That Time I Found Italy

Boston Meets Italy in the Map Room Café

The best kept secret of Copley Square is without a doubt the Map Room Café of the Boston Public Library. While the library is one of Boston’s more famous pieces of architecture, knowledge, and class, few people have made their way into the Map Room Café, a hidden wonder of the library’s first floor.

The café’s inner walls are appropriately adorned with ancient maps that Magellan would have swooned over and topped by a ceiling of red brick and lantern lighting. Look past the barista for sandwiches like the McKim. This masterpiece packed with fresh avocado, crisp sprouts and zesty aioli herb dressing would bring any baystater back for seconds.

But what really blew my taste buds away were the baked goods, and one jaw dropping blueberry muffin to be exact. While I usually steer clear of café muffins anytime after ten o’clock, this blueberry heaven officially proved me wrong. Its size was matched only by its gigantic flavor; fresh, and bursting with juicy blueberry. It tasted as if it has been made minutes ago especially for skeptics like me.

Beyond the pallet and the inner walls of the café lies a truly authentic courtyard, modeled in style, size, and beauty after an Italian piazza. I stepped outside still entranced by my blueberry muffin madness to a marble stoned terrace complete with white statues encompassed by crystal clear fountains, and lush green shrubs hugging every spare inch of ground space.

To forget where you are for a few minutes make your way to the Map Room Café and stroll about its back yard terrace with a blueberry muffin or two, Italy never tasted so close.