Map Room Lounge

Lovely spot in the Boston Public Library. On the hottest day of the year, we absolutely loved visiting the beautiful Boston Public Library and the Map Room Lounge. The iced tea and affogato may have saved our lives!!

Tucked inside the historic walls of the Boston Public Library—the first large free municipal library in America—is a hidden gem I never saw coming. The Courtyard Tearoom and Map Room Tea Lounge blends elegance and charm with a warm, welcoming energy that makes locals and newcomers alike feel right at home. It’s professional and polished, styled to reflect the grandeur of the library itself, but never feels stuffy or exclusive. The white tearoom feels like a dream, perfect for celebrations or just soaking in something refined. But the real magic happened at the bar, thanks to Roger—our bartender for the evening. Personable, polite, and with a level of professionalism I’ve only experienced in Michelin-star restaurants. He was the kind of host who not only makes you feel welcome but makes you want to come back. Let’s talk drinks: • Carajillo – Tito’s Vodka, Licor 43, and a shot of espresso, served over a flower-logo-stamped cube of ice. Hands down, the best version I’ve ever had. Clean, bold, unforgettable. • Windfall – Elderberry-infused Old Forester, vanilla, cinnamon, blackberry, and lime. Fun fact: fresh elderberry + whiskey = dangerous. This version? Exceptionally smooth, flavorful, and totally safe. Delicious. • Stolen Moments – A surprise sample Roger generously let us try. Just as well-crafted and balanced as the rest. Not a single miss on the menu. Our group also grazed through a massive chess board-style charcuterie spread—plenty to share, and we still took leftovers home. The only thing I passed on was the pâté, but that’s just personal taste. This bar genuinely lands in my Top 5 in America. I never thought I’d say that about a bar in a library—but here we are. Beautiful space, exceptional drinks, and service that sets the standard.

This is my and my mom’s favorite afternoon tea spot. We try to come once or twice a year as they have a seasonally rotating menu. We’ve been to a few others on the east coast and two in London, but we just keep coming back here. We typically prefer their fall/ winter season fare, but we always have a great time. The scones are scrumptious and the curd and cream pairing is truly a delight. I always go for a Cozy Copley because I love a London fog. The sandwiches, apps, and treats are individually small but they really add up so go hungry. They will give you a to-go box for extras by request if you don’t finish.

The food is excellent. The decor is beautiful. The server was cheerful and efficient. The funny thing is that we walked in at 6:15, 45 minutes before the posted closing time of 7:00, and the person at the door wanted to make it clear that they were on "last call", whatever that means. We were allowed to order and eat, but people arriving after 6:30 (which is still well ahead of closing) were denied service. I talked to the server about it, and apparently the real closing time is 6:30, not 7:00 as posted.

Matt at the Map Room lounge made the best espresso martini I have ever had. And my wife loved the NE Bloody Mary. So happy we found this little gem. Highly recommend- and definitely ask for Matt!

The Map Room is easily one of the best bars in Boston for cocktails and light food, while being similarly priced to other Boston bars (cocktails around $15, dishes $10-20). It's a cool space too, buried in the depths of the public library, and absolutely worth your time even if you're not already there for some books.

My husband and I visited in the early afternoon on a weekday. We sat at the bar and really enjoyed our cocktails and charcuterie board. The board was $23 and came with a great and varied selection. The cocktails were delicious as well! It was a great stop after touring the library.

I recently stopped by the Map Room Lounge while visiting the Boston Public Library, and it turned out to be a delightful experience! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a cozy, vintage charm that makes you want to linger. The bar itself is beautifully designed with shelves of teas, a fantastic selection of spirits, and a unique ambiance that blends the historical with the modern. The food menu is limited but tasty, offering a selection of well-executed bar bites. What really made my visit stand out was the $10 Bloody Mary — flavorful, well-balanced, and perfectly garnished. It was the ideal pick-me-up while waiting for a special collections request from the library. If you’re looking for a quiet, classy spot in the middle of the city to enjoy a drink and relax, the Map Room Lounge is perfect. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re into a unique library-meets-lounge experience!

Okay, as a library lover, I love the idea of this tea and bar inside the Boston public library! The service was pretty good, our waitress was very kind. The cocktails were phenomenal, I'd go back just for them! The tea was okay. I'm somewhat of a tea connoisseur and I was a tad disappointed the tea was brewed incorrectly. They have a separate tea room for just tea service, so I'd want to go back and try there for a better review on it. No food this time but maybe next!

Who wants to mix alcohol and books?? ME!!! I never would have thought that a public library should have a bar, until I tried a cocktail in the library in Boston. Fantastic idea. Loved the bartender. The atmosphere. the mixology, It's a real bar! Forget Cheers!! Go to the library!! Check out the books and the booze!!

This lovely tea room in the Boston Public Library is great. You can order a full English tea for around $60 per person or you can get a drink and a smaller snack for less money. I had a pot of the Ras Chai. It was a very generously-sized pot and I only finished half of it. We also had the fig a d prosciutto pizza which was tasty. Nice service and a fun thing to do in this beautiful building.

The ambiance here is incredible. We sat at the bar because there was no wait for bar seating (but there would have been for a table). The tart were got from the bites menu was delicious! The tea was underwhelming though, the flavor was rather weak. I ordered the apple herbal tea and just wished it had tasted stronger. Still worth visiting for the vibes though

While exploring the Boston Public Library, we discovered the tea lounge and decided to make this an impromptu dinner spot because how often do you get to have a lovely dinner in a library? The charcuterie was wonderful, my lobster in my lobster roll was fresh and light (the roll itself however was stale and sad), and my cocktail was equal parts beautiful and delicious. Definitely recommend for a unique dining option.

Came across this bar by chance just visiting the library and walking around. We did have to wait a bit to be seated at the bar, but it was definitely worth the wait. Only had the drinks but all of them were amazing! I had the sriracha one that had a bit of a kick to it. Bartenders were super apologetic for the long wait for service, but we definitely didn't mind that since the drinks they made were yummy. Great & relaxing spot to grab a drink and snack if you're around.

Cute little spot located inside the beautiful Boston Public Library. The tea, cocktails, and food were all delicious. I would love to visit this spot again. It had a real cozy vibe and the service was so helpful and friendly.

Whenever we dine at a fancy place or come to high tea it's true treating yourself. Top class pampering. The room is elegant. The man reiterated that reservations only as they were full. So happy that they had a table for us due to a cancellation. When we came back and stood in line the same gentleman escorted us to our table saying he did his best and gave us the best table. We had a conversation earlier and he and his family want to visit Hawaii. Impeccable service, high tea the day after Thanksgiving on a lucky whim had me in 7th heaven.

Such a little gem inside the Boston Public library! We actually made a reservation just for the tea cocktails but they informed me that all reservations are for tea time only (cocktails are just at the bar) so we dived in to tea time We were so stuffed just from the sandwiches and dessert, we didn't even get to the scones! ---finger sandwiches: all surprisingly really tasty!! ---mini desserts: not as good as the sandwiches I much preferred the tea over the tea based cocktails

I had a really good drink here and the layout is very cute. There was a weird amount of time between my drink being served and my friend's drink being served. The hostess wasn't the friendliest and the server spilled water across the table and never cleaned it up. Neither of those things are a huge deal, but for the price I'd like better service. My drink was great, my friend said hers was just ok.

After checking out the library my MiL decided to grab a drink and snack at the Map room bar area that's connected to the Tea Lounge. Very cute space and would recommend if you're already in the library. We both ordered a drink and split their charcuterie which had an awesome selection and was very delicious. The service was a tad slow but they were busy. The staff however was very friendly!

I took my parents to the Map Room Tea Lounge when they came to visit me in Boston. It was their first time going to an afternoon tea spot and the decorations within the room were absolutely gorgeous, so it was a treat for us all :) I was extremely surprised that the small bites filled us up - we left feeling STUFFED. I especially loved the Maine Lobster and Smoked Salmon tea sandwiches. Don't forget to ask for refills of hot water for your tea & you can ask for some cream or steamed milk on the side if you prefer to drink it that way.

The Cozy Copley tea latte is delicious, and the chocolate bread pudding was perfect, not too sweet. Would have been good with just the tea, doesn't even need ice cream tbh. The tables are not crowded and it's not too loud to talk even when it's busy. The library is gorgeous as well so the tea lounge was the perfect place to relax after wandering.

Food was flavored perfectly-- balanced, tasty, and just the right amount of unexpected flavor. Server was fantastic! Ordered: flatbread (muhammara 5/5 and a decent portion), a sunday sipper cocktail (3/5, sour and very herbal), the lemon panna cotta (4/5, earl grey cookie cool but underwhelming) and a pot of white peony tea (5/5).

After a pleasant time sipping coffee and listening to Boston Public Radio live, we stopped in tot eh Map room for the first time. it was after 1 so no crowds, and the experience was great. fascinating room with great architecture, warm lighting and intriguing ancient Boston map renderings on the walls. we had a fine craft beer and a water, and then ordered a flatbread (fig and prosciutto, Yum!) and crispy Cauliflower - delicious! Service was excellent, prices reasonable, we'll be making this a regular stop ;)

Had such an amazing time!!! Great service great atmosphere Yes it's pricey but worth the money just for the experience

At the time I visited (Spring 2022), reservations for two at the tea room in the Boston Public Library ran us about $100. That's actually relatively affordable for the incredible food and service we received. I couldn't possibly list the ingredients of all the items on the menu that day, but essentially, we had three tiers; scones, sweets, and savory treats. Most notable, in our case, was a chocolate Happy Birthday sign that was included as a surprise! My friend and I had brought gifts for one another because we hadn't seen each other in a while and the staff thought it must be one of our birthdays, hence the addition. It was an absolutely precious interaction.

VEGANS BEWARE! My wife and I came here to celebrate something special, and it turned out to be the worst fine dining experience we've ever had due to the absolute negligence of the crooked Catered Affair. Being vegan, we contacted them in advance of our reservation, so they have no excuse. Our total for two was $145, and it's not an exaggeration to say this wasn't even worth $20. The attached photos show the savory and the dessert plates. Your eyes aren't deceiving you -- more than half of the sweet plate was just plain fruit, and the savory plate was just as insulting with a couple pieces of mushrooms thrown on top of some bread. The cherry on top was that they notified us in the middle of the service that an entire course (the scones plate) will just be completely omitted for us (and yet they charged us the same). The attached email shows our correspondence where they misrepresented that they offered a vegan option. This email included multiple representatives of the business, including the general manager, which confirms their ineptitude goes all the way up to the top. This makes them guilty of fraudulent advertising, as they misled a customer into believing they had a vegan option of the full tea service they market on their website. As if things couldn't get any worse, the service was equally egregious. The service folks had no idea what vegan even meant when we told them we had arranged a vegan option ahead of time -- they even brought us a salmon dish, and when we sent it back they became rude and visibly irritated and never came back to check on us. All in all, the difference in food and service between us and the non-vegan customers was like night and day. The Boston Public Library is a gorgeous historic place, and they should really consider hiring a different catering company. I reached out to the several contacts I had from our prior communications demanding our money back, and they are unresponsive now that they swindled us -- a classic telltale sign of a crooked business.

The Map Room is a gorgeous display of bar fare and high tea. I had a delightful glass of champagne and a Mediterranean pastry. I hope to return for the cocktails and eventually a high tea reservation! The location is extraordinary. I was thrown off by the reservation only option for high tea, but was quite impressed with my experience at the bar.

When you get diagnosed with cancer, you start attempting to check off bucket list items. Afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library was one of those items for me and my wife since we moved to Boston 3 years ago. It may seem silly and like low hanging fruit, but it was something we just kept putting off because "we live here" and "we have so much time" and the list of excuses goes on. Well, no more! I will say, before I get into any formal analysis of the meal/ambiance/theater of the experience - it blew us both away. For those that will mock the price/value proposition of the venue - it is far more about the experience and what it in fact represents than the actual amount of food or tea that you in fact receive. It offered my wife and I a spectacular afternoon with each other in a perfect venue, and that is something that I will cherish and remember for a long, long, time (assuming the disease allows that). However, you're here for analysis - so here it is, as I hate to disappoint! Teas - you will have your choice of approximately 20 varieties of tea ranging from the traditional English Breakfast to the Far East Oolong to the new age herbal offerings. Each will pair differently with the food and while that should be taken into consideration, the patron should err more on their preference as the food is particularly neutral and will work with any of the teas. Food - you get a 3-tiered offering of scones, finger sandwiches, and cookies/pastries. The scones were perfect - crumbly and moist, and worked well with the three spreads offered by the chef. The sandwiches were crafted with a deft hand both in terms of ornateness and also pairing flavors that work extremely well together. They are similar to other tea room offerings we have seem but used more "luxurious" ingredients and that was something I appreciated. The cookie and pastry plate was the perfect finish for the meal. It wasn't too much, or too sweet, or single-noted. I'm not a macaron guy, and the chef didn't change my mind here. It didn't have the distinct "crunch" in the outer shell, but the taste was definitely there. Maybe a bad batch, but I wasn't there for the macaron so it is easy to overlook a small error like that. The ambiance and experience is really what you are paying for in this particular instance (in my opinion). Come for the venue and experience and let the tea and food elevate it that much more. To get to the Map Room you must first traverse through the halls of the storied BPL, taking in all the architecture and history that comes with the building. Upon arriving, you enter a dark, wood-laden room that feels more like a ship's hull or English Tavern than library or even tea room. After you take all the surroundings in and check in with the hostess, a few books are selected off a shelf (with menus inside) and you are led through a doorway into a bright, sunlight laden, vaulted-ceiling room. Scattered about the room are tables and booths that bear crisp white linens, polished silverware, and luxurious glassware. This is how the upper class in England enjoyed their tea in my eyes. It transports you away from your daily problems and the hustle/bustle of city that sits just beyond the walls you are staring at in amazement. As you sit, you melt into the comfort of the plush chair and pick up your book to begin what is going to be a very relaxing (and long) experience that used to be reserved for only the select few historically... and THAT is what makes the Map Room worth the price of admission. Would I recommend this experience for everyone? I think it takes the right frame of mind to truly enjoy the Map Room. BUT, if you are in the right frame of mind it could make for a truly magical afternoon that you (and your guests) won't soon forget!

The food that we did get was great, nice staff, beautiful location. Our server forgot to ring in 2 of our dishes, but 40 minutes later when we realized, we were already ready to go so we didn't say anything.

The smaller Map Room is a great little hangout. The hours are a little inconsistent, but the food is fine. We got the charcuterie which was enough for three people and quite tasty. The service is fairly friendly once you get past the idea that yes, you are interested in eating there. The larger restaurant is kind of a rip-off and overdone. Stick with the Map Room Lounge.

Excellent experience! Service was great, tea delightful and the food delicious. A great hidden gem!

Have yourself a lovely, literary evening at The Map Room Tea Lounge! On a Thursday night around 7:30 PM, our group of 3 were seated after waiting about 15 minutes. The map-lined room is dimly lit with a large bar on one side. All of the cocktails have some kind of tea element as well as a fun literature-inspired name! I loved my 1984 cocktail which featured green tea-infused bourbon and pineapple. Winner of best name goes to the Tequila Mockingbird. And don't worry if you're hungry -- in fact, even better! The tartines are tasty and a great portion for the price. The dry-aged sirloin tartine filled me up and paired perfectly with my cocktail. Our server was attentive without being pushy and was kind enough to take a nice photo for us. We enjoyed leisurely catching up -- until about 8:45 PM when the manager warned us that it was last call since the library would soon be closing. A few minutes later, an alarm started going off, signalling the library's closure and bringing us back to reality.

You come here for the ambiance! And it's chock full. Oh and to drink in the Boston Public Library in the middle of the day! Love this space. The food is just okay. Don't get the pizza, you'll just be sad. The drinks are great! Get the Tequila Mockingbird! Haven't had the tea yet. The bartenders are marvelous. Go get yourself a barstool now!

Beautiful cafe within the Boston library. It's the perfect spot for refueling when you're studying here. However be aware that you can only bring your beverages around the first floor so you can't take it up to Bates Hall for example. The beverages are fairly priced. I got a small coffee. It is self serve, which is perfect because you can fill to your desired coffee/milk ratio. The coffee was strong and had a smooth flavor. The cafe was pretty dimly-lit so I don't recommend bringing a book to read in there.

SUPER expensive with lovely people and in a beautiful setting. The teas are superb. The savory offerings are lovely, except for the sweet potato sandwich on stale "Shaws" whole wheat bread. The sweet section was nothing to write about - very disappointing, particularly the very very VERY VERY (did I say VERY) dry. Not impressed. The scones are delightful. Wonderful. But the cost for the spread, given the quality, leaves a lot to hope for.

We had the pleasure of a high holiday tea at the Boston Public Library! There are limited seatings around the weekends, with a required complimentary coat check. I don't think I've ever had a required coat check before. I suppose it adds to the aesthetic since there aren't any winter coats dangling off of the backs of chairs, and maybe keeps the paths clear for the servers with their liquid-laden trays. It is an eclectic crowd. You had some people dressed up in business or holiday cocktail attire, and then what seemed like tourists or scholars who had bopped in from the library in jeans and sneakers. The Map Room appears less formal than the Courtyard Lounge, but offers the same menu and service team. They did have charming holiday decor with pine garlands and flickering LED candles along the bookshelf and bar. The room itself has vaulted arched ceilings and looks like it could have been a former train station (maybe this was the original Copley entrance?). Very cool architecture, and the historic maps of Boston lend a distinct sense of place. The menu is best suited for omnivores. The tea service itself was $69 pp and included a pot of tea of your choice (including refills), finger sandwiches (some deluxe - lobster, duck; some classic - cucumber, chicken salad, smoked salmon; some seasonal - sweet potato/cranberry), scones (raisin & plain with raspberry jam, lemon curd and clotted cream), and assorted desserts (blueberry cheesecake, apple pie, fabulous macarons & gingerbread cookie & peppermint mousse, a meh red velvet mini-Bundt). Everything is individually tiny, but we ended up needing to take our dessert to go because we were full! The tea tin favors were a classy touch. Our head server was great. Some very minor tea spillage with tea service with the other waitstaff. Overall, I am so glad that we got to have this experience. It was a lovely example of a classic tea service, which I haven't experienced since the Lake District in England. I would love to bring my parents back and sit in the more formal Courtyard Lounge in the future, and to come back to the Map Room to sample the tea-inspired/infused cocktails. With a couple of service tweaks, I think they could make this experience even more exceptional, but I think given the location and crowd, it is hard to balance accessibility with fine dining!

Nice but expensive and slightly sterile vibe. The lighting wasn't as conducive as one might hope. Boston lacks good tearooms but this is ok for a one off tea.

Such a fun place! My daughter loves tea so we decided to stop and enjoy the tea service at the library. The whole atmosphere was amazing. Loved that they brought out the menu inside a book. We all had different teas. My daughter had the kids menu tea and she loved the Nutella sandwich. It was a very enjoyable afternoon followed by walking around the library and looking at all the art work.

Ahhh - what a respite from the real world. Tucked in a cozy corner of the courtyard, one sneaks into a stone room with vaulted ceilings. The decorations include tea, candles and exposed bulbs. On to the menu - small bites (cheese, soups, tartines). Not typically my scene, but my friends and I ordered the white bean, avocado and steak tartines and each one was more beautiful than the next. The avocado included fresh, colorful tomatoes and pickled jalapeños (the best type!). At around $8-10, this is a good deal. Each cocktail is inspired by tea - again, each one is gorgeous. Topped with a flower, the cocktail is almost too pretty to drink! My Dorian Grey, a vodka based drink with grapefruit, limes and earl grey tea. Emphasis on the grapefruit - this was a bright and tasty drink. I had a basil flower in my drink and it smelled so good! The service left a lot to be desired (my space was never cleaned from the person who sat there before me, even though I piled all the plates, glasses and napkins and pushed them towards the bar) but I would be happy to go again, and soon!

So I came here on a Saturday with my husband around 1 PM. Before I start my review, let me say that we love afternoon tea and have visited Fortnum & Mason in London (a royal grocer approved by Queen Elizabeth). The room in the back where they have afternoon tea is light and airy, with tablecloth tables and nice chairs. We had the Copley menu, because that's the only option on Saturdays. The green pea soup is ok, with the first taste being a bit grassy, but it grows on you with its freshness. Wedge salad is not bad. As for the food, the bottom tier of savory food was ok. Smoked salmon was a little salty, chicken salad was a bit bland, shrimp was ok, cucumber is meh. Portabello was good, but the red bell peppers were a bit too sweet so it didn't meld well. Middle layer was also meh. The orange cookie tastes like fruit loops, so I couldn't finish it. Red velvet cake had too much red food coloring in it, and not enough cocoa powder. Macarons are not bad, salted caramel is better than the earl grey. Chocolate cake was not bad. On thé top fier, the scones were fantastic with clotted cream, orange marmalade. Lemon curd is a bit strong though. The service was extremely slow and we had to try multiple times to catch their attention for hot water, cream & sugar, and the bill. So for the price of the afternoon tea, the quality of the food, and the service, the experience is not really worth it, I think it could be better for what you pay for.

Such a cool addition to the library! I did feel weird asking for the bar upon entry and walking through the library to get to and from the bar. Hopefully they consider opening another entrance. The Map Room Bar is "smart". The drinks are all based off of literary works. The room is made of wood like book shelves. I had the cheese and charcuterie board as well as a couple drinks: The Catcher in the Rye & 1984. The drinks were strong. Check it out on your next trip to the library!

We had such a lovely time. Service was great from start to finish. If you are in a party over four you have to have two tables.

The cocktails are charmingly named after classic works of literature and delicious too. Cons: very little room to sit or stand with a cocktail. When I was there, we were constantly in the way of servers carrying trays of food in and out. Besides the poor layout for a bar, the ambiance is quaint and just what you'd want in a bar serving tea-infused, literature-themed cocktails. I can't wait to go back for the cocktails although I'm not looking forward to feeling like I'm on the T platform at rush hour.

Food is sub-par, savory items tastes sorta bland and sweet stuff way too sweet. The presentation was also underwhelming. We have a party of 4 and the food really crowded the only 1 tower (2 layers btw) and there's no way we can get a decent picture. HOWEVER, service was the worst of all. Upon seating us the waiter/waitress spilt a LOT of water on the table and did not come back to wipe off before we ask him/her to. The seating is timed but they didn't say it until they came to warn us as if we didn't want to leave. We asked for the check yet the waiter/waitress might have forgotten -- instead the manager came and asked us to leave again -- as if we didn't want to. This is a ridiculous experience, even if the waiter forgot to bring the check it's okay just come back again bc we were cooperative when he/she asked, but not sure why this was "escalated" when the real problem is their lack of service and poor communication.

Soooooo beautiful!!! A gorgeous room in the heart of the Boston public library, offering a decent selection of food, snacks and beverages. I loved the vintage decor and relaxing feel of it. Perfect for lunch or afternoon coffee - highly recommended!

I came here to get drinks at the bar. No reservations are needed to sit at the bar. The room is perfect for Instagram too. It looks like an old library room full of maps and books. All the cocktails here have tea in it, an the cocktails are strong! All the cocktails have cool names like catcher in the rye, tequila mockingbird, the green light etc. I had Dorian Gray, which has vodka, earl grey tea, grapefruit and lime. Its very fruity, and ladies will probably like it. You also get a huge piece of grapefruit in it. My only concern was that there were so many fruit flies flying around the bar. I hope they did not contaminate the grapefruit or any of the drinks. It wasn't just one fruit fly, there were MANY! Thank goodness I did not get sick. One would wonder what the situation is in the kitchen. I would have given this place 4 stars, but am taking away one star because the fruit fly situation needs to be fixed.

I took my mom here (it was part of her Christmas present). The decor is stunning and very cozy. We did a 1:00 tea service seating. The tea sandwiches, scones and petit fours were good, as was the tea. I got the squash soup and my mom got the Brussels sprout salad which were nice starters. It is a bit pricey...$50 or so a person. It's a nice thing to experience though as a little treat or present for someone. I think I'd go back but to visit the bar and not do tea service so I could try other items they have.

Ambiance, delish food, clever drinks I had Tequila Mockingbird.... my daughter had two different loose teas and my mom enjoyed a glass of wine. This is a great afternoon date spot for sure! The library and Tea Room close at 5. Suggest a reservation. Service was outstanding. My mom is in a wheelchair and they went out of their way to accommodate us. The host, the manager, the bartender all terrific and our server Leslie on pointe!

Walked into the Boston Public Library and found...a bar?! Awesome! Great cocktails with clever names. Chris was a great bartender!

I worry about the over abundance of quince paste! There was such a lovely large lump of quince paste along with the charcuterie that I fear the place will run itself aground in this wild abundance. Go steady into the night, friends! This reinvention of the space has yielded a true gem- cozy, sophisticated but accessible and unpretentious- utterly lovable. We were particularly charmed by the fine attention to detail, like the generous constellation of translucent amber honeycomb next to the quince paste. So sweet. The stars of these map room shelves though are the cocktails. The Dorian Grey was burgeoning with bergamot and perfection. My companion loved the Tequila Mockingbird, and it wasn't too punny at all. Fabulous service too. We felt like we'd wayfound ourselves into a book/nook where we belong.

Not sure if I'd return but I'm glad I tried it! So the host was a bit like a bouncer! She kept repeating did I want tea or bar service. It wasn't possible to decide after sitting and being able for to really see both menus. Unsure if I could get a table if I said bar service--- with some uncertainty I said-- tea service. She painstakingly explained it was a set menu and the cost would be $39... at that point after at least 5 minutes of explanations I was exhausted and just said 'fine'!!! The service didn't really reflect the high prices and the server appeared after like 10 minutes After working through the issues of my very minor modification requests he took my order. Another 10 minutes passed and my tea service arrived. At first glance, it did look amazing. However, digging in I realized what where the customary tea sandwiches were more like very small tea bites!! And very small bites at that!!! It took the server another 20 minutes to clear after I had finished. And while eating he didn't bother to check in. Being super hungry, I basically inhaled the bites. Yes each one was delicious but VERY small. And now I am 50 dollars later I am contemplating where to go next!! And I kind of wish I had gone to the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons instead. For the same amount of money it I would have actually felt special!!

Had their pre-fixe high tea menu. Their specialty tea was phenomenal, it was a rooibos milk tea. Their sandwiches, macaroons, scones and everything were everything I hoped for a more. They accommodated my pescatarian diet no problem. Quite an experience, I loved every bit of it and would do it all over again. Great place for an elevated brunch.

The Map Room is distinctly old world and lovely; however, the construction is brick and hard surfaces so it was difficult to hear a person not sitting next to you and the background noise was quite high. As mentioned by other reviewers, the food was beautiful to behold, the savory items were delicious, the sweets not quite as good and the tea excellent. I think the teapots were prewarmed, so the tea stayed warm for an hour. The service staff were nice: I forgot one guest was gluten free and so she recieved the standard menu. A staffer noticed all the bread on the plate and offered to bring her a additional chocolate mousse if it was available. I would give the food four stars. The 90 min time requirement with a 15 min grace period, which was stated in the reservations, is very strict. The first warning was a darkening of the room lights at about 75 min; a bit later the manager announced that the fire alarm would not signify a fire, and fire alarm was sounded three separate times. As we were leaving, staff (not sure if it was catering or BPL) were shouting "We're closing!" repetivtiely, and we felt as if we were being chased out. So, we did not find it relaxing and the brusque departure warnings tainted our event. To be clear, our party of 10 was served the first course at after 15 min and we were out of the Map Room at 95-100 min.

I wanted to give it three stars at the end of the meal but given the service provided, our whole party insisted on just two stars. However, right before after we signed for the check, we were told, "ladies, time is up. The limit is one hour" as our server was knocking on the table to emphasize on how she had to get ready for the next party (when 3/4 of the restaurant was empty); hence the one-star review. Let's rewind back to when we first walked into the restaurant - the Map Room was separated into two sections, you'd first walk into a more dimmed area and the brighter area which was the tea room. Since it seemed like two separate rooms, we walked straight to the tea room area. A gentleman greeted us, acknowledged our presence - we felt welcomed. After he walked away to get things started , two servers told us that we were supposed to go back to the main entrance to wait, because that's where the iPads are. We explained that we have already been helped, one of the servers insisted that we were not at the right place and her tone suggested that we were in trouble. The food was just okay and the tea selection was too ordinary - there was hardly any tea blend. While the place was photogenic, it is not an excuse for the restaurant staff to treat us like she did - reminding us twice of the one-hour time limit that was never disclosed, (Yes, not just once) and the unprofessionalism of not even being able to describe the food besides saying the name of the meat for each sandwich(this is salmon, lobster, ham, chicken) and just "sweets" for the rest of the food. If you just want to get a few photos for Instagram regardless of the service, you may not mind this place.

Screw working. You don't need to finish that paper this afternoon. The reading you need to do for that project can be done another time. The library isn't for studying, reading or even for gadging the free internet. Think again. The library is for afternoon tea. Put your pen down and pick up a fancy cup of Boston Public Library's signature blend and a handful of sandwiches, scones and cakes. It may not be the best afternoon tea in town (plug: www.bostonteacup.com) but it's definitely one of the best locations. Location, location, location. Can you spot which painting is by Singer Sargent? We couldn't. But our afternoon tea was lovely and if we ever got bored of chatting about yelp, the universe and everything we could have helped ourselves to Proust or Satre on the bookshelf by our beautiful table. Lovely tea, lovely time. We should bring a big group here and party - tea party.

My friend wanted to bring me here on Saturday for afternoon tea service. Imagine our shock and dismay when we learned tea is only available in the afternoon from Wednesday through Friday, excluding the working stiff who just wants to savor a pot of tea on the weekend. My friend was highly offended. I DIDN'T CARE THOUGH! Because in pursuing and being rejected for tea I discovered the Map Room Cafe, and I am always complaining about not having good cafes in Boston at which to sit down and read a book. This place was lovely though. And the guys who worked there were super sweet and apologetic about the tea room not being open. And I discovered...The Boston Public Library Courtyard. OMG. It was beautiful outside and I think that, on good weather days, this may be the most beautiful spot to sit outside in all of Boston. I love grand, regal looking places though. It felt like Europe. We just got iced tea and sat and wrote poems in our journals. It was so....pleasant. I can't believe I've lived in downtown Boston for two years and hadn't discovered this before. It makes me smiley just thinking about it. Wow - a new discovery. In Boston. And it doesn't feel like Boston. It feels like heaven.

What do you mean you didn't know this place was there? I think I ask someone that question every week. This cafe is a little gem I like to pretend like I only know about. They actually have really good food! I have had the feta sandwich and salads before but my new favorite is the quinoa salad and the vegetable soup. Get it to go and go sit outside in the courtyard. I love to pretend like I am in a far away European city until I remember that I my lunch break is over and I have to go back to work.

I went here for afternoon tea (or high tea) with my sister and I will review it in reference to its tea time qualities. I have had tea time in London (next to the Canadian embassy) and in Cambridge - upstairs on the square and I would say the classiness of the tea and the accompanying food was on par in terms of taste and quality. Clearly selection was in comparison not nearly as great. Now the location and the setting wasn't as "fancy" as it was in London or Upstairs on the Square but I honestly liked this one better because it had the sense of being classy without the stuffiness (very American) + there it was much bigger room with plusher furniture. I will say that a high tea snob might note how the food items aren't decorated up to the ornate standards of "proper high tea", but as you can see from the photos, for me that would be rubbish. A few weird things to note are 1. It is quite unique to get reservations - you have to go to the Boston Public Library website - hit the link to the catering company, and shoot them a e-mail. They will respond within 48 hours and the customer service when we were there was nothing short of spectacular. 2. If you are sitting next the windows facing the courtyard be warned, library users/tourists will look inside the tea room with amazement thinking that you are the Boston elite in a secret room and occasionally take pictures. Oh and the price is really good! $22 dollars per person for a high tea of this quality is INSANE!!! The fact that is is a nifty place like the Boston Public library just adds to the charm