Dining at The Walnut Room on State Street in Chicago
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For years, I have wanted to dine at the gorgeous Walnut Room in downtown Chicago. The restaurant is located in the Macy’s on State Street on the 7th floor right near their amazing Holiday Shop. It’s considered one of the quintessential holiday dining experiences in the city. Being a native, I always heard wonderful things about dining here over the festive holiday season. Somehow, I never got around to it despite living just 30 minutes away for over 25 years. This year, while traveling back home for the holidays, I finally scored a last minute reservation thanks to a cancellation.
2025 marked the 118th anniversary of the lighting of the magnificent Great Tree which is the striking centerpiece of the dining room. While I thought the tree was dazzling, I was also super impressed with the food and beautiful ambiance. Dining alongside the gorgeous Great Tree (which was beautifully decorated in a nostalgic Marshall Field’s theme) was a memorable experience. We also enjoyed checking out the festive window displays and massive Holiday Shop.
The first restaurant to open in a department store
Dining at this historic restaurant has been a Chicago holiday tradition since 1907. It claims the title as first restaurant to open in a department store which is pretty cool. According to this Chicago History Museum article, the restaurant was originally called the South Grill Room and later renamed due to the walnut panelling. The space is massive at 17,000 square feet but bustling with people with no empty seat all month long.
Despite the ample space, it is very difficult to score a seat here during the holiday season. So much so that they open reservations in late September (for 2025 the date was September 25th). We signed up for their waiting list over a month in advance and finally scored a seat 1 day prior to our vacation thanks to a last minute cancellation. If you can’t score a reservation, there are limited walk up seats available in the bar area. I would recommend getting on the waiting list as early as possible as bar seating is not guaranteed and this is a very popular place.
The gorgeous Great Tree
The beautiful iconic tree, known as The Great Tree, hangs from the ceiling. The tree was lit on November 1st for the 2025 season and will stay lit until January 11th. Tables surround the tree so you can dine as you take in the pretty lights and ornaments. There are also many tables in the back where you will get to enjoy a partial view. I am not sure how they determine the seating (I am guessing it is random), but obviously a seat right by the tree would be ideal. You cannot request a specific seat, but anyone with a reservation can walk up and take photos next to the tree no matter where you are seated.
The theme and decor changes each year. This year was a nostalgic throwback to the old Marshall Field’s department store. Macy’s acquired Field’s in 2005. As a native, I grew up shopping at Marshall Field’s with their iconic green shopping bags, so the experience was extra special to me. On a side note, they recently renamed the restaurant The Marshall Field’s Walnut Room. I really loved the historic clock and old time shopping bag. The green, blue, and cold colors worked beautifully together. It was an incredible display this year.
Note that you need a reservation to take your photo next to the tree. They do have a selfie station outside of the dining area where you can snap a quick photo if you can’t score a reservation.
Festive dining
I didn’t know what to expect food wise as some touristy restaurants focus more on the ambiance and not so much on the food. To my surprise, I was pleased with both the quality and relatively affordable pricing. It wasn’t nearly as expensive as I expected. They are known for their Chicken Pot Pie, which they have been serving for over 135 years. Other festive opinions on the 2025 lineup include: Roasted Vegetable Grain bowl (I almost order this dish), Cranberry Citrus Chicken Sandwich, and Roasted Salmon.
We decided to go with the Asiago Crusted Chicken and The Wild Mushroom Ravioli. Both dishes were excellent especially the ravioli. I couldn’t get enough of the creamy Boursin sauce and I would 100% order this dish again if I return.
The best part of the meal was inulding in the Frango mint cheesecake. If you have never tasted a Frango mint before, you are missing out – they are so delicious. This cheesecake was so amazing. Other holiday desserts include: Frango Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Pie, Field’s Double Chocolate Fudge Cake, and Holiday Yule Log.
They also have this unique tradition where fairy princesses come to your table and grant a wish. It seems that the kids were enjoying this extra festive touch.
Additional notes: Holiday cocktails, wine and beer available. A separate gluten-free menu is available on their website. Also, please inform your server about any special dietary concerns.
Special experiences
- A holiday breakfast buffet is offered from 8-10:30am on select dates.
- Breakfast with Santa takes place from 8-11am on December 7th, 14th, and 21st.
- Group dining (for 21-50) is available with advance registrations. It’s not in the same room, but still decorated.
- You can purchase a Frango Mint Cheesecake or Pie to bring home. If I wasn’t traveling, I probably would!
Additional Info
- Address: The restaurant is located at 111 N. State Street on the 7th floor of Macy’s.
- Reservations: Available on Opentable. You can sign up for alerts for seat openings.
- Dates: November 1st – January 11th
- Hours: Vary throughout the season. Check the Macy’s website for more details.
- Parking: The restaurant is in the Theater District so there are many parking garages in the vicinity including the Randolph St. garage. We conveniently walked from our hotel.
- Where to stay: I recommend the Kimpton Grey. It’s a gorgeous hotel walkable to State Street and Millennium Park. It’s a gorgeous 4 star property featuring many great amenities including a complimentary wine hour and morning coffee from La Colombe.
Please visit the Macy’s website for full details on hours, special events, and a full menu.
More holiday fun at Macy’s!
Macy’s offers a number of holiday events throughout the season and the store itself is a 7 floor shopping oasis. Here are a few of the festivities you can add to your bucket list.
Holiday Shop
This Macy’s is home to an amazing holiday shop. There is so much to look at including beautiful trees and endless ornaments and Santas. I love the decorations and especially the beautiful Frango mint gift sets. I recommend a browse around before or after your visit.
Window displays
During my childhood, we often took one big trip downtown each year to see the festive windows at the then Marshall Field’s department store. This year was my first time seeing the windows in over 10 years. I loved the nostalgic theme (“The Most Wonderful Stories Start Here”) which incorporated some old-school Marshall Field’s elements.
Marshall Field’s heritage collection
I really loved this historic display this year which included old fashioned ornaments and Frango mint displays. It’s located on Floors 1 and 7 and easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. I love these old-fashioned ornaments; they just don’t make them like this anymore!
Santaland
Santa will be at the store from November 20th – December 24th. Reservations required.
Other holiday activities
While you are in the vicinity, there is much more to see and do in the country’s best Christmas city. I am not just saying this as a local as I have traveled all over and experienced Christmas in NYC, Boston, and Philly. Nothing compares with the seasonal cheer in the air in The Windy City.
The city is considerably less crowded than NYC but just as magical in my opinion. There is a wonderful ice rink, top notch shows including the Joffrey Nutcracker production, Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry and so much more. Fortunately, we stayed in a hotel near Millennium Park (we scored a great rate at the Kimpton and walked everywhere).
Here’s my brief list of what not to miss:
Ice skating at Millennium Park. It’s the most gorgeous urban rink. The city views are so gorgeous and the tree in the background creates such a festive setting. Skating is free Monday-Thursday if you have your own skates ($5 fee on weekends/holiday periods). With no skates, admission is $17 on weekdays and $21 on weekends.
The city tree at Millennium. The tree was located at Daley Plaza for many years but moved to Millennium in 2012. I love the new setting adjacent to the rink – it’s so festive! 2025 marked the 112th lighting. So gorgeous!
Christkindlmarket: it’s the largest German market in the US. Highlights include: delicious potato pancakes and pierogies, live music, great hot cocoa and the cutest souvenir mugs. I love the glass ornaments! On a side note, be prepared for a really long wait.
This is a surprisingly great time of the year to visit the city. Winter has always been my favorite season. There are tons of great museums to visit, plus all the wonderful holiday events. You will never get bored this time of year for sure. Also, hotels are often ridiculously cheap. I scored a 4 star Kimpton reservation for under 200 bucks in late November. Check out my winter in Chicago fun guide for more details on the best city and seasonal attractions and activities to add to your must-do list.
