As Mariah Carey once said, “it’s tiiiimmeeeeeee.”
Yeah, yeah, we know Thanksgiving isn’t here yet, but that hasn’t stopped every storefront in Chicago from wrapping itself in lights, putting up decorations, and suspending snowflakes from the ceiling. This includes the iconic Macy’s in Chicago.
The Great Tree at the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room will light up tomorrow, Saturday, November 7—and you’ll have until January 17, 2027, to see it.
The 45-foot centerpiece returns to Macy’s on State Street for another season of holiday dining in the historic restaurant.
Whether dining beneath its branches is a family tradition or still on your Chicago holiday bucket list, the setting adds to the allure: Austrian crystal chandeliers, Circassian walnut paneling, and a Christmas tradition that dates back to 1907.
How a small Christmas tree became a Chicago tradition
The Walnut Room’s holiday story began on a much smaller scale. According to the Smithsonian’s history of Marshall Field’s, restaurant employees reportedly placed a small Christmas tree in the establishment in 1907.
That same year, the restaurant opened as the South Grill Room, later adopting the name Walnut Room because of its distinctive wood paneling. The tree didn’t stay small for long; by 1934, it reached 25 feet.
By the middle of the century, Marshall Field’s was claiming the title of the world’s largest indoor Christmas tree, featuring a 45-foot one installed above the restaurant’s drained fountain.
Today’s Great Tree still stands 45 feet tall above the dining room, with the restaurant’s designers creating a new look for the holiday season.
A little Marshall Field’s nostalgia lives on
The name above the State Street store may have changed, but the restaurant’s connection to Marshall Field’s remains.
In 2025, Macy’s renamed the restaurant the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room and unveiled a commemorative plaque at its entrance. That year’s Great Tree paid tribute to the department store with green, blue, and gold decorations, a giant Field’s shopping bag, Frango Chocolates, and a nod to its famous green clock.
This year, the Great Tree will once again anchor the restaurant’s 17,000-square-foot dining room—complete with its walnut paneling and Austrian crystal chandeliers.
How to visit the Walnut Room this holiday season
You’ll find the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room on the seventh floor of Macy’s at 111 N. State St., in the heart of the Loop’s theater district.
Holiday reservations are open, with options including:
- Holiday lunch and dinner.
- The Great Tree Breakfast Buffet on select dates.
- Breakfast With Santa, featuring Santa, Mrs. Claus, a breakfast buffet, and activities for children.
Check the Walnut Room’s OpenTable page for availability. Parties of 21 or more should use the Holiday Group Dining tab on the restaurant’s website.
The Great Tree is on display November 7, 2026, through January 17, 2027. Restaurant hours vary throughout the holiday season, so check the schedule before planning your visit.
