+1 312-781-5219
Located in the heart of Chicago at 111 N State St, The Walnut Room stands as a beloved American restaurant steeped in tradition and rich in history. Renowned for its classic dishes and warm, inviting atmosphere, this dining destination offers guests an authentic taste of American comfort food with a refined twist.
Stepping into The Walnut Room is like stepping into a cherished holiday tradition, especially during the festive season when the iconic 2025 Christmas tree graces the dining room with its radiant presence. The ambiance is enchanting—elegant yet cozy, highlighted by timeless décor and seasonal decorations that make each visit feel celebratory and special.
The menu is a celebration of comforting flavors and elevated classics that satisfy deeply. Signature dishes such as Mrs. Hering's 1890 Original Chicken Pot Pie are truly unforgettable. Served as an individual crock filled with creamy chicken, sweet corn, carrots, leeks, and peas beneath a flaky pie crust, it is accompanied by a fresh Walnut Room salad, offering a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. For those craving hearty meat, the Braised Short Ribs offer slow-cooked, tender beef served alongside whipped potatoes and roasted greentop carrots—a dish that delights the palate with its richness and depth.
Other highlights include the savory Classic Meatloaf infused with pine nuts and spinach, the luscious Lobster Bisque serving up oceanic warmth, and the buttery Caramelized Salmon that promises a perfect balance of crispness and moisture. For a lighter touch, the Petite Caesar Salad and Roasted Tomato & Goat Cheese Flatbread provide fresh, vibrant flavors.
The Walnut Room also excels in dessert artistry. Indulgent offerings like the Frango Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Pie feature a graham cracker crust layered with mint-chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, and fresh whipped cream—a refreshing yet rich finale. The Toffee Pie and Signature Key Lime Pie are also crowd-pleasers that delight guests with their exquisite balance of sweetness and texture.
Beyond the food, the overall dining experience at The Walnut Room is marked by attentive service that adds a personable touch. Customers often mention the warm hospitality and spirited holiday cheer, from fairy dust moments at the table to staff who go above and beyond to make every guest feel special. The spectacular views from the windows offer a glimpse into the bustling city, enhancing the charm and making it a perfect spot for both casual linners and special occasions alike.
While some might initially hesitate, thinking the dining is out of reach, many guests discover that The Walnut Room offers prices comparable to other classic Chicago establishments—bringing a sense of tradition and elegance without an overwhelming price tag. It's a genuinely magical space where history, flavor, and festive spirit meld seamlessly to create memorable meals year after year.
Whether you’re drawn by the allure of the original chicken pot pie, the comforting embrace of braised short ribs, or the promise of a holiday feast surrounded by seasonal splendor, The Walnut Room remains a must-visit destination for those craving a quintessential American dining experience in Chicago.
Contact: +1 312-781-5219
Address: 111 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
Went for a linner on Nov 2 and got to see the new 2025 tree! For drinks, we got the Poinsettia and Tost Sparkling - both definitely had that holiday cheer taste. For food, we ordered the classic, original chicken pot pie and turkey/Thanksgiving dishes. A lot of the reviews said their food is mediocre but we really enjoyed it. It's slightly elevated dishes, but we appreciated the classic, traditional, home-y flavors. Definitely a special experience and really helped us transition into the holiday spirit!
The Walnut Room is an experience. One that we repeat several times a year. The food is full of flavor, filling, and will meet expectations based on the menu description. It is not the main selling point of the experience. The experience is due to the holiday specialty menu items decorations, and personnel that add to the experience. You can see interesting views from the windows of the restaurant. And the holiday tree decorated in Marshall Field’s colors is great to see. You must make a reservation if you want to dine here around the holidays. Non-reservation holders are restricted to a community dining experience at a high-top table close to the bar. Expect long lines and high pedestrian congestion around the Walnut Room during the holidays.
A Truly Magical Marshall Field’s Walnut Room Experience! Our experience at the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room was truly magical from start to finish. Before even arriving, Sharyne at the Visitor Center elevated our visit by personally escorting us to the Walnut Room while sharing fascinating history of the building, making us feel like special guests. Inside, the atmosphere, Christmas tree, and details felt like a beautiful return to the classic Marshall Field’s tradition and class. Our server Stephanie and floor manager Samantha were outstanding! Both were warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in creating a memorable experience. The food was exceptional (the famous pot pie never disappoints), desserts were indulgent, and thoughtful touches like pixie-dust fairy visits, family photos by the tree, and a gifted collector’s Marshall Field’s Walnut Room glass mug made the afternoon unforgettable. I am a leader in the hospitality industry, and without knowing that, this team delivered excellence at every level. If Macy’s were to learn one thing from this experience, it’s this: fully lean into the magic of Marshall Field’s at this flagship location. When that legacy is honored, something truly special happens. Please celebrate this team of people who made our experience exceptional. Sharyne, at the Visitors Center, Stephanie, our Server, and Samantha the floor manager. All were integral in providing a Christmas memory for our family that will last forever. Visited 12/17/2025 2:30-4:30pm
What a great holiday tradition. Reservations opened a day early this year without warning so I was thrilled I was able to find something before Christmas. Customer service is over the top. Pretty fairies were offering fairy dust on your meal while asking you to make a wish. Super cute for the littles. Our waiter was amazing. Always attentive, refilled when needed, quick to take dirty plates. He made great suggestions in terms of meals and cocktails. Cocktails were on point. Old Fashion, Eggnog, and a holiday spritz were all delicious as was the infamous pot pie and chicken salad. We skipped dessert but lots of Frango mint options. Macy’s will always be Marshall Fields to me. The store looked absolutely beautiful.
For some reason, whenever we walked by here I assumed I could never afford it. Then I looked up the prices and realized it’s a pretty standard meal price in Chicago. We were lucky to grab a last-minute early Monday reservation on OpenTable, because holiday resys drop in September and are listed as “sold out.” (If you have a flexible schedule, though, I would check daily - it only took two days for us to find an opening that worked.) Anyway, the Christmas magic was everything I could’ve hoped. The food was very homey and good, but my fiancé’s burger bun was really stale. Cocktails and dessert were delicious and fairly priced. Service was lightning fast - they even gave us the commemorative mugs we planned to buy ($5) for free because our dessert “took so long” (it took maybe ten minutes). The other staff, like photographers and fairies, are great. The fairies missed our table so if that’s a must-do for you, I’d ask your server to make sure they make it. It gets really chaotic around the tree but don’t be afraid to take your time and get photos. They don’t mind. I wouldn’t visit here outside the holidays - it is quite outdated and there is better food at a lower price downtown. But you can’t beat the vintage homey Christmas vibes here.
We were able to get reservations at 9:30 a.m. for our annual Christmas outing downtown. I don't normally like breakfast foods and was pleasantly surprised how good the brunch buffet was. The service & atmosphere was great! Everyone made sure we had a wonderful time making memories. The host took our picture in front of the Christmas tree. So glad we were able to get in!
I have not been to the Walnut Room since I was a child and was able to take my mom today for her birthday. The atmosphere is as lovely as I remembered it and absolutely still as magical. I loved the nod to the Marshal Fields origin. The food!!!! We started with a lovely charcuterie board with the best focaccia bread I have ever tasted! I had the Fields special salad- base of rye bread and swill with a wedge salad on top and thousand island dressing g topped with turkey, tomato, half an egg and olive- it was so beautifully presented and delicious. Others had pot pie and meatloaf and everyone loved it! I had the Frango ice cream pie and we had the chocolate cake- both were decadent treats. Well done!!!
I visited the Walnut Room inside Macy’s on the 7th floor in downtown Chicago for the first time, (11/2025) and the experience was memorable mostly because of the amazing Christmas atmosphere. The food was okay, but definitely not the highlight. What truly made the visit special was being seated right in front of the giant Christmas tree. The ambiance was beautiful and festive, and the employees were super nice and very accommodating. Overall, it’s worth the visit for the holiday experience alone, and definitely worth visiting at least once.