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Map Room Tea Lounge, Boston, MA

Map Room Tea Lounge

4.7
4.7
113 Reviews
$50 and over
Afternoon Tea
Top Tags:
Welcome to the Map Room Tea Lounge, The country's first tea- infused cocktail lounge. With industrial accents and a cozy intellectual vibe, the Map Room Tea Lounge draws inspiration from the literature and innovation of the 1800s. The bar menu is available for walk-ins only Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays exclusively at the bar.
Wednesday and Thursday - Afternoon Tea 11:15am and 1:15pm Seating Times - $56++ pp
Fridays and Saturdays - Copley Tea $68++ pp - Seating Times 11:15am - 1:15pm and 3:15pm, accommodating parties from 2 to 4 guests on Open table. Parties 5 to 14 guests please contact clientservices@TheCateredAffair.com.
Visit us at www.librarytea.com under menu bar and under events -Large parties available with a minimum of 18 guests to a maximum of 28 guests available in this public space.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Afternoon Tea, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, American

  • Hours of operation

    Afternoon Tea Wed–Sun 11:15 am–4:45 pm Bar Wed–Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (781) 763-1360

  • Website

    http://librarytea.com/maproom

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Private party facilities

    The Map Room Tea Lounge - Accommodates a minimum of 18/maximum 28. (Note: 100% seated tables however not a private space, a public bar seating 10 and host stand presides in this space. The Courtyard Tea Room also accommodates PRIVATE parties minimum 45 guests up to 67. For more details visit www.librarytea.com under the tab "host an event"

  • Location

    700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

  • Neighborhood

    Back Bay

  • Cross street

    Dartmouth Street

  • Parking details

    None

  • Public transit

    Copley - Green Line MBTA Back Bay - Orange Line MBTA & Commuter Rail

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 113 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

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  1. B

    Blissmommy

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    A lovely spot for high tea in Boston. It is just enough food for lunch.
  2. P

    Padmini

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very nice experience in a beautiful setting. Excellent service,
  3. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    An awesome experience
  4. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Beautiful space for a tea room. We loved the overall theme, the menu, free glass of champagne, the kinds of tea we ordered—the only reason to give this place 4/5 instead of 5/5, is the tea was barely lukewarm. Please serve hot tea. My suggestion would be maybe tea cozies? Or use boiling water? Regardless, awesome experience.
  5. AH

    AaaH

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 27, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Way too loud. Wa hosting a children's party at the main table that ruined the atmosphere.
  6. BT

    BostonTraveller

    New England

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Initially seated in the bar area and asked to move to overlook courtyard. After a 4 minute wait, our request was honored. Great ambiance, gracious, friendly service and a nice selection of teas and treats to suit most tastes. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
  7. M

    Maddie

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food and tea was amazing. My favorite was the scones.
  8. PS

    PatriciaS

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    On our first trip to Boston, we decided to have an afternoon tea experience at the library and selected the Map Room—the room is beautiful and the tea was lovely! They also accommodated very easily my no-meat, no-seafood diet, and we highly recommend it.
  9. MS

    MateoS

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 19, 2022

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Excellent afternoon tea. Food was delicious. Ambiance was beautiful and still. Service attention was only lacking a little but definitely worth the time and money.
  10. P

    Pamness

    San Francisco

    35 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    35 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    The Boston Public Library is a beautiful venue. The high tea concept is nice but there is no menu flexibility so this is not the place to go if you have ANY food issues. It turned out, I couldn't eat anything on the menu. The staffs response was, oh well. The tea was nice.
  11. C

    Christa75

    Tallahassee

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    It was an awesome experience. It would have been nicer if there were more sandwiches. It would have been nice if the server would have come around and checked on us more. And we had to ask for cream and sweetener for our tea. But other than that it was wonderful.
  12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Cincinnati

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 6, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great spot right inside the library. Food is very filling, don't let the preset menu fool you. Ambiance is A+, great date spot for brunch
  13. b

    bambino

    New England

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 5, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    A very warm setting. Makes you feel special. The teas and sandwiches were great! Lemon Poppyseed scone was a bit dry but all in all, a wonderful experience!
  14. BP

    BrianaP

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was the most perfect way to celebrate a birthday! Everything was amazing and I couldn’t thank the staff enough for making being so welcoming and making it such an amazing experience. I would absolutely recommend the tea room for any special occasion and I will definitely be coming back!!! :)))
  15. f

    finebydesign

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Lovely for tea. The Map room had a great vibe and wonderful service. The scones were nice and the cheesecake was one of the best I’ve had in a while. They were also very accommodating on my dietary preferences.
  16. e

    emilyl

    Austin

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2022

    overall3food2service5ambience5
    The ambiance and the decoration were amazing. The tea was very good and they had a great selection of specialty drinks. The little sandwiches were also very tasty. However, the desserts were horrible. We could only eat the peach cheesecake. The rest was too sweet like you're just pouring sugar into your mouth. The texture of the macaroon was also horrible and is not definitely how a macaroon should be. I wish we can just stay there to drink some tea and eat just the little sandwiches. It is required for you to order the whole afternoon tea experience to be in the room.
  17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 28, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    Definitely a must do, touristy but super fun!
  18. KT

    KaylaT

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My girlfriends that came to visit town I had met studying abroad in London- obviously, we had to do an afternoon tea to reminisce! The Map Tea Lounge did not disappoint! The mood, service and spread were all incredible! I am a vegan and they accommodated EVERYTHING. I didn't feel like my experience was any less than, if anything, it was even better knowing that I could fully enjoy the experience. I will literally bring everyone that comes to visit here.
  19. SD

    ShealynD

    New England

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    They thought of everything! Starting with a generous glass of champagne and ending with the delicious dessert plate. The tea was the star of the show, but everything else was so nice and wonderful that it blended right in. The Map Room is beautifully decorated and made us feel like we were really in an fabulous old library. A glance into the Copley room next door showed that it was much brighter and with more natural light. I would recommended the Map room for evenings or cold winter days, while the Copley room would be perfect for a sunny summer or spring daytime activity.
  20. A

    Annah

    Atlanta

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Map Room Tea Lounge was one of the most special amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I wish I could go there every day. Unlike anything
  21. C

    Carlos

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 16, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience2
    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.
  22. C

    Chel

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was a great way to start our day out in the city. The library is so beautiful! A must see.
  23. BF

    BostonFoodie

    New England

    35 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    35 reviews

    Dined on July 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It’s always a special occasion having tea at an institution like the Boston Public Library
  24. l

    ldianner

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on July 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Definitely a must for visiting Boston, if you enjoy period pieces such as Downton Abbey or The Gilded Age, or if you seek out unique experiences while traveling. The ambience, food and service were tailored to high tea in a nineteenth century setting! My parents, 7 year old daughter and I enjoyed enjoyed the sweet and savory treats along with a glass of champagne. My daughter had a Shirley Temple with her tea and enjoyed from the kids menu. We all left full and even with leftovers to take home…and I love eating!
  25. MM

    MercedehM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 7, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience4
    Good experience but overpriced. A good one time experience.
  26. t

    taylorw

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 24, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    Loved everything about it expect them alarm the ring 15 min before close is insanely loud and sounds like an fire alarm- I wish they had a more soft alarm or like chimes
  27. DM

    DianeM

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The wonderful setting, excellent tea sandwiches but insanely expensive. Loved being in the library and viewed the expense as a donation to a gorgeous institution.
  28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Impressive architecture joined with great service and good food. Tea is really yummy. Cheers!
  29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    Service was great! Very friendly staff, cost was definitely expensive though. It sure if they rotate the menu from season to season but the current treats were mostly tasty
  30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food, service, wait staff were incredible! We made another reservation. It was served with champagne! Love it ! The staff was patience , courteous, professional, and non intrusive with your group.
  31. AS

    AngelaS

    New England

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Such an amazing high tea experience! The ambiance, food, drinks, and staff were just exceptional! This gem is a MUST DO!
  32. BF

    BostonFoodie

    New England

    21 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on June 3, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    While the novelty is certainly there, the food is ok (though pricey), the noise level is high, and the servers are short staffed. It’s certainly worth trying for a “date-day”… just set reasonable expectations and enjoy the scenery!
  33. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 27, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Took my mother to have tea here at the Map Room Tea Lounge and was so satisfied with the overall experience. The staff were all so knowledgeable and friendly- and of course the tea was outstanding and they provided a unique assortment to choose from!
  34. A

    Anya

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 26, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Graduation! So good!
  35. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was very nice! We weren’t able to get into the courtyard tea room which would have been my preference for ambiance and decor but the actual tea service was delicious and the map room was a cool, hip type of vibe. Very nicely decorated and sort of rustic.
  36. DG

    DiannaG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was my second time enjoying tea at the library and it was so wonderful! The food is great and the ambience cannot be beat. The attention to detail is truly astounding. 10/10 would recommend!
  37. MN

    MelissaN

    New England

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 7, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Great experience overall but our tea was cold/warm.
  38. T

    Toothfairy

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 7, 2022

    overall5food3service1ambience5
    Poor service
  39. LG

    LizG

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 7, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Even my two boys (18 and 20) were impressed by the ambiance, experience, and amount of food. This was a special pre-Mother’s Day treat and it surpassed all expectations. I would not have enjoyed the atmosphere as much if I was in the very bright room. It is the atmosphere in the Map Room itself that goes so stunningly with the whole high-tea , cozy luncheon. Expensive, but if you live for unusual life experiences and making memories, this is worth it (I had to make a reservation 4 months in advance!)
  40. DB

    DevonBrit

    New England

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 6, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A wonderful experience. Food and drink are exceptional, able to cater to vegetarians. Loved the cozy ambience. A pricey menu but we only do this once in a while.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Map Room Tea Lounge is rated 4.7 stars by 113 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today
Google Map for Map Room Tea Lounge

700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Dartmouth Street

  • Neighborhood

    Back Bay

  • Hours of operation

    Afternoon Tea Wed–Sun 11:15 am–4:45 pm Bar Wed–Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Afternoon Tea, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, American

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    None

  • Public transit

    Copley - Green Line MBTA Back Bay - Orange Line MBTA & Commuter Rail

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Website

    http://librarytea.com/maproom

  • Phone number

    (781) 763-1360

  • Private party facilities

    The Map Room Tea Lounge - Accommodates a minimum of 18/maximum 28. (Note: 100% seated tables however not a private space, a public bar seating 10 and host stand presides in this space. The Courtyard Tea Room also accommodates PRIVATE parties minimum 45 guests up to 67. For more details visit www.librarytea.com under the tab "host an event"

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