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Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: BucktownMon-Fri. 6:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I came to experience The Map Room through the Cafe Scientifique science talks that routinely take place here (for more info http://www.cafescienti... ). And yes the beer is excellent. A bit more crowded than I like, I'm not a fan of the typical bar scene.
If you intend to attend Cafe Scientifique, plan to arrive an hour early for good seating or the ability to attend at all. I think they cut off at 50 attendees. It's no fun going to the trouble of attending, finding parking, etc. and then finding out the event is maxed out.
Dear Map Room:
I love you and your hops. Although I am overwhelmed by your abundance of beer on the menu, you had me at "what can i get you?" Your beer snobbery is a welcome addition into my life. You complete me.
Love
Me
You don't actually need a map to get to The Map Room, Silly. Just a lust for life, an eagerness for excitement, and a thirst for beer.
Hit up this unfettered pale ale palace any night of the week and expect to rub elbows with the Map Room's tenacious - ahem, hardcore - yet incredibly passionate bartending staff, lots of hip eye candy and just a generally interesting blend of clientele that you know love to savor their suds versus whacking 'em back. With over 200 unique brands representing 36 different brewing styles from the U.S. and all over the globe you're guaranteed to unearth endless selections to efficiently quench your yearning for the foamy stuff.
Do keep in mind that your peppy Framboise, silky Allagash White and uberhoppy Green Flash IPA all must be settled for in CASH. Eh, I'd normally pitch a stinker over the need for green, but the fact that The Map Room boasts always featuring a cask conditioned ale, cellared in a separate cask cooler and served via handpump just goes to show that these boys are churning an impressive product and They.Mean.Beer.Business.
Fine, you got me, I'll cough up the cheddar gladly in exchange for one of dem Three Floyds Alpha King cask pours. Mmmm, so tasty, don't mind if I do!!
DON'T GO HERE IF YOU DON'T LIKE GOOD BEER!!!! Go get your miller lites and exotic mixed drinks elsewhere.
I was here on 19-October-2009. The bar is a bar, not some pretentious attempt to make a commodity out of the craft beer movement (ala Starbucks is to coffee). They have an outstanding collection of amazing beer on draft, cask and bottles. I felt the prices were very reasonable (~5-6$).
They played good music in the background but low enough to have a conversation. The bartender Chris was one of the best stewards of beer I have ever dealt with. It was top notch service from the descriptions of the beer and even charged my phone when it was going dead. They had some picking food to chomp on like smoked kielbasa, macaroni salad, various cold cuts and veggies. It has a real blue collar atmosphere.
I put Map Room on my places to see in Chicago and on my list of favorite places to get outstanding beer. Go to the Map Room. You wont be disappointed!!
I was forced to go to The Map Room.
I've managed to narrowly squeeze my way out of going there on many occasions but alas, I was dragged there and, of course, was kicking and screaming the whole way.
Now that you think I'm a major brat let me explain something to you. I don't like beer bars. I don't like them because they are usually filled with snotty wannabes and those who are employed there (especially the doormen, why WHY?!) always have a smug attitude and the I'm-so-much-cooler-than-you-vibe. Guess what? This bar is not an exception hence the 4 stars. Why do I award such bad behavior with 4 stars you ask? The beer! Oh yes, the yum yum beer selection is so good. I'm really a wine kind of gal but do like a good Belgian triple beer. The Beglian beer choices at this place pretty much rocked; from light to ale to dark ,there was plenty of choices. When we first got there they were playing metal music (roll of the eyes) which I thought "how typical" but then started on some good old school hip hop which, yes I know, "how typical" but much more preferable to me.
I hope, for my waistlines sake, I don't frequent this place too much. However I have a sneaking feeling that the smell of thick fruitiness and burnt sugar coupled with the robust smooth, fruity, 3 grain taste of a good Belgian triple will win. Take THAT beer snobs!!!
So remember in my review of the Corner how I referenced the Map Room as a place where I "regrouped" with 2 Bloody Mary's before I found it? Well, I said three Bloody's but I'm not so certain anymore; although I do recall the bike ride thereafter to have been quite pleasant indeed. I requested mine extra spicy, and was perfectly obliged. This place has an amazing selection of beers which I am thoroughly impressed with, even if I just stick to my favorite oldies. Always great music, and lot's o' good looking man-meat here as well, if that would ever season your decision to visit someplace. Board games are a huge drawing point for me anytime they involve spirits, so this place is a definite winner, and I can't help but swoop in anytime I'm ambling down Armitage.
I fell in love at the Map Room. It was a tall, dark and handsome brew from New Holland Brewery that did it, Dragon's Milk Ale.
I had heard about this bar and the fantastic selection of beers, but didn't anticipate having so much to choose from. It was so impressive, to say the least. The crowd was very friendly and the bar staff did a great job of keeping up, even offering recommendations.
Great atmosphere and an unbelievable selection.
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)
I came here as the first bar on our Bucktown/Wicker Park Halloween pub crawl to meet up some friends and friends. The bar's pretty laid back and corner pub-like. They have an extensive selection of beers ranging from domestic to imports all on draft. What's funny is that my husband and I had $11 in cash between the both of us. The incredibly nice bartender managed to get us brews that came in exactly that much. We joined our friends at a nearby table and enjoyed the Halloween people watching. Seriously, Halloween is the ultimate people watching night and there were plenty of characters around. I could easily see coming back here for some excellent beers and company with friends. For a first visit there, I had a pretty good experience and can't wait to sample other delicious beers.
I love the Map Room.
Obviously they are known for their wide ranging selection of beers (lots of Belgian choices-- my favorite kind of beer), but what I love the Map Room for is their food days. Specifically Sundays and Mondays.
Now granted, the Map Room is known for their International Nights (Tuesdays, but arrive early to get the food), but I prefer going on the more laid back Sundays for the free BBQ, the football games on the TV, and the lack of a huge crowd. Mondays are also good because again, there is a nice FREE spread of meats, cheeses, fruit, and a huge assortment of mustards (I am obsessed with mustard), and again, it's not as busy as Tuesdays.
In conclusion, the beer is always great and I highly recommend going on Sundays & Mondays for the chill vibe and the good food. You'll probably see me there.
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.
IS THAT A VAJAYJAY?
I'm not kidding. I took me a few minutes to realize that their logo is actually some guy with a hat reading a map and not some sort of abstract caramel colored Fleshlight.
I will chalk it up to blurred vision on account of the 300 incredible beers I consumed that night or hysteria induced by not being able to use my credit card.
That is all.
I went to the Map Room last night for the first time. The beer selection is amazing. I'm all about trying new beers too. My friends had raved about the Map Room for a few weeks, and finally we drove into the city and went to the Map Room. I had a beer called "Lost Abbey". It was sweet, and very smooth. I loved it. For seconds I saw on their bottled menu they had Strongbow English Cidar. I love Strongbow, but can never find it here in the states. So I couldn't pass it up.
The place was very crowded, and finding a table was a challenge. The guy at the door needs to lighten us, and put a smile on his face. So thats why the Map Room only gets four stars.
Nice beer selection and fair prices, but please conform to what the workers' there want or you'll be ousted, impatient bartenders,
loooooose the atttttiitude!!!....
Too many beer choices!! But I guess that's the whole point, right? I was embarassed to ask where they kept all the bottles. Some things are better drunk than asked. The menu had an impressive list of beers and their alcohol content. I kept ordering belgian beers with ABV of like 12% and more. So pretty much it's like gulping wine. I learned my lesson. I had to take a cab home and ended up puking on the sidewalk in front of my apartment. I will definitely go back and next time I will pace myself, I promise!
As others have mentioned the place does get a bit cramped. Better to go early and get a comfortable corner before all the hipsters arrive.
The Map Room has so much potential to be a fantastic bar, but alas I only give it 2 stars.
Let's start with the good. First, the beer selection is stellar. I'm not a total beer snob but I can navigate my way around a menu to find what I'm in the mood for, and chances are they have it. They bartenders are also uncanny at making recommendations. Tell them something you liked in the past which they may not have, and they'll find something to suit your tastes. The specials are usually solid as well, especially considering the quality of beer that you are getting for the price.
Now on to the not so good. The barkeeps. I think if they could get over themselves and how much they know about hops and malt, they'd be cool peeps. Each one I've encountered is quite smug and frankly would rather chat with the other bartenders about IBU numbers than get you a drink. Secondly is the ease, or lack thereof, of getting a drink. The best place to sit is at the bar, because if you aren't sitting there, ordering a drink means squeezing between two unhappy dudes in stools and hoping the bartender sees you.
But alas, the selection and decor somewhat make up for the short comings.
Great, ever-changing beer selection. Great atmosphere. Just a wee bit crowded... I won't hold it against them, though, you can't really control your popularity. Won't waste any space repeating previous comments... love it.
I think I found my new home away from home! Maps on the walls, flags hanging from the ceiling, national geographics in the book cases, atlas by the windows, I am in love!
Plus, they have oodles of beer and cider AND they let you order food to be delivered(we got thai) and even gave suggestions.
It got pretty packed pretty quickly, so to find a seat you have to swoop. Also lots of good looking guys, a disportionate amount of men to women ratio actually, almost a bit of a sausage fest.
What more could a girl want?
Ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-aps!
Wait! They don't love you like I love you ...
Whenever I am at The Map Room I always get the Yeah Yeah Yeahs stuck in my head. Which is fabulous because I love that song. And I also love the Map Room. I love the huge selection of beers. Sometimes it can be a bit daunting but the Beer of the Month is always a delicious choice. And hello they have my favorite Flossmoor Station beer.
I have yet to go to their International food night but have heard good things.
Wait! They don't love you like I love you ...
Awesome place. We popped in expecting to just get one drink and ended up staying a long while just sitting at the bar. Found my favorite brew- Witcap.
People there were super nice especially Chicago Pete. Pete had a black eye that day because of a little accident from one of his co workers...! Great place! Will definitely go back!
Good ol' Map Room. Kind of randomly, I've been there on both of my last two birthdays. This more recent time, I was a little worried about the place, because around 2pm it was totally dead. But sure enough, around work-letting-out time it started to fill up. Whew.
The weekday specials are nice and help me to make decisions (e.g. Belgian bottles, non-Belgian drafts, etc). Their Friday special made me laugh out loud--"$5 MGD and Lite bottles." On Saturday--"You're already special."
I'm going to keep them at five stars for sentimental reasons, but as much as I love the place, it's not as special as it used to be. Bars with great imported beer selections have become a mini-trend, so we brewphiles don't have to bounce between Map Room and Hopleaf anymore. However, I still love that I can come here on any afternoon, in any season, on any occasion, and get a table and enjoy conversation, or work on my laptop, or play Scrabble, or whatever.
There's nothing not to like about the Map Room except that it's not in my neighborhood. There was a… Read more »
From Belgian triples, raspberry beer, and local stouts, the selection and old school vibe at the map room is awesome. The people around the bar and bartenders are usually fun, and free pretzel sticks put at the tables help soak up the international suds so that tipsy revelry can continue into the night.
The map room doubles as a coffee bar by morning, with free wifi. So if you need to party Saturday night and then do a report for work on Sunday morning, you're all set.
The beer can be a little pricey, but with a selection that can be hard to come by, you pay for the quality.
Four stars because of the many fine beers I've enjoyed here over the years.
Four stars because the bartenders have never been less than awesome.*
Four stars for all of the things that make the Map Room a great place to drink when the weekend warriors and the condo-troglodytes aren't around. You know, the things that drew you there when the bar's current crop of patrons still thought that Lincoln Park and Lakeview were the only neighborhoods in which they were allowed to live.**
One star for not installing trap doors which, when sprung, drop this bar's horrid patrons into a basement full of hungry, rabid bears.***
One star for not deporting the survivors to Danny's forthwith.
Four stars because there is a secret to enjoying all that is good about the Map Room. No, I won't disclose it here, because then you'd ruin it for good.
*If the staff seem less than awesome, just think about the kind of customers they're forced to deal with. You'd be cranky, too.
**Actually, they still are. Please move back.
***Sharks would be OK, too.
Went to the Map Room kind of randomly. I only had their beer of the month which was Bear Republic, it was pretty fantastic. The atmosphere seemed nice, the only reason I don't give it a 5 is because it is a narrow place and it was just cramped when we got there. But all in all from the little I was there, I really enjoyed the place, nice window seating so you can see outside which is always nice. Service was quick and nice too.
The Map Room was selected by one of our buddies that lives in Chicago as being a top beer tasting spot on a Friday night. His wife was kind enough to be our DD so we started out here before going to the Hop Leaf and then Signature Club.
The beer selection here was to be respected. We were able to get Paulaner Hefe-Weizen and Hoegaarden nice and cold on draft! Amen to that. Very nice decor in here in the way of maps and old books on bookshelves. Very comfortable, typical corner door entry that dates back to the early pubs that filled with steel workers at night since the '40's... Great bartenders that gave us some free tastes as we were being picky as this was our beer night out in Chi-town. Would not hesitate to go back here and I do most certainly suggest it. 4.5 stars.
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.
After years of secretly detesting and openly avoiding the Map Room, I finally gave it another chance last weekend. I'm still not a fan, but I've come to a better understanding of why other people are.
Previous reasons for disliking map room:
- Always keeping 2-3 people in line at the door: Brrrr, it's cold outside in January. I'm sure the addition of little ole me won't break fire code too bad will it?
- Setup: The old school tavern leaves little room for tables, but the narrow passageways make standing awkward.
- Beer!: But... I don't drink beer. That doesn't mean I deserve a dirty look when I order a mixed drink.
Likes:
- Keeping with fire code restrictions means I won't be elbowed constantly
- The small tables are intimate, so it's okay for a small group of friends
- Beer! If you drink it, you're golden with a bazillion choices available.
Overall, I think it's just not the place for me. The blatant beer snobbery kind of irks me, but I appreciate that it is a niche for those who seek it. Good for a comfy, cozy, low key night with a small group of friends. Good luck with a large group, though, because they'll only let half of you in at a time.
I absolutely love this place and will be back on multiple occasions. I am a beer drinker always on the look for something new to try. I got schooled on 'sour' beers. AMAZING.. The bartender was awesome, poured me some samples to try on each of my beer selections - I got New Belgium La Folie and it was $5 -- amazing beer at an even better price.
The look of the place is great inside - clean and small. Music not too loud so you can comfortably sit and debate life with friends.
Just an excellent all around place. I plan on making it out here once a week or every other - its well worth it.
If I had to epitomize the ideal neighborhood bar for me, this would be the place.
I'm an avid traveler, so anything to do with imagining you're in another place does it for me. The walls lined with National Geographic magazines, flags hanging from the ceilings and artwork reminiscent of Casablanca days help you get there.
The Map Room has tons of beers - when I say tons, they have more than 100 brews at least (imported and domestic) on hand. I tried the Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout which had a very strong but subtle coffee flavor. My girlfriend had the Lindemann's Raspberry beer which tasted so good, it shouldn't even be labeled a beer. My other buddy went for a sour beer that he kept complaining tasted like gulps of lemon heads. I didn't find that all too appealing; I guess he didn't either. He ended up having an allergic reaction.
Even though our night was cut short in search for Benadryl, I found the place relaxing. You'll find the place is frequented by more beer connoisseurs than douchebag frat boys, so the age range is slightly older. That could be a good or bad thing, depending on your preference!
Tip: For the ultimate bar with trinkets all over the world, check out Pavilhao Chines in Lisbon, Portugal. You will not be dissapointed!
Another Tip: This is not the kinda place that has $2 Miller Light Specials. Beers can get up there and it is CASH ONLY. Plan accordingly.
This place is far less pretentious than I thought it might be. In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I've avoided this place for years for fear of being burned by some serious beer snobbery. Well, jokes on me because I've been missing out.
The Map Room has a lovely neighborhood pub vibe and it happens to have lots of yummy beers. I'm not a huge beer drinker so I had my companions pick some out for me, and I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed them. This is true drinkability :)
I am definitely going to be coming back here!
This place has a great selection. It has more than 100 beers broken down by country of origin. If you go on Tuesday, you can get free dinner with your purchase of 2 (well priced!) beers. Tuesdays are usually catered by good Chicago restaurants. I love the Belgian brews, and would recommend Lindeman's Framboise. If you're more into thick beers like Guiness, go for the Young's Double Chocolate Stout.
The only bad part about this place is that it gets really crowded and parking is a bit tricky to find :/ Definitely better than the Hop Leaf!
Just visited the Map Room again. Bar staff is awesome - space is totally packed, with a line out the door. 4 stars plus...
Very cool bar on Armitage near the Kennedy Expressway. As a big fan of Belgian-style ales - and… Read more »
I've enjoyed myself the several times I've gone to the Map Room. They've got tons of beers on tap from around the world. It reminds me so much of "Brigand", a pub I used to go to when I studied abroad in France that specialized in Belgian brews, so it's fun to find a little piece-o-Europe right here.
Getting there for me is no big deal because the Damen bus is my one of my main modes of transportation, though getting back is a longer train ordeal since the Damen bus stops at like 10:30pm :-/ .. (Side note that attempting to drunk bike from there all the way back to Pilsen= bad idea.)
The music is pretty hit or miss.. mainly because I don't count myself among the ranks of those who love metal music. Depending on which bartender chose the music selection for the night, you may end up with thrash-worthy tunes.
I like the atmosphere and decor with maps (surprise!), vintage posters and copies of National Geographic to peruse while you sip your beer, but my main star-taking problem is how crowded it always is. It is never an easy time to find a table and getting a beer can be a long pursuit at the bar. Maybe if like half the people cleared out when I arrived, the Map Room would be a perfect little pub. (Just kidding!).. but, maybe they should consider expanding a bit so that more than 20 people could sit down at a time.
Come here on random weeknights for the best luck!
lots of good choices on draft, plenty more in bottles.
pretzels rods on the bar for snacking, packed bar though...i also noticed the bouncer was a pretty hardcore ID checker - thankfully i am well past 21 cause i'm not sure what he would do to a person with a fake ID.
we were able to snag seats when we walked in and noticed a group nearing the ends of their beers and luckily leaving!
plain, simple, good stuff.
I was here over 2 years ago and did not know that this was the place - I was happily surprised when I walked in again last night! why? because I love this place (!) as follows:
-My favorite ambiance of just-above-dive-bar-quality.
-Good beer priced...if not cheaply, then certainly inexpensively
-Music was at the perfect volume for enjoyment while still carrying conversation.
-Lots of room to spread out and sit with your friends (especially at the tables in the back) let you feel comfortable even if they're busy.
-Quick bar service even though they were busy.
-An appearance by (wandering) Tamale Guy was a definite plus on the whole evening!
Woo Map Room!
The most amazing selection of beers-I've-never-seen-before-and-will-probably-nev er-see-again. The hubby and I sought out this place during our honeymoon, and jump at the chance to go back. Just make sure the cabbie knows his f*ck*ng way around Bucktown (Me: "Haven't we been down this block before? I swear we're going in circles." Hubby: "This is way cutting into my beer time. Not cool, dude.")
Sit at the bar (if you can!) and order straight from the bartender's suggestive mouth.
It DID get amazingly crowded, and the bathroom was barely that, hence the 4 stars.
It took forever to get here by public transit. This isn't the bar's fault, however it will definitely make me think twice about returning. Since they are working on the blue line, Saturday night we had to take the blue line shuttle to get here. It took and hour and a half to get here from Clark & Lake. I would have rather been drinking for that hour and half!
The bar was okay, but I was in a pretty foul mood by the time I got here. I'm not a beer drinker, but I had out of town friends that I thought would be impressed by this place. One was, he was amazed they had several beers on tap he had never heard of. I was happy that they still had a full bar, even though they specialized in beer.
A less pretentious version of Hopleaf.
Ahh...the Map Room. What do I love about thee? Is it thy essence of neighborhoodiness? Perhaps thine ample selection of brews? Ah, it is, of course, but thou cask ales that makes thee the star of my transit when in Chicago.
OK, crappy fake Middle English aside, the only things that could improve the Map Room would be better transit access and being able to get a beer in the morning instead of the surprisingly decent coffee. (Actually, I'm not sure that I couldn't get a beer in the morning, it's just that it never occurred to me to ask.)
OVERRATED!!!
Yes, they have a great beer selection. So do other bars. They also have rude bartenders who don't know much about said great beer selection which makes it nearly impossible to explore the beer selection.
In fairness, we went on a Saturday night, it was super crowded (there was actually a line to get in - crazy) and the bartenders were probably overwhelmed. It was slightly more pleasant once things cleared out a bit and we got a table (though the bartender situation never improved), but overall, I was very underwhelmed and will not be rushing back anytime soon.
Food Specials
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
$4 x $4 Every Day
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Pubs
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