Last Updated: June 2026

The first time I visited the Walnut Room at Chicago’s State Street Macy’s at Christmas was almost 25 years ago, and I was instantly enchanted. I haven’t missed a holiday season there since. It’s one of my favorite Chicago restaurants to visit during the holidays — a 45-foot Great Tree suspended from the ceiling, century-old recipes, and old-world elegance you can’t find anywhere else — and here’s everything you need to know to plan your own visit.

The Great Tree suspended from the ceiling at Marshall Field's Walnut Room at Macy's Chicago — The iconic Great Tree at the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room

One thing worth knowing up front: after nearly 20 years, Macy’s has officially restored the historic name — it’s now “The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room” again, with a commemorative plaque at the entrance. This beloved tradition, which began in 1907, is recognized as America’s first department store restaurant, and the name restoration honors Marshall Field himself, the original owner of the State Street store. The Great Tree gets a fresh decorative theme each holiday season.

In a Nutshell

What & where: The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room, 7th floor of Macy’s at 111 N. State St., in the Loop.
When: The holiday season typically runs early November through mid-January; the Walnut Room also operates year-round for lunch.
Reservations: Required during the holidays and fiercely competitive — they open on a single morning in late September for the whole season.
Don’t miss: Mrs. Hering’s 1890 Original Chicken Pot Pie — the dish they’ve served for 130+ years.
Getting there: Randolph/Wabash L stop; take the express elevators to the 7th floor.

Pro Tip: The official Chicago Christmas Tree at Millennium Park is beautiful, but the towering Great Tree at the Walnut Room — so large it has to be suspended from the ceiling — is the more magical tradition. Pair the two for a perfect holiday day downtown.

The 45-foot Great Tree at Marshall Field's Walnut Room in Chicago — The 45-foot Great Tree is suspended from the dining room ceiling

Why visit the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room

The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a Chicago tradition that’s been creating family memories since 1907. Here’s why it’s worth the (admittedly competitive) reservation:

The history: America’s first department store restaurant, now part of a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It opened when Marshall Field wanted to give shoppers — especially women — a respectable place to dine without leaving the store.
The setting: Stunning Circassian walnut paneling, ornate Austrian chandeliers, and the spectacular 45-foot Great Tree suspended from the ceiling.
The tradition: The Great Tree has anchored the dining room every holiday season since 1945 — that’s 80 years of Chicago holiday magic.
The fairy princesses: Storybook princesses flutter through the dining room during the holidays, “granting wishes” with their wands — a hit with kids and adults alike.

The historic Marshall Field's clock on State Street outside Macy's Chicago — The famous Marshall Field’s clock on State Street

The name restoration and the Great Tree theme

After die-hard Chicagoans spent two decades stubbornly calling the store “Marshall Field’s” anyway, Macy’s made it official: the restaurant is now “The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room,” complete with a commemorative plaque honoring the department store’s role in Chicago history. The recent holiday seasons have leaned into that heritage, with a Great Tree themed around Marshall Field’s itself — green, blue, and gold ornaments, an oversized replica of the iconic green Field’s shopping bag, giant boxes of Frango mint chocolates, and reproductions of the famous green street clock woven through the garlands and wreaths around the room.

The Great Tree gets a new decorative theme every year, announced when the holiday season opens in the fall, so it’s worth checking what’s planned before you book. Whatever the theme, the 45-foot tree remains the centerpiece, and guests with reservations can take photos right beside it.

The Great Tree at Macy's State Street Walnut Room in Chicago — The Great Tree is decorated with a new theme every year

What to eat at the Walnut Room

The can’t-miss signature dish is Mrs. Hering’s 1890 Original Chicken Pot Pie — the restaurant’s most famous plate, served continuously for more than 130 years. It’s a flaky, buttery crust over tender chicken, vegetables, and rich gravy, and regulars will tell you it’s the best chicken pot pie they’ve ever had.

Beyond the pot pie, other menu highlights include the Asiago-crusted chicken, the classic French onion soup, the holiday turkey with all the trimmings during the season, and the crisp Walnut Room salad with house-made dressing.

For drinks, the signature Walnut Old Fashioned is the move, alongside poinsettia champagne cocktails, a non-alcoholic bubbly rosé, and a proper hot chocolate. Save room for dessert: the Frango mint chocolate ice cream pie turns the iconic treat into a sweet finish, and there’s also chocolate fudge cake, a holiday yule log, and make-your-own ice cream snow people that kids love. Frango chocolates are available to buy throughout the store — perfect gifts or souvenirs.

Marshall Field's holiday display in Chicago's Loop — A display honoring retail pioneer Marshall Field, founder of the Walnut Room

How to score a reservation

Holiday reservations are notoriously competitive. They open for the entire season on a single morning in late September (typically the last week, at 9 a.m., on OpenTable), and prime times — weekend dinners especially — sell out within minutes. Here’s the strategy I use:

Download the OpenTable app ahead of time and create your account with payment info saved.
Be logged in five minutes before reservations open on the release morning.
Search “The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room” and be ready to click fast.
Use the “Notify Me” feature for sold-out times in case of cancellations.
Be flexible — weekday mid-afternoons are far easier to book than weekend dinners.

No reservation? Limited high-top seating at the Wine Bar accepts walk-ins with the full menu (check with the host, but don’t count on it at peak times). And even without a table, a “selfie spot” outside the restaurant entrance offers Great Tree views for photos. Confirm the exact reservation-release date each fall, since it shifts slightly year to year.

Santa breakfast buffets

On select Sunday mornings in December, the Walnut Room hosts all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets with Santa — scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, muffins, and more, with kids meeting Santa and taking photos beneath the Great Tree. Be warned: these book even faster than regular reservations, so be ready the moment booking opens.

Getting there

The Walnut Room is on the 7th floor inside Macy’s at 111 N. State Street, in the Loop / Theater District. Public transit is by far the easiest way in.

🚇 Pink, Green, Orange, Purple, and Brown Lines: Randolph/Wabash stop
🚇 Blue Line: Washington stop (1 block)
🚇 Red Line: Lake stop (1 block)
🅿️ Parking: discounted at the Randolph/Wabash garage (get validation at Macy’s Visitor Center); valet on Wabash
📞 (312) 781-3139

Take the express elevators near Randolph and State (in the handbag department) up to the 7th floor. New to the L? Our Chicago CTA guide covers how to navigate the system.

Pro Tip: Macy’s takes up an entire city block. Remember which door you came in — it’s surprisingly easy to get turned around inside.

Practical info

Reservation policies: Arrive 5–10 minutes early; tables may be released if you’re 15+ minutes late. Parties of 1–5 are standard; 6–20 are a large party (credit-card hold); 21+ contact the restaurant directly.
Budget: Most entrées run roughly $16–$25 — very reasonable for downtown Chicago (confirm current prices when you book).
Dietary needs: Gluten-free and vegetarian/vegan options are available — tell your server (note: not a dedicated allergen-free kitchen).
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with elevator access.
Holiday hours: Typically open Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day — confirm each season.

Complete your Chicago holiday day

While you’re at Macy’s, don’t miss the free State Street window displays (worth dedicated viewing time), Santaland on the 5th floor (separate reservation required), and seven floors of holiday shopping. Within easy walking distance you’ll also find the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, the Chicago Christmas Tree and the Bean at Millennium Park, and the Theater District for a show.

Christmas window display outside Macy's on State Street in Chicago — The holiday window displays along Macy’s State Street are worth the trip on their own

The State Street holiday windows get a fresh theme each year and are free to view along the sidewalk from the season opening through New Year’s — a beautiful (and free) stop whether or not you’ve scored a Walnut Room table.

Why the name matters

For Chicagoans who never stopped calling the store “Marshall Field’s,” the name restoration feels like coming home. Marshall Field pioneered revolutionary retail concepts, including his famous motto, “Give the lady what she wants,” and his department store shaped Chicago’s retail landscape for generations. Restoring the name honors that connection — and the loyal customers who kept the Marshall Field’s spirit alive even after the corporate sign changed.

The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room is Chicago’s most beloved holiday dining tradition for good reason — old-world elegance, the spectacular Great Tree, 130-year-old recipes, and pure holiday magic you can’t replicate anywhere else. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth consecutive year, the magic holds. And if the tree inspires you, you can always cut your own at one of these Christmas tree farms near Chicago.

The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room: A Chicago Holiday Guide