The Map Room

bditty187

Nebraska

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

It wasn't love at first sight. The Map Room was smaller than I thought. A bit more worn and dingier than I though.

When we stopped it was about 5pm on a Monday night. The seats at the bar were all taken and there was roughly 10 other people milling around. We grabbed a seat as close to the bar as possible.

For some reason I was expecting more taps and more American beer on tap too. I got over it quickly. Over the next five hours or so we drank Hop Rod Rye, Hop Ottin', Allagash Curieaux, Houblon Chouffe, Hitachino Nest Celebration, and Victory Prima Pils all on draft. The bottle selection was very good, we got a bottle of Flossmoor IPA, GL Imperial Dortmunder and Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor (which we got on the house). Overall the beer selection was great, nice diversity and some rare gems in the mix as well. Every beer was served in, more or less, the proper glassware.

There was free food to munch on which was a nice bonus.

The service was great. Every time I ordered at the bar I got my beer in minutes plus they ordered us a Taxi at the end of the night. They even found the Cubs game on the TV for us (as it was blacked out in ESPN). That took sometime as neither bartender seemed to be much of a sports fan.

We got caught in a bad thunderstorm/tornado warning which was nothing for a couple of Nebraskans. We waited the storm out, the bar got fairly full by the end of the night as people were seeking refuge.

I enjoyed The Map Room and will return but not on a busy night as the small bathrooms and lack of space overall worries me. Is The Map Room the beer geek Mecca it is made out to be? I am not sure after one visit. If nothing else the beer selection is very good in a small, neighborhood bar.

08-06-2008 15:05:00 | More by bditty187

atpben

Texas

4.21/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.25 | $$

Went there just so I could try Zombie Dust. The tap was done but was able to get the last bottle. Great beer by the way. Good bar but wasn't able to get a lot of the beers I wanted. Did get a great pint of Alpha King. Service was kinda slow; Saturday afternoon. Will come back but maybe at a different time.

05-17-2013 03:02:00 | More by atpben

ajkeefner13

Illinois

5/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

In my opinion, the best beer bar in the city. They are always rotating their beers to keep things fresh, and also clean their lines to keep the BEER fresh! A beer lover's atmosphere. Make sure you go here more than once if you can...cause the beer you have one week, will be completely different than the beer you drink the next...but it'll all be amazing!

01-16-2013 04:05:00 | More by ajkeefner13

kwesib

North Carolina

4.36/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Neither hard to get to nor very convenient, particularly the parking. But what is in Chicago. Try to make it here once every visit to Chicago. Great beer selection and I generally like the atmosphere. There should be a place like this in every neighborhood in America. Draft beer selection is very good and I can usually sample local brews that I might want to later buy. Service is good if not varied by time of day. Knowledgeable folks behind the bar. Coffee in the morning/afternoon ain't bad either.

11-23-2012 20:53:42 | More by kwesib

FEUO

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $

Great spot. Stopped in last Sunday on a visit to the city.
Served by Chris who has good knowledge of their selection and beer in general. Great conversation. Fun and light atmosphere. Crowd was pleasant and social.
Some mild pretentiousness from a couple people but you'll get that anywhere.
Took in game 4 of the World Series and then some zombies on TV. Interesting mix. :)

Beers: plenty including Yeti, Zombie Dust, Union Jack, duganA, Old Chub, and some crazy sour to finish the eve. Love this place. Will be back next time I get to Chi-town.

11-05-2012 11:56:48 | More by FEUO

czfreeman

Michigan

4.44/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped in here yesterday after spending the day exploring the area.
Nice, quiet afternoon setting. A stellar tap list, Founders breakfast stout, New Belgium Peach Porch Saison, and a just tapped Smuttynose Wheat wine were among some of the highlights.
Bartender was extremely knowledgeable, let me try several samples before settling on my first brew.
After striking up a conversation with the patron next to me, I was introduced to the VP from Three Floyds, which I found to be F***king awesome!!!! After pouring me a taste of Topless Wytch, he invited me up to the brewery and bought me an Alpha King, the first I've had as I just moved to Chicago this week.
An overall great experience, and one I will never forget.I will return soon, as it is only 25 minutes or so walking from my house.
Cheers!

10-10-2012 21:39:43 | More by czfreeman

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped in here on a lark before my usual tour of the City. It's a purposefully small, even quaint, joint, decked out in maps and flags and dark woods. My kinda place so far. Up to the bar I go, Kindle in hand, to enjoy a pint and a read. The selection is pretty nice, with some occasional oddballs (sort of...) from Europe showing up from time to time and something always on both special and cask. The bartender was very amiable, and we talked a bit before I delved into my reading, which itself was a fairly easy task, as the place was nice and quiet. There's really no need for the loud[-ish] music or TVs everywhere you go, man. Something tells me actual conversations could be had here...what a novel concept! If there is any food to be had here, I haven't tried it. The pricing seems good for the City (possibly a bit lower than may places).

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Map Room and look forward to going back again. I understand I'm not really in their real neighborhood, but I feel like I am when I'm there...

10-03-2012 18:49:30 | More by TMoney2591

KDawg

Illinois

4.36/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

In the past I had been back and forth when it comes to the map room. But, since it seems that one or two of the bartenders that would generally give attitude to everyone are gone, I've enjoyed it a lot more. It could be the timing on the days that I've come in, but shooting me looks like I've ordered a miller lite when I've actually ordered a cuvee des jacobins didn't make me feel all that comfortable.

Anyway, the map room has a great and diverse selection both on tap and by the bottle. You don't find bad beer here and it does cater to a knowledgeable crowd, but there isn't the vibing that I've come across in the past.

I really like the atmosphere here. You can always have a conversation with your friends and you don't feel like you are shouting over each other.

The prices for everything is pretty standard for this area of chicago (draft brews $5 or 6), but it is cash only. There is an atm on site, but it does need to be known ahead of time.

08-29-2012 18:08:35 | More by KDawg

socon67

New York

4.44/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

Came here during the week on a Wednesday around noon. Place was fairly empty, but the vibe seems trendy. Plenty of great beer on tap, and a cask. I had the Alpha King and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter; two great beers. Served in proper glassware, and bartender was quite knowledgeable. No food of note, but the beer is where its at. Motif is of a world traveller; Nat Geo magazines and flags around.

Pricing was fiar for what I had. I'd love to ever get back to this place.

Listed as one of the top craft beer bars in the country, and I'd say its a fair claim.

08-01-2012 00:21:56 | More by socon67

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

The map room I was told is a main go to bar, though a tad less nice neighbourhood than for Revolution or for The Local Option. Friendly bar tenders, kind of a dive bar. A very good bottle selection, and though not that many taps the quality was good with a couple harder to gets. Some emphasis on Belgians. Music a bit loud, then again its at night. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here, but then again its part of a pub crawl in the area that gives you a good perspective of the Chicago scene.

05-09-2012 20:11:02 | More by northyorksammy