Verdict
Destinations
Restaurant · Chicago

The Walnut Room

A historic department-store dining room inside Macy's on State Street — now restored to its Marshall Field's Walnut Room name.

Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →
The verdict

Worth the table for…

Great for
  • Families with kids
  • Couples
  • History & culture buffs
Depends
  • Travellers on a budget
  • If you've only got a day
  • Solo travellers
  • Photographers
  • Foodies
Not for

Worth it for families with kids, couples and history & culture buffs.

What to order

The plates that decide it

  • Mrs. Hering's Chicken Pot Piethe 1890s house recipe and the dish to order here
  • Seasonal holiday menu itemsreliable and in-keeping with the setting
  • Anything ambitiousstick to the comfort classics — that's what this kitchen does
Why we say this

Insider secrets & local vibes

Dating to the early 1900s, it's a genuine piece of Chicago history — the famous towering Christmas tree makes it a beloved seasonal ritual for local families.
Not independently verified — estimated
Come for the room and the nostalgia, not the cooking — the classic-American menu is competent but unremarkable.
Not independently verified — estimated
What it feels like

Reading the room, traveller by traveller

  • Families

    A holiday-season tradition — kids love the giant tree; book far ahead in December.

  • Couples

    Worth a stop for the historic setting, but don't plan your best meal of the trip around it.

Good to know

Before you go

Cost
$$ — moderate American comfort fare
Time
1–1.5 hours
Last verified
2026-06-17
Best time
December for the tree; otherwise quiet midday
Booking
Reservations essential in the holiday season
Accessibility
Inside the State Street store; large, accessible room
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Independent — no pay-to-rank Graded for who you are Verified 2026-06-17How we grade →