Maps

We were looking for a bar with atmosphere, and not terribly loud, for a nightcap. We almost missed Maps, it definitely doesn't force itself on you from the street. They play music from vinyl, and they have a pretty good selection of music. There's no table service, so you'll get to know the bartender. That'll be a pleasure, they are personable and helpful. They have a limited food menu, and we decided to opt for a dessert of chocolate/peanut butter cake, which was delicious. They offer a good selection of craft beers and some creative cocktails. The whole bar is below Street level, and the ambiance was exactly what we were looking for. We'll definitely be back next time we're in town.

I get old fashioneds everywhere I go. Jacob put together one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend! The music is on point. The atmosphere just rocks if you're a Gen X punk rocker. Definitely check it out either way. And the AC cranks. Give it a look see.

In town for a short trip, stopped in for a quick drink, and immediately loved the vibe. We took our time exploring the space. Very cool. Vinyl spinning on the turntable, vintage maps displayed throughout. Very unique and thoughtfully decorated venue.

Checks a lot of the cool boxes. Good drinks, nice people, food hits the spot. But my favorite has gotta be the curated music on vinyl. You can hear it outside while walking by to see if it matches your vibe for the evening before rightfully dipping in for a good time.

I asked for Bacardi and the bartender legitimately got mad at me instead of just offering what’s in the well lol. Sis needs to chill. Sure it’s decorated with maps, but there’s no vibes, just music so loud you can’t even hear your friends talking. Feels pretentious. Some people are into that though I guess.

Maps was hands down one of the best parts of our recent Portland trip. We happened to stumble in during bingo, which was super fun to participate in. The atmosphere inside was inviting, cozy, and relaxed and everyone was having a great time. The drinks and beers we had were stellar and the menu had more options than I anticipated. Next time we're in Portland, we'll be back.

Little bar hidden right near the old port it was pretty lowkey and they were playing good music from a record player (bunch of records can be seen behind the bar). The cake was incredible, very moist and delicious and the drinks were great as well

So I think this place turned into my favorite bar in Portland after we discovered it. I also love maps so that probably helps but what a cool atmosphere! Very cool decor and very friendly bar staff. They also make little sandwiches and snacks behind the bar for you. The happy hour special of being able to get a 32oz pitcher of a DIPA was awesome!!!

My partner loves maps which meant MAPS was the perfect place for us to grab a drink. Drinks were nice with a large variety. Ambiance is superb and staff is friendly. 1 beer and 1 old fashion cost over $20 plus tip. They have gender neutral bathrooms and a fair amount of seats for how small it is.

Great little place! The drinks were good and the vibes were chill. The maps all over the roof and walls were fun. The Orono wicked blueberry ale was refreshing. The old fashioned was chesty

Neat bar in old port, with maps all over the walls. Drinks were really good and interesting. Bar tenders were nice, the music was a bit loud if you wanted to talk to people. Didn't try any of their food but I think they have a few things. Decent bar but not my favorite.

Maps stole my heart. Classic European style underground bar with multiple beer styles on draft. Bartender was a sweetheart who picked great vinyl records to spin for our listening pleasure. Energy amazing. Ambiance amazing. Come here. Do it.

My friend (visiting from Denver) and I (visiting from Dallas) stumbled into Maps on our visit to Portland. We liked the vibe and the drinks were on point. The bartenders were really friendly. I enjoyed listening to vinyl. Definitely, my type of hangout. I loved that it was all ages and diverse for Portland.

Super cute, hipster college bar. It was fun if you're younger. The record player behind the bar was cool and the decorations were just right.

This is the vibe I am always looking for! Basement dive bar with good cocktails, good service, vinyl throwbacks and no pretension

This is one of my favourite dive bars in the US now ... and certainly my go to spot in Portland! I am a lover of good beer, divey bar decor and vinyl records ... all of which feature prominently here. It's dark ... it's got basement vibes ... the bartenders are cool and they play vinyl records over the sound system. I can't imagine a better concept. We arrived and George Thoroughgood and the Destroyers were playing. And not just one song ... the whole damn record! Behind the bar is a vintage turntable and shelves of vintage vinyl which the bartenders spin. The music they played were 70's and 80's staples and it was a great vibe as it was the same artist for several songs. The beer list here was great with local superstars like Maine Brewing Company Dinner, one of the top-rated beers on beeradvocate ... and a couple Bissell Brothers offerings. It's clear that someone picking these knows good beer and it's nice to see that there is a good variety beyond IPA. One other cool thing is you can order these hard to find draft beers by the glass, or by the pitcher. Imagine a pitcher of Maine Beer Company Dinner! Most places cannot even get it on draft. The bar is spread out pretty well, so unless its really busy, you can find a spot to sit or stand in. I don't know if they serve food but there was some kind of machine in the corner which looked like a hot dog cooker or a quesidilla maker. This is one of my new favourite dive bars for a reason. If you are looking for bud light and hip hop music, you are in the wrong spot. If you like vintage vinyl, craft beer and dive bar grunge without feeling overly hipster, you should try this spot for sure!

Making All People Smile(MAPS) Fave new establishment in old port! What piqued our interest was the music when we were walking by to find a new place. I've been going to Portland for years and was disappointed that I hadn't known about this place sooner! You feel like you are transported to a different place once you walk in with the vinyl music playing and maps everywhere. The bartenders are great (Ben and Richie) and the Prosecco on draft is delicious! This place is on our visitation rotation!

Really awesome bar in downtown Portland! I loved the theme as an adventurer and the super chill and relaxed vibe. It wasn't an overcrowded bar and had plenty of space to move around. They also had the amazing smell of grilled cheese in the air which no one can deny. Unfortunately we tried getting grilled cheese too late and weren't able to get any. We will just have to return!

Super chill bar with maps everywhere. This is is a great spot to just chill, drink, and hang out with your friends. Friendly staff, variety of drinks, and really chill and fun atmosphere. One of those hidden gems in Portland ME that you should definitely check out when you visit!

awesome grilled cheese sandwiches and pretzels. wish we could have stayed for more. This place is a bit of a hidden gem. They need to advertise those cheese sandwiches better. Will definitely return next time I'm in town.

The greatest thing about Portland ME is finding all these little hidden gems all about that city. The Maps Bar is one of those places where you can go to hang out for a drink that is in a small neighborhood bar, almost speakeasy feel. The bartender was friendly and engaging. They have happy hour cocktail offerings. They also have small pitchers of beer for sharing. There is a good variety of bottles and cans as well. I was even able to get a great German beer on my visit. This was a great place after walking around the port for a while but before we were ready to head out to dinner.

Love the atmosphere highly recommend getting gift cards as gifts for love ones! Good prices and run by Portland locals!

Neat little underground bar. Connor the owner served up a mean grilled cheese. Love the dim ambiance and chill vibe.

Maps is slowly becoming a regular Friday night affair for me. When everyone goes on Friday night dates, I, too, have a date at Maps. With a sweet slice of cake that is moist and delicious. $5.40 for a slice of cake may seem steep, but the slice of cake at Maps is huge and is better for sharing. But I do not share my sweets, so I elect to get my cake to go so I can savor the remaining the next day. To illustrate how big a slice is, the staff had to slice my slice in half just so it could fit the styrofoam container, and the two half slices fill up the box. Score! I've only had two kinds of cakes here, the chocolate sour cherry cake and chocolate salted caramel cake. Both were yummy, but I would say I liked the salted caramel one better. Can't wait to try a grilled cheese here in the near future!

This place is amazing. My friend brought me here one night after some event and I was blown away by how well it works: they serve coffee and tea, cake and pie, and all sorts of spirits. Ooh, also grilled cheese! Also it's underground - such a neat little place with exposed brick and old maps (hence the name) on the walls and ceiling. From Thursday through Saturday they're open until 1am which makes it great for a cozy and intimate late night libation.

Such a cool spot! My friend and I were in town visiting and were looking for a place for dessert. After reading the rave reviews about their cake, we knew we had to check it out. The cake that day was chocolate with a maple pecan icing. There were only two slices left when we got there (at 7:30!). We split one slice and it was some of the best cake I've ever had! Often I will only eat the icing on cakes, but the cake was worth eating, too. The cake was fluffy, but moist, and flavorful. The icing was incredible- Sweet, but not sickeningly sweet, and complemented the cake perfectly. The decor was awesome- so many interesting things to look at!

Girls night out decided on dessert and when looking for carrot cake this came up?!? Talk about hard to find! It was located right in front of us going up Market street yet did not "see" until heading down the street. Interesting. Down the stairs we went and whew what is that smell? Can't put my finger on it but not especially welcome. Found a table for three immediately and menu was waiting. No cake or desserts but teas and coffee a well as tasty grilled cheese sandwiches that satisfy the sweet and savory tastebuds with each bite. Yum! Plenty of people coming and going. Records behind the bar but not sure if they are played or not. Music was non-remarkable. The old school roll-up maps on the ceiling are a nice touch as well as the other vintage memorabilia. May go again and hope the smell is gone.

Cozy place with a solid drink menu and friendly bartender. The music felt a tad loud but we got used to it after awhile. I'm not sure why bars / breweries in Portland generally don't serve sides like fries, but this place did have sandwiches if you want food.

What a trendy little hipster basement bar Maps is.. I'm totally a fan, when I can get in that is. There's been times when I've walked down the stairs into the bar, took one quick glance around and walked right back up the stairs and out because it was way too crowded with no seating. This is the type of bar you want to have a seat in and relax. Have a piece of cake, eat a grilled cheese, have some wine and beer. "Fancy" grilled cheese sandwiches will run you about $8. Wine $8 and up, beer probably $5ish and up. There's always a couple of different homemade cakes to choose from. I know there's a happy hour at some point which includes a glass of wine and a piece of cake, however it never seems to be happening when I'm there so I can't tell you the time. The small space makes it virtually impossible to have a conversation if the place is too busy because of the noise level, however, when it's not too busy you can really appreciate the great music they play here on vinyl. The décor is great, I love all the maps. I like to take a look around and take a gander at them. Lots of cool vintage things in here, including a sweet jukebox. Maps is the kind of place where if you have dinner somewhere and the portions were too small and you're still hungry... you go to Maps for a snack, dessert, and drink. Sounds like I've done that a few times, huh?

Wow....what a joint! The owners are on site, serving up personality + and the very best of beer, wine, grilled cheese (try the bleu!) and some of the best tunes to drink, chat and laugh to; Bring a friend or two, make new ones and let this delightful place become a regular on your list of places to get to (often). It's the best! ps- try the cake!

What a cool place! It was late and I was in the mood for coffee. Yelp showed this place as a bar/coffee house so we stopped in. It's down a long flight of stairs in the basement of a building. It's very dark and small but that wasn't a problem. There were a few tables but they were all occupied. We sat at the bar and I ordered a cappuccino my wife a green tea. The only cake they had left was carrot. I'm not a fan so I passed. The girl next to me had the last piece of oreo cookie cake and said it was delicious. Like I said, it was a cool little place and I loved the fact that they were playing vinyl records! Good place to hang out!

I decided to stop in here with a few friends a few weeks back for a dessert and drinks after having dinner in the city. We were craving dessert and Maps apparently has cake that is to die for, so we stopped on by. We ordered a slice of chocolate peanut butter cake which tasted legit like a Funny Bone. It was so moist and delicious and the perfect addition to our night out. We also got a slice of vanilla cake with salted caramel frosting which was very good but the chocolate peanut butter cake is where its at for sure. We also got some beer to wash down our cake; I have recently been turned on to the Samuel Smith Strawberry beer, thanks to my friend's suggestion. OMG. It literally tastes like I'm drinking strawberry jam. The combination of flavors between the cake and the beer were SO GOOD. It was like eating peanut butter and jelly. Very tasty, and so worth the calories! We ordered an americano coffee for my friend as well which came on a tray with cookies and all the fix ins...it was so adorably set up and she loved it. The best part of this place is that they have grilled cheese on the menu....but not only grilled cheese. You can make it a "pickle back" for a small fee too! And at the bottom of the menu we noticed something that said "make it a nickelback" for $49. Naturally we were curious, so I asked, and I don't want to give it all away, so I won't tell you what it means, but it's totally worth it to ask. Next time you're here I dare you to ask too! (the only drawback I can see for this place is that it is very cramped and small, but that's grasping at straws really...this place is lovely)

I think this cute, eclectic, subterranean new bar deserves 5 stars. It accomplishes what it sets out to. On Market St. across from the Big Easy, the interesting outside proclaiming "Cold Beer, Wine By The Glass, Hot Coffee" is sure to lead the curious down the basement stairs. Inside is pretty awesome. A free 1970's jukebox loaded with dozens of oldies. A blueprint for Fenway park decades old. A 1960's light-up time zone map of the world. Many, many random touches. They did a great job and the bar feels homey and fun. The owners (who it appears are the only employees), are a 30-something husband and wife. He's very nice, perhaps a little quiet, and American. She's British with an addicting accent. Maybe I saw Mary Poppins creepily recently, but I could listen to that all day long. Their goal (according to them) is to create a comfortable, low key pub. They want 10-15 people in the bar. Unfortunately the bar is a little too good and they may need to adjust. There are 5-6 beers on tap and the selection is great. I was shocked to see the Sierra Nevada-Allagash collaboration beer, along with several other interesting craft beers I hadn't heard of. The only beer I was familiar with was Substance. There are another 15-20 beers on bottle, including a handful of ciders. It's a thoughtful, creative list. The wine list is disappointing. If I've heard of them, they're sold at Shaws, for about $10 a bottle. I have trouble paying $7-$8 a glass for that. They said people enjoy seeing wines they are familiar with, and they're more of a beer bar anyways, but some people prefer wine and it wouldn't take too much effort to improve the selection. The food menu is limited with the highlight being the 3 grilled cheese sandwiches. My friend and I split two, the English and the Blue. Giant, loaded and gooey grilled cheeses appeared, with jam and other fun toppings. $8, and probably the best grilled cheeses I've ever had. Splitting one would be a solid light meal. I was very impressed by Maps, and while it's difficult to describe here, the atmosphere is unique to the Old Port. It's not for kids. There's no hard alcohol. But for a great, fun, small bar away from the crowds, I'd highly suggest giving it a try.

Location || very interesting vibe. It was the basement of a building and at night the street was pretty empty. Once I stepped in though, it was like stepping into a secret bar. Low lighting and great music choice. Food || we stopped in because our waiter said there was great cake here. There were two cake stands on the bar. Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and banana cake with vanilla cream frosting. The chocolate cake was amazing. Very moist and the peanut butter frosting wasn't too sweet. There were pieces of peanut butter cups on top which added great texture to the cake. Banana cake was delicious as well but the vanilla frosting was too sweet for my tasting. Price || a little pricy for cake. Two slices costed me $10.50 but I'm chalking it up to the super homemade nature of it. Behind the bar counter I literally saw a cuisinart blender and baking scrapers. Overall delicious cake and very hip environment. Would love to go back to try some of their real food. Kitchen closes at 9 though.

God damn it. Portland does it... again. Maps is cool in ways I haven't normally seen. They sell happy hours pitchers of extremely good craft beer. 10 bucks for everything on the lines. It's such a steal. The bar was born out of one idea. What's the cheapest way to decorate a bar with the least amount of money. Old maps. I'm talking countries and topographical areas that are random as hell. It's very hipster. Like most downtown bars, maps is small as shit. I wouldn't recommend for large groups but such a Good hangout for a group of four.

Stopped in for the first time the other night with some friends. I am NOT a bar fan in general, but I LOVED Maps. The atmosphere is so comfortable, that I immediately felt relaxed. The space is also cozy and beautifully lit with the perfect balance of dark and candlelight. I did not try any food, although their happy hour special of a grilled cheese and a beer for $5 (sounds worth coming back for). They also had soft pretzels on the menu (which I love) and the delicious looking cakes under glass on the bar (who doesn't like cake?). We DID, on the other hand, share a bottle of Sam Smith Strawberry beer. I had never tried this before and it was a game changer! I will absolutely return for more SSS and to order some food. Last night I recommended Maps to a couple from out of town. In the way that sometimes life can be crazy, I ran into the same couple much later in the evening at the Cumberland Farms gas pumps. They told me they absolutely loved everything about Maps, they had ordered the Strawberry beer, sampled two fancy grilled cheese sandwiches and shared a piece of cake. They added that they live in Mass, about a 2 hour drive, that they loved Portland and would considering driving back again just to hangout at Maps! Go maps!

I've only been to Maps once (so far) but I can't wait to go back! It has everything I want in a bar: - great beer & wine selection - excellent prices - Happy Hour specials - cake - grilled cheese - laid-back atmosphere - juke box - simple, classy decor When we arrived the bar area was full, but the couches & tables were mostly empty. I got a house wine and the wifey got a Bissell Bros beer. Both of us were happy with our choices, and the price! We also ordered cake, and got the last honking slice of peanut butter chocolate cake. Oh. My. Lord. It was delish! It was my birthday, so I didn't feel any guilt when a group walked in after us, and promptly left after learning there was no more cake! This slice-of-heaven cake was huge in portion and flavor, and I loved every bite. We put a few songs on the juke box, lounged on the couch, and did some nice people watching in the intimate space. It was a perfect ending to our night and I am excited to return again soon. Perhaps it was the wine, but I have a rose-colored view of Maps!

We walked into this basement bar and Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville was playing on the record player, with a wall full of LP's behind the bar. While we did not get a chance to try the cake everyone raves about (not available Sunday night, FYI) the beer list was on par with Portland standards and the vibe was fun. As the name says, there are maps EVERYWHERE. Felt like a secret college bar, in a good way. Were I a Portland resident, I would make this a regular stop.

Great great local hipster basement bar with a great beer selection. Records playing in the background and dim lighting with vintage chairs give this place a relaxed kick back vibe. Bartender was super nice and gave me a taste of a local beer. Didn't try the food but the sandwiches looked tasty AF. I could spend a few hours sipping beers and relaxing to the music they have going. Check out if in the area

One of my favorite places! Great little bar tucked away from the word. Bartenders spin vinyl all night. Eclectic speakeasy feel to the place. Interior design includes a barbers chair and a handful of tables.

I was in town for work and had read about this place on Yelp so decided to stop by. What a lovely cozy space. I sat at the bar and had order a grilled cheese and a local brew. As I waited for my sandwich to arrive the barman asked me if I wanted to hear anything from their vinyl record collection. I said I'd pass and that I was enjoying what he was currently playing. Then my sandwich arrived. The bread was buttery and crunchy and the cheese had a nice bite and smoothness. I ordered another local brew to wash down all the cheesy goodness. I think that if I lived in Portland and not Nashville I would make this place a regular haunt of mine. Great place to grab a drink, meet up with friends, chill out and listen to good music. If they had a working fireplace I would probably move...for the summers.

Loved my beer, really loved the atmosphere!! We ordered the "english" which my companion adored but I thought was a wee sweet. The bartender literally made our sandwich right there in the corner on a panini machine while we waited! We beat the rush on a Sunday at 430pm thankfully because it is a tiny joint but very comfortable! Just expect it to be loud due to the fact it is tiny. It had that really cool atmosphere w comfy chairs along a wall and bookshelves of records and of course maps everywhere! Also a really cool working stereophonic! Its chill and no frills. Enjoy

Maps was the perfect place to grab a quick espresso and a bite with my parents before a show at the Merrill Auditorium. Though this place seemed like it might be "divey", the great presentation of espresso drinks and the grilled cheese made it feel like a Portland treasure.

Cake! Need I say any more? This place serves huge pieces of cake. Whatever cake the baker feels like making that day. The day we went we had our choice of carrot cake or carrot cake so we went with the carrot cake and boy are we glad we did! It was perfectly spiced, nice and moist, and covered with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting! I also got a cappuccino which was spot on! I was hoping that they made espresso martinis but was told that they only did beer and wine (oh and did I mention CAKE?) We shame ate our cake off in the corner and then walked back to our hotel and went to bed! #perfectending #welcometothemid30s

Wonderful atmosphere - even better cupcakes and beer. Excellent bartenders and the music selection is on point!

I miss the Northeast with all my heart, and it's places like Maps that lead you home. The ambiance is adorable--off the beaten path but without being pretentiously unique, including an awesome map that shows the time in many major cities around the world. The owner/server is also a doll, and aims to please. Plus, if you're like me and sometimes would rather indulge a sweet tooth than imbibe an alcoholic drink, you have options including a $5 "tea and cake" plate during happy hour. I got the (generous) slice of chai cake with a green jasmine tea. The cake hit the spot, though like the chai donut at The Holy Donut could have benefited from having a little less sugar. (I lean more towards cheesecake frostings than icings for the sour that balances their sweetness.) The tea, on the other hand, was fine but didn't taste like jasmine. Bottom line: Despite the tea issue, I really loved the ambiance and the fact that I could hang out and find something to order without feeling like a sober outcast.

Having lived in Portland for the past almost 15 years, it's hard to pick a "favorite" bar. If I'm in the mood for a massive beer selection, Novare calls my name, if I want to catch a game I have a favorite bar for that, and sometimes I just need a tall glass of bourbon or Irish whiskey and Portland has plenty a hideaway for that as well. But if I have friends or family in town, and none of the above are dire necessities, it has to be Maps. If you're any kind of music fan, at some point in your life you must have been at a friend's house who has a great collection of music; all those albums you wished you had or used to have and as the conversation goes in different directions they keep throwing on other amazing songs and digging out other albums you forgot about. One of the two owners here has a massive record collection, more on his iPod, and this is that happy place. Even if you're not part of the conversation the music is still your backdrop and that's the best I can do to try and explain what makes this place feel so special. Other things that help: small, but refined draft list, some great bottles as well, wonderful owners/staff that won't make your relatives feel like assholes (unless they are), and a tea set-up that made my British sister-in-law feel like she was back home in England. I read recently how smitten the owners were with Portland, and how after a lot of time on the road they hope to make this a retirement plan of sorts. I can only hope that's true as I want Maps to be there for many more years to come. Check it out, be nice, and take it all in.

My girlfriend and I were visiting from San Diego and spent our last day in Portland. We stumbled on this spot walking around and we're so glad we did; it was the highlight of the day! It's a very hip place with a warm vibe, drinks are great and the sandwiches are amazing! Most of all, the company is great. The bartender was one of the nicest people I've met here and it felt like we were among friends. Highly recommend this place!

A really fun local place with delicious beer always ready. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are sooooo on point.

This place is cool AF. The bartender, well I hesitate to call him a bartender. I'm just going to call him "The Man". The Man put on the best bar performance I've ever seen. The Man was serving up the best small menu craft beer in Portland along with simultaneously mixing both vinyl and his iPod seamlessly. All this whilst cooking and serving the best grilled cheese this side of my adolescence. P.S. Get whatever the F they have baked up for the day under glass.

This was the best experience we could have ever asked for. Bartender Patrick who works on sundays was literally a saint. He was so fun and curated an amazing playlist for our group. We had an awesome time and loved this bar!

A great hidden, local spot! We loved looking at all the maps we sharing pitchers or beer and warm pretzels on a cold night. No fuss, no line, and a good price.

Fun little underground bar. They hand out bowls of pretzels to all guests. Decor is awesome, kitschy vintage items all over the walls and ceiling. Fun to just look around at everything on the wall. A jukebox was available, though I didn't stay long enough to select any tunes. Only real drawback is that it is a beer only bar. However, the selection is good, including some cider options. Despite being only beer I would still comeback next time I'm in the area. I'd love to try one of their grilled cheeses!

Always have loved Maps. A good thing can't last forever I guess. The new owners must not have acquired the skill to bake or the previous owners recipes. Sadly the cake is no longer any good. I have had few and have been dry or something wrong with each. Sadly the beer selection was slipped as well.

Update: I've back a couple of times and the experiences were much better. I still miss old staff but service has been better than the visit I wrote about, the music has been interesting, and having three cakes plus grilled cheese after 11 are genuine improvements. It's not my go-to spot anymore, mostly because of the crowds, but I'm bumping the rating up because it's still a notch above the rest of the Old Port bars. Sad to see what's happened with the new ownership. Some of the key pieces are still there - the cake is as good as it ever was - but the service has slipped badly and the atmosphere has completely changed to your typical Old Port doofus party scene. I'll give it one or two more tries to see how it varies with day and time, as a Thursday night a couple of weeks ago was like nothing had changed, but last Saturday night sucked completely, with a lame DJ in the corner playing monotonous 80's dance music and the 'whooooo!!!' crowd knocking back Dr. McGuillicuddy nips. I understand that things change, but when it comes along with a precipitous drop off in the quality of service there isn't much reason to accept it. Oh yeah, the prices have all gone up as well - maybe that's why the nips are so popular.

Had a piece of my birthday cake - chocolate Guiness - OMG And a nice porter - and great company! Thank you

Adorable place, serving both wine/beer and tea/coffee/cakes (love the teapots!). The vibe was very cozy/eclectic/casual, like you were a guest hanging out in someone's (nice) basement. It's a great place to stop by- especially for the freshly made cakes, which are excellent. This place is pretty small (and loud- the jukebox has one volume apparently), so I'd recommend checking it out during off hours when it's not too crowded if you're looking to catch up with a friend or have a nice relaxing cup of tea. Check out the happy hours, good deals there.

One of my favorite little dives in Portland. Awesome atmosphere tucked into the basement level of a downtown building. Very small and intimate setting with limited seating and low lighting. Plenty of local craft beers to choose from, we had the Bissell Brothers IPA which is a favorite of mine. They have a deal during happy hour where you can get a 32 ounce pitcher of beer for only $10. They also have cocktails and wine selections. If you don't want alcohol they serve coffees, espressos, etc. and have cakes and sandwiches if you're hungry. Patrons are eclectic ranging from hipsters with arm sleeve tattoos to older individuals that look like they could be college professors. If you are in Portland I can not recommend Maps enough as a spot to stop in at.