that early in the evening and we were lucky to eventually snag a corner shelf for our beer glasses! The decor inside was unique - with the atlas on the walls and some interesting books too. The place was vibrant with energy but not too loud to make conversation. read more

I went on a Friday afternoon and could not have been happier. Great beer list, good ambiance for a hang-out spot. The bartenders were down-to-earth and friendly. They chatted when they had a free moment but were all business when they got busy. The beer menu is awesome and reminds me of my favorite, The Falling Rock, in Denver. I love this place and will be back the next time I am in Chicago. read more

A few bike racks out front which I appreciate, glad I didn't have to lock my bike to a random pole. Great place to catch up with friends and an excellent selection of beers. read more

Great place and great vibe. Place should have a 4/5 rating, but unfortunately this place gets a 2 due to rudeness. The bartender working in the evening last night was one of the rudest I've ever seen. When Ordering a drink from him you would have thought I insulted his family. I let it go until the end of the night when I asked for the tab and he just stared at me. I thought he didn't hear me so I repeated my request and his response was "yeah I heard you". Some tips: put a smile on don't mumble when talking to customers. read more

Great little bar. Cool atmosphere and amazing beers from all over. Cozy and neighborhood feel. Ya gotta love it. Nice staff too

Really closer to 4.5 stars. I can't imagine a homier feeling bar. Superb draught beer selection, decent prices especially the beer of the month and friendly bartenders. BYOF! Great place to order a pizza to. FANTASTIC coffee believe it or not. I have no idea how Starbucks stays in business across the street. Better prices, environment and quality. They serve intelligencia in all styles. Great espresso. read more

The Map Room - That Saturday morning transition. Nice cortado, then on to something more fun - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing place to grab a beer and dream up a fantastical trip in a land far away. A huge, versatile tap list and plenty of old school travel guides is quite the combo to fuel your wishes to venture to the other side of the Earth. read more

The Map Room - Great tap list and enough travel guides to plan your trip around the world, definitely a unique place to check out - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would never recommend this spot for anyone. service was terrible staff not friendly at all not available looked more interested in their phones and ignored several patrons that left, the worst part was that i saw them as they looked at people leaving and got back to talk amongst them the bartender who I thought was the lead was the worst of them it was 2:00 am people leaving a few tables and she saw u at the bar waiting and she did nothing. it's hard to believe that the owners of this spot don't control via camera what the employees do they are losing money and clients. at the end the bartender had the nerve to come to ask me why I did not tip her. After I try to educate her on customer service she ask to please not come again and guess what? never ever ever will I visit that spot again as if that was the only place to spend my money. and am sharing this with all my friends family n drinking buddies. don't expose yourselves to shitty service nowadays u got options and MAP ROOM IS DEFINITELY not one of them for me two thumbs down. read more

Decent place to grab a coffee later in the day - or a drink. Super chill vibe. It's nice to sit by the windows, they had them open but it was getting chilly - would be rad in summer. I tried to order a cortado and the bartender didn't know what that was - maybe that's too boujee of a request though, I dunno. read more

They have hot Cheetos and a great atmosphere. And. Great beers! Come and enjoy! Good times

Interesting bar decor make this place fun to visit. Staff are friendly and you can order food in from outside if you want. Interesting neighborhood to walk in architecturally as well. read more

This is place is pretty chill! They have a very extensive list of beers for people who are into that, but if you're like me and overwhelmingly dislike beer, they also have a nice amount of spirits and they have coffee,too. My mimosas were great and again, despite not really liking beer, my friend's beer was doable. He drank it quick, so I'm guessing he liked it! The bartender was very friendly. There are a bunch of National Geographic magazines and Lonely Planet books that I suppose you can grab. My partner and I sat in a corner and worked on a few things, on our laptops,but there were people just hanging out with each other as well! It's a nice bar to do both and there is no pressure to do one over the other - it has a very relaxed setting. read more

I like maps. Maybe I should have been like Buster Bluth and got a Cartography Degree. But maybe a lot of places have been discovered by now. Seriously though I enjoy looking at old maps, old books, and old National Geographics. I find the way nationalities and cultures change fascinating. You can look at plenty of those here since that's it's theme. NERD ALERT! The other theme is BEER. Huge selection and knowledgable bartenders. No servers, cash only, no kitchen. But sometimes people bring in outside food or the tamale guy shows up. The vibe is very low key and nice. My partner and I made conversation with some people. I think this map is a destination unto itself. read more

Exploratory beer drinking headquarters! Yep, so the Map Room carries a couple hundred beers from lands both near and far. My guy pal and I were lucky enough to snag two coveted seats at the bar on a Saturday night... by the looks on people's faces, you think we could've made a hundred bucks by giving up those bar stools. But no no, we were on a mission: beer tasting gratification! So our bartender was a bit on the gruff side, but hey, he's got a job to do. And my friend sure didn't make it any easier on him with his request for "any dark ale." Um, a little direction would be nice! And of course, being a man, he didn't ask me for guidance even though my beer knowledge is up to snuff. I really enjoyed both of my selections (a porter and a stout) and watch out, beer lovin' newbies: many of these pack a serious wallop, so be sure to check the alcohol content. My two picks left me so buzzed that I only had one more beer the rest of my evening out... which was four more hours! A really cool neighborhood bar... give 'em a try, the Map Room is a beer aficionado's best friend. Well, I'm still partial to Hopleaf but that's because they have the best mussels and frites in the world. Trust. read more

"Spin me around six times, and then I will point to the menu...that is how I will select my beer." "No." "Seriously, I need you to spin me six times, or I will never be able to pick my next beer." "No." Alright, the menu of beers is THAT big that it prompted me to request to be spun multiple times. Couple a huge beer menu with a somewhat indecisive person (yours truly), and I'm overwhelmed. Fortunately, I was able to select a beer without the spinning (which was fortunate given the fact I'd had one already and I tend to be a light-weight). Cozy bar, friendly service, and great selection. A pool table for those inclined and several tables along the outside edges for your tired feet. Bring a good friend (or many) and a thirst for some seriously good beer. This is not the place to order a Lite, is all I'm saying. read more

It's been a good six or seven years since I was last at the Map Room and my experience then was awesome. Great extensive menu of beers, yadda yadda. Tonight's experience on the other hand....I got kicked out. Actually, I got escorted out. I'm 5'2 and not one, but TWO bartenders felt the need to escort me out. I was there was a friend at her friend's graduation celebration. I only knew my one friend. First of all, getting to the bar was a pain in the ass, it was that crowded. I didn't realize they were cash only (when did that happen?). I ordered a drink, they served it, I handed them my credit card and that's when I was made aware of their cash only policy and they took my beer back. I couldn't take out money from their ATM as I didn't have my debit card. Oh well, I thought. I'll just hang out with the people I just met that are drinking. About 15 minutes later, the bartender that served me, came up to me and said, "Hey, didn't you order a beer and never paid for it?" Me: Yeah, sorry I didn't realize you were cash only and I can't take out money using my credit card. Bartender: So you mean you don't have any friends that are going to pay for your drink? Me: No, I'm not gonna ask strangers to pay for my drink. It's not that big of a deal. Bartender: Well I"m gonna have to ask you to leave. Me: *laughs* (I thought he was joking at this point) Bartender: You mean to tell me you don't have any money with you and you can't take out any cash? Me: Right...Dude, what the hell? That's not cool. Bartender: You know what else isn't cool? Ordering a drink and not paying for it. Me: I never drank it! Bartender calls another staff member and tells him, "She ordered a drink and never paid for it, and she's refusing to leave." Staff: Mam, you're gonna have to leave. You need to leave through the back door please. I didn't even get a chance to say bye to the people I was with and forced my friend to leave her party. So if you ain't drinking, you can't hang out with others that are drinking. Eff you Map Room Staff! read more

I got kicked out of map room. (well, we could have stayed IN the bar, but they kicked us out of our table... so why would we stay?) "WHAT?! But you are so not-unruly-and-well-behaved...." Yes, it's true. They kicked me out. The reason we got kicked out was because we weren't drinking enough. We all got beers, and had finished.. some people had gotten 2 beers... It had been about 5 minutes since the last person finished their beer. I thought the point of a bar was to be able to hang out and talk? Evidently not at map room. You finish your beer, you're out. I get it, they are crowded, people want tables...but at the same time, do you really want to kick people out who aren't actively drinking at all times? We thought it was pretty lame. If it wasn't for this, It'd get a MUCH higher rating. read more

The Map Room is craft beer heaven for the serious beer drinker. The beer list features hundreds of brews from all over the world. Approach the bar to order your beer and you will hear guys and girls having serious conversations amongst themselves (and sometimes, with the bartender as well) about a particular beer or brewery. Ask the bartender (The Beer Sage, in my opinion) for a taste or two of beers that you are trying to decide between and he will gladly pour and then offer his suggestions. The vibe is markedly low-key in comparison to some of the other craft beer venues in the city. I love that I can grab a table with a few friends and carry on a conversation (what a novel concept!) at The Map Room because the music is not too loud and the clientele is not rowdy. It's not to say The Map Room is a boring place; it is definitely abuzz and alive - more so with a passion and appreciation for great beer than raucous drinking and college football chatter. All of the walls are covered in large Rand McNally maps of the world, continents, and countries. (I love this, especially after the instance in which I had a heated debate with a friend on the precise location of Andorra.) And The National Archives better watch out: The Map Room's bookshelves contain what seems like every back issue of National Geographic in existence. read more

I fell in love with beer here when a friend of a friend (who brews his own beer) took charge of the menu and ordered for me. I loved analyzing the beer menu and perusing all of the different bottles and glasses, since I knew nothing about beer at that point. The decor inside is quite charming, there were National Geographic magazines everywhere, on the tables where we sat and on the bar, some of them were even ten years old! This place is all about beer though, so make sure those in your crew are beer-literate and if you do one thing, do not order a Bud Light or a Miller Light, expand your horizons and branch out please, there are too many options not to. Beware though, they do not accept credit card. This place is cash only,here is an ATM on site but I have no idea what the fee is. I've never eaten here and I'm not even sure they have a food menu. I've heard their coffee is really awesome too but obviously, I've never been for the coffee. I may only be 22 but this place has grown on me and is definitely a good time with friends who are really serious about what they drink. read more

This place used to be one of my favorite bars for many reasons: They have a great diversity of beers that is changed out quite frequently, or at least is different every time that I've gone there. They have free pretzel rods at each table. Salty and beer - two perfect things if I do say so myself. It never gets too packed, and the hipster to non-hipster ratio stays at a 1:4 maybe even 1:5. That being said, for a bar so close to Wicker Park, it was on the top of my list, until recently. Bartender and possible manager (so he claimed) person that is probably 80 pounds overweight with a face full of black Brillo pad ripped me off by claiming that I gave him less money that I actually did. He did not have a good beard and mustache like Tom Selleck or Kenny Loggins. He was more of a recent Joaquin Phoenix hair explosion, except instead of an accomplished actor turned crazy person he was a late 30s possibly middle-aged bartender that was working on a Wednesday night on a beautiful 80 degree night of Chicago. Here's what happened: I ordered 3 beers for my sister, cousin and myself. The tab was $14. I gave him $20 (ten and two fives), he believed I only gave him $16 (ten, five and one). I know it was a matter of only $4 but I believe in one principle for the bar industry that ought to be upheld - don't try to rip your patrons off. If you want extra money, which, in the restaurant bar industry, is not impossible, considering the one magical element of the territory, booze, earn it by being nice to customers. Chances are, for a place like the Map room, where people go there and appreciate the drink, patrons will tip well when treated well. If you want to being a shady bar proprietor that rips of people, work for or at a place that caters to people like the cast of Jersey Shore. At least there the kids will be so distracted by trying to impress people with how much money they spent that you'll probably be doing them a solid by stealing money from them. It was my first beer of the night so I was even more upset that he was trying to pull a fast one on me so early on. I mean c'mon. At least wait until I've downed 10 shots of tequila first. It makes me sad to give the Map Room 1-star. I even think it was the first bar I went to with my friends after we graduated college. read more

I went for Monday's Belgian night. The free meat and cheese were pretty basic - nothing to write Yelp about. However, the hot mustard and pretzel sticks were delicious. And, of course, the beer. Delirium Tremens is hard to find and hard to stop drinking. I had two, and I was ready to make out with everyone in the building and had to fight the urge to write silly things on Map Room's chalkboard. My friends and I had a table all to ourselves, with great conversation and drinks inside while it poured outside. If you get cold easily, bring a jacket. If you love the cool breeze of AC while you drink, enjoy. Honestly, every beer Map Room serves is a gem. The staff is friendly without being fake, and they crowd is a lot more chill - at least on a Monday - than most bars in the area. Also, if you're concerned about the price of their beers, remember that the $5 Delirium (on Mondays) is twice as strong as standard beers and would cost you twice as much at a downtown bar. Also, Tuesday nights are International Night, which means a sponsor restaurant caters the whole shebang. Free food with amazing beer? Can't beat it. read more

Believe it or not I have been twice in the short week and a half I have lived here. Time #1 After a long day of shopping (household, not fun, expensive, moving-in shopping) Mom, Erin and I decided it was time to call it a day and grab a beer. Erin had mentioned the Maproom as a place she wanted to try but had never been. The place is pretty cool-tons of seating, a long wooden bar, pool table and of course, maps! At a place with such a selection, I assumed the bartender would be passionate and excited to help a less knowledgeable customer choose a beer. Unfortunately, I assumed wrong. I let her know what I normally drink, and instead of making a suggestion that was comparable to that, she stared and me as if to say ".....and??? your point being??" She eventually suggested something and I went with that one because I was uncomfortable and felt like I was annoying her. It wasn't really what I was looking for at all, but hey, its beer, and I was tired. We went up for round 2 a bit later and I asked for something a little less bitter. Once again, I felt like a burden. It seemed like it took her every ounce not to groan or roll her eyes. Beer number two-better but still not what I wanted. The Plus- they put out cold cuts, cheese and a ton of mustard's for everyone at the bar to help themselves to! Time #2 Erin thought I was overreacting a little bit about the bartender so I thought i'd give it another try because like I said, the atmosphere is great and just what you would want on a late afternoon, to relax and enjoy a beer. Maybe she was having a bad day. Different bartender. still ZERO smile. still ZERO help. ok..so maybe they are trained this way? I tasted a couple then finally settled on good old Anchor Steam. I know my hometown beer and knew I couldn't go wrong. After round one I was feeling good and wanted to try something new again. Why? I don't know...when in Rome... Erin and I headed up to the bar. The female from the previous time was there now and began to help us and asked for ID's because she didn't realize we had already been in there for awhile. Then first bartender snapped at her "i got it! i've got them already!" oh great...she actually seemed to be in a better mood then the other day. Can't we keep her?? I had read a description on the menu for a Belgium smoky style beer and wanted to give it a go. I ordered it and the man said "its VERY smoky" "ok" "VERY. Like Bacon" "ok" (i like bacon...) Then he gave me a taste..yea, smokey, tasted like bacon, but I knew he was trying to call me out and the last thing I wanted was for him to be right. So I ordered the whole damn beer, went back to the table and made Erin and Mom help me finish it. Round three....good old Anchor Steam. The doorman/busser however was the complete opposite of bartender #1 and bartender #2. Very helpful, friendly and funny too. Am I the only one who got this vibe? By the reviews (with the exception of Kristin L.) it seems I am. 2 stars for nice doorman, atmosphere and cold cut buffet. read more

I don't understand the hype but then again, I don't drink beer. There always seems to be a gaggle of pretentious micro brew heads in here that look at you funny if you don't order some obscure beer only 12 people on earth drink. Four stars comes from an incident last summer in which a friend (who shall remain nameless as he had technically been banned from the establishment) was gently escorted out. The bouncer was real cool about the fact that he wasn't allowed in the bar, yet. In my friends defense, he did think we were at Streetside. Yea, there is a reason that some people get banned from bars. The Map Room has good people. read more

The Maproom is one of the coolest beer bars around. Anywhere. Fairly small and unpretentious, I always have a good time here. The selection is outstanding (see draft Schlenkerla Fastenbier, New Belgium La Folie, etc.) and the employees know their beer. Aside from selection and atmosphere, they have one of the best websites for a beer bar I've come across. No, it's not any fancy Flash BS or "wicked cool" pictures, but it as the most up-to-date draft list. And really, that's all I really need from them. What's on right now? Oh, New Holland Rauch Hatter? I need to try that; I'm going in. That's what I want from a bar's website. My only real problem is the smoke. If it was smoke-free, it'd be fantastic. But from the look of it, most of their clientele might disagree with me. Also, if you were the two 50-year old women who were hitting on me (at the same time, why?) on Valentine's Day of 2003, I'm sorry, but I gave you a fake number. I was intimidated by you and wanted to be left alone, but was entirely too drunk to tell you. I hope there are no hard feelings, but I was there for beer, not you. read more

Wicked cool winning beer-centric bar in Chicago. I am a beer dork. I am a dork en totale, but I am also a beer dork. I'm a wine nerd, a bourbon nerd, and a beer snob. I can't help it. My background in the bar/restaurant industry has done nothing but if to keep my palette in an ever-more discerning state of being. The Map Room has so very many beers it made (and still makes) my head spin right round faster than Regan MacNeil's. Duvel GREEN? Whaa? Fine, you don't distribute in Wisco, whatever. We're the land of beer -- get on it! And don't think I don't know what I'm talking about, either. I mean, yes, it is CHI and it's bigger and faster than MKE, but we have more than our share of beer nerd havens up here in the 414. The Map Room stacks up, selection-wise. Most certainly. Vibe-wise? They've taken the hipstery-dark and somewhat dingy-organic/real approach w/ their vibe. I am a fan of this. Let the selection speak for itself. I like to try to make it a point to stop by The Map Room when I'm in Chicago. I like maps, I like rooms, and I most certainly like good beer. read more

This chilly, rainy day reminds me of the two times I've ever been to Map Room. And really, something about a chilly, rainy day to me says "spend the day in a bar because it sucks outside". Right? You too? Excellent. I had the pleasure of helping a friend celebrate another year of age here a month ago and between the company, Scrabble and delicious adult beverages it turned that rainy day into quite the lovely afternoon. The beer list may be daunting at first, and it does help if you know your stuff a little bit before talking to the bartenders about what you want. But once you know, dive in because the options are legion. They're Belgian-heavy which is a bar after my own heart, and if you want to try something you don't know, just ask. They'll help you out. Nice crowd in the early afternoon, coffee for those on the go or who want to treat it like a Starbucks, outlets and WiFi for your laptops, books for your brains. Go on in. Set a spell. Enjoy. Even if it's not rainy outside. (Oh and PS, they have the distinct honor of having my favorite logo of any establishment in our fine city) read more

Here's the thing: I like Belgian beers. A lot. Here's the other thing: The Map Room has an ENTIRE ROW OF TAPS DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BELGIAN BEERS. Here's the other, other thing: All the bartenders know their shit. So if you are seriously overwhelmed by the 80-bajillion options, you can say to one of the bartenders, "Here is what I like, can I have something similar?" And the man behind the bar will find you something similar, and you will love it and consume it in mass quantities and pass out somewhere on Armitage, unless the Tamale Guy shows up, and then depending on the amount of beer you've had, you might pass out anyway - tamale in hand. So it's kind of like going to Beer Heaven. Possibly with tamales. read more