The Story
Ernie Byfield opened The Pump Room in the Ambassador East Hotel on October 1, 1938, and created one of America's most glamorous restaurant experiences. Named after an 18th-century English gathering spot, the Pump Room immediately attracted Hollywood royalty. Actress Gertrude Lawrence established its reputation by holding nightly gatherings in Booth One during a 90-day theatrical run.
Booth One became the most famous restaurant seat in Chicago. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall celebrated their wedding there. Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood did too. Liza Minnelli grew up in Booth One, dining with her mother Judy Garland. The waiters in Louis XVI-style costumes, the celebrities, the photographers - it was dinner as theater.
The Pump Room went through many iterations: Lettuce Entertain You operated it from 1976-1998, then Jean-Georges Vongerichten ran a version from 2011-2017. Booth One returned briefly, then closed in 2019. By 2022, the space no longer served as a restaurant. The glamour of the original Pump Room exists now only in photographs.
🍽 Signature Dishes
Elegant preparations befitting the star-studded clientele
Tableside theatrics matching the celebrity atmosphere
💡 Did You Know?
- Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall celebrated their wedding in Booth One
- Liza Minnelli has fond memories of dining there as a child with Judy Garland
- The Pump Room held liquor license #1 after Prohibition ended
👤 Notable People
🏙 What's There Now
Ambassador Gold Coast Hotel (formerly Ambassador East); space is now a function room called Ambassador Room
Original Address: 1301 N. State Pkwy. (Ambassador East Hotel), Chicago, IL 60610