Unearth The Voyage
There is a restaurant in downtown Chicago that has been feeding shoppers, families, and curious visitors since 1890, and it holds a record that no other dining room in the world can claim. Tucked away on the seventh floor of a massive State Street building, it was the very first restaurant ever opened inside a department store.
The walnut-paneled walls, glittering chandeliers, and a legendary chicken pot pie have kept people coming back for well over a century. Read on to find out what makes this historic spot so special and why it still draws crowds today.
A Historic Address on State Street
The Walnut Room sits on the seventh floor of the Macy’s flagship store at 111 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602, right in the heart of the Loop. This building was once home to Marshall Field’s, one of the most celebrated department stores in American history.
The address alone carries decades of shopping memories for Chicagoans who grew up visiting the store with their families.
Getting there is straightforward. The Chicago ‘L’ stops nearby, and several bus routes run along State Street.
Parking garages are close by if you prefer to drive, though public transit is the easiest option on busy weekends.
The store itself is enormous, and first-time visitors sometimes wander a few minutes before finding the right elevator bank. Ask any staff member and they will happily point you in the right direction.
Once you step off on the seventh floor, the warm glow of the restaurant’s interior is hard to miss, and the journey up feels like a small adventure worth every step.
The World’s First Department Store Restaurant
Most people know that restaurants exist inside airports, hotels, and shopping malls, but the Walnut Room broke entirely new ground back in 1890 when it opened as the first dining room ever built inside a department store. That single decision changed retail history and inspired countless stores around the world to follow the same idea.
Marshall Field himself understood that shoppers needed a place to rest, eat, and recharge before continuing their purchases. The restaurant was not an afterthought.
It was designed with elegance in mind, complete with fine tableware and attentive service that matched the standards of the store below.
More than 130 years later, that original spirit is still alive. The Walnut Room continues to operate under a concept that was once considered revolutionary.
Sitting down for lunch here means you are eating in the same space where generations of Chicago families celebrated birthdays, finished holiday shopping trips, and marked milestones large and small.
That kind of history is genuinely hard to find anywhere else in the country.
The Atmosphere That Stops You in Your Tracks
The moment you walk through the entrance, the Walnut Room feels like it belongs to a different era, in the best possible way. Rich walnut veneer paneling lines the walls from floor to ceiling, and large crystal chandeliers hang overhead, casting a warm golden light across the dining room.
A beautiful glass skylight crowns the central courtyard area, and a fountain sits beneath it, giving the whole space a calm, almost peaceful energy.
The room is large, with enough tables to seat a sizable crowd, yet it never feels chaotic. Window seats along two walls offer views of the Chicago streetscape below, which is particularly striking during the holiday season when the city is lit up and busy.
The decor nods clearly to the Marshall Field’s heritage, with design choices that feel deliberate rather than dated. A portrait of Muddy Waters painted on one of the building’s walls adds a uniquely Chicago touch to the visual experience.
The overall effect is one of genuine elegance that does not try too hard, which is exactly what makes it so charming and easy to enjoy.
The Famous Chicken Pot Pie You Have to Try
If the Walnut Room had a mascot, it would almost certainly be the 1890s Original Chicken Pot Pie. This dish has been on the menu for so long that ordering it feels like participating in a living tradition.
The pot pie arrives hot with a golden, flaky crust that gives way to a rich, creamy filling loaded with tender chicken and vegetables.
The flavor is hearty and comforting in the way that only a dish perfected over decades can be. It is not flashy or trendy.
Instead, it delivers exactly what the menu promises, which is a deeply satisfying, nostalgic meal that feels like home cooking elevated just enough to suit the elegant surroundings.
Many visitors say the pot pie alone is worth the trip, and it is easy to see why after the first bite. The serving size is generous enough that two people can comfortably split it as a main course.
Pair it with a cup of clam chowder or a wedge salad and you have a meal that covers all the comfort bases without going overboard on the bill.
Other Dishes Worth Ordering
Beyond the pot pie, the menu at the Walnut Room offers a thoughtful selection of American comfort dishes that hold their own in a city full of serious food options. The meatloaf with mashed potatoes is a crowd favorite, with a portion size generous enough to split between two people without either one leaving hungry.
The Fields Special Salad is a clever construction built on a base of rye bread, topped with swiss cheese, a wedge of lettuce, thousand island dressing, turkey, tomato, half a hard-boiled egg, and an olive. It sounds like a lot, and it is, in the most satisfying way possible.
The Wisconsin Asiago Crusted Chicken and butternut squash tortellacci round out a menu that balances classic flavors with just enough creativity to keep things interesting.
For dessert, the Frango mint options are a nod to the old Marshall Field’s candy counter that generations of Chicagoans adored. The key lime pie and chocolate cake are both worth saving room for.
The menu is not enormous, but every item on it feels chosen with care rather than filler.
Afternoon Tea at the Fountain
One of the quieter pleasures the Walnut Room offers is its afternoon tea service, which draws a different crowd than the lunch rush. For around $45, you receive a full tea experience with tiered trays of savory sandwiches, scones, fresh fruit, and small desserts, all served alongside your choice of tea.
The cucumber sandwiches consistently get high marks from visitors who enjoy the afternoon tea experience. The blueberry scones, though small, are tender and flavored well enough to disappear quickly.
Sitting beside the central fountain while working through a proper tea service feels genuinely luxurious, especially for the price point.
The oolong tea option stands out as a particularly good choice among the tea selections available. The calm atmosphere during afternoon tea hours makes it a nice contrast to the busier lunch and dinner seatings.
It is an experience well suited to a relaxed outing with a friend, a parent, or anyone who appreciates a slower, more refined pace.
The value for what you receive is genuinely solid by Chicago dining standards, which tends to surprise first-time visitors pleasantly.
The Holiday Season Magic
The Walnut Room during the holiday season is a completely different experience from a regular weekday lunch, and that is not an exaggeration. A towering two-story Christmas tree decorated in Marshall Field’s traditional green and white colors dominates the center of the dining room from late November through the new year.
The tree is genuinely stunning, and many visitors say it alone justifies the reservation.
Holiday decorations fill every corner of the space, from garland draped along railings to wreaths and festive table settings. Roving performers dressed as fairies and princesses visit tables and interact with younger guests, adding a layer of whimsy that makes the experience memorable for families.
A professional photographer circulates through the dining room, offering to capture group photos in front of the tree.
Reservations for the holiday season open in September and sell out quickly, often within days. Walk-ins during peak holiday weeks are limited to community seating at high-top tables near the bar area.
If a seated table with a tree view is what you are after, booking the moment reservations open is the only reliable strategy.
Pricing and Value That Surprises People
A common assumption among people who have never visited is that a restaurant inside a historic, elegantly decorated space in downtown Chicago must be expensive. The reality is refreshingly different.
The Walnut Room operates at price points that are standard for a Chicago sit-down lunch, which means most dishes fall in a range that does not require any special budgeting.
The pot pie and meatloaf are each large enough to split between two people, which brings the cost per person down even further. Afternoon tea at $45 per person covers a substantial amount of food and tea, making it competitive with similar tea services in the city.
Commemorative mugs, which have become a popular holiday keepsake, sell for just $5 each.
The combination of a genuinely historic setting, attentive service, and reasonable prices is what catches most visitors off guard. Many people walk in expecting to spend significantly more and leave pleasantly surprised by the bill.
For the experience you receive, including the atmosphere, the history, and the comfort food quality, the Walnut Room delivers honest value that holds up well compared to other downtown Chicago dining options.
Service That Keeps People Coming Back
The staff at the Walnut Room are one of the most consistently praised aspects of the experience. Servers tend to be knowledgeable not just about the menu but also about the building’s history and the story of Marshall Field’s itself.
A meal here often turns into a mini history lesson delivered with warmth and genuine enthusiasm.
Attentiveness is a word that comes up repeatedly when people describe their visits. Tables are checked regularly, water glasses stay full, and plates are cleared promptly without making guests feel rushed.
The floor manager and support staff work together in a way that keeps the experience smooth even during the busier holiday seatings.
Smaller thoughtful gestures add up over the course of a meal. On one visit, a server offered complimentary commemorative mugs to a table because dessert took slightly longer than expected.
That kind of grace under pressure, and the instinct to go a little further to make guests feel valued, is the sort of service that turns a one-time visit into a repeated tradition.
The Walnut Room earns its 4.3-star rating largely because of the people working the floor.
How to Make a Reservation
Getting a table at the Walnut Room is easy during non-holiday periods. Reservations can be made through OpenTable, and walk-ins are generally welcome on weekdays when the dining room is not at capacity.
The restaurant opens at 11 AM most days, with varying closing times depending on the day of the week.
Saturday hours run from 11 AM to 7 PM, Friday and Thursday match that schedule, while Sunday through Tuesday the kitchen closes at 3 PM. Wednesday and Thursday extend to 7 PM.
Checking the current hours before visiting is always a smart move, since seasonal adjustments do happen, especially around major holidays.
During the holiday season, the process is entirely different. Reservations open to the public in late September and are listed as sold out within days of going live.
The best strategy is to check OpenTable daily in the weeks following the initial release, since cancellations do open up regularly. Calling the restaurant directly at 312-781-5219 is another option if you prefer speaking with someone.
A little persistence during the holiday booking window almost always pays off with a confirmed table.
The Marshall Field’s Legacy Still Alive
For many Chicagoans, the name Macy’s on the State Street building still stings a little. The store was rebranded from Marshall Field’s in 2006, and longtime locals have never fully warmed to the change.
The Walnut Room, however, has served as a living reminder of what the original store stood for, and there are active discussions about returning the restaurant’s name fully to the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room branding.
The Marshall Field’s heritage is woven into every corner of the restaurant experience. The green and white Christmas tree colors, the Frango mint desserts, the iconic pot pie recipe, and the overall design philosophy all trace directly back to the original store’s identity.
Staff members share this history with evident pride, and the building’s visitor center even offers guided history walks that include an escort to the restaurant.
For visitors who never experienced Marshall Field’s in its prime, the Walnut Room offers a genuine window into what Chicago retail culture looked like at its most refined. For those who grew up shopping there, a meal at the Walnut Room is less a restaurant visit and more a reunion with a beloved piece of personal history.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit
A few practical details can make a real difference in how much you enjoy the Walnut Room. Arriving right when the restaurant opens at 11 AM on a weekday gives you the best chance at window seating, which offers views down State Street and a quieter atmosphere before the midday crowd arrives.
If you are visiting during the holiday season, bring patience and build extra time into your schedule. The surrounding Macy’s floors get busy with holiday shoppers, and the elevator banks can have wait times.
Taking the stairs or exploring the store on the way up adds to the overall experience rather than detracting from it.
The restaurant’s website at macysrestaurants.com/walnut-room offers current menu information and reservation links. Following the restaurant on social media is a practical way to catch announcements about anniversary dinners, special menu additions, and early reservation windows.
The 118th anniversary dinner, for example, allowed guests who attended to book holiday tables before the general public.
Small details like that are easy to miss unless you are paying attention, and they can make the difference between a sold-out holiday and a confirmed seat by the tree.
